Guy Rosebery Primrose
1884-1970
The life and times of my Great grandfather
Guy as a baby aged 9 months
Guy Rosebery Primrose was born on 14th November 1884 in Norwich to William and Florence Primrose. He was one of 15 children. His parents were William Primrose who was born 20th December 1853 at Gimingham and Florence Emily Candler born 1857 at Cringleford the daughter of Horatio Candler and Martha Elizabeth Blake.
William Primrose a bank clerk in Norwich married Martha Elizabeth Blake at St Martin's Le Grand in August 1875.
Guy at 3 years old
Guy Roseberry Primrose's early childhood was spent living at 12 Essex Street, Heigham, Norwich. Not a lot is known about his childhood, but as far as I'm aware William and his wife Florence stayed in 12 Essex street until their children had all grown up and then moved to 75 Park Lane, Norwich, where William died at the age of 72 on the 7th December 1925. His wife Florence Emily moved to 60 Tuddenham Road, Ipswich after her husbands death and finally passed away on the 7th November 1933. They are buried next to each other in Earlham Cemetery, Norwich not far from 12 Essex Street where they used to live.
Both pictures above are my great grandmother Jessie Elizabeth Primrose (nee Miller), she was Guy's wife.
Guy Rosebery Primrose married Jessie Elizabeth Miller. The wedding was solemnised very quietly at the parish church on Wednesday morning of the 30th April 1913 by the Reverend J.M.C.Crum. Jessie was the only child of Walter and Emma Miller, and at the time of the wedding was living in East Street, Farnham. Walter was a soldier during the First World War serving with the Irish Pipers (17th) and was based in Dundalk, Ireland. Walter died on the 3rd August 1916 and his wife followed him on the 18th August 1926 both are buried in the Rosary Cemetery in Norwich.
Jessie Elizabeth Miller was born in Dundalk on the 10th May 1887.
The picture below shows Walter in his Army uniform along with his Wife Emma and there only child Jessie Elizabeth.
My great grandmother Jessie as a young girl with her parents Walter and Emma Miller.
Below is a list of the members of the family and of guests that attended the Wedding along with the gifts they gave to the married couple.
William and Florence Emily Primrose gave a Dinner service plus the works of Charles Dickens.
Walter and Emma Miller gave a Tea set and linen.
Mrs G.B.Purdy gave silver cruets.
Mr and Mrs Epsom gave Water colours.
Mrs and the Misses Jennings gave a silver card tray.
Captain F.R.Beck gave a Copeland dessert service.
The Sergeants of the Sandringham Company 5th Norfolks gave silver salt cellars.
Mrs Curtis gave afternoon tea cloths.
The late Mr Curtis gave blankets.
Miss Searle gave d'oyleys.
Mr and Mrs Wilson an embroidered bed spread.
Miss Popsey Wilson gave a portrait.
Miss Miller gave a pedestal vase and china.
Miss Ida Primrose gave table cutlery.
Mr and Mrs W.A.R.Primrose gave a toilet set.
Mr Hugh Primrose gave carvers
The above is only a small number of the guests that attended.
At the time of the wedding Guy was already one of the staff in the estate office of Sandringham House in Norfolk. And was a highly esteemed member of the Sandringham Company 5th Norfolk Regiment. As you can see from the guest list above, the Captain of the Norfolk regiment at that time was Frank Beck. You may recall that this regiment was the subject of a television programme called "All the King's men". This was the company that advanced towards the Turks in 1915 at Gallipoli through a heavy mist and was never seen again.
Guy and Jessie's first born daughter Rita (christened Jessie Rita).
After they married they moved into their first house in Dersingham, not much is known about this house. They had three daughters born here. They were Jessie Rita who was born 7th march 1914, Biddy Moira born 12th June 1916 and Noelle Desiree born 27th July 1918.
Later on they moved into the "West Newton house" at the back of Sandringham House. This house is still very much standing and still has the prince of Wales feathers on a plaque attached to the house (See photo below).
West Newton House
Guy and his family in his De Dion sportscar
While at West Newton House his fourth and final child was born this child was June Amaryllis born on the 25th June 1924.
With his well deserved and hard earned wages Guy was one of the first people in the village to buy a car. This was a De Dion sports car with a dickey seat.
As mentioned earlier Guy Roseberry Primrose was already in service to Sandringham House, gradually he worked his way up to be accountant to King George V and second in command of the Royal Estate.
On the 1st January 1934 he became a Member of the Royal Victorian Order 5th class.
Below is a picture of Guy and Jessie Elizabeth attending a wedding.
Guy and Jessie attending a wedding.
After Guy Rosebery Primrose retired from the position of Estate Clerk and accountant he was given the choice of two grace and favour houses. This was for the service he had put in while working for the royal family. This house was rent free for the rest of his life. He had the choice of either "The Folly" at Sandringham or "Church Farm" at Wolferton.
He chose Church Farm. Below is some photographs of Church Farm. It was a large old farmhouse with a very big kitchen complete with a Aga and was all electric. It had a scullery with a built in copper with a fire underneath it for doing the washing. It had a very large larder that you could walk into. A passageway led to the Dining room, this had large bookshelves on both walls and a very impressive dresser. Inside the room was also two dining room tables, one for adults and one for the children.
Off the Dining room was a door leading to the back garden and another door leading to the lounge. Only Guy went in there to do his writings and work. It had a large desk with two Russian Vases.
Church Farm
Upstairs there was a bedroom and a bathroom to the left and a further three bedrooms to the right. Outside there was a large orchard to the front with numerous outbuildings and a chicken run.
Jessie Elizabeth also known as Buffy bred chickens from here and sold their eggs. Buffy kept herself very busy by growing all her own vegetables and bottled all her own jams. In the larder there was a meat safe but no fridge. It had an ash pit in the back garden and another pit especially for tins. Every Thursday all the tins collected during the week was walked down to the dump.
Queen Mary was a regular visitor to Church Farm and would in fact spend many an hour sitting and talking to Guy. They both shared a great love of antiques.
Guy and Jessie's home - Church Farm at Wolferton.
As for hobbies and pastimes, Guy had quite a few, his main one was genealogy, without that this site would not be like it is today. He travelled all over Norfolk researching the Primrose and Cremer family histories. His other hobby was restoring clocks and watches, no matter what size. His house was full of them.
He was secretary and treasurer of Babingley Club, where he biked every Thursday and spent the day doing the club's account books.
He was also Churchwarden of Wolferton Church and was always at the church on Sunday's.
He died in March 1970 and is buried at Wolferton Church.
I am descended through Guy's and Jessie's daughter Biddy Moira.
I hope you enjoyed this brief but I think interesting life of my Great Grandfather, accountant of King George V and Estate Clerk at Sandringham House Guy Rosebery Primrose.
© Michael and Wendy Bird 2001
Go back to top of page click:- Here
Go to Homepage click:- Here
PRIMROSE FAMILY
Primrose Index click:- Here
Primrose Introduction page click:- Here
Primrose Monumental Inscription page click:- Here
Primrose family pictures click:- Here
Primrose properties click:- Here
Primrose parish records click:- Here
Primrose family tree click:- Here
Primrose families of England & Scotland 1250-1450 click:- Here
CREMER FAMILY
Cremer Index click:- Here
Cremer Introduction page click:- Here
Cremer Monumental Inscription page click:- Here
Cremer Wills page click:- Here
Cremer Parish record pages click:- Here
Cremer family tree click:- Here
Sir John Cremer the life and times click:- Here
