Introduction
Albert Charles Roskelly spent most of his adult life in South Somerset, where he established himself as a gardener and raised a family. Although he was born in Kent and moved several times during childhood due to his father’s service career, he became firmly rooted in the area after the Roskelly family settled in Hardington Mandeville in 1920. His life was shaped by his father’s naval background, the opportunities created by the Hardington estate sale, his marriage into a long-established local family, and his employment at the well-known Scott’s Nurseries of Merriott.
Early life
Albert was born at Galloways, Kent, on 22 February 1904, the fourth child of Albert William Roskelly and his wife, Thirza Mary (née Roser). His father served in the Coastguard service, and his employment determined the pattern of the family’s early life.
Around September 1904, the family moved to Bournemouth, where they remained for five years. In 1909, his father left the Coastguard service, and the family moved to Tunbridge Wells to live with Thirza’s mother. The 1911 census recorded the family living in a five-room house at 64 Clifton Road and his father working as a wheelwright’s labourer.
The outbreak of the First World War brought further disruption. On 2 August 1914, Albert’s father rejoined the Royal Navy and served until February 1919. During those years, Thirza was left to care for five children, assisted by her mother.
A significant turning point came in 1920 when the family moved to Hardington Mandeville. Albert’s father purchased a cottage at Broadstone in the sale of the Hardington estate, giving the family a permanent foothold in South Somerset. This move proved decisive, as Albert spent the remainder of his life in the area.
By 1921, he was employed as a gardener by Charles Edmund Maudslay of North Coker House. The Maudslays had only recently acquired the property, and Albert may have remained in their employment for several years, although the surviving evidence does not allow this to be stated with certainty.
Marriage
In 1928, Albert married Nora Evelyn White, the daughter of George Walter White and his wife, Ellen Florence Leach (née Partridge). Their first child, Priscilla Jean, was born in the Totnes registration district on 27 October 1928.
Scott’s Nurseries and life at Merriott
By 1939, Albert had secured employment with Scott’s Nurseries at Merriott. Founded in the nineteenth century, the firm became one of the best-known commercial nurseries in the West Country and employed many local people. The business specialised in large-scale cultivation and distribution of plants, providing stable employment for generations of Somerset families.
While living at Merriott, they had four more children: Maurice Edwin, Mervyn Elvin, Margaret E. F. M., and Malcolm Edward.
In March 1942, Albert returned to Hardington to give away his sister Dorothy when she married Aircraftman Frederick Lock.[1]
When his mother died in 1955, he became entitled to one-fifth of the estate left by his father, whose estate was valued at £304 5s 1d at his death in 1940.[2]
In the 1960s, Albert and Nora purchased 4 Townsend Orchard, Merriott, providing them with a home of their own after many years of work and family life in the village.
Death
Albert died on 6 May 1967 at the age of 63 and was buried at Hardington. He died intestate, leaving an estate valued at £1,054, which was administered by Nora.[3]
She continued living at 4 Townsend Orchard with their daughter, Priscilla. In 1969, Nora probably inherited a quarter of her mother’s estate, which was valued at £3,014.[4] She passed away in Yeovil District Hospital on 24 January 1986 at the age of 77 and was buried at Hardington alongside Albert.[5]
Conclusion
Albert’s life was characterised by stability rather than dramatic change. Although his childhood was marked by repeated moves and the disruptions caused by his father’s Coastguard service, the family’s settlement at Hardington in 1920 provided lasting roots. Through his marriage, family life and long-term employment at Scott’s Nurseries, he became part of the social and economic life of South Somerset. His story illustrates how secure employment and strong family connections enabled many ordinary working people to establish enduring ties to the communities they considered home.
References
[1] Western Gazette, 13 March 1942, p.2.
[2] The will of Albert William Roskelly, dated 21 February 1934, proved at Bristol on 10 July 1940.
[3] National Probate Calendar.
[4] National Probate Calendar.
[5] Western Daily Press, 25 January 1986, p.8.