Daughter of CHARLES JOSEPH SOFER WHITBURN, a Gentleman and his wife FANNY (nee HALES). She was Baptised on 1st November, 1865 at St. Matthew's church, Brixton.
She married ROBERT BONHAM BAX CHRISTIE, an army officer in 1899. they had two children - ELSIE MARY b Dec 1899 at Swindon, and ROBERT ARTHUR BONHAM-CHRISTIE in 1893.
She bought Branksea Island (now known as Brownsea Island) in 1927 and immediately gave the tenant workers who lived on the island, notice to quit and had them all evicted within weeks of her arrival.
She was not popular with the locals and was well known for turfing people off her island if she caught them fishing or trying to land their boats. After the death of her husband in 1931, she hired security guards to patrol the island's shores.
She refused to allow hunting or fishing on her land on the grounds of it being cruel and over the next 30 years, she allowed nature to take back the island, which is now a haven for endangered Red Squirrels and several species of birds.
After her death in 1961, her grandson and Heir JOHN BONHAM-CHRISTIE had planned to develop the island, but after a protest by conservationists, the island was eventually sold to the National Trust and Dorset Wildlife Trust, while Branksea Castle, her home in the island was sold as a 99 year Leasehold for the John Lewis Partnership for use as a staff holiday home.
Brownsea Island was the first place to hold the fledgling Scout movement's first ever camp in 1907, organised by ROBERT BADEN-POWELL. Scout groups from all over the world can again enjoy camping on the island. From the mid 1930's until her death in 1961, MRS CHRISTIE had banned the scouts from staying on her island, as she blamed them for a devastating fire there in 1934.
As her health began to fail, it was said she had been hugely upset at the thought of leaving her beloved island home, after her family had arranged for her to go and live in a nursing home on the mainland. She died in her beloved Branksea Castle on the very day she was due to move to the nursing home.
Her body was cremated at Bournemouth and her ashes interred on the island.
She married ROBERT BONHAM BAX CHRISTIE, an army officer in 1899. they had two children - ELSIE MARY b Dec 1899 at Swindon, and ROBERT ARTHUR BONHAM-CHRISTIE in 1893.
She bought Branksea Island (now known as Brownsea Island) in 1927 and immediately gave the tenant workers who lived on the island, notice to quit and had them all evicted within weeks of her arrival.
She was not popular with the locals and was well known for turfing people off her island if she caught them fishing or trying to land their boats. After the death of her husband in 1931, she hired security guards to patrol the island's shores.
She refused to allow hunting or fishing on her land on the grounds of it being cruel and over the next 30 years, she allowed nature to take back the island, which is now a haven for endangered Red Squirrels and several species of birds.
After her death in 1961, her grandson and Heir JOHN BONHAM-CHRISTIE had planned to develop the island, but after a protest by conservationists, the island was eventually sold to the National Trust and Dorset Wildlife Trust, while Branksea Castle, her home in the island was sold as a 99 year Leasehold for the John Lewis Partnership for use as a staff holiday home.
Brownsea Island was the first place to hold the fledgling Scout movement's first ever camp in 1907, organised by ROBERT BADEN-POWELL. Scout groups from all over the world can again enjoy camping on the island. From the mid 1930's until her death in 1961, MRS CHRISTIE had banned the scouts from staying on her island, as she blamed them for a devastating fire there in 1934.
As her health began to fail, it was said she had been hugely upset at the thought of leaving her beloved island home, after her family had arranged for her to go and live in a nursing home on the mainland. She died in her beloved Branksea Castle on the very day she was due to move to the nursing home.
Her body was cremated at Bournemouth and her ashes interred on the island.
Daughter of CHARLES JOSEPH SOFER WHITBURN, a Gentleman and his wife FANNY (nee HALES). She was Baptised on 1st November, 1865 at St. Matthew's church, Brixton.
She married ROBERT BONHAM BAX CHRISTIE, an army officer in 1899. they had two children - ELSIE MARY b Dec 1899 at Swindon, and ROBERT ARTHUR BONHAM-CHRISTIE in 1893.
She bought Branksea Island (now known as Brownsea Island) in 1927 and immediately gave the tenant workers who lived on the island, notice to quit and had them all evicted within weeks of her arrival.
She was not popular with the locals and was well known for turfing people off her island if she caught them fishing or trying to land their boats. After the death of her husband in 1931, she hired security guards to patrol the island's shores.
She refused to allow hunting or fishing on her land on the grounds of it being cruel and over the next 30 years, she allowed nature to take back the island, which is now a haven for endangered Red Squirrels and several species of birds.
After her death in 1961, her grandson and Heir JOHN BONHAM-CHRISTIE had planned to develop the island, but after a protest by conservationists, the island was eventually sold to the National Trust and Dorset Wildlife Trust, while Branksea Castle, her home in the island was sold as a 99 year Leasehold for the John Lewis Partnership for use as a staff holiday home.
Brownsea Island was the first place to hold the fledgling Scout movement's first ever camp in 1907, organised by ROBERT BADEN-POWELL. Scout groups from all over the world can again enjoy camping on the island. From the mid 1930's until her death in 1961, MRS CHRISTIE had banned the scouts from staying on her island, as she blamed them for a devastating fire there in 1934.
As her health began to fail, it was said she had been hugely upset at the thought of leaving her beloved island home, after her family had arranged for her to go and live in a nursing home on the mainland. She died in her beloved Branksea Castle on the very day she was due to move to the nursing home.
Her body was cremated at Bournemouth and her ashes interred on the island.
She married ROBERT BONHAM BAX CHRISTIE, an army officer in 1899. they had two children - ELSIE MARY b Dec 1899 at Swindon, and ROBERT ARTHUR BONHAM-CHRISTIE in 1893.
She bought Branksea Island (now known as Brownsea Island) in 1927 and immediately gave the tenant workers who lived on the island, notice to quit and had them all evicted within weeks of her arrival.
She was not popular with the locals and was well known for turfing people off her island if she caught them fishing or trying to land their boats. After the death of her husband in 1931, she hired security guards to patrol the island's shores.
She refused to allow hunting or fishing on her land on the grounds of it being cruel and over the next 30 years, she allowed nature to take back the island, which is now a haven for endangered Red Squirrels and several species of birds.
After her death in 1961, her grandson and Heir JOHN BONHAM-CHRISTIE had planned to develop the island, but after a protest by conservationists, the island was eventually sold to the National Trust and Dorset Wildlife Trust, while Branksea Castle, her home in the island was sold as a 99 year Leasehold for the John Lewis Partnership for use as a staff holiday home.
Brownsea Island was the first place to hold the fledgling Scout movement's first ever camp in 1907, organised by ROBERT BADEN-POWELL. Scout groups from all over the world can again enjoy camping on the island. From the mid 1930's until her death in 1961, MRS CHRISTIE had banned the scouts from staying on her island, as she blamed them for a devastating fire there in 1934.
As her health began to fail, it was said she had been hugely upset at the thought of leaving her beloved island home, after her family had arranged for her to go and live in a nursing home on the mainland. She died in her beloved Branksea Castle on the very day she was due to move to the nursing home.
Her body was cremated at Bournemouth and her ashes interred on the island.
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- St. Mary's Church Bonham-Christie or Whitburn
- Brownsea Island Bonham-Christie or Whitburn
- Poole Unitary Authority Bonham-Christie or Whitburn
- Dorset Bonham-Christie or Whitburn
- England Bonham-Christie or Whitburn
- Find a Grave Bonham-Christie or Whitburn
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