Roland Parker Stone [st.4.5.6]

Roland Parker Stone was the sixth child of John Benjamin Stone & Jane Parker born June 18th, 1876 at Lothersdale, Aston Village, Birmingham & christened December 9th, 1876 at St Matthew, Duddeston, Birmingham.
In 1881 Roland, his parents & 2 sisters & 3 brothers were living at The Grange, Grange Lane, Erdington, Aston. His father was a prosperous glass manufacturer & County Magistrate for Warwickshire.

Roland was still living at home in 1891 at The Grange with his mother & 2 brothers & 2 sisters. His father was visiting Japan at the time of the census.

At the time of the 1901 census Roland was visiting Clara & Charles Holme, a book publisher, & his family at Red House, Red House Lane, Bexley, Kent. Roland’s occupation was given as manufacturer. One of the members of the family was Dora Holme (24) who was to become Roland’s wife.

Charles Holme lived at the Red House from 1889 until 1903. The Red House was built for William Morris & his wife Jane in 1859-60 & was Morris’ home until 1865. Charles Holme made a number of alterations to the house, including the installation of a glass screen to prevent icy draughts in the entrance hall area. This screen was used as a ‘visitor’s book’ in subsequent years & 106 names are inscribed on the glass, plus 8 sets of initials. Many of these names pertain to the Holme family & the Stone family. Identified have been Clara Stone [st.4.7], Herbert Stone, James Henry Stone [st.4.2], Arthur Stone, Dora C McKenzie [st.4.5.3], Ethel Mary Holden [st.4.5.1] & her husband Robert Henry Holden.

Roland married Dora Holme on August 30th 1906 at the parish church, Upton Grey, Hampshire. Witnesses at the wedding were Charles Holme, John Benjamin Stone & Alfred East. Dora was born March 9th, 1877 at Horton, Bradford, W. Yorkshire, the daughter of Clara Benton & Charles Holme.
By the time of the wedding Dora’s father Charles & family were living at the Manor House, Upton Grey. The 15th Century house was altered for Charles by Ernest Newton just prior to the wedding. A little later the garden was designed & planted for him by Gertrude Jekyll.

Photo taken by Sir John Benjamin Stone at the House of Commons in 1909

From left: Roland Parker Stone, Charles Holme J.P. & Robert H Holden J.P. (Roland's brother-in-law)

(Photo from the National Portrait Gallery collection)

In 1911 Roland & Dora were living at 31 Denning Rd, Hampstead, London & Roland was now manager of a book publishing company. Visiting them was a mining metallurgist, Allan McCulloch & they had a cook & domestic house maid.

Dora painted portrait miniatures on silk embellished with embroidery. Her work was featured in ‘The Studio’, an art periodical founded & edited by her father Charles. Dora painted & embroidered on satin a well known portrait of her mother-in-law, Lady Jane Stone. Roland became commercial director of ‘The Studio’ magazine.

Roland of 31 Denning Rd, Hampstead, died on May 1st, 1924 at Bwylch Gwyn, Isaf, St Harmon, Radnorshire, Wales. Probate was granted on August 18th, 1924 to widow Dora, brothers Barron Wilfrid Stone & Oscar Harold Stone, paper manufacturers. His effects were £10,982.10s.2d.

The 1939 register shows widowed Dora living at 31 Denning Rd, Hampstead & with her was son John.

Dora died on November 2nd, 1957 at The White House, Oatlands Avenue, Weybridge, Surrey. Probate was granted on February 12th, 1958 to son John Benjamin Stone, publicity manager. Her effects were £822.9s.8d.

The children of Roland Parker Stone & Dora Holme were:

st.4.5.6.1 John Benjamin Stone born August 13th, 1915 at Hampstead, London; died February 19th, 1974 at Bowley Farm House, Iping, Midhurst, Sussex & buried at St mary's, Upton Grey, Basingstoke