Henry William Dobell
Henry William Dobell
He was Comptopller of Customs, the youngest son of John Dobell, born
8th August 1813 and married Mary Charlotte Smith in 1843.
Their home was Sherard House, Eltham, near London where he
continued to live with his four daughters (Mary Elizabeth, Sarah
Rebecca, Emily Martha and Alice Rose) after Mary Charlotte’s death in
1866.Ten years later he remarried on 24th February 1876. His new wife
was 46yr old spinster, Mary Ann Wood. Henry William died on 2nd
March 1895 aged 81, Mary wood survived him by another 23 years.
Mary Anne
Henry William
The ivy covered back of Sherard, House, Eltham,
where your great grandmother, Alice Rose Dobell
and her three sisters grew up and where, years later,
her children often visited. Your great Aunt (my
mother) Alice Edith Lynde, had fascinating tales to
tell about the grand old house and how, as children,
they explored it’s many rooms and the garden with
it’s summer house and rock arch (painting on front
cover). Then there were the tunnels under the house
which the children believed lead to St James’s Palace
and other exciting places.
The front of Sherard House
View of the back garden from the house looking towards
the summer house and rock arch
This painting shows the view from the
front of Sherard House to the
buildings opposite. Nothing remains
now, only a Sherard Road.
Corner of the summer house
and the rock arch at Sherard
House, Eltham.
Water colour paintings are thought to be
by Alice Rose or one of her sisters
David Mager
Bluetooth’s Apprentice
