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In 1915 Mabel inherited Writtle House and most of
her fathers estate (£116,000). Her father regarded her as the brightest
of his children best able to manage the complexities of a large
estate.
Writtle house became a hospital for much
of the war and later a hall of residence for Writtle college. Mabel had it demolished in 1922. She moved
first to Romans House
which her father had built to get his unruly teenage sons out of the big
house and later to Ropers Hall by Writttle Green. Like her father Mabel was Master of the Essex Union Hunt. She
always rode side saddle.
John Jay, Writtle archivist writes "Mabel was not much liked
in the village. When approached to contribute to a charity she agreed,
but only on condition that her name appeared at the top of the list of
donors. If there was a queue at the shop, she would walk straight to the
front and expect to be served first".
Tommy (b.1907) adds: "I once met a parson who worked in Mabel's
parish who was sacked because of his "addiction to
theatricals". She was a real dragon"
In rainy weather she would climb unsteadily on to her bicycle. The
chauffeur had to run alongside and hand her the open umbrella. She died
at 89 after breaking her leg falling off her horse.
According to Elizabeth Taitt she left £750,000 in her will (equivalent to £7½
(?) million today). Her fortune was distributed between 19 nephews and
nieces. The will was managed by a young solicitor called Rodney Timpson
(of Audry & Ford, Marlborough) who is still alive today (2003).
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