Charles Boulding, 1836-1926
When Cecil Sharp made his brief visit to Kent in September 1908, he started a new field notebook (CJS1/9/1/1908/7). The first page of that notebook contains a series of cryptic – and sometimes indecipherable – notes. These include names: presumably men who had been recommended to him as worth visiting in search of songs. One of these is “Charlie Boulding (Cherry Picker)”. Then in June 1942 Francis Collinson noted down a song from Mr Eyton Boulden at Bonnington, which was described as “Chas Boulding’s song”. It was tempting to jump to the conclusion that Chas / Charlie Boulding are one and the same but Boulding (or Boulden) is an extremely common name in that area of Kent, on the edge of Romney Marsh and, although they were related, these Charles Bouldings were in fact two separate people.
However, thanks to David Boulding of the Boulding Study website, we can positively identify this Charles Boulding as the source of Eyton Boulden’s song, ‘Where the lambs they skip with pleasure’. Notes[1] written by David’s father in the early 1970s say
Charles was, I believe, somewhat of a character. He played the bassoon in the church orchestra before organs were used and was notable for a song known in the family as “Uncle Cholly’s song”. He lived at Lawson farm – next Bonnington Court which was then known as Court Lodge
Charles and Eyton were first cousins once removed, and also related by marriage – his mother’s sister Olive Foord married Eyton’s brother Jesse.
Baptised on 16th October 1836, at the church of St Martin, Aldington, the parish records have him as ‘Charles Boulden’, although census records consistently spell his surname as ‘Boulding’. His father, George, was a labourer, whose family hailed from Smeeth and, before that, Crundale; his mother Elizabeth, née Young, was from Brabourne. Census records indicate that Charles’ birthplace was Hurst, south of Aldington, on the Royal Military Canal.
“HURST, a parish in the hundred of Street, liberty of Romney-Marsh, lathe of Shepway, county Kent, 7 miles S.E. of Ashford. Hythe is its post town. The parish, which is small, is situated on the Royal Military canal. The land is partly in hop-grounds. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Canterbury, value £55. The church, dedicated to St. Leonard, has gone to decay, and the inhabitants frequent the church at Aldington.”
(from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland, 1868, via https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/KEN/Hurst)
In 1841 the family resided at Mount Pleasant, Aldington, while in 1851 their address is given only as Aldington Parish. Charles had an older sister and, by 1853, three younger brothers and three younger sisters. No occupation is recorded for him in 1851 although, aged 14, one suspects he might already have been doing at least some work as an agricultural labourer. That’s his occupation in both 1861 and 1871, when the family were living in Peacock Road, Aldington.
He married Jane Chambers, from nearby Hurst, at St Martin’s, Aldington, on 9th February 1878. His occupation was given as “Woodman”. At the next census, 3 years later, their residence is given simply as “Cottage”, in Bonnington. His occupation was now “Farmer & grazer”, Jane’s was given as “Do [i.e. ditto]; Wife”. In 1891 they were living at Goddard Farm, Carpenter Land, Bonnington. He is now “Farmer & carrier”, and the couple have one farm servant living with them.
Jane died in 1894, and was buried in Aldington on 11th May. Thereafter Charles remained at Goddard Farm until his death in 1926. One other resident is recorded in censuses from 1901 onwards – Elizabeth Coombs, a housekeeper.
The Kent Messenger & Gravesend Telegraph ran the following obituary on 1st May 1926:
BONNINGTON’S GRAND OLD MAN.
The late Mr. Charles Boulding.
Bonnington’s “grand old man,” Mr. Charles Bolding. passed away on Sunday at the age of 90 years. By his death the district loses a truly remarkable man, who never experienced a day’s serious illness in all his 90 years. He was born in September, 1836, and for the past 50 years has resided at “Goddards” Farm. Bonnington. For a number of years he was in partnership with his brother at Court Lodge Farm. He also had extensive agricultural and grazing interests in Romney Marsh.
Mr. Boulding’s very active career included public work as Overseer, Guardian, District Councillor (East Ashford Union), and Rate Collector. He was a Tory of the old school, and it is interesting to note that his last political activity took him to Bilsington by motor car to record his vote at the General Election two years ago. On this occasion he was accompanied by Mr. William Higgins, who was the same age, 88, and has since died. Mr. Boulding could relate many humorous political stories of the old days. He was then a man much sought after at social functions, being a keen dancer and singer. For many years he played the bassoon in Aldington Church choir. He was a staunch Churchman and a bellringer. In his younger days he was a good goalrunner and supporter of fox hunting and coursing. Only two years ago Mr. William Blacklocks, of Lydd, claimed him as guest at the Coursing Club annual dinner.
Mr. Boulding will be widely missed as a gentleman of sterling character, loved and respected by many throughout the county. His wife died 34 years ago. There were no children, but deceased leaves a brother, Mr. Hy. Boulding, of Kennington, and a sister, Mrs. Washford, of Croydon. Longevity evidently is hereditary, for his father reached the age of 74, and his mother lived to see her 91st birthday.
The funeral takes place to-day (Saturday), when deceased will be interred by the side of his wife in Aldington Churchyard.
It’s worth mentioning, perhaps, that not all of his relations survived to old age. Two of his siblings died at just 35 – sister Harriet in 1879, and brother Jesse in 1888. But the Mrs Washford mentioned in the newspaper – his youngest sister, Alice – died in 1927 at the age of 80, and his brother Henry lived to the ripe old age of 93, dying in 1943.
[1] David Boulding, private communication, 7th October 2024
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