More records of interest from the Dorset History Centre records relating to the Mansel family – hoping to visit one day and see these:

Records from the Trenchard estate 1665-1920: Records relating mainly to the Pleydel-Mansell family and their estates in Dorset. The collection consists mainly of family papers and correspondence with some deeds, estate papers and documents relating to public office

From her daughter Louisa Mansel written immediately after her marriage to John Mansel, and during her honeymoon, 1815. One later letter mentions her twin sons, born 1817 – only part of letter existing.. 1815-1817 {D-TRD/C/16}

From her daughter Margaretta, with one written partly by Louisa. Some from Wales during Louisa’s honeymoon, and others from Bath. 1815-1824 {D-TRD/C/17}

Louisa Mansel. c.1815-1858 {D-TRD/C/23-25}

From Douglas W Stuart and J C Mansel regarding probate of William Pleydell’s will, sale of furniture and effects and lease of Eagle House at Blandford, and property in Twickenham. 1840-1846 {D-TRD/C/28}

Correspondence with J C Mansel, Thomas Bond, Giles Daubeney (rector of Lydiard Tregoze, Wilts), Revd Hardwick-Shute (vicar of Great Milton), H C Cherrie (rector of Burghfield), G Graham and her niece Emma, all concerning genealogy of Clavell, Morton and Pleydell families. One of Bond’s mentions letters from widow of Sir John Morton (see D/TRD/C2) in his possession. Some written as part of preparation of pedigrees for 3rd edition Hutchins “History and Antiquities of Dorset”. 1851-1862 {D-TRD/C/29}

From J C Mansel when he was 86, a year before his death. 1862 {D-TRD/C/33}

When I was searching the Kent Archives and Local History site for any mention of the Mansel family it returned hits for Nepicar House, Wrotham Heath. Was this the home of Eliza Mansel and then her son John Bell William Mansel?

The record for 1929 was titled Mansel Nepicar Estate, this was in the business papers and books of H.G. Henbrey, auctioneer and estate valuer.

When I searched online for anything relating to Nepicar House, London Road, I found the following:

Grade II listed:

House. Circa 1700 front added to earlier block at rear which was itself remodelled for the Reverend Sandford Bailey in circa 1856 by William Burges. Red and blue brick chequer on plinth of coursed stone blocks. Brick band. Heavy moulded modillion eaves cornice to steep hipped plain tiled roof with 2 small leaded hipped dormers. Two wide brick ridge stacks. Two storeys, basement and attic; symmetrical 5 window facade, glazing bar sashes, those on ground floor C19 with thin glazing bars. Blocked basement–window heads in plinth. Central panelled doubled doors with large rectangular overlight. Four steps up to entrance with ornamental cast-iron hand-rail. Projecting semi-circular hood over entrance with shell ornament and in centre plaster relief of bear. Carved foliated supporting console brackets. Rear of the block has 2 large gables. Gabled 2-storey brick wing behind with door to north topped by enriched armorial decoration. Interior. Panelled hall and passage behind off early C18 staircase with Salamonic balusters, probably moved. One pilastered panelled room to right of hall. This building in 1980 won an R.I.B.A. prize for conservation of historic buildings and has a long and low late 1970’s brick and smoked glass office wing attached on the south side.

At some point this year I’m hoping to make a visit to The London Archives. As I try to look outside of Ancestry for historical records I discovered that other archives have records which would add to my understanding of my family.

So far I’ve located the following records of interest:

Draft bond of City of London to pay an annuity of £4.10.0 to Benjamin Hopkins. Dated 1778/Middlesex Sessions of the Peace/County Administration. Reference MA/S/275

Insured Jane Thompson, London Wall, callenderer in trust, and Caroline Bond Hopkins, spinster. Dated Nov 19 1791/Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Group.
Reference CLC/B/192/F/001/MS11936/381/592506

Insured Benjamin Bond Hopkins, Paines Hill near Cobham, Surrey, esq.
Date Nov 26 1794/ Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Group
Reference CLC/B/192/F/001/MS11936/400/634801

Insured Benjamin Bond Hopkins Esq.
Date Jan 3 1814/ Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Group
Reference CLC/B/192/F/001/MS11936/462/889397

Insured xx executor Benjamin Bond Hopkins deceased
Feb 26 1838/ Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Group
Reference CLC/B/192/F/001/MS11936/563/1269625

Insured xx in trust for Caroline Bond Hopkins, Grosvenor Square, Spinster
Date Feb 13 1790/ Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Group
Reference CLC/B/192/F/001/MS11936/366/566242

Insured xx Benjamin Bond Hopkins
Date Aug 28 1790/Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Group
Reference CLC/B/192/F/001/MS11936/370/573126

I’ve never visited The London Archives before (what was The London Metropolitan Archives) and am excited to do proper research away from a computer screen.