It was built for a girl friend by John Corbett. By 1891, John was 74 years old. He had married an Irish girl [brought up in France] as long ago as 1856. After marriage, they lived successively in two properties in Bromsgrove. They had been married and had six children by the time the Chateau was built. A marital dispute then broke up the relationship , and Mrs. Corbett was banished to a property on the coast of mid-Wales. By 1884, he had already lived apart from her for several years, and in that year, he legally separated from her. She was banned from living within 40 miles of Droitwich, on pain of losing an annuity. John was an upright Anglican, and a generous philanthropist to the area, and the local MP for many years. He would have been appalled at any notion of having a 'girlfriend'.!!
The above comment was longer than now printed. In particular, too, the word 'NOT' was included before the words 'built for a girl friend'. That, of course, changes the sense completely. I cannot think why this accurate observation has been changed.
It was built for a girl friend by John Corbett. By 1891, John was 74 years old. He had married an Irish girl [brought up in France] as long ago as 1856. After marriage, they lived successively in two properties in Bromsgrove. They had been married and had six children by the time the Chateau was built. A marital dispute then broke up the relationship , and Mrs. Corbett was banished to a property on the coast of mid-Wales.
By 1884, he had already lived apart from her for several years, and in that year, he legally separated from her. She was banned from living within 40 miles of Droitwich, on pain of losing an annuity.
John was an upright Anglican, and a generous philanthropist to the area, and the local MP for many years. He would have been appalled at any notion of having a 'girlfriend'.!!
The above comment was longer than now printed. In particular, too, the word 'NOT' was included before the words 'built for a girl friend'. That, of course, changes the sense completely. I cannot think why this accurate observation has been changed.