The blog has been behind recently due to all of our internal walls been put up and redecorations and moving rooms around. However we now have loads to upload for the blog.
So to start with the much promised update on the history of the building. As some of you know at the beginning of August I was set the challenge to find out about the history behind the building where our new funeral home is. As previously posted many of the usual places which I thought i could source information drew a blank and with lot's of people telling me to try the musuem or the local Library in Malvern. Andrew Phillips our Funeral Director and owner even took a trip down to Malvern Library one afternoon and although he and found out lot's of information about Malvern and Malvern Wells none specifically about this building.
Then when I had almost given up my prayers had been answered and I had my first glimpse into this building's mysterious past.
The Malvern Museum had emailed me back saying that the curator of the Museum and a local specialist in buildings had gone down to the library themselves and found out some interesting facts about the building known as Delyes. In fact the buildings real name is De Lys named after the Marquis De Lys. It is believed that the building we now occupy was once the stable for the Marquis, Francis Gabriel, and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Porter. Without giving much away the Marquis and Marchioness bought Kinnersley House (which is currently being restored) 1873 and together they gave much support and encouragement to the new Catholic Churches that were appearing in Malvern. St Wulstan Church being just down the road from where they lived.
Although confirming that the building was once a stable conclusively is proving elusive all of the facts are seeming to point in that direction. Anyway the Museum has agreed to continue digging into the past and will update me when they have more information.
- Aimee Pugh