Lewis Coster SLADDEN (1867-1939)

Lewis Coster Sladden (1867-1939) was the nephew of Julius Sladden, being the son of Julius’ elder brother, Dilnot (1842-1906).  Lewis is mentioned in a letter written by his mother on 5th March 1914.

Lewis Coster Sladden was born on 27^th March 1867 at Christchurch, New Zealand, the eldest of 11 children of Dilnot and Elizabeth Sladden (given Coster as his middle name after his mother’s maiden name).  At the age of 15 he was sent to England to be educated at Dover College, a school which had opened in 1871.  The Dover College Register reveals that he was a day pupil there from 1882-1883.  Whilst studying at Dover, Lewis lived with his great-uncle and great-aunt, George and Marian Coleman, at their home, Rosway, Deal.  George was the younger brother of Lewis’ grandmother, Elizabeth Sladden (née Coleman).

Lewis married Frances Mary Adams Cornwall on 11th June 1901 at Bell Block.  They had three children:  Marjorie Elizabeth Mary (1904), Patrick Dilnot de la Cour (1907-1988) and Frances Joanna (1911).  They lived at Devon Street, New Plymouth, Taranaki.  Lewis died on 24th March 1939 at New Plymouth and Frances in 1958.

Lewis became a member of New Zealand Institute of Surveyors in 1893.  He was in the Government Department of Lands and Survey from 1894 to 1902 and surveyed much of the South Island.  From 1901 he had a private practice at New Plymouth, Sladden & Palmer, Civil Engineers and Surveyors.

Lewis’ granddaughter, Patsy Miller, who lives in London and is a member of The Badsey Society, returns to Badsey each year to play the part of her great-great-aunt, Eugénie Sladden, in The Badsey Society’s production, “Letters from a Badsey Family – the Sladdens of Seward House”.