The Hastings and St Leonards Observer was typical among Victorian seaside resort newspapers in reporting the arrivals and other activities of ‘fashionable’ visitors to St Leonards. An unusual surname means that it is possible to see just how devoted a family could be to visiting the town. There are gaps, due either to the digitised image not picking up the short surname or to the newspaper omitting a mention of arrival. Departures were much less likely to be mentioned. Staying for the winter was common, as a combination of breezes and a lack of coal fires, as in big towns, was considered good for the health.
In this post we have the example of the Devas family. This blog already has a post on another family, The Auldjo family: winter visitors to Marina and Warrior Square.
Dated citations are to the Observer as HSLO or to a few other, named newspapers. Some references are summarised rather than verbatim. Sometimes we are not told which Devas family was visiting.
14 November 1848. Sussex Advertiser. Subscribers to Southall’s Library included Mr and Mrs Devas, 2 Seymour Place (an address later absorbed into Grand Parade).
In the 30 March 1851 census, at 15 Marina, the household consisted of Charles F. Devas, married, 25, born Surrey Dulwich, his wife Leonora, 28, born London, daughter Hester, 9 months, born London, and four servants (one a footman). He was the eldest son of Thomas Devas, a copper smelter who died at Dulwich in 1860. The same Charles was the executor to his father’s £50000 estate, equivalent to over five million pounds today.
27 September 1873. HSLO. Mr and Mrs Devas and family have taken 6 The Mount for the winter months.
7 November 1874. HSLO. Mr and Mrs Horace Devas of Sponden Hall, Derby, have taken Aland House, The Mount, for the winter. Horace was the second son of the same Thomas Devas the copper smelter.
9 Jan 1875. Southeastern Advertiser. Mr Devas was one of over 100 guests at a ball held by Mrs Kay-Shuttleworth ‘at the residence of our junior member, 35, Warrior-square.’ The hostess’ husband, Ughtred, later 1st Baron Shuttleworth, was a Liberal MP, 1869-80, at a time when Hastings returned two MPs, the other being Thomas Brassey, also a Liberal. The Devas and Shuttleworth families may have been related, as Horace Devas’ wife was born Ann Shuttleworth Holden.
10 Feb 1877. HSLO. Arrivals. Mr and Mrs Devas, 110 Marina.
6 July 1878. HSLO. Arrivals. Mr and Mrs Devas, 132 Marina.
23 November 1878. HSLO. Arrivals. Mr and Mrs Devas, 6 The Mount.
11 January 1879. HSLO. Mr and Mrs Devas attended the Christmas ball, Assembly Rooms.
15 November 1879. HSLO. Mr and Mrs Devas of Spondon Hall, Derby, have taken 6 The Mount from the 27th for the winter. This must be Horace’s family, as Spondon Hall was his main residence.
3 January 1880. South Eastern Advertiser. Among the 120 who paid to attend the St Leonards Christmas Ball at the Assembly Rooms were Mrs Devas, Miss Devas, and Mr E. Devas. Probably Horace’s family, as he had a son named Edward.
12 November 1881. HSLO. Mr and Mrs Horace Devas, of Spondon Hall, Derby, have taken 78 Marina for the winter and are expected on the 17th inst.
6 September 1884. South Eastern Advertiser. Death on the 23 August, at 39 Kenilworth Road, of Winifred Maud Devas, infant, daughter of Thomas Ernest and Gertrude Devas, aged 10 months. She was born and buried at Chislehurst. The father was a first cousin of Charles and Horace Devas.
30 October 1886. HSLO. Mr and Mrs Horace Devas, of Spondon Hall, Derby, will return to 91 Marina early in November.
15 December 1888. South Eastern Advertiser. Mr and Mrs Devas were among 15 guests who ‘were entertained at dinner by Mr G.V. Hill, of St Leonards.’ This was Gustavus Hill, who in the 1891 census was at 57 Marina, a 67-year-old bachelor living on his own means, born Bedford, with five servants.
16 January 1892. HSLO. Mrs Wilson Noble’s “At home” at the Royal Concert Hall (near Warrior Square), St Leonards. Music and a huge meal, numerous guests including Mr and Mrs Devas and Mr Horace Devas. According to the 1911 census, Mrs Noble was born in Paris but as an American citizen, who became British on marriage. Her father was an artist, William Parsons Winchester Dana, who later also became a British citizen. Her husband Wilson Noble was the Conservative MP for Hastings, 1886-1895. They had moved to 43 Warrior Square in 1884.
29 Oct 1892. HSLO. Mr and Mrs Horace of Spondon Hall, Derby, have taken 91 Marina for the winter, and are expected on November 3rd.
Although this list has many gaps, and some uncertainty as to which Devas family was involved, it does reveal a little of what their lives were like.