THE SPRINGBETT FAMILY

Eleanor Rosa Springbett was born at ‘The Mill House’ in the village of Wilsford (Pewsey Vale), daughter of Thomas and Frances Springbett. One of 11 living in the house at the time of the 1851 Census. Eleanor was baptised at North Newton on the 12th November, 1848.

We understand Eleanor, was an apprentice from the age of 12 years, to an Uncle who was a Silk Mercer in Salisbury. She went on to London where she continued as an apprentice in a millinery business, eventually becoming the owner. The business made hats and straw hats and included the Court amongst it’s customers at 293 Regent Street. Eleanor married Frederick Trehawke Davies in The Strand in 1878. Frederick was an Alderman with Marylebone Council and from ‘Grace’s Guide to British Industrial History’, we know in 1891 at the age of 38, he was a Solicitor’s Clerk. We believe Eleanor later emigrated to New Zealand and died in Dunedin.

Eleanor and Frederick had a daughter; Eleanor Josephine Trehawke Davies (1880 - 1915) born in St. Pancras, London. She became an English Aviator and the first woman to fly across the English Channel and to have ‘looped the loop’ (Hendon, Jan 1914) in an aircraft. She flew her planes at nearby Upavon Airfield which became Trenchard Lines and RAF Airfield in World War 1. Eleanor died (reportedly of natural causes having suffered lifelong health problems ) on the 22nd November 1915, at the time living in Portland Place. Her death was not reported, at her request, until January 1916. She left a considerable fortune to two members of the Springbett family resident in Wiltshire. Details of the sale of her jewellery was subsequently reported in The Times.

The Springbett family have links to the wine merchants in Australia, who make annual visits to Wilsford.