The first section is a précis of the initial part of Basil N. Reckitt's book,
entitled "The History of Reckitt and Sons Limited", published in 1951.
The photographs are taken from the book.
The second section is part of a book entitled "Down Memory Lane"
by Elizabeth Dyson, which is an account of her life in Swanland
in the early part of the twentieth century,
with particular reference to Sir James Reckitt and his family.
The Annual General Meeting of the Swanland Heritage Centre took place on Thursday 25th July 2024 at 7pm in the Swanland Village Hall
This year has marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Sir James Reckitt who lived in Swanland Manor, providing employment, housing and recreational facilities to the village. His father Isaac Reckitt was the founder of Reckitt & Sons, subsequently Reckitt & Colman and now Reckitt Benckiser in Dansom Lane.
Sir James Reckitt, the Philanthropist is the subject of a talk, which was given by local historian Mike Covell which followed the SHC AGM. Mike worked with Reckitt's Heritage and The James Reckitt Library Trust to produce an exhibition on the Life Sir James at Hull Central Library earlier this year.
This year has marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Sir James Reckitt who lived in Swanland Manor, providing employment, housing and recreational facilities to the village. His father Isaac Reckitt was the founder of Reckitt & Sons, subsequently Reckitt & Colman and now Reckitt Benckiser in Dansom Lane.
Sir James Reckitt, the Philanthropist is the subject of a talk, which was given by local historian Mike Covell which followed the SHC AGM. Mike worked with Reckitt's Heritage and The James Reckitt Library Trust to produce an exhibition on the Life Sir James at Hull Central Library earlier this year.
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The Audio content of this presentation, by Mike Covell, is available to
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as an MP3 file; it is 60 Megabytes in length and its duration is one hour and five minutes.
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The early history of the Reckitt family and business,
1840 to 1862, Chapters I to IV of Basil Reckitt's book.
In 1835 Charles Middleton built a small starch works on rented land to the east of Sutton Drain in Hull, which included a nitric acid and nitrate of iron works. For family reasons, Charles sold this to Isaac Reckitt, who was living in Nottingham at the time, 1840.
Isaac Reckitt (left) had gathered together money from friends and close relations. For about the first nine years, business was a great struggle as there were many purveyors of starch; the nitrate production was not continued. During this time a blue pigment, known as smalts, was used to whiten the starch. Several new avenues of business were tried including the rearing of pigs for sale.
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Frederic Isaac (left), the surviving eldest son, was keen on helping the business to flourish and became the company chemist. He developed Soluble Starch from potato flour, sago starch and Wheaten starch powder, which the company then sold to the perfumery and confectionery industries. The Great Potato Famine in Ireland (1845-1847) caused the prices of the constituents of Starch to vary wildly, but Reckitts were in a good position to vary these to suit the market, whereas other manufacturers had stuck with only one major component of the starch that they made. |
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In 1843 George persuaded his parents to let him try his hand at selling and crossed the Humber into Lincolnshire on his first journey.
Basil Reckitt writes: Had he not done so, "the startch business of those early days might well have died in its infancy. "He was a man of considerable imagination and strong emotions, a great reader and a conscious stylist in his writing of letters and diaries ... but as a business man his strength was as a salesman, and his persuasive powers seem to have been considerable." George (left) and then James joined the business and set about selling this improved Soluble Starch. As each son joined the company, its name was changed; from Isaac Reckitt Limited to eventually Isaac Reckitt and Sons Limited. Francis was the last to join the sales team. The company started making money. A second product, dietetic arrowroot was introduced. Later George looked after the sales in the southern half of the country and established the London business, which he ran as a completely separate branch of the Company. |
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The importance of advertising was discussed by the three brothers and a variety of types of advertising was tried in about 1850 but with not much early success. Another idea was born out of royal patronage and a package of the Soluble Starch was sent to the Chief Laundress in the Russian Emperor's palace in St. Petersberg (now Leningrad) and another to that of the Emporer Louis Napoleon III of France. Nothing was heard from the Russians, until enquiries were made in London, when a reply was forthcoming that the samples had proved highly satisfactory. The Reckitts brothers jumped at this opportunity to advertise their product as being supplied to the Imperial Laundries. James Reckitt (left) as a young man |
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In 1850 Francis was urging the importance of advertising. At this time he was the company's salesman in the north-east, Yorkshire and Lancashire. In the autumn of 1851 the Great Exhibition took place in the Crystal Place in Hyde Park, London and Reckitts' products were on display together with the royal warrants of appointment. A second corner was turned as their starch was being highly commended for its quality. Francis Reckitt (left) in about 1870 When, in 1917, he died, in his ninetieth year, the Company's Board passed the following resolution: "Mr Reckitt has been most intimately associated with the business from his youth and the great success it has attained is largely to be attributed to his great enterprise as a Founder, Manager, Director and Chairman of the Company." |
The period of the establishment of the business now passed into the development of the business, as ideas for new lines were considered. In 1852 several important products were introduced: 'Laundry Blue' (5 types) and 'Black Lead' (5 types); seven difference types of starches; and arrowroot, a medical cure. Other products that were considered but not acted upon at this time, 1851 to 1862, were: yeast, mustard and special bricks for building houses; biscuits was the only product that was adopted.
More salesmen were taken on to relieve the brothers' efforts. The brothers came back from selling in the country to the Hull office to work on investigating and planning these products, whilst relieving their father, Isaac, of the pressure of running a now much larger business. By 1858 Isaac had paid off all his original debts, which pleased both himself and Ann his wife. Isaac bought a small carriage and a horse, which he used to go visiting friends in the surrounding villages. He was in his late sixties and died suddenly at seventy in 1862.
More salesmen were taken on to relieve the brothers' efforts. The brothers came back from selling in the country to the Hull office to work on investigating and planning these products, whilst relieving their father, Isaac, of the pressure of running a now much larger business. By 1858 Isaac had paid off all his original debts, which pleased both himself and Ann his wife. Isaac bought a small carriage and a horse, which he used to go visiting friends in the surrounding villages. He was in his late sixties and died suddenly at seventy in 1862.
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Basil Reckitt wrote of his great grandparents: "He [Isaac] and Ann held it [the family] together by ties of affection and loyalty, which had a great effect on the way in which the business was built up." Mrs. Hudson, a friend, wrote: "I can visualise the whole scene ... We were taken into the dining room. The table was spread with beautiful dishes of dessert, as they dined early. When we entered the room and were announced, James was standing by the table; his mother was seated, dressed in a handsome grey silk dress, with beautiful white French lace trimmings on the bodice and a white sort of mob cap such as all Quaker ladies wore in those days. By her side stood Kathleen Saunders (soon to be Mrs. James Reckitt) - such a sweet and pretty Quaker girl - I fell in love with her at once. I also thought Mrs. Reckitt was the most beautiful old lady I had ever seen." Ann Reckitt (left) in later years |
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I think a life that is lived well is more to be spoken of than bricks and mortar, so the good that was done by these two Victorian people, the Reckitts[1], is worth writing about. I would like to tell you that they kept a nice staff of indoor servants, and girls. Also men servants were proud to be in such service, well dressed if it was in uniform.
Small lace caps and long cambric streamers hanging from them, beautifully laundered, for the females, and the men in livery, and shining boots, and buttons. When pay time came round, it was more or less their own money, having had a good table to sit at, plenty of good food, no lodgings to pay for. So if pay day came once a month, they could feel their money was free.
As a rule they went home, because a day was given to go where they chose. Some would live a long way off, so would spend a day shopping in the nearest town, but it was their own day. They would get one night out a week; Sunday morning to Church, one week, and afternoon and evening the next. The staff[2] as I remember, consisted of four housemaids, under the guidance of a head housemaid. My word, how stern, and what a training, a girl got from one who was called Sarah; but they were fitted to go into any service, after a training under Sarah. Still she was human, and they had not a bad time; so much for housemaids, five in all. Then there was a parlour maid, a lady's maid and also a sewing maid and a housekeeper. The latter was Miss Pickering when I knew the Manor House. When I say she was there a number of years, you will know the Reckitts were not at all bad to work for; it speaks for itself. The indoor men servants consisted of butler, footman[3], and a page boy. I cannot say how many outdoor gardeners[6], grooms etc. A Mr. Twigg was butler for a number of years and had a very nice lodge at the front entrance of the drive, and at the back entrance drive, the lodge was for a groom.
Now every Christmas all the old ladies and work peoples’ wives, were sent a warm woollen petticoat, and shawls. As soon as one Xmas was over, the maids, under the supervision of a sewing maid, started sewing warm clothes for presents for the next year. No one, I might say, in all the village, was left out, no matter how long or short a time they had been in Swanland, and it was not just for employed people. Oh no! Everybody in the village got these lovely presents including beautiful all wool blankets. I know some have been in use for forty years. Some of us are just parting with old friends. They were indeed the very best wool. I do not think the thoughts of these Christian people knew any bounds; they were Quakers really, but took a great interest in the Congregational Chapel and in the Methodist Chapel as well. I knew of a lady evangelist going to the Manor for a gift for a tea at the Chapel, and a beautiful iced cake came along. If one could really speak with the Lady, no one was turned away.
The other gift to the village at the festive season, was a roast of beef. Oh yes, everyone must have a good joint of prime beef. I say prime because they were beautiful Highland Cattle. Young beasts fed on lovely pasture to brighten someone's home at Xmas. They were brought up especially for the village people. I feel sure you will picture the lovely creatures with their majestic horns. Well that may be, but they can get in the way and be a lot of annoyance even to the beast itself. I am told by a very old family of Swanland, that, on the way to the slaughter house, one went off for a frolic, and turned up to some cottages, and one door being left open, he popped in and got his horns fast in the doorway and he was soon to a full stop, and he had to go to the slaughter house. Oh no, there was not any favourites; he might have thought he would be reprieved, but he had to go with his brothers, and share the same fate. They are all sent for our food and to be presented with a good joint of beef was indeed worth remembering.
Now this generosity did not stop at the village people, it was widespread; for once a year, in the summer time of course, the girls from the Home of fallen girls[4] were invited to spend an afternoon in the grounds of the Reckitts.
I could not describe the beauty of these gardens; they were beyond my description, the vast lawns, rose gardens, and flower beds[5]. I will leave you to picture for yourself. One thing I do know, a lovely afternoon was spent by these girls and guardians in the grounds. Also a sumptuous tea was served, before returning home by charabanc, for that was the conveyance in those days, drawn by well kept horses. Lady Reckitt would ask them to sing her favourite hymn, and to those who lived on the Mill Hill, and stood on one's doorstep, we could hear the lovely strains of the hymn,
Small lace caps and long cambric streamers hanging from them, beautifully laundered, for the females, and the men in livery, and shining boots, and buttons. When pay time came round, it was more or less their own money, having had a good table to sit at, plenty of good food, no lodgings to pay for. So if pay day came once a month, they could feel their money was free.
As a rule they went home, because a day was given to go where they chose. Some would live a long way off, so would spend a day shopping in the nearest town, but it was their own day. They would get one night out a week; Sunday morning to Church, one week, and afternoon and evening the next. The staff[2] as I remember, consisted of four housemaids, under the guidance of a head housemaid. My word, how stern, and what a training, a girl got from one who was called Sarah; but they were fitted to go into any service, after a training under Sarah. Still she was human, and they had not a bad time; so much for housemaids, five in all. Then there was a parlour maid, a lady's maid and also a sewing maid and a housekeeper. The latter was Miss Pickering when I knew the Manor House. When I say she was there a number of years, you will know the Reckitts were not at all bad to work for; it speaks for itself. The indoor men servants consisted of butler, footman[3], and a page boy. I cannot say how many outdoor gardeners[6], grooms etc. A Mr. Twigg was butler for a number of years and had a very nice lodge at the front entrance of the drive, and at the back entrance drive, the lodge was for a groom.
Now every Christmas all the old ladies and work peoples’ wives, were sent a warm woollen petticoat, and shawls. As soon as one Xmas was over, the maids, under the supervision of a sewing maid, started sewing warm clothes for presents for the next year. No one, I might say, in all the village, was left out, no matter how long or short a time they had been in Swanland, and it was not just for employed people. Oh no! Everybody in the village got these lovely presents including beautiful all wool blankets. I know some have been in use for forty years. Some of us are just parting with old friends. They were indeed the very best wool. I do not think the thoughts of these Christian people knew any bounds; they were Quakers really, but took a great interest in the Congregational Chapel and in the Methodist Chapel as well. I knew of a lady evangelist going to the Manor for a gift for a tea at the Chapel, and a beautiful iced cake came along. If one could really speak with the Lady, no one was turned away.
The other gift to the village at the festive season, was a roast of beef. Oh yes, everyone must have a good joint of prime beef. I say prime because they were beautiful Highland Cattle. Young beasts fed on lovely pasture to brighten someone's home at Xmas. They were brought up especially for the village people. I feel sure you will picture the lovely creatures with their majestic horns. Well that may be, but they can get in the way and be a lot of annoyance even to the beast itself. I am told by a very old family of Swanland, that, on the way to the slaughter house, one went off for a frolic, and turned up to some cottages, and one door being left open, he popped in and got his horns fast in the doorway and he was soon to a full stop, and he had to go to the slaughter house. Oh no, there was not any favourites; he might have thought he would be reprieved, but he had to go with his brothers, and share the same fate. They are all sent for our food and to be presented with a good joint of beef was indeed worth remembering.
Now this generosity did not stop at the village people, it was widespread; for once a year, in the summer time of course, the girls from the Home of fallen girls[4] were invited to spend an afternoon in the grounds of the Reckitts.
I could not describe the beauty of these gardens; they were beyond my description, the vast lawns, rose gardens, and flower beds[5]. I will leave you to picture for yourself. One thing I do know, a lovely afternoon was spent by these girls and guardians in the grounds. Also a sumptuous tea was served, before returning home by charabanc, for that was the conveyance in those days, drawn by well kept horses. Lady Reckitt would ask them to sing her favourite hymn, and to those who lived on the Mill Hill, and stood on one's doorstep, we could hear the lovely strains of the hymn,
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Let us gather up the sunbeams
Lying all around our path, Let us keep the wheat and roses Casting out the thorns and chaff Let us find our sweetest comfort In the blessings of to-day With a patient hand removing All the briars from the way. CHORUS. Then scatter seeds of kindness Then scatter seeds of kindness Then scatter seeds of kindness For our reaping by and by. |
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Can you, dear reader, recall anything so lovely as these strains of the girls’ voices echoing over the village. It was more sleepy in those days, but probably I should not say sleepy: I mean quiet and Victorian. I am sure the singing was a sermon to anyone who chose to stop and listen. For a day, those girls were not fallen but uplifted, and I am sure it would set them thinking for a better life, to say nothing of those who listened. I for one got a seed dropped on good ground, for I could not forget the beauty of song.
I do think these stories are worth writing about, for I have only about half related the good times the Reckitts arranged for the village people, also remembering those not so fortunate. The Salvation Army were given a treat once a year, and a seed was sown on good soil, for the writer remembers part of a band selection and the men singing,
You'll be sorry you worried at all tomorrow morning.
I was always sorry I could not remember the whole of the chorus, but it was sufficient to send me thinking, for many years, and the refrain of the band, and the hearty singing was indeed a tonic.
August Bank Holiday every year was a day one could not easily forget. For these many years, it is a day we older people of Swanland can look back upon with joy[7]. Everyone in the village got an invitation from Lady Reckitt to a flower show, to be held in a field adjoining the lovely gardens. It is with great joy I say this day of all days, was entirely financed by Sir James Reckitt, and what a show. The gardens were thrown open to all who attended.
The most lovely thought of all, was to invite the orphan boys from Hull to play selections, and what lovely music[8]. It was indeed a lovely time out for the boys and their leaders. The tea provided and laid out in a large marquee, was looked forward to eagerly from year to year, so long as those two Christian people lived. I must tell you what was laid out for the working people of the village. No expense was spared; I do not think it ever entered their minds.
The home cured hams were luscious indeed and everyone had as much as they could eat and enjoy. The hams were cured on their own farm and they had a special way of curing. I would like you to picture the tea table. I fancy I can taste the bread and butter to this day; brown and white with farm butter on; only the very best remember, was for Swanland people. The cakes were a picture, almost every kind, and I feel sure our Mrs Heron had a finger in that pie. She was for many years cook, and I am sure I could add a big question mark to how many eggs were used and how much fresh butter. I wonder, dear reader, if you can picture the table, and taste the lovely fare.
In another marquee were the village exhibits and lovely prizes to be won. I would like to know how many prizes Mr. Charlie Dennett won, for I can describe him as a gardener of renown, a green fingered gardener indeed. No one must talk to Mr. Dennett[6] for quite a few days before the show unless you wanted your head snapped off. He was so intent on the lovely produce he had tended with care so many months before. You, dear reader, might remember many of the exhibitors better than I can, so this will probably set you thinking, so you can form your own picture. So much for the Bank Holiday “Flower Show”, a day one could not easily forget.
In the year 1914 came a terrible war no one likes to remember, but I like to remind myself of yet another great act of kindness by the Reckitts. Our living conditions got very bad as everyone will know, so Sir James[9] thought of a way to help. He ordered margarine, flour, beans, in large quantities, for every needy person, including every soldier's wife; each got a nice parcel, picked up each week from the village shop. I will leave you to imagine what a great help those things were, and it continued long after the war, until things got a little better. I would like to add, what a boon it was to the housewife, to have this lovely gift for fetching.
I do not think this picture would be complete, if I did not describe the two granddaughters of the Reckitts; daughters of Mr. Phillip Reckitt of Sutton. These two daughters, when only small children, came to visit often at the Manor. I do hope the reader can picture two drip dry white ponies. They were immaculately groomed, and a little girl on each one, a black velvet jockey cap and scarlet jacket; a picture I am sure worthy of keeping in one’s mind. To say flaxen haired pretty girls, trotting through the village, is a very poor picture for the writer to describe. I hope the reader can paint his own picture, nearer the beauty of those ponies and little girls.
To close the picture of these Christian people, Sir James and Lady Reckitt have built to their memory, a beautiful village hall[10] for everyone to enjoy. A fitting memorial but certainly not too much for all the good I have tried to describe, done in this village.
The next generation[12], Sir Phillip, came to reside at the Manor house, on the death of his parents. They had a family of the two daughters I have been describing, and a son named James. It is with sorrow one has to recall the death of James at the tender age of sixteen. He, it was thought, would be the next Sir James, to keep up the devotion to Swanland, as the grandparents had done for so many years; but it was not to be. After that tragic happening, the Reckitts, I could imagine, had felt the blow, and the Manor House had lost its beauty for the family.
Those who knew it, would say little wonder for however much one possesses of this world’s goods, they are human beings, with a heart that feels. That sad story ended the life of the stately old Manor[11]; sad to say it was pulled down. It was not the end of the lovely grounds and gardens. One can still see lovely gardens, but the writer feels I must close my story, on a note that every villager knew: the Reckitts were living here for no one was left out, if in any need at all.
I could relate many more stories of their goodness. No one who knew these people will ever forget, and a landmark will remain for many years to come, and why not?
I do think these stories are worth writing about, for I have only about half related the good times the Reckitts arranged for the village people, also remembering those not so fortunate. The Salvation Army were given a treat once a year, and a seed was sown on good soil, for the writer remembers part of a band selection and the men singing,
You'll be sorry you worried at all tomorrow morning.
I was always sorry I could not remember the whole of the chorus, but it was sufficient to send me thinking, for many years, and the refrain of the band, and the hearty singing was indeed a tonic.
August Bank Holiday every year was a day one could not easily forget. For these many years, it is a day we older people of Swanland can look back upon with joy[7]. Everyone in the village got an invitation from Lady Reckitt to a flower show, to be held in a field adjoining the lovely gardens. It is with great joy I say this day of all days, was entirely financed by Sir James Reckitt, and what a show. The gardens were thrown open to all who attended.
The most lovely thought of all, was to invite the orphan boys from Hull to play selections, and what lovely music[8]. It was indeed a lovely time out for the boys and their leaders. The tea provided and laid out in a large marquee, was looked forward to eagerly from year to year, so long as those two Christian people lived. I must tell you what was laid out for the working people of the village. No expense was spared; I do not think it ever entered their minds.
The home cured hams were luscious indeed and everyone had as much as they could eat and enjoy. The hams were cured on their own farm and they had a special way of curing. I would like you to picture the tea table. I fancy I can taste the bread and butter to this day; brown and white with farm butter on; only the very best remember, was for Swanland people. The cakes were a picture, almost every kind, and I feel sure our Mrs Heron had a finger in that pie. She was for many years cook, and I am sure I could add a big question mark to how many eggs were used and how much fresh butter. I wonder, dear reader, if you can picture the table, and taste the lovely fare.
In another marquee were the village exhibits and lovely prizes to be won. I would like to know how many prizes Mr. Charlie Dennett won, for I can describe him as a gardener of renown, a green fingered gardener indeed. No one must talk to Mr. Dennett[6] for quite a few days before the show unless you wanted your head snapped off. He was so intent on the lovely produce he had tended with care so many months before. You, dear reader, might remember many of the exhibitors better than I can, so this will probably set you thinking, so you can form your own picture. So much for the Bank Holiday “Flower Show”, a day one could not easily forget.
In the year 1914 came a terrible war no one likes to remember, but I like to remind myself of yet another great act of kindness by the Reckitts. Our living conditions got very bad as everyone will know, so Sir James[9] thought of a way to help. He ordered margarine, flour, beans, in large quantities, for every needy person, including every soldier's wife; each got a nice parcel, picked up each week from the village shop. I will leave you to imagine what a great help those things were, and it continued long after the war, until things got a little better. I would like to add, what a boon it was to the housewife, to have this lovely gift for fetching.
I do not think this picture would be complete, if I did not describe the two granddaughters of the Reckitts; daughters of Mr. Phillip Reckitt of Sutton. These two daughters, when only small children, came to visit often at the Manor. I do hope the reader can picture two drip dry white ponies. They were immaculately groomed, and a little girl on each one, a black velvet jockey cap and scarlet jacket; a picture I am sure worthy of keeping in one’s mind. To say flaxen haired pretty girls, trotting through the village, is a very poor picture for the writer to describe. I hope the reader can paint his own picture, nearer the beauty of those ponies and little girls.
To close the picture of these Christian people, Sir James and Lady Reckitt have built to their memory, a beautiful village hall[10] for everyone to enjoy. A fitting memorial but certainly not too much for all the good I have tried to describe, done in this village.
The next generation[12], Sir Phillip, came to reside at the Manor house, on the death of his parents. They had a family of the two daughters I have been describing, and a son named James. It is with sorrow one has to recall the death of James at the tender age of sixteen. He, it was thought, would be the next Sir James, to keep up the devotion to Swanland, as the grandparents had done for so many years; but it was not to be. After that tragic happening, the Reckitts, I could imagine, had felt the blow, and the Manor House had lost its beauty for the family.
Those who knew it, would say little wonder for however much one possesses of this world’s goods, they are human beings, with a heart that feels. That sad story ended the life of the stately old Manor[11]; sad to say it was pulled down. It was not the end of the lovely grounds and gardens. One can still see lovely gardens, but the writer feels I must close my story, on a note that every villager knew: the Reckitts were living here for no one was left out, if in any need at all.
I could relate many more stories of their goodness. No one who knew these people will ever forget, and a landmark will remain for many years to come, and why not?
References and notes
Clicking on the green links below will take you to photographs in the Photo Galleries on this website and will open in a separate window. Click here to return to the top of this text.
[1] Sir James and Lady Reckitt being presented with a memento
[2] The staff
[3] Front door of Swanland Manor, showing the coachman's livery
[4] The term ‘fallen girls’ refers to unmarried girls who became pregnant. At the time they were generally deemed to be delinquent and frequently institutionalised, some indefinitely.
[5] The walled garden at Swanland Manor
[6] The Gardeners at Swanland Manor
[7] A garden party at the Manor in 1932
[8] The ‘lovely music’ was provided by the band of the Sailors’ Children’s Society whose homes were at Newland, Hull. Sir James was President of the Society from 1905 until his death in 1924.
[9] Sir James Reckitt
[10] The first village hall that Sir James Reckitt had built in the early 1920s was on West End. This should not be confused with the brick-built hall that was erected by Sir Philip Reckitt in the 1930s, in memory of his father, Sir James, and his prematurely deceased son (also James, aged 16). The latter building was called the James Reckitt Memorial Hall and was located on Tranby Lane. It was not to remain (in Elizabeth’s words) ‘a landmark for many years to come’.
Following its integration into the new primary school in 1970, this building’s function was replaced by the present James Reckitt Memorial Hall on land lying just to the north of the school.
[11] Swanland Manor, folder of images of the Manor
[12] The Reckitt's family tree. This was taken from Basil N. Reckitt's book "The history of Reckitt and Sons Limited"
Clicking on the green links below will take you to photographs in the Photo Galleries on this website and will open in a separate window. Click here to return to the top of this text.
[1] Sir James and Lady Reckitt being presented with a memento
[2] The staff
[3] Front door of Swanland Manor, showing the coachman's livery
[4] The term ‘fallen girls’ refers to unmarried girls who became pregnant. At the time they were generally deemed to be delinquent and frequently institutionalised, some indefinitely.
[5] The walled garden at Swanland Manor
[6] The Gardeners at Swanland Manor
[7] A garden party at the Manor in 1932
[8] The ‘lovely music’ was provided by the band of the Sailors’ Children’s Society whose homes were at Newland, Hull. Sir James was President of the Society from 1905 until his death in 1924.
[9] Sir James Reckitt
[10] The first village hall that Sir James Reckitt had built in the early 1920s was on West End. This should not be confused with the brick-built hall that was erected by Sir Philip Reckitt in the 1930s, in memory of his father, Sir James, and his prematurely deceased son (also James, aged 16). The latter building was called the James Reckitt Memorial Hall and was located on Tranby Lane. It was not to remain (in Elizabeth’s words) ‘a landmark for many years to come’.
Following its integration into the new primary school in 1970, this building’s function was replaced by the present James Reckitt Memorial Hall on land lying just to the north of the school.
[11] Swanland Manor, folder of images of the Manor
[12] The Reckitt's family tree. This was taken from Basil N. Reckitt's book "The history of Reckitt and Sons Limited"
