Chelsea historian, son of Gerald Blunt. A founding member of the Chelsea Society and author of books on Chelsea's history.
This portrait is by Walter Greaves. Photo credit: Kensington and Chelsea Local Studies.
Our colleague, Andrew Behan, adds that Reginald Blunt was born in 1857 in Crewe Green, Cheshire, the fourth of the seven children of the Reverend Abel Gerald Wilson Blunt, M.A. (1827-1902) and Frances Mary Blunt née Forssteen (1820-1899). His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1857 in the Nantwich Registration District, Cheshire.
His six siblings were: Frances Elizabeth Blunt (1852-1907); Gerald Henry Blunt (1854-1935); Walter Blunt (1856-1859); Arthur Cadogan Blunt (1860-1934); Elaine Mary Blunt (1863-1933) and Geraldine Maud Blunt (1865-1926).
On the census return form that was completed on 7 April 1861 he is shown as aged 3 years and living at The Rectory, Church Street, Chelsea, Middlesex (now Greater London), with his parents and his three surviving siblings: Frances Elizabeth Blunt; Gerald Henry Blunt and Arthur Cadogan Blunt, together with his father's cousin, Frederic L. Blunt - the curate of Chelsea and one male and four female domestic servants. His father was described as the Rector of Chelsea.
He was still living at The Rectory, Church Street, Chelsea, when the census was taken on 2 April 1871, He was shown as aged 13 years and residing there with his parents and three sisters: Frances Elizabeth Blunt; Elaine Mary Blunt (1863-1933) and Geraldine Maud Blunt (1865-1926), together with Thomas W. Norwood - the curate of St Luke's, Chelsea, a cook, a nurse, a housemaid, a footman and a kitchen maid. His father was listed as the Rector of St Luke's Chelsea.
When the census was undertaken on 3 April 1881 he was shown as aged 23 years and a mechanical engineer, lodging at 8 Gloucester Street, Elswick, Northumberland, the home a John and Elizabeth Young.
On 20 December 1885 he married Victoria Elizabeth von Guerard (1857–1925) in Dusseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
The census that was taken on 5 April 1891 shows him as aged 33 years and a hospital secretary, living at 63 Glebe Place, Chelsea, London, with his wife and his widowed father-in-law, (1811-1901) who was living in his own means, together with a cook and another female domestic servant.
The census dated 31 March 1901 described him as aged 43 years and a hospital secretary, still residing at 63 Glebe Place, Chelsea, with his wife, their son, John Reginald Blunt (1892-1980) and his father in law, Johann Joseph Eugene von Guerard, together with a cook, a hospital nurse and a housemaid.
When he completed his census return form on 2 April 1911 he described himself as aged 53 years and a general superintendent at the London Stock Exchange. He was living in an eight roomed property at 12 Carlyle Mansions, Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, with his wife, their son, John Reginald Blunt - a student of architecture at the Royal College of Art, together with a domestic cook. He stated that his wife of 25 years had only given birth to one child.
On 22 August 1930 he departed from Liverpool, Lancashire aboard the S.S. Cheshire of the Bibby Line bound for Marseilles, France. In the ship's manifest he is shown as travelling 1st class, aged 72 years and author residing at 12 Carlyle Mansions, Cheyne Walk, London, SW3.
In the he was made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Civil Division, (CBE) for being the Founder and Honorary Secretary of the Chelsea Society, the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Cheyne Hospital for Children for fifty years and a Trustee of Carlyle House since 1895.
His death was registered as aged 87 years in the 4th quarter of 1944 in the Chelsea Registration District, London. Probate records listed his address as 60 Glebe Place, London, SW3 and that he died on 25 October 1944. Probate was granted on 3 December 1945 to The Public Trustee and his effects totalled £62,721-3s-3d.
He is shown as 'REGINALD BLUNT Esq. C.B.E.' on the Chelsea Manor Court memorial at Chelsea Manor Street, London, SW3.
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