Part 19 (1/2)

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 Yorks.h.i.+re. 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 s.h.i.+rt 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 scholars.h.i.+p 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, publis.h.i.+ng 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, Somersets.h.i.+re, 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.