Local historian David Dunford has unearthed a fascinating story of a Nottingham jockey who married a Hungarian Baroness and lived on Private Road in Sherwood.
George Williamson was born in Nottingham on 25th November 1867. His father, John, was a horse dealer and a successful amateur jockey.
John became landlord of ‘The Blacks Head’ pub next to the Nottingham Racecourse (now the Forest Recreation Ground). It is mentioned that it was rename ‘The Grosvenor’ after the name of a horse that won at the Forest Racecourse, although the name had changed by 1877.
The original racecourse dated from around 1770 and was one of the earliest racecourses to be granted a Royal Plate race by the monarch. The racecourse moved to its present site in Colwick Park in 1892.
Horses were a big part of George’s early life. He said:
“There is a wonderful lure about horses. As a boy I ran away from home to be among them and went to Beverley in Yorkshire. I rode horses trained by Tom Green and in the afternoons when riding was over I went to school. As a boy I rode at shows and so on, and for seven years I was an amateur rider before becoming a professional.”
George started his professional career at the stables of Robert Armstrong at Penrith in Cumbria.
In 1890, George was engaged to ride in Hungary. Within a few months he had won the Velká Pardubická, continental Europe’s toughest steeplechase. In the following year, he won more races in Austria and Hungary than any other jockey. He repeated that success each year to 1896 when he was also top jockey in England.
Superstar Jockey
George was now a celebrity and he was mixing with European high society. So much so, in December 1896, he married a Hungarian Baroness by the name of Daisy de Buren.
The couple moved to Nottingham and made their home at Brooklyn House, on Private Road in Sherwood. This was just a few minutes’ walk from The Grosvenor public house where he had lived as a child.
Brooklyn House had been advertised for sale the previous year at a price of £1,675. The house was described as having a lawn and a large and productive kitchen garden, well stocked with fruit trees. It had pleasant southern and western aspects. On the ground floor there was a spacious entrance hall with conservatory, dining, drawing, and breakfast rooms. It had a kitchen, larder, butler’s pantry, and a scullery. On the first floor were five bedrooms, bathroom, sewing-room, and w.c. On the second floor two bedrooms. The outbuildings comprised a two-stall stable, coach house and saddle room (with hayloft over), washhouse, and other buildings. In the gardens there were three greenhouses (with good vinery) and an excellent fowl house. Under the house were good wine and coal cellars. The total area was 4,015 square yards.
Brooklyn House no longer exists. The land now has three detached houses on it, in the vicinity of number 22 Private Road.
George had raced in the Grand National several times, but success eluded him until 1899, when he won by five lengths on Manifesto. For this, the owner rewarded him with a cheque for £2,000.
Then, at the peak of his fame, his wife, the Baroness Daisy walked out on him.
George continued to race and his last season in Austria was 1906. He went on to own several race horses, although with no great success. He also played in charity cricket matches, and hunted regularly.
George retired to West Bridgford in 1916, where he remained until his death at the age of 70, on 18th August 1937. He is buried at the Wilford Hill cemetery.
Nottingham’s superstar jockey remains in the record books as the only jockey ever to have won both the Grand National and the Velká Pardubická.
What of Baroness Daisy?
Who was Daisy? Where did she come from? And where did she go?
David Dunford tells the whole story in a book titled Baroness Daisy – The Jockey’s Wife.
Drawing on contemporary newspaper accounts, Daisy’s surprising story unfolds, as we also meet the fascinating people (such as George Williamson) who featured in her life.
You can order a copy of the book directly from the author.