Transcript

of

William Lethbridge [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc., vol. XXXIII, (1901), pp. 34-35.

by

J. Brooking-Rowe (Ed.)

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s July 1901 Exeter meeting. Mr Lethbridge was originally a teacher, who read Law and was called to the Bar in 1861. He, together with his colleague, W H Smith, founded the famous stationers company of that name. He was also a colleague of Sir Alexander Galt, the High Commissioner for Canada and they together established a coal mining business at Coalbanks in Alberta. It was later renamed “Lethbridge” in his honour. He eventually retired in poor health and moved in the late 1870’s to Courtlands in Lympstone.  Courtlands is believed to have been the first house in Devon to have had electricity installed.  A history of Lympstone Manor House (Courtland) is provided by Wikipedia. The obituary, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

William Lethbridge was born at Kilworthy, near Tavistock, 20th February, 1825. He was educated at the Tavistock Grammar School, and matriculated at Cambridge, entering St. John's College. He was bracketed ninth wrangler in the Mathematical Tripos, 1850. He was for some years a master at Rossall School, and afterwards at St. Paul's School. He was called to the Bar; but in 1861 Mr. Lethbridge joined the firm of W. H. Smith and Son, of which he was for some years managing partner. In 1885 he ceased to be an active partner in the business, and took up his residence at Courtlands, Lympstone. Mr. Lethbridge had always looked forward to returning to his native county, and some years before he gave up his London residence he had acquired properties in the parishes of Southtawton and Sampford Courtenay. At Wood, Southtawton, he had a residence, where it was his custom for many years to spend the summer months. It was here he established a small herd of Devon cattle, in which, and his flock of Exmoor sheep, he was always keenly interested. He was a constant and not unsuccessful exhibitor at the Devon County Shows, and a strong supporter of the agricultural associations in his own neighbourhood. He was a Churchman, and as a landowner in the parish, took a great interest in the restoration of Southtawton Church. He restored the Chapel of St. Mary in the adjoining village of South Zeal. He was a Conservative in politics, and had been Chairman of the Mid-Devon Conservative Association, and also of the local Conservative Association at Exmouth. For the first few years after coming to Courtlands, Mr. Lethbridge took an active part in county business and local affairs, and served as Sheriff of the County in 1893 and 1894. On the death of the late Dr. Blackall he purchased Maryfield, near Exeter, his hope being that his health, not very good at that time, would improve, and that he would have opportunities of seeing more of his friends residing in the neighbourhood of Exeter. Unfortunately this hope was not realised. He was able to leave his house but very little after he took up his abode at Maryfield, suffering from bronchitis and other complaints, and he died on 31st March, 1901. He was not married. He became a member of the Association in 1895, when the meeting was held at Okehampton.