The reign of King Edward VII was a gilded time for the rich in Britain; the great shooting parties were in full swing, London was en fete, the country houses were run by armies of servants and England was more confident than ever. For some it must have been one long house party.
My Great Grandmother, Mabel Dempster, at Methven in 1908
Methven Castle with some Dempster ladies in the foreground - September 1908
The rich at the time were intent on having the latest luxuries and the one-upmanship must have been exhausting to say the least. My own Great-Great Grandfather, having inherited a large family company and having made a mighty fortune himself, set about living in a princely way. His houses changed with his fortune; first it was Grosvenor Mount, in Broughton in Salford, then Park Lea (also in Broughton) and, as a country house, Drimsynie House at Lochgoilhead, then Methven Castle in Perthshire and, finally, the monster of a house, Keele Hall, Staffordshire. The latter's lease was taken after Grand Duke Michael of Russia vacated. Keele's indoor staff numbered over twenty-five, with the same number in the garden. Even the upper servants were waited on by the lower ones.
Methven Castle - 1908
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I had heard of the yacht the family had once owned, The Vol-au- Vent, from my Uncle and, on having inherited some photographs of it, decided to find out a little more. John Dempster's floating home was on board this 104 ton vessel and its mahogany and teak saloon and numerous apartments must have been a real pleasure. At Drimsynie he built a golf course below the castle-like mansion and below that he used to moor 'Vol-au-Vent'…what the locals thought of this extremely exuberant lifestyle is anyone's guess. It must have been enormous fun.
Drimsynie House - c.1902
Drimsynie
Having a yacht at this time was the last word in luxury. Many had grand houses, shoots, smart cars, but a yacht was an enormous expense. The Vol au Vent had a crew of more than 15, which included the Captain, Skipper, Butler, Cook and others. Each of the crew had a jersey with 'Yacht Vol-au-Vent' printed in a semi-circle. Sam Carey, who had been the Dempster's Butler at Park Lea and Methven Castle, was cook and steward and his Father was Captain. Later on Sam was butler for the Dempsters at Keele Hall. The yacht was built by Michael Edward Ratsey in Cowes in 1875. It was 81.8 feet long, 17.4 feet wide and had a depth of 10.9 feet. Its sail height was 82 feet.
'Vol-au-Vent' in the locks at Fort Augustus - 1904
'Vol-au-Vent' (left) with 'Pegotty' at Gairlochy - 1904
The Vol au Vent was clearly quite celebrated during her day. My Great Great Grandfather won numerous competitions and was often seen racing at Cowes, where he once entertained King Edward VII on the boat. His daughter, my Great Grandmother, and son, Charles Dempster, would often race with him and also his niece, Edith (later Mrs Pretty), was a keen yachtswoman. Edith was on board 'Vol-au-Vent' for the 1904 King's Cup Race from Dover to Heligoland. This time 'Vol-au-Vent' came Eighth. Edith managed to keep calm and enjoyed the forty-hour race, while other young society ladies succumbed to sea sickness and 'turned green'. She attended the Kaiser's reception with her Aunt and Uncle. Edith was widely travelled and she would later find international fame as the finder of the Sutton Hoo treasure, which she gave to the Nation in the single largest gift ever in the lifetime of a donor.
Edith Dempster (left) at Buckingham Palace - c. 1908
The Vol au Vent joined the league of Edwardian super yachts when she competed in the Dover to Heligoland yacht race, the brainchild of King Edward's cousin, Kaiser Wilhelm . This race was open to any cruising yacht of over 70 tons that was a member of any of the royal or recognized British yacht clubs built in Britain and owned by British a subject. John Demptster and 'Vol-au-Vent' were members of the Royal Manchester Yacht Club.
According to the New York Tribune on June 10th 1902 'Only eight yachts were entered on May 31 for the handicap match for the Heligoland Cup, presented and designed by the German Emperor, according to the current issue of 'The Field'. The race is to be sailed on June 21, the start being made from Dover. The yachts entered so far are: the Cicely, schooner (200 tons), Cecil Quentin, owner: the Vol-au-Vent, yawl (104 tons), J. Dempster; the Leander, yawl (93 tons), Rupert Guinness; the Isola, yawl (91 tons), Spencer and Combes, the Dimsdale, ketch (91 tons), The Earl of Arran; the Clutha, yawl (91 tons), Lorne C. Currie; the Fiona, cutter (80 tons), Henry M. Rait; the Columbine yawl (81 tons), A.F. Fynn.
The Cicely was designed to defeat, if possible, the American built schooner meteor III, which, it is understood, will not be entered for this race.'
'Magnificent water prevailed, and a capital start was made' (The Assizes) and the huge boats were off. Cicely arrived first but was 'Beaten by time allowance' (Spokane Daily Chronicle, Tuesday 24th June, 1902).
'Vol-au-Vent' on the Caledonian Canal at Inverness - 1904
From another paper;
'Island of Heligoland, June 24th - The Leander, owned by Rupert Guiness (sic), arrived here at 8.50 pm yesterday, so that both the yawls, the Vol-au-Vent, owned by John Dempster, and the Leander, which started from Dover, England, at noon, June 21, in the race to this island, for the German Emperor's cup, beat the new English schooner yacht, Cicely, owned by Cecil Quentin, designed to challenge Emperor William's Amercian built yacht, Meteor. The cicely was the first yacht in the race to reach Heligoland, but she was beaten on time allowance. She allowed the Vol-au-Vent five and one half hours and the Leander three and one half hours. Mr Dempster's Vol au Vent was second, arriving at nine minutes past seven o'clock. '
It was reported in The Times on 25th June 1903 that ''Vol-au'-Vent' had won the race.' On the 29th June The Times reported;'The Emperor yesterday handed to Mr. Demspter, owner of Vol-au-Vent, the winner of the Dover to Heligoland yacht race, the Heligoland Cup, on board the Imperial yacht Hohenzollern.'
'Vol-au-Vent's' Motor launch
The Kaiser Cup had, on one side, an image of Kaiser Wilhelm and, on the other, King Edward. Our cousin inherited the cup from her grandfather, Charles Dempster, and always made sure that, as had been done since the War, the English King faced out and the Kaiser faced the wall…woe betide the daily who got that wrong!
The Kaiser Cup, before it was stolen
'Vol-au-Vent' competed in the 1900 King's cup and then again in 1904. She did not repeat her win of 1903.
John Dempster obviously treasured these trophies hugely. In his will the two cups were the sole items named from what must have been a palace full of things. The wheel of the yacht also went to Charles and the cleat to my Great Grandmother at Little Onn Hall. The wheel came to a tragic end, along with my Great Great Uncle , Charles Dempster. The wheel hung in the hall of his Cheshire home, Colshaw Hall. On the 26th of May 1962 a fire was raging at Colshaw. The Butler, who had been asleep, was the first to notice. He raced to find his master. On reaching Mr Dempster's Business Room he found the floor destroyed and his master amongst the burning wreckage. A great part of the house was burnt to the ground, Mr Demspster was killed and the wheel of yacht 'Vol-au'Vent' was destroyed. The cleat from the boat and a signed personal photograph from The Kaiser went when Little Onn was sold up. The Kaiser Cup is also now gone, as it was stolen from my cousins in Cheshire two years ago. Mercifully the invitation and press-cuttings from the Imperial dinner remain.
John Dempster with his Granddaughter, Barbara Heywood, at Methven in 1910
Mary Dempster
'Bloodhound' near Kyle Akin - 1903
William Dickins Heywood (my Great Grandfather), Joseph Holt, centre (son of Sir Edward Holt, Bart), brother-in-law of Charles Demptser, who is standing on the right. I am not sure the name of the seated gentleman. On board 'Vol-au-Vent' - 1903
My Great Grandfather (right) at the wheel of 'Vol-au-Vent'
The Skipper - 'Vol-au-Vent' - 1903
The Skipper helping the Game Keeper at Drimsynie House - c.1902
On board 'Vol-au-Vent' - 1904. Charles Demptser, my Great-Great Uncle, is on the right
'Vol-au-Vent' - 1903
'Vol-au-Vent' - 1903
Charles Dempster on board 'Vol-au-Vent' - 1903
Despite the loss of the yacht and the cup what remains are the wonderful photographs, which give a glimpse in to the days when real adventure was the sport of princes and the Indian Summer of the Edwardian era was in full swing.
ps: If anyone who reads this ever sees the Kaiser Cup anywhere please do let us know. It would be heartily welcomed home!! Thank you
The photographs are information contained in this blog are copyright of Oliver Gerrish. Please do ask if you wish to use them, thank you.
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