Last
night BBC1 showed the first episode of the new series of WDYTYA (Who Do You Think
You Are) and featured Una Stubbs whose grandfather, it turned out, was Ebenezer
Howard, the founder of the Garden City movement. I can now add to that information, and they
didn’t mention this in the programme, that I am distantly related to a member
of the movement.
Ewart
Gladstone Culpin, my second cousin three times removed, was born on 3 December
1877 in Stevenage, Herts, the son of Benjamin, a currier, and Eliza (nee
Matthews). In 1881 the family was in
Stevenage and moved to Hitchin by 1891.
Having been schooled at Alleyns School & Hitchin Grammar, Ewart next
appears on the 1901 census in Newport, Monmouthshire, aged 23, a journalist/author. In 1903 he married Nora Driver in Royston,
Herts. Living in Letchworth Garden City
in 1909, they had moved to Ilford by 1911 – where they gave their house the
name “Letchworth". After the Great
War he founded The Culpin Partnership, an architectural company. He died on 1 December 1946 in London.
“Who’s
Who” filled in a few more details: JP,
FRIBA; Officier de l'Ordre de la Couronne de la Belgique; Grand Officer of the
Crown of Roumania; Commander of Order of the Black Star of Benin; Trustee,
Official Czech Refugee Trust Fund. Work:
Sec. Garden City Association 1905; Founded International Garden Cities and Town
Planning Association 1907; President Societe Belge pour la reconstruction de la
Belgique; Chairman, Standing Conference on London Regional Planning, 1926
-1946. Labour candidate North Islington,
1924; Alderman, LCC,; Vice-Chm, LCC, 1934-1937; Chairman, 1938-1939; Pres.
Incorporated Assoc of Architects and Surveyors, 1930; Pres. TPI,
1937-1938. Publications: A number of
booklets on Housing and Town Planning.
And,
finally, Ewart wrote the following letter which appeared in The Times on 7
August 1908:
The Town Planning Bill
Sir,
I should be obliged if you would give publicity to the fact that the
Garden City Association is prepared to arrange for speakers at meetings and
conferences on the subject of town planning during the autumn and winter
months.
The entire services of Mr Ebenezer Howard, well known throughout the
country as the founder of the premier example of town planning, Letchworth
Garden City, have been secured for this purpose and I shall be glad to receive
applications from any societies, institutions or individuals interested in the
matter.
It is felt that it is urgently necessary to educate the public of the
country as to the importance of town planning, and so prepare the way for
useful work being undertaken when the present Bill becomes law.
Yours faithfully
Ewart G Culpin
Secretary, Garden City Planning Assocation
602 Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Holborn, WC”
Looking
forward to next week’s episode…….
More soon.
