imported>Mhockey: removed Category:Stonehenge; added Category:People associated with Stonehenge using HotCat

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removed Category:Stonehenge; added Category:People associated with Stonehenge using HotCat

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{{Short description|Last private owner of the prehistoric monument Stonehenge}}{{EngvarB|date=July 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
[[File:Sir Cecil Chubb.jpg|thumb|Sir Cecil Chubb in May 1926 on board [[RMS Aquitania|RMS ''Aquitania'']]]]
'''Sir Cecil Herbert Edward Chubb, 1st Baronet''' (14 April 1876 – 22 September 1934), was the last private owner of [[Stonehenge]] prehistoric monument, [[Wiltshire]], which he donated to the British government in 1918.

==Early life and education==

Chubb was born in [[Shrewton]], a village {{convert|4|mi|km}} west of Stonehenge, the eldest son of Alfred and Mary Chubb. His father, "Fred", was the village saddler and harness maker, as was his father before him. Cecil attended the local village school and then the [[Bishop Wordsworth's School]] in Salisbury, where from the age of 14 he worked for a time as a student teacher.

Chubb met his future wife at a cricket game between his Bishop Wordsworth School and Fisherton House Asylum. He then attended [[Christ's College, Cambridge]] where he was awarded a double first in Science and Law, leaving with Master of Arts and Bachelor of Law degrees.

==Career==
Chubb became a barrister and amassed a considerable fortune.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|last1=Parkinson|first1=Justin|title=The man who bought Stonehenge – and then gave it away|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34282849|work=BBC News Magazine|date=21 September 2015}}</ref>

In 1902 he married Mary Bella Alice Finch, whose uncle, Dr W. Corbin Finch, owned Fisherton House, which was a [[mental asylum]] (later the [[Old Manor Hospital, Salisbury|Old Manor Hospital]], now [[Fountain Way]]). Five years after her uncle's death in 1905, the business and buildings were transferred to her. Following financial difficulties, a [[limited company]] was formed to run the hospital in 1924, and Sir Cecil became chairman. While he was in charge, the hospital became the largest private mental hospital in Europe. There is a plaque in the hospital commemorating his life and work.

Sir Cecil also served on [[Salisbury]] City Council, was a [[Justice of the Peace]] and became a successful [[racehorse]] owner and breeder of [[Shorthorn]] cattle.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stonehenge|url=http://www.this-is-amesbury.co.uk/stonehenge.html|website=This is Amesbury|access-date=20 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625160447/http://www.this-is-amesbury.co.uk/stonehenge.html|archive-date=25 June 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Purchase of Stonehenge==
[[Stonehenge]] was one of several lots put up for auction in 1915 by [[Antrobus baronets|Sir Cosmo Gordon Antrobus]], soon after he had inherited the estate from his brother.{{cite needed|date=September 2021}} Cecil Chubb's interest in the local area led to his attending the sale, with him bidding and purchasing Lot 15 on a whim for £6,600 (about £{{formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|6600|1915|r=-3}}|-3}}/€{{formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|6600/.84775|1915|r=-3}}|-3}}/${{formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|6600/.76463|1915|r=-3}}|-3}} today),{{Inflation-fn|UK}} as he wished to avoid the stones being acquired by someone overseas.

He gave Stonehenge to the nation on 26 October 1918. The deed of gift included the following conditions:
[[File:Cecil Chubb grave.jpg|right|thumb|Sir Cecil Chubb's grave in the Devizes Road cemetery in [[Salisbury]], [[Wiltshire]], showing the wreath laid to mark the centenary of his donation of Stonehenge to the nation near the end of the First World War]]
<blockquote>First that the public shall have free access to the premises hereby conveyed and every part thereof on the payment of such reasonable sum per head not exceeding one shilling for each visit and subject to such conditions as the Commissioners of Works in the exercise and execution of their statutory powers and duties may from time to time impose Secondly that the premises shall so far as possible be maintained in their present condition Thirdly that no building or erection other than a pay box similar to the Pay Box now standing on the premises shall be erected on any part of the premises within four hundred yards of The Milestone marked "Amesbury 2" on the northern frontage of the premises and Fourthly that the Commissioners of Works will at all times save harmless and keep indemnified the Donors and each of them their and each of their estates and effects from and against all proceedings costs claims and expenses on account of any breach or non-observance of the covenants by the Donors to the like or similar effect contained in the Conveyance of the premises to the Donors.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Daw|first1=Timothy|title=Cecil Chubb's Deed of Gift of Stonehenge|url=http://www.sarsen.org/2013/12/cecil-chubbs-deed-of-gift-of-stonehenge.html|publisher=Sarsen.org|date=3 December 2013}}</ref></blockquote>

Local residents are still entitled to free admission to Stonehenge because of a different agreement concerning the moving of a right of way.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/plan-your-visit/stonehenge-local-residents-pass/|title=Local Residents Pass|website=English Heritage|access-date=14 February 2021}}</ref>

To mark his generosity he was made a [[baronet]] in 1919 by [[David Lloyd George|Lloyd George]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=31587 |date=7 October 1919 |page=12418}}</ref> Chubb's arms feature a [[trilithon]] representing Stonehenge.

==Death and legacy==
Chubb died of [[heart disease]] at his house (from 1930) in [[Bournemouth]], Rothwell Dene, on 22 September 1934 aged 58,<ref name=odnb>{{Cite ODNB|id=107137|title=Chubb, Sir Cecil Herbert Edward}}</ref> leaving behind his wife, son John, who succeeded him, and daughter Mary.<ref>Debretts Peerage 1955 edn</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,930563,00.html?iid=chix-sphere |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930190020/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,930563,00.html?iid=chix-sphere |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 September 2007 |title=Milestones, Oct. 1, 1934 |work=Time |date=1 October 1934 |access-date=12 March 2016}}</ref>

A plaque commemorating his birth was erected in the late 1980s on the house in Shrewton where he was born. It was unveiled by his two surviving nephews.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/gallery/history/shrewton_picF0006.jpg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011132519/http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/gallery/history/shrewton_picF0006.jpg |archive-date=11 October 2007 |title=Plaque}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|40em}}

* Hooper, Arthur ''"Life in the Gardeners' Bothy"'' Malthouse Press 2000
* Smith, Gertrude ''"The Old Manor Hospital"''

{{s-start}}
{{s-reg|uk-bt}}
{{s-new}}
{{s-ttl
| title=[[Chubb baronets|Baronet]]<br>'''(of Stonehenge)'''
| years=1919–1934
}}
{{s-aft | after= John Corbin Chubb }}
{{s-end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chubb, Cecil Herbert}}
[[Category:1876 births]]
[[Category:1934 deaths]]
[[Category:Baronets in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:People educated at Bishop Wordsworth's School]]
[[Category:People associated with Stonehenge]]
[[Category:People from Wiltshire]]

Cecil Chubb - Revision history

imported>Mhockey: removed Category:Stonehenge; added Category:People associated with Stonehenge using HotCat