DEATH OF MR T C HESLINGTON
The
death of Mr Thomas Clarke Heslington
occurred on Friday morning at Low Skellgate, Ripon, at the advanced age of 87
years. He had for a long time been in delicate health, and as each winter came
round bronchitis kept him indoors, and of late even in fine summer weather he
had to exercise great care. He has been a familiar figure in Ripon for more
than half a century. He was born at Marton-le-Moor. His father resided there
and also built Warlaby Lodge, near Northallerton, keeping up both houses. Mr
Richard Heslington, elder brother of Mr T C Heslington, on coming of age went
to live at Warlaby Lodge, and when he died it came into the latter's
possession, and has been retained by him ever since. By his death it passes to
his grand-nephew, who is in Florida.
Mr T C Heslington never lived at Warlaby, and it is now in the
occupation of Mr Richard Booth, who, however, sublets the house. On leaving
Marton-le-Moor Mr T C Heslington took the High Common Farm, where he lived for
some years. Agriculture did not, however, prove a congenial occupation, and
after a few years Mr Heslington came to live in quiet retirement at Ripon,
where he has since remained, devoting himself to scientific pursuits, local
archaeology being a fascinating study for some years. He was one of the
curators of the Ripon Museum and a former member of the Scientific Society,
having written on the history of "Ripon Spurs," and also an account
of the researches and discoveries of Roman remains at Castle dykes, near Ripon,
where, along with the late Rev. W. C.
Lukis, he carried on work between the years 1865 and 1874. Mr Heslington
wrote on "Roman Camps in the neighbourhood of Ripon," the Rev. W. C.
Lukis contributing a paper on the same subject to the Archaeological Institute.
Roman remains of various kinds found at Castle Dykes were removed to the Ripon Museum. Mr
Heslington was an expert connoisseur in old china. He was formerly a member of
the De Grey and Ripon Lodge of Freemasons, and was secretary in 1863, when the
Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire met at Fountains Abbey. He was for
many years a member of the Ripon Mechanical Institute. He took a great interest
in botany, and was considered an excellent field botanist. In early life he
came under the influences of Darwin and Huxley, and closely followed their
writings. He was never married, the grand-nephew to whom his property goes
being his nearest relative.
The
interment was at the Ripon Cemetery on Monday afternoon, when
amongst those present were Mr. T. Clarke (North Stainley), Mr. W. E. Clarke
(Ripon), and Mr J Heslington (Littlethorpe), cousins of the deceased: Dr. W. D.
Jefferson, Mr T. Laycock (Harrogate), Mr. Boynton (Bridlington), Mr. W.
Harrison, J.P., Mr. C. Wells, Mr. F. W. Tappin, Mr. T. Pratt, M.R.C.V.S., Mr.
H. Bulmer Rudd, Mr. S. Harrison, Mr. R. J. Smithson, Mr. J. Jackson, Mr. W.
Hemsworth. The Rev. E. W. Rowland (Cathedral succentor) officiated.
Mr.
J. Lowley was the undertaker, the coffin being of oak with brass
furniture.
|