Kathleen Estelle GATAKER [24231]

  General Notes:

Kathleen Estelle Gataker
Birth Date:7 Sep 1905
Birth Place:Queensland
Registration Year:1905
Registration Place:Queensland, Australia
Father:Walter Reynardson Gataker
Mother:Sarah Kathleen Millis
Page Number:9062
Registration Number:001022

(Copy of letter from Kathleen Christie Miller (Daughter of Walter Gataker, Albion, Brisbane) London 12.9.52
Dear Pop,
Now I have made my pilgrimage to Gatacre Hall, and believe me the word pilgrimage aptly describes my journey there. I left London at II a.m. arriving at Claverley at 5.30 p.m. My object in going to Claverley first was not so much to see the little village, but the Church which contains the Gatacre Chapel, and with which the family have been associated since the reign of Henry II, and perhaps previous to that. There are many burial places which are unidentified, but in the Chapel is the grave of Sir William Gatacre and his wife Helen (1577) and that of Francis and his wife Elizabeth. Also there is a marble tomb and effigies of Sir R. Brooke and his wife Dorothy Gatacre; a memorial to General Gatacre, and some rather beautiful windows to other members of the family. Also there is a marble plaque to Edward Gatacre, head of the family who was killed in 1914- 1918 war, leaving no heir. This is why Gatacre was inherited by Galfrey (the elder) who was the bad one of the family and which resulted in its ruin and now its abandonment, and the scattering around of the family treasures that had accumulated over a period of 800 years at the least. Although Gatacre is not far from Claverley, there is no rail or bus communication so I had to go into Wolverhampton, take a bus to Bridgenorth and stay there for the night. Early next morning I took a bus to Stornbridge and was let off at the drive to Gatacre Park, from whence I was to walk to the end of the half mile drive to come to a most beautiful house with a very imposing entrance. Up I went and enquired if a Gatacre lived there. I was told that a Gatacre had not lived there for over 100 years, and this was the Park House, not the Hall, no one went there now and it had been lost to the family on a bet on a cock-fight. I was told I must not go to the Hall it was derelict and haunted etc etc. As I had quite made up my mind to go it was agreed I leave my London address (in case I did not return), and that one of my erstwhile hostess's daughters would accompany me on horseback to the old carriage drive, past which she must not go. I was also provided with a pair of Wellington boots and wished luck 'as I would need it'. Having arrived at the old carriage drive, I parted with my guide and proceeded alone, only to be met by the keeper and told that no strangers were allowed. I informed him that I did not happen to be a stranger but a member of the family, so was allowed to continue up the drive, but he did not offer to accompany me. The pathways were obscured by brambles and nettles and overgrown trees and shrubs of every description, but finally I came to Gatacre Hall, a huge mansion almost covered in ivy. It looks like a heavily camouflaged fortress. I did not know that any house could look so desolate and lonely. In one part of the garden three abandoned cars and a motor cycle, and in a shed a carriage and another motor cycle. I wandered around as much as I dared, because all the time I had the uncanny feeling that I was not alone and that I was being watched, and it was not until I returned to Wolverhampton some hours later and went to see the Editor of 'The Star and Express' to ask permission to read an article which appeared in the paper in Oct. 50, that I read the words 'Who are the Watchers, who indeed, or what, are the Watchers?"
.
However I stayed quite a long time and took as many pictures as I could and also brought away some of the leaves from the trees and some bark from a beautiful cedar tree which must have been hundreds of years old. There are acres and acres of farm lands belonging to the Estate, but the local folk say that no one but a Gatacre will ever be allowed to live at the Hall, and it looks as if it would be impossible to restore it now.
I will send a copy of the article referred to, and also any snaps that come out. Would also like to send these to Uncle Jim. Would you mind passing on this letter to him.

Love, Dick (family name for Kathleen)