Image ID: 06195

Pedlar's Way', No 2 Church Street, Farndon

Courtesy of Reg Baker

Church Street
Farndon
England

This photograph is taken looking north east along Church Street. The house was formerly known as No 2 Church Street, but was renamed 'Pedlar's Way' in the 1950's owing to the belief that the footpath running beside in (see public footpath signs in the picture) was a pedlar's path. In the early 1900's the house was owned by Mr Lewis Ransome (a director of A Ramsome and Co., later Ransome and Marles' bearing factory in Newark) and his wife, Jessie. As Jessie Bond (1853-1942) Mrs Ransome had been a star of the musical theatre in London, being one of the original and most popular performances in Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Savoy Operas' with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. Jessie Bond (as she continued to be known throughout her time at Farndon) had retired from the stage in 1897 and moved to Farndon with her husband in 1900. Jessie Bond appeared in the very first run of Gilbert and Sullivan's third successful comic opera, 'H M S Pinafore'. She was tutored personally by W S Gilbert who modified the role of Hebe for her, and later created for her the role of Pitti Sing in 'The Mikado' (1885) and the title role of 'Iolanthe' (1882). She took a leading role in the original production of 'Patience' (1881) and was cast as the very first Phoebe in 'Yeoman of the Guard'. She had met Lewis Ransome in 1885 whilst appearing in the first London run of 'The Mikado'. At the time the Ransome factory was located in King's Road Chelsea and Lewis Ransome, then in his early 20's was an avid theatre-goer. He was so enthralled by Jessie's performance as Pitti Sing in 'The Mikado' that when, sometime later, he found they were both attending the same party, he wasted no time in effecting an introduction. He began courting Jessie with vigour and proposed to her more than once- only to receive the same rebuff: that she would not consider marriage until she left the stage. Ransome replied that he would wait - and wait he did for 12 years. It was not until 1896 at the age of 43. And severely ill after 20 years of almost nightly performances, that Jessie announced her retirement from the stage. Fittingly, her last professional appearance was as Pitti Sing in a revival of 'The Mikado'. It had been the role that had introduced her to Ransome and now it was to launch her years as wife to one of the most successful businessman of the age. Jessie Bond and Lewis Ransome were married in May 1897 and spent three happy years in London. While Lewis attended to business at the family's factory in Chelsea, Jessie entertained her new neighbours and theatrical friends with musical soirees and dinner parties. The factory lease on the Chelsea site ran out in 1900 and, proving too expensive to renew, a cheaper location was sought. The site chosen was at Beacon Hill in Newark and as a consequence of the relocation, Mr and Mrs Ransome also moved to the area. 'I did not fail to assure my long-suffering husband' she later recalled, 'that I would never have married him if I had known he would take me away from London.' Despite such initial misgivings she soon settled down to her new rural existence interesting herself in organising productions by the Newark Amateur Dramatic Society and occasionally singing at charity concerts in the town. Twenty or so happy years passed in this manner until two days after their silver wedding, Lewis Ransome succumbed to a long-standing illness caused by a motor accident some years earlier. He was buried at Newark Cemetery in May 1922. Jessie Bond remained at their Farndon home for two more years until her reduced circumstances could no longer support nor justify the upkeep of such a large house. She moved to Newark and later retired to Worthing in 1942. She died at Worthing in the same year. For further information see Jessie Bond's autobiography, 'The Life and Reminiscences of Jessie Bond: The Old Savoyard: as told be herself to Ethel MacGeorge'.

Date: 09/10/1979

Organisation Reference: NCCE000985

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