Essays in Beekeeping History:
The Abbott Family (Part 1)
Karl Showler
Charles Abbott was called the Beemaster of Southall because of his apicultural activities
CHARLES NASH ABBOTT (1830–1894)
was a key figure in the development
of organized beekeeping in the
British Isles. He was the son of a
successful builder and contractor,
James Andrews Abbott (1792–1863),
a man of restless energy who did
much to develop the then rural
village of Hanwell on the Western
outskirts of London.
James Andrews Abbott was lucky in
that his wife not only received a
wedding present of £500 but she also
inherited a further £1000. These
capital resources enabled him to buy
local farmland and build on it. In
addition he was a contractor for many
of the buildings needed on the Great The Abbott family: back row Stephen, James and Charles, middle row Jemima,
Western Railway between Paddington Ellen and Maud, front row Ellen and Charles Nash Abbott
and Didcot. As time went by he
developed diverse business interests at advantageous prices. Also in those complex arrangement was that Charles
associated directly and indirectly with days customers needed long credit and Ellen were able to give up their
his building work. terms as they were not used to paying butcher's shop, returning to Hanwell to
cash. Therefore as a young man live in the old family home. By thisFIRST ENCOUNTER WITH
Charles faced constant financial time they too had six children: Anne
BEES worries in maintaining a cash flow. Maud, Charles Thomas, James
Indeed he had to write off a Andrews, Elizabeth Ellen Mary (Nellie),
Charles’ first encounter with bees considerable number of bad debts. Stephen Walter and Emily Jemima.
came when he was 10 years old as he On 28 April 1855, Charles married
found and collected a swarm into a flat Charles, now aged 35, joined the staffEllen Bond who gave him considerable
topped skep with an observatory of the large Central London Districtassistance in his various business
window in its side. In the following year School, Hanwell, for pauper childrenventures during their 36 years of
this one skep of bees had increased to which had opened eight years before.married life.
three but sadly they died out over the When Charles arrived at the school he
following winter when Charles was at In 1863 Charles’ father, James, died at met Dr Coster with whom he had a
boarding school in Uxbridge. Spring Lodge Ealing, having made what common bond, an interest in
was called in those days a 'Reasonable beekeeping. Together over the nextBeing of an independent mind like his
Competence'. He owned 41 houses in five years they worked to improve their father, on leaving school Charles
Hanwell and 23 in Ealing. His will was methods and Charles started to makechose to become a butcher serving an
proved with effects under £2000 by and sell beekeeping equipment. apprenticeship with Mr John Hall of
Walter Abbott of Hanwell, StephenSouthall. In 1851, having completed When Dr Coster died in 1870, Charles
Holman of Cannon Street, London, andhis apprenticeship, he opened a was well established as a beekeeper
William Ruston of Brentford. butcher’s shop in Ealing Broadway in writing for the Middlesex County Times,
a property owned by his father. James provided a life interest in the the English Mechanic and World of
Charles claimed in later life that his estate to his surviving six children with Science as well as the prestigious
father kept him short of capital so that his capital reverting to his 15 Journal of Horticulture which had a
he could not buy animals for slaughter grandchildren. The outcome of this national circulation.
Page 18 Bee Craft digital December 2008
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