I recently acquired this very small meerschaum cutty, the pipe if it can even be called that is fairly unremarkable. I suspect it's actually a cigarette holder or small cheroot holder. It's what's stamped on the case that makes it remarkable. Now I know that @condorlover1 and @sablebrush52 both have some very cool pipes, even cutty's with famous provenance but this one actually has it stamped right on the case. The case reads as follows:
W.E.H.S.
CLONSILLA HOUSE.
IRELAND
With my own research and a lot of help from @jguss I was able to put together a short profile of this W.E.H.S. fellow. His name is Captain William Edward Hollwey (Holloway) Steeds (1849-1913) born to Stephen Steeds Esq. (1818-1889) & Ann Marie Hollwey (1824-1880) of Norton Down House, Somerset England. He served first as lieutenant being promoted to the rank of Captain on July 8, 1871 in the 22nd Somersetshire Volunteer Rifles. On June 6, 1872 in Werneth, Cheshire he married Agnes Andrews Steeds (1850-1925) third daughter of George Andrew Esq.of Ernecroft Hall, Compstall. His occupation at the time of the census was "Gentlemen".
Sometime between 1870-1880 he moved to Clonsilla Ireland near Dublin, taking up residence in Clonsilla House where he employed 12 servants. Captain Steeds was avid hunter and horse rider, he provided several horses for a coach route and local hunts as well as hosting many hunts himself on the grounds of Clonsilla House. In 1887 36 of his horses were poisoned with lead acetate laced feed, several died. This was attributed the ongoing "land war" in Ireland at the time. Captain Steeds succumbed to injuries sustained from being thrown from his horse during a hunt in 1913.
I think the pipe was likely one of many that were made to be given to guests at Clonsilla House or given away at hunts. It has had a shank repair at some point in its life done with silver but is in otherwise pretty good shape. The amber bit is nearly flawless.
The pipe.
Captain Steeds.
The Captains place of birth, Norton Down House.
Clonsilla House
The Palm Room at Clonsilla House.
Clonsilla Lodge at Clonsilla House.
Map showing the estate of Captain Steeds at Clonsilla.
The announcement of the death of Captain Steeds.
W.E.H.S.
CLONSILLA HOUSE.
IRELAND
With my own research and a lot of help from @jguss I was able to put together a short profile of this W.E.H.S. fellow. His name is Captain William Edward Hollwey (Holloway) Steeds (1849-1913) born to Stephen Steeds Esq. (1818-1889) & Ann Marie Hollwey (1824-1880) of Norton Down House, Somerset England. He served first as lieutenant being promoted to the rank of Captain on July 8, 1871 in the 22nd Somersetshire Volunteer Rifles. On June 6, 1872 in Werneth, Cheshire he married Agnes Andrews Steeds (1850-1925) third daughter of George Andrew Esq.of Ernecroft Hall, Compstall. His occupation at the time of the census was "Gentlemen".
Sometime between 1870-1880 he moved to Clonsilla Ireland near Dublin, taking up residence in Clonsilla House where he employed 12 servants. Captain Steeds was avid hunter and horse rider, he provided several horses for a coach route and local hunts as well as hosting many hunts himself on the grounds of Clonsilla House. In 1887 36 of his horses were poisoned with lead acetate laced feed, several died. This was attributed the ongoing "land war" in Ireland at the time. Captain Steeds succumbed to injuries sustained from being thrown from his horse during a hunt in 1913.
I think the pipe was likely one of many that were made to be given to guests at Clonsilla House or given away at hunts. It has had a shank repair at some point in its life done with silver but is in otherwise pretty good shape. The amber bit is nearly flawless.
The pipe.
Captain Steeds.
The Captains place of birth, Norton Down House.
Clonsilla House
The Palm Room at Clonsilla House.
Clonsilla Lodge at Clonsilla House.
Map showing the estate of Captain Steeds at Clonsilla.
The announcement of the death of Captain Steeds.
