We are publishing a series of research guides on the Guide to Holdings section of this website. The guides contain information on the documents held at the St George’s Chapel Archives, provide introductions to a range of topics relating to the history of St George’s Chapel, and suggest relevant secondary texts for consultation.

Research guides on the Order of the Garter and the Military Knights are now available to view online.

In the following weeks we shall be adding a number of additional research guides, covering a range of topics including the history of the College of St George, the properties administered by the Dean and Canons of Windsor throughout England and Wales, and the art and architecture of the Lower Ward of Windsor Castle.

John (Archives Assistant)

Start of the 1908 Olympic Marathon

The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens on 6th April 1896, and one of the main events was the marathon, commemorating the legendary run by Pheidippides from Marathon to Athens to announce victory in battle.

For the 1908 Olympic Games in London, the British Royal Family requested that the marathon start at Windsor Castle so that the Royal children could witness its start. As a result, the marathon distance was changed to 26 miles to cover the ground from Windsor Castle to White City Stadium, with 385 yards added on so the race could finish in front of the Royal Family’s viewing box. In 1924, this distance became the standardized length of a marathon.

In the recently re-catalogued Kathleen Naylor collection are 2 photographs of the start of the 1908 Olympic Marathon from Windsor to Chiswick. Kathleen’s father, Fred Naylor, was a lay clerk at the Chapel for over 60 years from 1895 to 1957, and these photographs form part of the collection of records covering his life and those of his children at St George’s Chapel, and the many events in and around the Castle that they witnessed.

Eleanor (Assistant Archivist)

Lighting in Denton's Commons

In 1829, the Dean and Canons of Windsor reached agreement with the Windsor Royal Gas Light Company to install gas lighting in the College, namely in the Dean’s Cloister, Canons’ Cloister, Denton’s Commons and the Horseshoe Cloister. Two years earlier at a meeting of the newly formed gas company in November 1827, a shareholder mentioned that “it was the intention of the Dean and Canons of Windsor to light the Cathedral and Cloisters with gas”.  The Windsor and Eton Express reporter who attended the shareholders’ meeting was enthusiastic about the introduction of resin gas lighting to the Royal Borough, with the sanction of King George IV.

The endorsement of the Dean and Canons may well have assisted the gas company in its endeavours to win over the resistant element in the town’s population and before long the College benefited from improved lighting in the Cloisters. Indeed, in June 1830 the Canon Steward sought an estimate from James Bedborough, one of the founding trustees of the company and joint proprietor of the Windsor gas works, for fixing six additional gas lamps in the Cloisters.  Although gas was not introduced into the Chapel itself until sometime later, James Bedborough supplied gas to the College for an annual fee which, in the early 1830s, amounted to £80. By 1838 the Windsor Royal Gas Light Company was supplying the Dean and Canons with gas for seventeen lamps. James Bedborough, originally a stone mason employed by Sir Jeffrey Wyattville on George IV’s major reconstruction of Windsor Castle, became a man of influence in the town, not only as a supplier of gas lighting but also as a property developer, railway speculator, Alderman and Mayor. His son, Thomas James Bedborough, was to be employed by the College during the 1840s restoration of St George’s Chapel, following in his father’s footsteps as a stone mason, builder, gas company director and member of the town council. 

Clare (Archivist and Chapter Librarian)

James Salmon was appointed a probationer lay clerk on 18 May 1780 [SGC VI.B.8]. He and his wife Sarah had four children who were baptised in the Chapel; William on 18 March 1787; Elizabeth-Mary on 27 January 1789; Ann on 12 September 1790; and Mary on 21 July 1795 [SGC R.1]. In 1799, they lived at No. 19 Horseshoe Cloister.

Given 10 guineas on account of his circumstances in 1785 [SGC VI.B.8], he was fined 1s for non-attendance in Chapel on 14 December 1795 [SGC VI.B.8]. In January 1819, he was suspended from duty until his daughters be removed from his house, “in consequence of their general bad character” [SGC VI.B.9]. He was suspended again in December 1820 as his daughter Mary had given birth to an illegitimate child in his house [SGC VI.B.9]. He was admonished and one month’s pay withheld from him. In February 1824, he was again suspended due to his “unbecoming behaviour” and numerous complaints against his daughters [SGC VI.B.9]. They were given 2 days to leave. By April 1824, they had still not left, with James stating that he had tried and failed to find accommodation in the town. On account of his age and infirmity, he was permitted to remain in the Cloisters until Midsummer [SGC VI.B.9]. In June, this suspension was repealed on account of his condition and the fact that his daughters had now moved out [SGC VI.B.9]. He died 3 years later on 27 March 1827 [SGC V.B.7] and was buried in the Chapel 4 April 1827 at the age of 86 [SGC R.1]. The cost of his burial was 18s 4d and he was buried in the grass plot on the south side of the Chapel [SGC XIII.A.5]

His son William, however, was appointed probationer lay clerk on 14 April 1806, swore oath and made his declaration a year later [SGC VI.B.8]. He and his wife Nancey Paris lived at 24 Horseshoe Cloister [now part of No. 16] and had a daughter, Charlotte, who was baptised in the Chapel on 3 November 1812 [SGC R.1]. He continued as lay clerk for 52 years, and was buried in the same area as his father on 1st February 1858 [SGC R.1]. In contrast, his burial cost £1 14s 4d [SGC XIII.A.5]

Eleanor (Assistant Archivist)