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July 26, 2009
Henry Chaplin - At Table
by Eric C Graham - July 2009
One of the lesser known aspects of Henry Chaplin's life were his love of, one might even say his addiction to, food.
One can well understand how he attained the bulk he did in later life on hearing the following story. We are indebted to E F Benson,i the prolific novelist and writer for the basis of this episode.
Henry Chaplin's sister, Helen Matilda, was born in 1846ii and was therefore Henry's junior by some five and a half years.iii She was a highly talented musician and organizer, a pair of talents not often found in conjunction. She married William Pleydell Bouverie, in 1866.iv He became the 5th Earl Radnor in 1889.
The Bouveries leased a property in Cookham, Berkshire called The Fisheriesv and one weekend Henry and Benson were staying there. After lunch they were walking through the kitchen garden when Chaplin saw a row of magnificent broad beans. His mind immediately turned to the thought, as many a countryman has before and since, broad beans and bacon for dinner! The fact that the gardeners were not on duty did not deter him and he filled his hat and took the pods to the cook with his order. He was determined that beans and bacon, and that dish alone, would be his only course.
So much for resolution. When the soup arrived the aroma was too much and so a plate was ordered and consumed. Who could resist the salmon that followed? Chaplin did not. Cold pressed beef then - and it was not forgotten. Nor was the chicken that came next. And then the moment! Bacon and beans. And recalling the thought that a bird needs two wings to fly, two portions were put where they would do most good. The dessert, fruit, cheese and biscuits? No record is made of their entry, and depleted, exit, but I think we can assume that they were given due attention.
Not an exceptional Victorian meal perhaps but a good indicator of 'form'. Form on a daily basis.
Following her husband's death Helen Matilda spent much of her time in Venice and made a beautiful garden there. She died on 11 September 1929 at her house near Ascot aged 83, having outlived her brother by six years.vi
Eric C Graham
Footnotes:
i Edward Frederic Benson (24 July 1867 - 29 February 1940) See As We Were
ii BMD Births Jun 1846 Chaplin Helen Matilda Stamford 14 p625
iii Henry Chaplin BMD Births Mar 1841 Chaplin Henry Stamford 14 p585 He was born on 22 Dec 1840.
iv BMD Marriages Jun 1866 St. Geo. Han. Sq. 1a p573
v The Fisheries was owned by Sir George Young born 15 Sep 1837, died 4 Jul 1930. A Times Obituary appeared on 5 July.
vi Helen Matilda's Obituary appeared in The Times of Thu 12 Sep 1929. Henry's on 30 May 1923
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