2nd December 1882 LWC
FUNERAL OF THE EARL OF HARROWBY
The remains of the Right Hon. The Earl of Harrowby, K.G., who died after a long and illustrious life on the 19th inst. at his seat, Sandon-hall, Stone, Staffordshire, were on Saturday afternoon interred in the family vault at Sandon Church, where the ancestors of the deceased nobleman have for centuries been buried. It was the wish of the late Earl, as well as of his family, that the funeral should be of a strictly private nature, and though this desire was fully observed, there was a very large gathering of people who claimed the right of privately paying a last tribute of respect to the deceased peer. The vault is in the churchyard close to the chancel wall, and is covered by a grove of dense yew trees, which runs at right angles to the church across the east end. Under these a large gathering of tenantry, villagers, and others waited the arrival of the procession, and availed themselves of the opportunity of looking into the vault, which had been opened by removing the stone slab from above it. In a good state of preservation could be seen seven coffins, five on the east side and two on the west, and from tablets inside the church it appears that they contain the remains of the following:—Susan, Countess of Harrowby, who was the daughter of the first Marquis of Stafford, and died in 1838; her granddaughter, Charlotte, daughter of the Hon. Granville Dudley Ryder, died 1847, from the result of burns; the first Earl of Harrowby, who died 1847; Frances Stuart, wife of the lately deceased earl, and daughter of the first Marquis of Bute, died 1859; Lady Frances Ryder, daughter of the second earl, died 1857; Susan Georgina, another daughter of the second earl, died 1839; and Jane Archer, and old and faithful servant, who was the mother of the Rev. J. Archer, an East Indian missionary, and died in 1851. The cortege left Sandon-hall at once o’clock the coffin, which was covered by a white silk pall with black border, being borne to the hearse on the shoulders of twelve servants on the estate, whose ages averaged over seventy years. The hearse, which was of the ordinary description, and drawn by two horses, was followed by ten private carriages, containing the principal mourners. The occupants of the carriages were as follows:—First carriage: Lord Sandon and Lady Mary Sandon, the Hon. Henry Dudley Ryder, and Mr. Raglan Somerset. Second carriage: Mr. John Ryder, Mr. Archibald Ryder, and Mr. Edward Ryder. Third carriage: Lord Fortescue, Earl Wharncliffe, the Marquis of Bute, and Mr. Dudley Henry Ryder. Fourth carriage: Mr. Granville Ryder and Captain Hugh Ryder, R.N. Fifth carriage: The Hon. Algernon Ryder, Mr. Cyril Graham, Mr. Richard Ryder, Mr. Lionel Ryder, and Mr. Long. Eighth carriage: Mr. Metcalfe, Mr. Birt, Mr. Hollis, and Mr. Cubitt. Ninth carriage: Mr. Ensor, Mr. Davidson, Mr. Webb, and Mr. Jones, old servants of the family. On arriving at the east gate of the church, at a quarter past one, a procession was formed on foot, the remains of the noble earl being preceded by Mr. Medcalf (the house steward), who carried the coronet on a purple velvet cushion, and Mr. Cubitt (the groom of the chamber), who bore the insignia of the Order of the Garter on a similar cushion. The officiating clergymen, the Rev. W.E. Coldwell, vicar of Sandon, and the Rev. Prebendary Harland, rector of Colwich, and the deceased earl’s chaplain, met the mournful party at the gate, and the procession advanced as the clergymen alternately read the appointed portions of the Church of England burial service. The little church had been filled for nearly an hour previously, amongst those present being the Mayor of Liverpool (Mr. William Lawrence, and Mr. Arthur Hornby Lewis, who attended privately out of respect to the late earl, who represented Liverpool in Parliament from 1831 to 1847.
On entering the church the coffin was placed on low trestles across the west end of the centre aisle, and on the lid were several magnificent floral wreaths, one composed of white hyacinths set in moss. The principal mourners entered the Sandon private gallery over the chancel, the seats on the north side of the church being reserved for the tenantry, while other seats in the west gallery were set apart for villagers. The main portion of the service was read by the vicar, and his daughter, Miss M. Caldwell, who presided at the organ, as the coffin was borne into the church, played “I know that my Redeemer liveth,” from the ”Messiah.” The well-known hymn “For ever with the Lord,” was effectively sung by the village choir, as also was the hymn “Te deum laudamus,” the vicar in announcing it remarking that that was the hymn above all others in which the deceased earl most delighted. At the close of the service, the organist played “Then shall the righteous shine forth,” from the oratorio “Elijah,” while the remains were being removed to their final resting-place. The concluding portion of the service having been said at the grave side, the members of the noble family lingered for a few moments to look into the tomb of their departed relatives, and then slowly walked to the carriages which were in waiting to convey them back to the hall. The outer coffin was of polished oak, with gilded brass handles and plates and the inscription on the breastplate was, “Dudley Ryder, second Earl of Harrowby, K.G. Born 19th May 1798. Died 19th November, 1882.” The floral wreaths which had previously been on the coffin were lowered with it into the vault, and after the relatives had left about a dozen wreaths composed of violets, white chrysanthemums, and other flowers were handed down by various ladies who were amongst the spectators, so that when last seen the coffin lid was completely covered by the choicest flowers obtainable.
A meeting of Everton Branch of the Workingmen’s Conservative Association was held on Saturday evening at 138, Breck-road, Mr. John Houlding in the chair, when the following resolution was unanimously adopted:--“That an expression of deep sympathy be forwarded to Lord Sandon and his family on the death of his father, the Earl of Harrowby, and also to express our regret that by such bereavement the nation in general and Liverpool in particular will lose the benefit of his valuable services in the House of Commons.”
Mr. Thomas McCraken, chairman of the Junior Conservative Club, has received a letter from Lord Sandon, which conveys his lordship’s acknowledgement of the vote of condolence passed by the members, and also explains the reason why, in deference to Lord Sandon’s wish, the club abandoned its desire to be officially represented at the funeral of the Earl of Harrowby.
THE LATE LORD HARROWBY AND LIVERPOOL
The following letters written thirty-four years ago by the late Earl of Harrowby to Mr. John Bramley-Moore (who is still living), possess some interest just now:--
Lynton, August 31st, 1848
My dear Sir,—I do not know by what accident your original letter has never reached my hands. Your last, however, arrived safe yesterday with the plan of the docks, and I hasten to take the first opportunity both to thank you for the great kindness of your own expressions to me, and if this is a proper opportunity, to thank through you the committee for being paid the greatest compliment and conferred the greatest honour that was within their power to confer on a fellow-labourer, though a humble one, in the great work of promoting the convenience in Liverpool, and through it, in fact, of the commerce of the globe. To have one’s name eternally connected with such works is, as I am sure you feel with me, a high reward, and I rejoice to share it with you, whose talents and energy have had so large a share both in originating and carrying them out.—Believe me, my dear sir, yours very faithfully, Signed
HARROWBY
To. T.J. Bramley-Moor, Esq.
P.S. I believe it is to you that I am indebted for another copy of the plan of the Liverpool docks, on which I have seen with pleasure and pride my name in honourable association with yours in connection with some of the noblest works of commercial skill and enterprise which this island, and if this island, the world, can boast.
THE CONSERVATIVE CLUB AND LORD SANDON
A special meeting of the committee of the Conservative Club was held on Tuesday, at which it was resolved to send the following letter of condolence to Lord Sandon:—"The members of the Conservative Club, Liverpool, desire to express their warm sympathy with you and your family in your recent bereavement, and their sorrow at the loss of one so universally and justly esteemed as was the late Earl of Harrowby, whose memory is cherished both with reverence and affectionate regard.”
Public domain
