COLNEY HOUSE - another myth? or is it?
 

I have just watched a brillliant programme this morning "So you think you are Royal" on SKY TV. Excellent! T'was about a family who had always been told they were descended from a "love affair" between King George IV and Mrs Fitzherbert. Although the Palace would not allow the TV researchers permission to use their historical records, after much research, it was acknowledged that the tale WAS feasible.

This reminded me of a similar tale once told to me by an elderly local historian regarding COLNEY HOUSE along Blackburn Road (corner of Hartman Street). You have to remember all the land around this area of town was owned by Frederick Steiner, the founder of the great Turkey Red dye works at Church. He bought Hyndburn House from the Peel family around 1849. As he became wealthier, he bought a second home in London, where he and his family moved in Royal circles. He had two daughters, Lina and Emma (streets named after them of course). One daughter married a Mr Hartman(n). The tale I heard was that that King Edward VII and one of the daughters were very good friends. He supposedly had the house in Accrington built (have you ever taken the time to stop and look at why such a HUGE house should be built on that site? Also was told that occasionally the Royal Train was seen to pull into Accrington and discreetly stay by the sidings. Wouldnt it be fun to think the house was built by the King, to keep his "lady" and child away from the public eye in London. Was told the child was at a later date moved to live in Ireland.

Will find more on my notes on this and post.

Atarah

Re: COLNEY HOUSE - another myth? or is it?
 

That's interesting, Atarah. I stayed there a couple of months ago, when I came up for a night match and I was speculating myself on why such a grandiose structure should be situated in an area of relatively modest houses. Perhaps I slept in the bedroom where the Royal personage himself laid his distinguished head, when he came up for a little "rest and recreation"!
;)

Hope you find out more about this.

Re: COLNEY HOUSE - another myth? or is it?
 

I'd love that story to be true .. great stuff. Best of luck on your search Atarah.

COLNEY HOUSE - another myth? or is it?
 

This is Emma Hartman(n) born Accrington and died in Nice, France approx 1919.

Atarah

Re: COLNEY HOUSE - another myth? or is it?
 

Very interesting.

Please let us know more if you find out anything else.

Re: COLNEY HOUSE - another myth? or is it?
 

Truly beautiful Atarah, but there again, sure there were lots of lovely looking women working in the red dye works without the benefit of the adornments.

Re: COLNEY HOUSE - another myth? or is it?
 

Hello Atarah,

just came across your thread, now years old so perhaps this is no longer of interest to you, but I am Emma Hartmann (nee Steiner)'s great-great granddaughter. I don't know anything about Colney House, but could ask my father. She did have a 'close friendship' with Edward VII, though as far as I am aware it was conducted mostly from White Lodge (now the Royal Ballet School) in Richmond Park in London. He lent her White Lodge so that he could visit her, but she ended up bankrupted by the expense of constantly entertaining the King. One tale goes that he sent her a gift of a stuffed elephant's head, which was so enormous it couldn't pass through the doors. Unfortunately it would have been unthinkable to return a gift to the King so she had to have the doors widened at vast expense which helped push her to bankruptcy. My father looks EXACTLY like George V, but the dates don't add up, so I don't think we can claim any royal blood!
All the best
Sophie

Re: COLNEY HOUSE - another myth? or is it?
 

To SophieHartman - MARVELLOUS! Absolutely marvellous! Am DELIGHTED you have seen the article. Could I send you a message?
Atarah

Re: COLNEY HOUSE - another myth? or is it?
 

Getting even more intriguing, and fascinating.

Well done Atarah, and thank you Sophie, for taking the time to post the additional information.

Re: COLNEY HOUSE - another myth? or is it?
 

Sorry for thread hopping, but just wanted to cross-reference the other threads refering to the Steiners.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...9pm-52408.html

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...ton-13669.html

Re: COLNEY HOUSE - another myth? or is it?
 

I've found another photograph of Emma Hartmann, nee Steiner.

http://loulou.zouig.org/spip/spip.php?article26

Re: COLNEY HOUSE - another myth? or is it?
 

Message for SophieHartman - please come back! This thread became very interesting when you appeared!