A History of Horncastle Part 19

This hall is a s.p.a.cious and lofty building, well adapted for its purpose, and also (as it is frequently used) for theatricals, and other entertainments; having a permanent stage, dressing rooms, lavatories, &c., with a commodious kitchen attached, and every convenience for cooking, &c. The cost of the whole was about 2,000, raised by public subscriptions.

CHAPTER XI.

HORNCASTLE WORTHIES, &c.

MISS ANNIE DIXON.

Miss Annie Dixon, the artist, was a native of Horncastle of whom the town may well be proud. She was the eldest daughter of a corn chandler, living on the Spilsby Road, now called East Street; he had two sons and five daughters. We know nothing of the sons, but Miss Annie early developed great taste in water-colour painting; and among her early productions was a miniature of a near relative of the present writer, done in 1855. Another of Miss H. A. Palmer, eldest daughter of Captain Moffat Palmer, of Horncastle, and widow of the late George Storer, Esq., of Thoroton Hall, Notts., late M.P. for S. Notts., was done about the same time. She afterwards removed to London, and became the first miniature painter of her day; was a frequent exhibitor in the Royal Academy, and a favourite with Queen Victoria and the Royal family, of most of whom she painted miniatures. She died unmarried Feb 15th, 1901, aged 83, and was buried in the Horncastle cemetery.

Another daughter, Leonora, married a Mr. F. Stapleforth, of Holbeach.

Two other sisters, f.a.n.n.y and Emily, unmarried, carried on a ladies'

school at Spalding; and another, Charlotte, married a former Under Master of the Horncastle Grammar School, Rev. W. Hutchinson, who in 1862 was appointed by the Lord Chancellor Vicar of Howden, in Yorkshire. Of these Emily, died unmarried, May 28th, 1903, aged 80, and was also buried in the cemetery; as well as Charlotte (Mrs. Hutchinson), who died Oct. 19th, in the same year, aged 73. Their graves are situated to the east of the chapel.

LORD ALLERTON.

Lord Allerton, formerly Mr. William Lawnes Jackson, is a member of a Horncastle family. A near relative was a well-known object, a few years ago, in our streets as a cripple, going about on a donkey, lying flat on a large saddle or "pad," his only means of locomotion. Lord Allerton's father, William Jackson, left Horncastle for Leeds, somewhere in the "thirties," or the "forties," going it is said, with only half a sovereign in his pocket, given by an aunt, and a spare shirt given by an uncle. At Leeds he found employment in the tanyard of a Mr. Robert Barker, where he presently became foreman. He afterwards returned to Horncastle and worked in the tanyard of the late Mr. Hawling; but went back to Leeds and commenced tanning on his own account, at Meanwood near Leeds, and afterwards on a still larger scale at Buslingthorpe. He speedily began to prosper, and in due course was succeeded by his son; who made a large fortune in the same business. He became a magistrate of Leeds, and was elected to the Mayoralty in 1895. He represented North Leeds in Parliament for many years, as a conservative, being first elected in April, 1880, and re-elected five times, with ever increasing majorities. He was for many years a Director and Chairman of G.N.R.

Company, and held other public offices. In 1896 he succeeded Mr. A. J.

Balfour, under Lord Salisbury's administration, as Chief Secretary for Ireland, being also, for several years, Financial Secretary of the Treasury; and was raised to the peerage in June, 1902. He was born in 1840, married in 1860, Grace, the only daughter of George Tempest, Esq.

He owns, as his country seat, Allerton Hall, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, and 27, Cadogan Square, as his town residence. His uncle, Mr. John Green, still lives in Horncastle, on the Edlington Road.

EDWARD GILLIAT.

Edward Gilliat was the eldest son of the late Mr. George Gilliat, of the Manor House (now called "Banovallum"), by his second wife. He was educated partly at the Grammar School, being afterwards a pupil of Canon Sanderson, at Seaford, Suss.e.x. He entered at Pembroke College, Oxford, where he obtained a scholarship in 1861. In 1862 he took a 1st cla.s.s in Cla.s.sical Moderations, and 1st Literae Humaniores, 1864. In 1867 he was _Proxime accessit_ for the Latin essay. He was appointed a.s.sistant Master at Westminster School, Sept., 1867, holding the post to Dec., 1870. He was ordained deacon in 1870 and priest in 1871, by the Bishop of London. In Sep. 1871, he was appointed a.s.sistant Master at Harrow, where he remained till 1900. He has been a voluminous writer, publishing his first work, _Asylum Christi_, 3 vols., in 1875; _On the Wolds_, 1879; _Under the Downs_, 1882; _Forest Outlaws_, 1886; _John Standish_, 1889; _In Lincoln Green_, 1893; _Wolf Head_, 1898; _The King's Reeve_, 1899; _Romance of Modern Sieges_, 1907; and _G.o.d save King Alfred_, in the same year. He also published, for the S.P.C.K., _Dorothy Dymoke_, and _Champion of the Right_. He has now retired from scholastic work and resides at St. Catherine's Hill, Worcester.

FREDERICK GROSVENOR.

We have already in our notice of the Grammar School (p. 98) given an account of the Rev. Francis Grosvenor, son of an ironmonger in the town; there was also another son, Frederick, educated under Dr. J. Bainbridge Smith, at the school, who graduated at Oxford, and was ordained deacon in 1860, and priest in 1861. He held a curacy at Basford, Notts, 186062; was travelling Chaplain to the Bishop of Brisbane, 186265; Curate of Holy Trinity, Westminster, 186667; of St. Mary's, Hulme, Manchester, 186769; of St. Gabriel's, Canning Town, London, 186973; at Dudley, 187476; and at Hornsea, near Hull, 187685; when he, like his brother Francis, retired to Epsom, and succeeded him as Chaplain to the Union there, until his decease.

WILLIAM BARTON CAPARN.

Mr. John Caparn, Chemist, having a shop in the High Street (now occupied by Mr. Herbert Carlton), had a son, William Barton Caparn, who graduated at Brazenose College, Oxford, taking honours, in 1843. He was ordained deacon in 1843, and priest in 1845, in the diocese of Ripon. He became Vicar of East and West Torrington, near Wragby, in 1846, which he held till 1859. He held the benefice, as Vicar, of Drayton, Somersetshire, from 1866 to 1875. Having private means, he gave up that benefice, and became Curate of Angersleigh, in the same county, 187779; which he then gave up, and undertook the Chaplaincy of the Taunton Union, and local hospital. These he resigned after a few years, and resided at Taunfield House, Taunton, until his death, April 10th, 1892. He published various minor works; the first being a small volume on _Epitaphs_, later productions were _Meditations to be used in Church before Divine Service_; _Councils and warnings before and after Confirmation_, &c.

George Gilliat, Esq., late of The Wharf, Horncastle, married, as his first wife, Miss Caparn, a sister. Miss Helen Caparn, another sister, married Mr. William Sharples, Surgeon, a partner of the late Mr. T.

Snaith, of Horncastle, and one of the first doctors at Woodhall Spa. Mr.

Sharples left Horncastle for Wisbech, being appointed by the trustees first resident physician at the hospital founded in that town by Miss Trafford Southwell. Losing an only daughter while there, the shock was so great, that he resigned the post, and removed to Taunton, and took up there the practice of a deceased brother, which he carried on until his death, Feb. 8th, 1897. At Horncastle he resided for some years in the old vicarage, south of the churchyard, afterwards moving to the house next the "Fighting c.o.c.ks" Inn, called "Westholme House." For some years he was a very popular Secretary to the Southwold Hunt.

W. H. BENSON BROWN.

Among more recent natives of Horncastle, who have distinguished themselves, is the son of the late Mr. Robert Brown, of the Market Place.

He graduated at University College, Durham, as Licentiate in Theology, 1887, and was ordained deacon in 1890, priest in 1891, holding the curacy of North Ormsby, near Middlesborough; and was appointed Rector of Bucknall, near Horncastle, in 1898, by the patron his father-in-law, the late Mr. James Dunham, Merchant, of Horncastle. He was appointed Inspector of Schools, 1899. Mr. Benson Brown is an energetic worker, has restored his church, adding a carved reredos of oak, a handsome lectern, and filling the east window with good stained gla.s.s. He has also introduced various reforms and improvements in the parish.

WILLIAM HENEAGE SHARP.

Another native of Horncastle, who has already done credit to the town is the son of Mr. Henry Sharp, Saddler, in the Bull Ring; of a very old firm, established in 1760, and doing an European business. William Heneage Sharp was educated at the local Grammar School, 18859, where he gained the first scholarship granted by the Governors, under the reformed system. He then went to the college at Framlingham, Suffolk, 188990, a county inst.i.tution founded as a memorial of the late Prince Consort, and there gained several prizes. He then became a Junior Master in a private school at Devizes; and during his stay there took the 2nd and 4th prizes at the College of Preceptors. He next accepted a Mastership at John Ellis's endowed school in South London (Gospel Oak). After which he studied at King's College, London, 18991901, where he gained the Jelf prize for Dogmatic Theology, the Senior Wordsworth prize for Latin, and the Barry Divinity Prize. He was also appointed Precentor, and afterwards Dean, of the college, being senior student of his year, and taking a first-cla.s.s in the final examination. He was ordained by the Bishop of London, in St. Paul's Cathedral, in 1901, being appointed "Gospellor" on the occasion. He was Curate of Staines, Middles.e.x, 19013, removing afterwards to St. John the Evangelist, Holborn, 19038; and was then appointed Theological Tutor and Sub-Warden at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, in the Diocese of Ripon.

ALFRED H. HEALEY.

A youth of Horncastle who has distinguished himself, though chiefly in another line, is Alfred H. Healey, son of the late Mr. Alfred Healey, Brewer and Merchant, of Horncastle, Branston and Lincoln. He was appointed to a Mastership of Ardingly College, Suss.e.x, but removed to Alnwick College more recently. A member of a family remarkable for their ability; a brother, though still young, being high up in the Civil Service; he is specially distinguished as an athlete. Among his performances are the following:

Olympic Games, at Athens, 1906, 2nd in 110 metres hurdle race.

English Championship, 120 yards hurdle race, at Manchester, 1907, 2nd.

Northern Counties' 100 yards Championship, hurdle race, Darlington, 1905, 2nd.

Northern Counties' Champion, 100 yards, at Batley, 1907, 1st.

Northern Counties' Champion, 120 yards, at Batley, 1907, 1st.

Northern Counties' Champion, 220 yards, at Darlington, 1907, 1st.

Northern Counties' Champion, long jump, at Darlington, 1907, 1st.

A record, no one before having won more than two events. His "bests"

have been: 100 yards in 10 seconds; 120 yards (hurdles) 16 and three-fifth seconds; 220 yards (hurdles) 23 seconds; high jump, 5-ft.

8-in.; long jump, 22-ft. 4-in. He was also selected to represent England in the foot races at the Franco-British Exhibition, at Shepherd's Bush, 1908.

WILLIAM MARWOOD.

Horncastle had, for some years, the dubious honour of being the home of the public hangman. William Marwood was born at Goulceby, about six miles from Horncastle, and afterwards lived some years in Old Bolingbroke, coming to Horncastle about 1860; where he was a shoemaker, having a small shop in Church Street, now occupied by Mr. Joseph Borrill, of the same trade. Before being himself appointed hangman he a.s.sisted his predecessor in that office, Calcraft, and succeeded him in 1872; continuing the duties until his death, Sept. 4th, 1883; when he in turn was succeeded by Bartholomew Binns. He was rather short in stature, with large square head and large hands, indicative of firmness of character.