Oswald Reichel (1840-1923) and A la Ronde
Oswald Reichel (1840-1923) was the only male owner of A la Ronde in its extraordinary history. Breaking the tradition of female ownership defined by Mary Parminter, Reichel left his mark on the house, making A la Ronde into a comfortable home for himself. However, he was embroiled in scandal, his romantic antics becoming a national news story.
This article was made possible with the generous support of Find My Past and their research into the 1921 Census.
Who were the Reichel family?
The Reichel family included generations of religious figures and merchants with international interests. The Reichels and Parminters were instrumental figures within Moravian churches activities, particularly in setting up and maintaining settlements in North America and Britain.1 The Moravian church is one of the oldest sects in Christianity, emphasising evangelism and placing particular value on missionary work.
Oswald’s father, Samuel Reichel (b.1791) , was born in Nazareth, Pennsylvania to Carl and Anna Riechel. Carl Reichel was the head of the Southern provinces (now Georgia) Morovian Church and also held large shares in the Great Western Railway. These were eventually passed down to Oswald Reichel, who later invested in A la Ronde.
Oswald's childhood
Early Years
Oswald was born in Ockbrook, Derbyshire, one of the most significant and still standing Morovian settlements in the UK. He grew up in a well-connected family, surrounded by religious figures and traders; his father was a key figure within the settlement. The above miniature depicts a young Oswald Reichel at age 2 in a white dress holding an ivory teething ring.
Oswald's sister, Stella, was in line for the ownership of A la Ronde before her cousin Lousia Black. However, Stella would grow up to abandon her claim after becoming engaged to Reverend John Lechmere Tudor in 1880. Despite this, she was instrumental in ensuring Oswald's ownership of A la Ronde, buying the deeds from Louisa Black to then sell to Oswald.3
Stella's daughter Margaret Tudor would become the first to open A la Ronde to the public in 1933 after buying the deeds from Oswald’s wife, Julia.
University, the ministry and the affair
Oswald entered into the family tradition of ministers and scholars, studying classics at Queens College, Oxford. This photograph depicts this time. Oswald became well-travelled, moving to Germany and France to study languages. He was ordained for the church of England in 1865 and became Vice-Principal of Cuddesdon college, Oxford.
In 1885, Reichel received a letter from Mrs Niblett, the owner of a Bristol lodging house. Oswald claimed the letter was an attempt at extortion after Mrs Niblett discovered that he had given false names whilst staying with his housemaid at her establishment.
Oswald interpreted this as blackmail and attempted to sue for libel. In court, the full affair was discovered, and the resulting scandal became a national news story, changing Oswald’s life.
The affair reportedly began 14 years before, during an ‘educational’ trip to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit Shakespeare’s grave. It involved multiple trips to Europe, his possible fathering of two children with Miss Caroline King and an attempt at a marriage proposal which she declined. The case was dismissed.
After the trial, Oswald was informed he would have to resign from his parish in Oxford or face Ecclesiastical court. At first unhappy, Oswald threatened to sue the bishop on account of misrepresentation. However, this was quickly dismissed and again caused widespread public interest. Fortunately for Oswald, he was able to retreat to A la Ronde.
Oswald at A la Ronde
Despite Mary Parminter’s stipulation that A la Ronde would only be passed through single ‘Spinster’ women in the family. Oswald retired to the property with his wife, Julia. A ‘dressmaker’ and daughter of a milliner (hatmaker) from Chelsea, Julia was 23 and Oswald was 47.
The above watercolour shows A la Ronde during the ownership of Jane Hurlock, Oswald's aunt. The property is lime washed and the basement entrance had not yet been excavated. Before Oswald’s ownership, the house had remained largely the same since its creation.
During Oswald’s ownership of A la Ronde, he made large-scale structural changes to the house. These changes were largely to modernise the cottage and make it more comfortable, a common architectural theme during this period.
Speaking tubes
Oswald's changes included the installation of speaking tubes throughout the house. A common practice in country houses at the time, these could be used to communicate quickly between owner and servant. These worked via two cones or more simply a whistle connected with a long air pipe which amplified the sound.
Oswald's legacy
During his time at A la Ronde, Oswald wrote regularly, perhaps his greatest passion. In his work we see much of his character. Known as opinionated and stubborn, he would frequently write in to newspapers to weigh in on contemporary issues. For example, the Boer war, treatment of veterans and contemporary political happenings such as women's suffrage and the empire.4 With a particular interest in canon law, he became known as an expert in mediaeval church doctrine and much of his work can still be found and accessed today.5
Oswald died at A la Ronde on 2nd May 1923 at 84. His obituary was published in several newspapers who remembered him as a ‘distinguished scholar and prominent figure … with many public activities in Devon’.6
After Oswald's death, his wife, Julia, took over the management of the estate. She outlived her husband by many years, living in another house on the estate.7 She attempted to sell the land on several occasions, but eventually transferred ownership to Margaret Tudor, daughter of Stella Reichel.
Oswald is still a controversial figure for some due to his breaking of the female ownership clause in his ownership at A la Ronde. However, his changes to the property altered the cottage forever and created the A la Ronde we know and love today.
Where do you stand?
Notes
1. A History of the Moravian Church by J. Taylor Hamilton (1900, Times Publishing Company. P. 207
2. Atwood, Scott Edward (1991). "An Instrument for Awakening": The Moravian Church and the White River Indian Mission. College of William & Mary. p. 7
3. “Reichel, Samuel.” 1841 England, Wales, and Scotland census. Findmypast.co.uk, https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC/1841/0002841765
4. ”Fighting men and shirkers.” Globe, 12 July 1917. The British Library Board, all rights reserved. British Newspaper Archive, accessed: 06 Feb 2023. Indian Centenarians. | Globe | Thursday 12 July 1917 | British Newspaper Archive
5. ”Antiquities of church law.” Western Morning News, 14 July 1922. Reach PLC, image created courtesy of The British Library Board. British Newspaper Archive, accessed: 6 Feb 2023 .Literature. | Western Morning News | Friday 14 July 1922 | British Newspaper Archive
6. ”Eminent scholar – Death of the Rev O J Reichel of Exmouth.” Western Times, 4 May 1923. Reach PLC, image created courtesy of The British Library Board. British Newspaper Archive.
7. ”Reichel, Julia.” Electoral Registers 1910-1932 , Findmypast.co.uk, https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=BL%2FER%2FOCR%2F1B3A71FDEDCDC73A97BD19794F86F928
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