Social Victorians/People/Holden

Also Known As

• Family name: Holden
• Mr. Henry Holden
• Major Holden (1897)
• There is a Holden, Bart., of Oakworth House, Keighley, Yorkshire whose estate was valued at £1,322,273 on his death in 1898
• A Henry Holden seems to have been active in local politics

Timeline

1896 April 27, Monday, Mr. Henry Holden's gift for the wedding of Lady Angela St. Clair Erskine and James Stewart Forbes was a "Silver-mounted salts bottle."

1896 June 29, Monday, Mr. Henry Holden's gift for the wedding of Sir Samuel Scott and Lady Sophie Cadogan was "a shamrock photo frame."

1897 February 26, Friday, the Prince of Wales hosted a Queen's Levee at which a Major Henry Holden and a Major R. Holden were present.

1897 July 2, Friday, Mr. Henry Holden attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House.

1898 March 28, Monday, Henry Holden's name appeared with a wreath for the funeral of Rev. Robert Lacock Story, the card reading "Captain Henry Holden (Bramcote, Notts)."

1898 September 6, Tuesday, Mr. Henry Holden in the ladies and nobleman's stands at the start of the Doncaster race week, Champagne Stakes Day, with a number of other fashionable and high-status people like the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.

1899 May 5, Friday, Mr. Henry Holden attended the funeral of the Duke of Beaufort, listed not among the chief mourners but among the other mourners.

1899 June 2, Friday, Mr. Henry Holden attended the close of the Epsom Summer Meeting, which was also attended by a number of the usual set of people.

1899 June 20, Tuesday, the Daily Telegraph reported that "Mr. Henry Holden caught a chill at Ascot, and is now laid up at the Avondale Hotel."

1899 September 1, Friday, the York Herald reported that Mr. Henry Holden would be at the house party of Mr. E. W. Meckett, M.P., at Kirkstall Grange the following week, held as part of the Doncaster races: the people attending are listed as "H.I.H. the Grand Duke Michael of Russia and Countess Torby, H.H. Prince Francis of Teck, the Marchioness of Anglesey, Hon. George and Mrs. George Keppel, Captain the Hon. R. and Mrs. R. Greville, Major the Hon. E. and Mrs. E. Bourke, Lord Charles Beresford, M.P., Lord Stavordeal [sic, s/b Stavordale], Mr. Henry Holden, and Sir Frederick Milner, M.P., and Lady Milner."

1900 March 12, Monday, if this is the right Mr. Henry Holden — "The funeral of Mr. Henry Holden took place on Monday at Brompton Cemetery. Among those who were present at the graveside were the Earl of Durham, Lord Charles Montagu, Sir Charles Hartopp, Captain Milligan, Mr. Noel Fenwick, Mr. C. Murrieta, and Captain Collier, besides many relatives."

Henry Holden in costume as Will Somers, Court Jester to Queen Elizabeth. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

Costume at the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 Fancy-dress Ball

At the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball, Henry Holden (at 325) was dressed as Will Somers (Court Jester) in the Queen Elizabeth procession. The Gentlewoman calls him Major Holden and gives a little information about his costume: "(jester of Elizabeth's Court), red and cloth of gold."

Lafayette's portrait of "Henry Holden as Will Somers, Court Jester to Queen Elizabeth" in costume is photogravure #54 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "Mr. Henry Holden as Will Somers Court Jester to Queen Elizabeth."

Will Sommers, King Heneryes Jester

Will Sommers was actually the Court Jester for Henry VIII, although he retired during the right of Queen Elizabeth I. Several images exist that include him, but he is not wearing this costume in them. For example, this engraving of Will Sommers, from c. 1618 – before 1624, shows him wearing robes (right).

Demographics

• Nationality:

Family

• Henry Holden (c. 1860? – 8 March 1900?? by 20 April 1901?)

Other Henry Holdens (Trying to Identify Him)

• An actor Mr. Henry Holden was working at this time in London, and also a conductor/composer
• A number of Henry Holdens had run-ins with the law, mostly apparently working class or small shopkeepers, so not likely to be this Henry Holden
• A Henry Holden was an ecclesiastical scholar
• A Henry Holden built dwellings in the city
• A Captain Henry Holden seems to be a generation too old

Questions and Notes

1. In the absence of any information at all, his portrait in the Devonshire House Fancy Dress Ball album makes him look like he might be 40ish? Unlike Muriel Wilson, he doesn't seem to have had a major presence in society journalism.
2. Mr. Henry Holden seems to have had a stable, at least in 1898; he is listed as having for racing colors "Red, old gold sash."
3. A Henry Holden is mentioned as coming and going between England and Ireland, particularly Kingstown, now Dún Laoghaire.
4. Following up from the funeral on 12 March 1900, other notices offer information. From the Globe, "On the 8th inst., at Windsor, Henry Holden, Esq., of 4 Down-street, Piccadilly, son of the late Col. Charles Holden, aged 41." From the Daily Telegraph, "The funeral of Mr. Henry Holden will start from 3, Southwick-street, W., at two o'clock on Monday next. Service at St. John's Church, Paddington. The interment will take place at Brompton Cemetery." From the Hendon & Finchley Times, suggesting that earlier stories about Henry Holden the land developer might be about the right man, "MESSRS. MAPLE AND CO. will sell at the Mart, on Monday, June 2nd, the remaining portion of the freehold building land known as the Woodslde-park estate, North Finchley, by order of the executors under the will of the late Mr. Henry Holden." Other versions of this ad say executrix rather than executors.