Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Rosemary Elsa Burge (302)

1931 –1938

Daughter of architect Bruce Burge and Elsie Burge, died aged 7

Relatives

Bruce Burge — father

Elsie Burge — mother

• James Moir

Rosemary Elsa Burge was the daughter of Bruce and Elsie Burge

Rosemary lived for only 7 years. The bill from funeral directors HJ Matthews Ltd, dated March 1938 for £30 2s details the following:

Funeral of the late Rosemary Elsie Burge

Oak coffin with capping & plinth unpolished trimmed with good Brass furniture. Name plate with Inscription & lid ornaments lined with Swansdown, Side sheets & pillow. Paid men as bearers & attendance.

Hire of Saloon Hearse

Hire of 2 Funeral cars.

Paid Grave & Burial Fees on Terrace (for 4) at Berkhamsted.

Bruce Burge

16/09/1895 –08/07/1992

Architect of the ‘Dutch’ Houses around the Bridgewater Road area.

Relatives

Elsie Burge — wife

Rosemary Elsa Burge (302) — daughter

• Christopher Dolton
• James Moir

BRUCE LEONARD BURGE: 1895- 1990

Although Bruce was never to become a distinguished architect, he did design the elegant “Dutch” houses to be found around the Bridgewater Road area of Berkhamsted.

The “Dutch Houses” in Castle Hill Avenue and Brownlow Road are particularly pretty and distinctive thirties houses. Many have lovely large back gardens and attractive front gardens remain in most cases. They were built from about 1935 to 1939 when war broke out. Some are in virtually original condition even with their original non UPVC cottage windows; some have been tastefully altered; others greatly enlarged. There are two patterns, most of one type and two of another.[1]

Although Bruce lived in Berkhamsted for over 50 years, he was not originally from the town. He was born on the 16^th September 1895 in Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).[2] His father, Mark Burge, was a draper’s assistant from Lincolnshire, who, at the age of 28, set sail from London bound for Colombo, where he started work as a mercantile assistant.

Mark married a local Ceylonese woman, Arabella Maria Rodrique, also known as Bella. Bruce was the oldest of four children born to Bella[3].

Like the children of many expatriates, Bruce was sent home to England to be schooled. In 1911 he was attending school, living in Carlisle, with his paternal grandmother, his aunt Mabel and her husband, Hutchinson Wild.[4] We also know from passenger lists that in 1912 at the age of 16, Bruce sailed out to Colombo. He returned to England, and in the summer of 1914 he passed the Royal Institute of British Architects’ (“RIBA”) preliminary examination. This qualified him for registration with the RIBA as a probationary architect.[5]

Bruce was unable immediately to begin his career as an architect, as on 4^th August war was declared on Germany and Britain’s involvement in World War I began. Bruce joined the 4^th Battalion of the Border (Cumberland and Westmoreland) Regiment as a private soldier. The 4^th Battalion was part of the Territorial Army and in September 1914 it set sail for India,

On arrival in India in December 1914, the 4th Battalion relieved the 1st Battalion of the Regiment at Maymyo in central Burma (Myanmar) and provided a detachment at Mandalay. Some little trouble had for months past been simmering among the tribes who inhabited the Kachin Hills on the Burma frontier, and in January 1915 a wing of the Battalion formed part of a small punitive expeditionary force.[6]

The battalion, and Bruce remained in India throughout the course of the war until 1920. Bruce participated in the brief Afghan War of 1919 and at the end of his army service, having been promoted to the rank of sergeant, he was awarded the India General Service Medal with the Afghanistan North West Frontier 1919 clasp. He was also awarded the Victory Medal, the British War Medal and the 1915 star.

Whilst in India, Bruce joined the Freemasons.

By 1921 he was home and living again in Carlisle with his aunt and grandmother. He resumed his architectural career and was an architect pupil to J. H. Martindale.[7]

On the 28^th December 1926 Bruce married Elsie Napper, a farmer’s daughter. The marriage was celebrated at St John’s Church in the parish of Richmond, Surrey. The couple had four children; Anne Jillian, born in 1928; Rosemary, 1931; Helen, 1939 and Sarah, 1944. Sadly, Rosemary died in 1938 at the age of 7 years. The family must have moved to Berkhamsted sometime between 1931, when Rosemary was born in Bromley, and her death in Berkhamsted in 1938. Rosemary was buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery.

In 1939 Bruce and Elsie were living in Castle Hill Cottage, Berkhamsted.[8]

Elsie died in 1990 and was buried with Rosemary. Bruce joined them when he died on 8^th July 1992 aged 96. Bruce’s effects were valued at £122,493.

Bruce Burge was last person to be buried in the Lower Cemetery on the terrace. A new stone was commissioned in 1993 by the Burge’s daughter, Dr. Jillian Jones, and niece and architect, Susie French to replace the existing stone. The stone is by sculptor Ralph Beyer (1921-2008), who carved ‘Tablet of Words’ at Basil Spence’s new Coventry Cathedral.

Elsie Burge

1903 –1990

Wife of architect Bruce Burge

Relatives

Rosemary Elsa Burge (302) — daughter

Bruce Burge — husband

• James Moir

Elsie Burge (née Nappe) married architect Bruce Burge in 1926 at Richmond. They lived at Castle Hill Cottage, 4 Brownlow Road.

Bruce and Elsie had a daughter, Rosemary, who lived for only 7 years.