'Tomb Thumb House' in Prestwich: Spoof?

There's a mosaic of local features in Longfield Shopping Centre, Prestwich which contains a tile incorporating a brief, old newspaper article that reads:

'No. 10 Church Lane, more than 150 years old, could easily be missed.

EMPTY

For the entire front of the Tomb [sic] Thumb house measures just about 6ft. across––and it narrows as you go inside. The greatest distance between the fire-place and the opposite wall is barely 3ft.'

 

Now, I know that the saying 'If it's not on the internet it doesn't exist' is not quite true (although it's mighty close), but I still find it slightly surprising that there appears to be no mention at all of this curiosity online: after all, the internet is like a trawl net for the bizarre as well as the mundane. The article looks real enough, but could it be that it appeared on April 1? And what's that human face in the picture that looks as if it's where a window should be? Very odd.

Richard Buxton in Prestwich: Artisan Naturalists #3

 

'In Memory of

RICHARD BUXTON,

THE BOTANIST.

AUTHOR OF THE MANCHESTER

BOTANICAL GUIDE,

WHO DIED JANUARY 22^ND 1865

AGED 81 YEARS.'

 

Richard Buxton (1786–1865) was déclassé, born at Sedgley Hall Farm, Prestwich to parents who moved to Manchester when he was two years old, his father John being reduced to the status of a labourer until his death.

Richard began learning to make children's shoes at twelve. At sixteen he was still illiterate, but painstakingly although with great enthusiasm taught himself to read and write.

In Where There's a Will, There's a Way! Or, Science in the Cottage; an Account of the Labours of Naturalists in Humble Life (1873), James Cash describes how Buxton went 'botanising' on Kersal Moor and met handloom weaver and botanist John Horsefield, the President of Prestwich Botanical Society (see link below for my Horsefield post).

The above daguerrotype of the sixty-five-year old Buxton was taken in 1851 by photographer John Benjamin Dancer (1812–1887), who arrived at Buxton's house with the geologist Edward William Binney (1812–1882) shortly after he'd had breakfast. Apparently Buxton believed they'd 'entrapped' him, and his expression clearly reveals his feelings. This is hardly surprising: even allowing for Buxton's camera shyness, Dancer seems to have (very stupidly) added to his subject's discomfort by thrusting a bunch of flowers into his hand. (And to make things even worse, the glimpse of the chair back initially makes it look as though Buxton's jacket is badly torn.)

My other artisan naturalist posts:

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
John Horsefield in Prestwich: Artisan Naturalists #1
James Percival in Prestwich: Artisan Naturalists #2

James Percival in Prestwich: Artisan Naturalists #2

A few days ago – which was a week after I'd spent about twenty minutes searching for James Horsefield's grave in St Mary's churchyard, Prestwich – I discovered a website called 'The Artisan Naturalists', which contains a page on the Prestwich Artisan Naturalists, and it (belatedly for me, of course) gives directions where to find Horsefield's grave, but it also told me of the existence of two more graves of artisan naturalists there: Richard Buxton and James Percival, who were both buried very close to Horsefield. It goes without saying that I had to return.

In Loving Memory of

JAMES PERCIVAL,

BOTANIST, OF SMITHY BRIDGE N^R ROCHDALE,

WHO DIED AUG. 17^TH 1902, AGED 74 YEARS.

HE HAD NO FAVOURITE FLOWER BUT LOVED THEM ALL.

ALSO OF ELIZA, HIS BELOVED WIFE,

WHO DIED NOV. 20^TH, 1900, AGED 77 YEARS.

ALSO OF NATHAN, THEIR BELOVED SON,

WHO DIED SEP. 2^ND 1858, AGED 1 YEAR.'

 

Not a great deal is known of Percival, although 'The Artisan Naturalist' notes that he was born in Hope Square, behind the present Friendship Inn. If he ever published anything, the British Library has no record of it.

John Horsefield in Prestwich: Artisan Naturalists #1

In St Mary's churchyard, Prestwich stands the table tomb of the handloom weaver and amateur botanist (or artisan naturalist) John Horsefield, after whom the daffodil Narcissus Horsfieldii is named.

 'In Memory of
JOHN HORSEFIELD
OF WHITEFIELD, BOTANIST;
who died March 6^th, 1854, in the
69^th Year of his age.'

'Ye, who behold God's works in Nature's ways,
And find in Flowers mute anthems to His praise:
Who read the volume of eternal love,
In seeds of earth as in the stars above:
Here read a name whose fame shall long endure,
One of poor birth, but Gifted although poor:
God – unlike man – the humblest spirit lifts.
Nor asks his wealth before He sends His gifts!
Where'er Botanic science could be learn'd.
New links disclosed – new species yet discern'd
Where'er by wood or lane, or heath or hill.
God oped the book that taught Botanic skill.
There HORSEFIELD's foot from dawn to eve was seen
To learn – to teach – to be what he has been.
An honour to the soil that gave him birth:
A mind of truth – a heart instinct with worth:
Oh, may that spirit, for whose loss we grieve,
Our GOD accept – our Saviour, LORD, receive.'

The verse is by the poet Charles Swain (1801–1874), and the grave has been given Grade II listed status.

Included at the top of the gravestone is an engraved representation of Tigridia conchiflora, a lily first hybridised by Waterfield.

 

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
James Percival in Prestwich: Artisan Naturalists #2

Richard Buxton in Prestwich: Artisan Naturalists #3