Neil MacGregor’s History of the World in 100 Objects, based on artefacts in the British Museum and broadcast on BBC Radio 4 as a series of 15 minute talks, captured the imagination of many people. The History of Charterhouse in 100 Objects is based on a similar concept, exploring the artefacts remaining in our Museum store. Object 35 has now been added to the series.
Object 35: A Memento for the Headmaster's Wife
To welcome Dr Peterken (Headmaster) and his family to Charterhouse, we are featuring a piece of Carthusiana that has been handed down to each Headmaster’s wife for the last 135 years: it is a penny tossed by many Charterhouse 1st XI Cricket captains to determine which team would bat first.
Thomas Walter Blenkiron (Hodgsonites 1883) had the coin mounted into a silver bracelet and presented to the Headmaster’s wife, Annie Marion Haig Brown, after his final match as Cricket Captain. The coin itself is a Victorian one penny piece, minted in 1862, with a hole drilled in the top – presumably for hanging on a string. Only the reverse side is visible on the outer side of the bracelet, worn smooth by years of handling. The face is hidden by a silver disc inscribed with the words: “This penny which won the toss in many Charterhouse Cricket matches was given to Mrs Haig Brown by T Walter Blenkiron. Aug. 9th 1883”.
Annie Marion was married to William Haig Brown, the Headmaster who was responsible for moving the School from London to Godalming. Annie Marion was devoted to the care of the Charterhouse pupils, in addition to her own twelve children: she regularly attended sports matches, knew the names of every boy and offered practical support as an unofficial ‘Relief Matron’ and nurse if a boarding House was in crisis. The current School colour is said to have been chosen to match Mrs Haig Brown’s pink shawl. In addition, Annie Marion chronicled every aspect of Carthusian life between 1863 and 1903 in a series of 27 scrapbooks; they include photographs, press cuttings, telegrams, programmes, menus and examples of pupils’ work.
Thomas Walter Blenkiron was born on 5 August 1864, the only son of Thomas and Agnes Blenkiron of Herne Park, Lee, Kent. He was in Hodgsonites between LQ1877 and CQ1883 and played for both the 1st XI Football and Cricket teams for three years, captaining both teams in his final year. Blenkiron went on to Trinity College, Cambridge and played for the Cambridge University Football XI. He was a founder member of the Casuals Football Club (a team for Charterhouse, Eton and Westminster alumni) and he played for the Corinthian Casuals Football Club. He married Dorothea Bird in 1920. The Blenkiron family were silk merchants, and also passionate racing experts. Walter was a racehorse owner and chairman of directors of Kempton Park Racecourse, and a steward at Gatwick Race meetings. He died at Hove on 19 September 1934.
Why was 9 August 1883 significant?
On 8 and 9 August 1883 Charterhouse 1st XI played away at Hove against the ‘Gentlemen of Sussex’ team. This was the final match of the season and Blenkiron’s last match before leaving Charterhouse. The School team won by 38 runs (Charterhouse 266, G of S 228). Blenkiron then presented the penny, incorporated into a bracelet, to Mrs Haig Brown.
| History of Charterhouse in 100 Objects | PDF |
