1911 The perpetual visitor, the Aristocrat and the American

The night of the 1911 census saw Reggie DeVeulle again as a visitor in the home of someone 'of note'. In 28 Half Moon Street Reggie was the guest of the 47 year old Rowland Richard Clegg, The 4th Viscount Hill was a member of the London County Council and was otherwise notable only for overseeing the break up of the families estates  including Hawkstone Hall and Peplow hall due to the debts built up by his Grandfather. He died without issue in 1923 and was suceeded by his brother.

The other house guest on that evening was Elizabeth Banks, the American born author and journalist. Born in Wisconsin in 1865 she moved to London at the turn of the century. According to the Wikipedia entry on her life:

“In London, she became a regular contributor to publications such as The Daily News, Punch, St James' Gazette, London Illustrated, and Referee. She created a sensation in London by recording her observations on the plight of the lower classes, which she researched posing as a housemaid, street sweeper, and Covent Garden flower girl. Her journalistic writing under several pen names including pseudonyms of "Mary Mortimer Maxwell" and "Enid", unceasingly promoted women's right to vote and denounced prison conditions for jailed suffragettes.”

Interestingly the property at 28 Half Moon Street appears to have been a ‘Private Hotel’ run by a Mrs Adelaide Banks Burlie also an American. The resident staff consisted of a German Butler and a Scottish cook.

Reggie would later become a resident of Half Moon Street himself and indeed the 1911 census shows his future wife Pauline Gay living at number 24 Half Moon Street in a household full of dressmakers like herself.