NOSTALGIA: How a present from '˜Ugly' ended up in America

Every month Eastbourne Local History Society receives inquiries via its website (www.eastbournehistory.org.uk) from all over the world '“ from family historians, researchers, academics and authors as well as the mildly curious.
The inscription on the Eastbourne teapotThe inscription on the Eastbourne teapot
The inscription on the Eastbourne teapot

These are passed around the society’s research group, where members are usually able to provide an answer.

This arrangement is a quid pro quo – the society is pleased to help and in return, unknown history is brought to light.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A recent inquiry was from Marc Drogin in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA, an enthusiastic collector of Measham barge ware – gaudy, bespoke pottery produced between 1875-1914 and favoured by folk working the canal barges as presents for themselves, friends and loved-ones.

The collection of Measham pottery, with the Eastbourne teapot on the leftThe collection of Measham pottery, with the Eastbourne teapot on the left
The collection of Measham pottery, with the Eastbourne teapot on the left

The pride of Marc’s collection is a huge 1897 teapot commemorating a centennial.

However, a smaller teapot was acquired during a recent trip – this about one foot tall and designed by William Mason, a potter in South Derbyshire.

It was probably purchased from the china shop in Measham by the canal and bears a curious inscription: ‘Mrs W Jaring, Marine Hotel, Eastbourne, 1895 – A Present from Ugly’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Of course, one of the joys of collecting is unravelling history and adding a human element. So who was Mrs W Jaring? Did she own the hotel? And how about Ugly? Was this the nickname of a tea-loving swain?

The collection of Measham pottery, with the Eastbourne teapot on the leftThe collection of Measham pottery, with the Eastbourne teapot on the left
The collection of Measham pottery, with the Eastbourne teapot on the left

Marc had already been in touch with Eastbourne’s Marine Parade Hotel but to no avail. So could we help to establish the history of this happy but mysterious teapot?

We noted a Royal Marine Hotel at 1 Royal Parade in 1897 (later Hotel Metropole, destroyed on June 4 1943, and now the site of Metropole Court) but this seemed unlikely.

The censuses revealed only 11 people with the name Jaring in the entire country. Ten lived in Norfolk, and one in Lancashire.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Of the 11 Jarings, seven were female but none had a given name beginning with W.

Of the four males, two were William and two were Thomas.

As an aside, there is a village in Essex called Ugley. Members of its Women’s Institute deplore the jokes at their expense.

Alan Smith, author of an upcoming book, Public Houses of Eastbourne - A history of Eastbourne’s public houses and breweries that existed in 1986 or before, reinterpreted the inscription not as Mrs W Jaring’but as Mr S W Jaring.

This was noted by Marc Drogin, who confirmed the pressing of letters was often imprecise. Thus either version was a possibility.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Alan confirmed that today’s Marine pub in Seaside had been the Marine Tavern in 1891 but become the Marine Hotel in 1892. Moreover, the landlord in 1897 was Sydney William Gearing.

An additional snippet was turned up: not only was he the landlord of the Marine Hotel, but also a blacksmith in Langney Road. And this was the end of the line as far as historical research is concerned. All that remained was surmise.

Marc has three theories: the teapot was a leaving present to a Mrs W Jaring, perhaps a barmaid; ‘Jaring’ (albeit misspelt) was a play on words, a nickname for the blacksmith-landlord, no doubt a burly man who would ‘jar up’ any awkward customers; or finally, Ugly was the nickname of a fisherman with bargee connections.

Personally, I am inclined towards Mr SW Gearing but with the name misspelt as part of an in-joke at the pub.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It would be interesting to hear from anyone who has researched the Gearing family.

Or indeed from someone who knows about Ugly.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make our website your homepage at www.eastbourneherald.co.uk

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

2 Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/eastbourne.herald

3 Follow us on Twitter @Eastbournenews

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Eastbourne Herald - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics: