Beatrice Chase
Encyclopedia
Beatrice Chase was the pen name for a British writer, who became well known for her Dartmoor
-based novels during the first half of the 20th century. Her real name was Olive Katharine Parr, and she claimed to be directly descended from William Parr, the brother of Catherine
, the sixth wife of Henry VIII
.
She was born in Harrow
, Middlesex
, in 1874, but settled in a cottage on the outskirts of the Dartmoor village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor
. She was often to be seen sitting at her writing desk, beside her favourite window. Here she wrote many novels, including The Heart of the Moor, The Ghost of the Moor and the appropriately titled Through a Dartmoor Window.
Her passion for Dartmoor is evident in her writing, and she often campaigned to protect the landscape from modern developments – such as its use by the British Army
. Indeed, Chase was often referred to as 'The Lady of the Moor' following the publication of John Oxenham
's novel in which she was the heroine. The book was called My Lady of the Moor, and she simply adopted the title.
She died in 1955, and was buried in Widecombe churchyard. The small granite cross on her grave is inscribed with Beatrice Chase on one side and Olive Katharine Parr on the other. Locals tell a story that she was taken to hospital in a straitjacket, but only after the loaded revolver she kept by her bed was removed.
Dartmoor
Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...
-based novels during the first half of the 20th century. Her real name was Olive Katharine Parr, and she claimed to be directly descended from William Parr, the brother of Catherine
Catherine Parr
Catherine Parr ; 1512 – 5 September 1548) was Queen consort of England and Ireland and the last of the six wives of King Henry VIII of England. She married Henry VIII on 12 July 1543. She was the fourth commoner Henry had taken as his consort, and outlived him...
, the sixth wife of Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
.
She was born in Harrow
Harrow, London
Harrow is an area in the London Borough of Harrow, northwest London, United Kingdom. It is a suburban area and is situated 12.2 miles northwest of Charing Cross...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, in 1874, but settled in a cottage on the outskirts of the Dartmoor village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor
Widecombe-in-the-Moor
Widecombe-in-the-Moor is a small village located within the heart of the Dartmoor National Park in Devon, England. . The name is thought to derive from 'Withy-combe' which means Willow Valley....
. She was often to be seen sitting at her writing desk, beside her favourite window. Here she wrote many novels, including The Heart of the Moor, The Ghost of the Moor and the appropriately titled Through a Dartmoor Window.
Her passion for Dartmoor is evident in her writing, and she often campaigned to protect the landscape from modern developments – such as its use by the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. Indeed, Chase was often referred to as 'The Lady of the Moor' following the publication of John Oxenham
John Oxenham
William Arthur Dunkerley was a prolific English journalist, novelist and poet. He was born in Manchester, spent a short time after his marriage in America before moving to Ealing, west London, where he served as deacon and teacher at the Ealing Congregational Church from the 1880s, and he...
's novel in which she was the heroine. The book was called My Lady of the Moor, and she simply adopted the title.
She died in 1955, and was buried in Widecombe churchyard. The small granite cross on her grave is inscribed with Beatrice Chase on one side and Olive Katharine Parr on the other. Locals tell a story that she was taken to hospital in a straitjacket, but only after the loaded revolver she kept by her bed was removed.