Children of David and Catherine Richardson

Hugh Richardson01. Hugh Richardson, MA (Cantab.)

1864-02-16 b. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, son of David and Catherine (Fry) Richardson censuses; Bootham School Register
1868-06-18 present at birthday party for Mabel Spence Watson, at Mosscroft Mosscroft visitors' book
1871 scholar, of 29 Rye Hill, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, living with his family, a nurse, and two domestic servants TNA: RG 10/5075 f77 p6
1875/1880 scholar at Bootham School, York Bootham School Register; Joseph Spence Hodgson (1895) Superintendents, teachers, and principal officers of Ackworth School, from 1779 to 1894
1877 photographed with his class at Bootham 1877 Bootham School group
1880 Matric. 6th in Hons—£10 prize Edgar B. Collinson, ed. (1935) Bootham School Register, 2nd edition; Bootham School Register; Manchester Evening News, 1880-07-19
won a Leaving Scholarship Hugh Richardson 1864–1936 [memorial booklet]; Collinson, ed. (1935)
1880/1881 educated at Flounders Institute Hodgson (1895)
1881 student at college, of The Gables, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, living with his family, a nurse, a cook, a housemaid, and an under housemaid RG 11/5051 f89 p2
1882-01-12 of Flounders College, Ackworth Bensham Grove visitors' books
  "After a brief experience of industrial life, he became an apprentice teacher at Ackworth" . . . Hugh Richardson 1864–1936
1882/1884 apprentice, Ackworth School Hodgson (1895); Collinson, ed. (1935)
1882-07-31 of Flounders College; had passed first division, intermediate examination in arts York Herald, 1882-07-31
1883-03-03 of Ackworth, admitted to the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union Leeds Mercury, 1883-03-05
1884-01-02 of The Gables, Newcastle Bensham Grove visitors' books
1884-10-10 admitted to King's College, Cambridge ACAD, accessed 2011-05-06
1884/1887 educated at King's College Bootham School Register
1884 Michs Matric. ACAD
1885-01-05 of The Gables, NC Bensham Grove visitors' books
1885 Exhibitioner ACAD
1885-09-26 of N.C. Bensham Grove visitors' books
1886-09-25 of The Gables
1887 BA 1st Class Nat. Sci. Tripos Pt I ACAD; Bootham School Register; Hugh Richardson 1864–1936
1887/1888 master at Bath Lane Science School, Newcastle Collinson, ed. (1935)
1887/1888 assistant master, Ackworth School, Yorkshire ACAD
1888-01-03 of The Gables Bensham Grove visitors' books
1888-04-01 of Newcastle
  (master) at the Corporation Street Schools, Newcastle-on-Tyne ACAD
1888/1897 Modern Side master at Sedbergh; the first of the assistant masters to visit Greece and Rome Hugh Richardson 1864–1936; Collinson, ed. (1935)
1889/1897 (master) at Sedbergh School ACAD
1890-11-06 present at the wedding of his brother Arthur, at St. Peter's Church, Brockley. Brockley News, New Cross and Hatcham Review, 1890-11-07
1891 schoolmaster, science and maths, employed, boarder with Elizabeth Meacock at White Rock Grove, Sedbergh, Yorkshire RG 12/3489 f27 p9 4197 f115 p38
MA (Cantab.) ACAD; Bootham School Register
1893-09

At the beginning of September, Hugh Richardson very kindly came over and gave us a most interesting and original lecture on Postage Stamps, as illustrating the last fifty years of European History. In spite of his remarks on imitation stamps, and his protest against collecting merely for collecting's sake, we think stamp dealers owe Hugh Richardson a deep debt of gratitude for arousing enthusiasm in philately.

Proceedings of the Ackworth Old Scholars' Association. Part XIII. Eighth Month, 1894
1894 of Grammar School, Sedburgh, R.S.O., Yorkshire Proceedings of the Ackworth Old Scholars' Association. Part XIII. Eighth Month, 1894
1896-01-10 of Sedbergh; name bracketed with Mabel Spence Watson Bensham Grove visitors' books
1896-04-09 of Havera Bank, Sedbergh; m. Mabel Spence Watson, at Newcastle Friends' meeting house; the reception was held at Bensham Grove The Friend XXXVI:254, 1896-04-17, The British Friend V May:122; Bootham School Register; GRO index; Robert Spence Watson's book of newspaper cuttings, which has a full report and list of wedding presents; Leeds Mercury, 1896-04-11; Bensham Grove visitors' books
  honeymooned in Devonshire Robert Spence Watson's book of newspaper cuttings
1896-08 of Grammar School, Sedbergh, R.S.O., Yorkshire Proceedings of the Ackworth Old Scholars' Association, Part XV, Eighth Month, 1896
1896-09-02 of Havera Bank, Sedbergh Bensham Grove visitors' books
1896-09-08 of Havera Bank, Sedbergh; stayed at Bensham Grove; "a most delightful visit—the first together"
1896 holidayed in Ireland with family and Aunt Car Mary Spence Watson: diary
1896-12-24/1897-01-06 of Sedbergh; stayed at Bensham Grove Bensham Grove visitors' books
1897-04-11 of Sedbergh
Children: Mary Foster (1897–1956), Colin Spence (1899–1973), Esther Watson (1901–1978) The Friend; The British Friend; Bootham School Register; Hall, Kathleen and Chris Hall, eds (2001) Sidcot School. Register of Old Scholars 1808–1998. Sidcot Old Scholars' Association
1897-07-30/-08-03 stayed at Bensham Grove; "Sedbergh to York" Bensham Grove visitors' books
1897 removed to York The Friend XLVII:697–8
1897-11-29/-12-01 of York; stayed at Bensham Grove Bensham Grove visitors' books
1897/1914 science master, Bootham Bootham School Register; ACAD; Hugh Richardson 1864–1936
1898-08-26/-09-06 of York; stayed at Bensham Grove Bensham Grove visitors' books
1898-12-26 of York
1899-03-13 gave an illustrated talk on British and European butterflies, to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society Yorkshire Gazette, 1899-03-18
1899-03-25 present at the opening of the new wing at Rawdon Friends' school Leeds Mercury, 1899-03-27
1899-09-29 of 12 St Mary's, York The Friend XXXIX:666; The British Friend VIII Nov:310
1899-12-01 with his wife, had subscribed £100 to the Bootham School Building Fund, in memory of Robert Foster, Newcastle The Friend XXXIX: Supplement
1899-12-23/-30 of York; stayed at Bensham Grove Bensham Grove visitors' books
by 1900-02-21 of 12 St Mary's, York; collecting subscriptions for the famine in the Punjab Sheffield Independent, 1900-02-01
1900-12-21/-29 stayed at Bensham Grove Bensham Grove visitors' books
1901 assistant schoolmaster, worker, of 12 St Mary's, York, Yorkshire, living with two young children, a nurse, a cook, and a visiting Sarah W. Edmundson, his wife's cousin RG 13/446 f13 p18
1901-12-25 of 12 St Mary's, York Bensham Grove visitors' books
1902-01-03 published 'Postage Stamps as Illustrations of European History' in the Leamington Spa Courier Leamington Spa Courier; 1902-01-03
1902-08-05/-09 stayed at Bensham Grove Bensham Grove visitors' books
1902-09 article on 'The Nature Study Exhibition' Bootham 1.2:107-115
Science Master at Bootham; appointed one of the Examiners in Botany for the Matriculation Examination of London University for the ensuing year Bootham 1.2:150-151
1903-01-03 of Bootham School, York; present at the North of England Educational Conference in Manchester; spoke on the importance of country excursions in the pursuance of nature studies Leeds Mercury, 1903-01-05
1904/1907 examiner in botany for Matriculation at the University of London Hugh Richardson 1864–1936; Collinson, ed. (1935)
1905 co-author of An Introduction to Practical Geography ACAD; book; Hugh Richardson 1864–1936; Collinson, ed. (1935)
  editor of Cambridge Nature Study Series ACAD
1905-02 article on 'Scholarships' Bootham 2.3:190-201
1905-04-11 staying c/o Messrs Hamilton & Co, Santa Cruz, Teneriffe letter from Hugh to Molly Richardson
1906/1915 secretary of the Educational Science Section of the British Association Hugh Richardson 1864–1936
1907-12-13 schoolmaster; co-executor of wife's will at York National Probate Calendar
1908-10 article, 'Bootham at the Franco-British Exhibition' Bootham 4.2:142-149
1909 joined the Association of Public School Science Masters and took a lively interest in the Association even after his retirement from teaching Hugh Richardson 1864–1936
 

The Editor of The School Science Review regarded him as his most prolific correspondent. His wide range of interests may be shown by mention of the articles which he contributed to the journal: "Diffusion, Osmosis, Colloids" (vi, 24), "Science or Sciences" (vii, 107), "Tests in Arts, Crafts and Sciences" (viii, I, 65), "Education of the Adolescent" (viii, 272), "Scientific Foundations" (xii, 337).

1909-08-13 schoolmaster, Quaker; sailed from Liverpool aboard the SS Empress of Ireland, travelling second cabin class Canadian passenger lists
1909-08-19 arrived Quebec, Canada; destination Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
1910 of 12 St Mary's, York Ackworth Old Scholars' Association, Annual Report 29
1911-03-02 of 12 St Mary's, York letter from Hugh to Molly Richardson, possessed by Paul Thomas
1911 assistant schoolmaster (science), secondary boarding school, worker, living in 8 rooms at 12 St Mary's, York, with his daughter, a housekeeper, a cook, and a housemaid RG14PN28411 RG78PN1626 RD517 SD2 ED28 SN121
  taught practical astronomy, as well as physics, chemistry, botany, and geography Hugh Richardson 1864–1936
1911-06-16 of 12 St Mary's, York letter from Hugh to Molly Richardson, possessed by Paul Thomas
1911/1919 editor of the "Cambridge Nature Study Series" Hugh Richardson 1864–1936; Collinson, ed. (1935)
1912-06-09 of 12 St Mary's, York; wrote to his daughter regarding her grandfather's death letter from Hugh to Molly Richardson, possessed by Paul Thomas
c. 1912-08 moved to an old house in Bootham Crescent Mary Spence Watson's diary
1912-09-28 of 18 Bootham Crescent Frank and Mary Pollard visitors' books
1913-02-16
1913-05-20
1913-10-04
1913-12-21
1914-02-01
1914-02-18 schoolmaster; co-executor of his father's will National Probate Calendar
1914-02-22 of 18 Bootham Crescent Frank and Mary Pollard visitors' books
1914-05-10
1914-06-14
1914 his father's death made it necessary for him to retire Hugh Richardson 1864–1936
1914-10-13 of The Gables, Elswick Road, Newcastle Frank and Mary Pollard visitors' books
1914-10-20 of Wheel Birks, Stock[s]field-on-Tyne; wrote to the Yorkshire Herald on Peace and War cutting possessed by Paul Thomas
by 1914-11

THE retirement of Hugh Richardson, who has resigned his post in order to manage a family estate, means a great break to all those who had the advantage of getting their scientific equipment under his guidance. He came to Bootham as a boy in August, 1875, and left in June, 1880, when he took the Leaving Scholarship.

He studied at the "Flounders" and Cambridge, taught at Ackworth and Sedbergh, and came back to Bootham in 1897.

We cannot do better than quote from the School Committee's report the reference to his conscientious work during seventeen years:—

"A number of Old Boys who have studied science at the Universities have given the highest praise to H. Richardson's teaching. . . In the spring term the Committee arranged for an inspection of the science work by Mr. G.F. Daniell, B.Sc., who devoted five days to the work. He speaks of Hugh Richardson's work as 'exceptionally good,' and in his general review says:—'The tone of the classes is good, boys as well as masters are vigorously at work, and the lessons are well-planned and skilfully carried out.' [ . . . ]

The good wishes of all Old Scholars will go with Hugh Richardson in his new work.

Bootham 7.2:150-151
1915-01-04

LECTURE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

The second of the two holiday lectures for young people is to be given this afternoon at the Hancock Museum. The subject is a novel one, namely, "Map Reading for Naturalists, " and as treated and illustrated by Mr. Hugh Richardson, M.A., it is certain to prove of great interest. Mr. Richardson will be remembered by many for a previous and particularly successful lecture to young people on the use of the microscope. His idea in taking maps this time as his subject, is that it is well worth while for young people, and especially for young naturalists, to learn in good time to understand and enjoy map reading. Many of their elders have gone through their whole lives without ever getting over their helplessness in regard to extracting information from a map.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1915-01-04
1915-06-08

NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

The second field meeting of the Newcastle Natural History Society was held, by the kind permission of Mr Hugh Richardson, at Wheel Birks. An interesting walk, partly up the Stocksfield Burn, brought the members to Wheel Birks, where, after having lunch, the party divided, some going round the glasshouses, gardens, and woods, conducted by Mr Richardson, others following their own particular bent. The party met at Stocksfield for tea, which brought a most enjoyable day to a close, the afternoon having got out very fine. Among those present were Messrs Hugh Richardson, Edward Potts, Randle B. Cooke, W. Leonard Turner, J. Losh, W.E. Beck, F. Maling, John Jeffrey, and Hugh P. Angus (field president).

The following birds were seen:—Swift, house martin, swallow, greater whitethroat, redstart, curlew, etc.

The following flowers were found in bloom:—Wood geranium, jagged-leaved geranium, wild hyacinth, sweet cicely, evergreen alkanet, red campion, white campion, bird cherry, wood sorrel, water avens, wood loosestrife, common arum, lady's mantle, common moschatel, spring orchid, cow wheat, tuberous bitter vetch, large-flowered bitter grass, hand fern. [last three words uncertain, as partially cut off in the image]

Newcastle Journal, 1915-06-08
1916-07/1917-03 of The Gables, Elswick Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne; acting editor of Bootham Bootham School Register; Bootham 8.1:x, 8.2:x, 8.3:viii
  He was a science instructor, lecturer, editor and author. As a member of the Society of Friends he was vitally interested in the cause of peace and internationalism. During World War I, he visited prisoner-of-war camps in Scotland on behalf of the Emergency Committee of the Society of Friends and sent the prisoners seeds, linoleum, a sheet of rubber for printing, a stereoscope, a kaleidoscope, writing tablets, and books. He lobbied for the non-payment of taxes until the end of the war, proposed disarmament by general agreement, was against supporting scientific research that promoted military science, tried to work out a mathematical formula for weighting votes in a universal government, thought there was a relation between the weather and political events, and was interested in how ornithology was related to military invasions. Hugh Richardson Papers, accessed 2011-05-06
1916-02-18 an N.E.R. shareholder diary of Mary S.W. Pollard
of The Gables Frank and Mary Pollard visitors' books
 

Scene—a N.E.R. shareholders' meeting in York at the height of the War fever; Chairman moving the adoption of the annual reports—so many men from the railway "joined up" and so much subscribed to War Loan. Great enthusiasm—"carried unanimously." "No, sir," comes H.R.'s voice from the middle of the hall, "one sincere protest against sending a single man or subscribing a single shilling."

A little later I was his guest at Newcastle and he came to the station to see me off. In a bay we discovered a train load of German prisoners bound for the Hexham Camp. "What! prisoners!" he exclaimed, and, striding joyfully across the platform, H.R. was soon in animated and very public conversation with the weary travellers, whose spirits were tremendously uplifted by his fluent German (vile though I suspect it was, I myself had none!). A large patriotic crowd soon gathered round in hostile mood; I was very alarmed, but H.R. went on treating the prisoners in a spirit of unostentatious but perfectly open and natural friendship, and it was a good thing that there were no loose stones lying about. A Scotch officer, about 20 years old, put his head out of a first-class carriage and asked him what the —— he was doing. H.R., with a great flourish, brought out his pocket book saying "Home Office Pass!" and the officer retired in confusion. When he had done all he could to cheer the men up, H.R. turned away and went off to his next business, passing lightly through the crowd as though nothing had happened and that the busy station were empty.

Francis H. Knight, in Hugh Richardson 1864–1936
1916-06-25 of Newcastle and Stocksfield Frank and Mary Pollard visitors' books
1916-06-29 of Stocksfield; wrote to the paper opposing further internments Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1916-06-30
1916-10-23 inherited £200 from his mother-in-law Elizabeth Spence Watson will of Elizabeth Spence Watson
1916-12-01 Stocksfield described as "Hugh Richardson's country seat!" Frank & Mary Pollard letters
1916/1917 acting editor of Bootham Collinson, ed. (1935)
1917-12

HUGH RICHARDSON (1875-80) is putting in several days a week teaching at Hexham, as well as attending to his estate and many other activities. He recently made a very witty speech at the Stramongate prize-giving.

Bootham 8.5:299
1918-06-25/-26 of Newcastle-on-Tyne Frank and Mary Pollard visitors' books
1918-07

HUGH RICHARDSON (1875-80), in addition to managing an estate, has (we hear privately) found time, among other things, to appear frequently at courts-martial in the self-constituted, but officially recognised, capacity of "Soldier's Friend," when he takes his stand "in dock" beside offenders as a kind of private counsel for the defence. Those who know how difficult it may be for the average Tommy to do justice to his case will appreciate the worth of such help.

Bootham 9.1:55
 

As member of British public to see fair play attended several courts-martial: As prisoners' friend to advise him on his defence visited several military prisons: Visitor for Emergency Committee of Society of Friends in Prisoner of War Camps at Stobs and Catterick:

Collinson, ed. (1935)
1918-10-09/-10 of Newcastle; stayed with Frank and Mary Pollard at 8 Clifton Dale, York Frank and Mary Pollard visitors' books
1919-04

HUGH RICHARDSON (1875-80) has recently paid a visit to the Downs School and its headmaster, Herbert W. Jones, at whose wedding he was formerly "best man."

Bootham 9.3:181
 

Taking up the work of rural landlord, he attempted, so far as he could as a private individual, to put into practice in all the affairs of his life those scientific principles which he had, not without some success, attempted to inculcate into his pupils. He also lost no opportunity granted to him of service for internationalism, especially in the scientific world.

Hugh Richardson 1864–1936
1919-05-16/-17 of Newcastle; stayed with Frank and Mary Pollard at 8 Clifton Dale, York Frank and Mary Pollard visitors' books
1919-12-13/-18 stayed with Frank and Mary Pollard at 8 Clifton Dale, York
1920-04-30/-05-01
c. 1920 published 'International Co-operation' pamphlet, from Stocksfield; "Reprinted by permission from 'National Life and International Relations, ' the Report of Commission II. issued by the Committee of the Peace Conference of All Friends . . ." WorldCat
1921 country landlord & gardener, employer, working in Stocksfield-on-Tyne; one of two visitors with the family of Wilson Henry and Lucy Sturge, in 11 rooms at 35 Carpenter Rd, Smethwick, Worcestershire RG 15/13867 RD SD ED SN107
1921-12-11 of Stocksfield; present at the funeral of Joseph Pumphrey, of Hindley Hall, Stocksfield Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1921-12-12
1922-10-13

SCHOOL LECTURES.

Last year it was decided by the Newcastle and District Geographical Association, of which Mr Ellis W. Heaton is the chairman, to try experiments in lectures to juveniles, to be given in various parts of the district.

The first of these lectures was given in the Tynemouth Municipal High School last night by Mr Hugh Richardson, of Stocksfield, on "Postage Stamps." Pupils and teachers from secondary schools of South Shields, Whitley Bay, Wallsend, and Blyth, numbering to 430, together with the 30 pupils and staff of the High School, attended the lecture.

Lantern slides of a unique character were shown to illustrate the possibility of using British and foreign stamps to create an interest in geographical and historical studies. The lecture was fascinating, amusing and instructive. The lecturer was quite at home with his audience, and admitted he only expected 50 or 60, but to his surprise it was ten times as many.

These lectures, by the way, are not only given for instructive qualities, but are to act as a rallying ground for the pupils to meet one another. Formerly the pupils have only met in sports functions.

Shields Daily News, 1922-10-14
1923 of Wheelbirks, Stocksfield, Northumberland The Friend; The Times
1924 visited the Versammlung Deutscher Naturforscher und Aerzte in Innsbruck Hugh Richardson 1864–1936
  member, British Association Collinson, ed. (1935)
1925 went from the British Association in Southampton to attend a Weltfriedenskonferenz in Paris Hugh Richardson 1864–1936
1925-10-19/-20 of Stocksfield; stayed with the Pollards at Fairlight, 9 Denmark Road, Reading Frank and Mary Pollard visitors' books
1926

Hugh Richardson must have planted about one hundred and twenty thousand young trees of all kinds, suiting variety to position, and, mindful of the beauties of variation, including ornamental trees like wild cherry.

He tried not to exterminate native flora, but used it as a guide to planting—scots pine in heather, larch among bracken, spruce where rushes grew, but drained first.

He kept careful forestry notes, including notes written in 1926 for consideration in 2026.

Hugh Richardson 1864–1936
shortly before 1927-01-14 gave an address on 'The History of Our Village and Neighbourhood', to Whittonstall Women's Institute Newcastle Journal, 1927-01-14
1927-10-22 at the annual meeting of the N.E. Branch of the Science Masters' Association, at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle:

Mr Hugh Richardson, M.A., exhibited an extensive series of experiments illustrating osmosis, colloids and diffusion, and many other experiments were shown by the members in general.

Newcastle Journal, 1927-10-24
1928-06-09 present at the annual meeting of the N.E. Branch of the Science Masters' Association, at Barnard Castle School Newcastle Journal, 1928-06-11
1929/1930 was one of the most active members of the North Eastern Branch of the Science Masters' Association from its foundation, and in 1929/1930 was Branch President Hugh Richardson 1864–1936
1929-06-25/-28 of Stocksfield; stayed with the Pollards at 9 Denmark Road, Reading Frank and Mary Pollard visitors' books
1929-11-16 of Stocksfield; elected president of the North-Eastern Branch of the Science Masters' Association, at its meeting at the College for Pure Science, Durham Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette, 1929-11-18
1930-11-07/-08 of Stocksfield; stayed with the Pollards at 9 Denmark Road, Reading Frank and Mary Pollard visitors' books
1930/1936 rural landlord, of Wheelbirks Farm, Stocksfield Bootham School Register
1931-12-01 chaired a meeting at the Friends' Meeting House in Newcastle, on the results achieved at Brymawr, where local unemployed miners voluntarily agreed to turn an ugly stretch of waste ground into a park, the scheme having originated with Friends Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1931-12-02
1932-01-14 of Stocksfield; wrote to W.H. Dawson re Guardian letter, war debts and loans W.H. Dawson Papers
1932-05-27 of Stockfield; wrote to the paper re reparations Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 1932-05-31
1905/1934 correspondence, journals and papers held at Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore A2A
1935 inspector of Girls' Schools for Joint Matriculation Board; Hobbies—natural history, including forestry, gardening, and watching the evolution of internal organizations Collinson, ed. (1935)
1936

During the last twenty years, Mr. Richardson has led the life of an enlightened country landlord in Northumberland, planting trees, studying butterflies and their Natural History relationships, and raising varieties of primulas and gentians. He maintained to the last a keen interest in all developments of science and their relation to human life and will be remembered with affection and esteem by all who came in contact with him in educational and scientific circles

Hugh Richardson 1864–1936
 

HUGH RICHARDSON was born at Newcastle in 1864. He was at Bootham from 1875-80 and in that year won the leaving scholarship and had the distinction of being placed sixth in Honours at the Matriculation Examination. He became an apprentice at Ackworth and went from there to King's College, Cambridge, in 1884, where he remained till 1887; a time when not very many Friends had as yet been to the older Universities. He took a first class in the Natural Science Tripos in 1887. On leaving he was for a time Science Master at the Bath Lane Science School in Newcastle and became a master in the modern side at Sedbergh in 1888. He left there to join the Bootham staff as Science Master when James Edmund Clark left in 1897 and held that position till 1914, when he retired to look after the family estates at Stocksfield near Newcastle. The period of his teaching career was one of very rapid development in school science teaching, where the custom of allowing pupils to do individual practical work in the laboratory was gradually replacing the older system of merely giving them lectures. To work of this kind he brought a wonderfully active and original mind and exhibited extraordinary fertility and ingenuity in devising illustrative practical exercises. Many of his pupils must remember his use of confetti to illustrate the idea of " mean free path," and throwing shot at a perforated metal plate (really intended as a rack for ink-wells) to illustrate the laws of diffusion. Not the least of his achievements in this direction was the work he did during the time of the Bootham exodus to Scarborough after the fire. Here he had to carry on a science course with periods of practical work of the usual length but with the trifling handicap that there was no laboratory. His well-known book, Practical Geography, which was the first of its kind and is one of the most original school books ever written, was the result. Originality is one of those qualities which carries its own special handicaps. The inventor of ingenious experiments may sometimes find that their beauty as illustrations appeals more strongly to the expert than to a pupil struggling (perhaps not very strenuously) to grasp the principles of a subject for the first time. Some may be reminded of the fable of the tortoise and the hare. It is doubtful if this is really to the point. It was almost certainly written by a tortoise. It was only during the last two years of his teaching career that I knew him personally, though we had met and corresponded at intervals for some time previously. Thus it was the side of his work which appeared at meetings of the Guild of Teachers and the British Association with which I first became acquainted. At this time the possibility of investigating teaching problems by scientific methods of experiment and measurement was only just being considered; the Science of Experimental Psychology was in the cradle and that of Experimental Pedagogy had hardly got even so far as that. Any one who was interested in these subjects could not fail to be attracted by the neatness of his experiments, though the meaning and use of them must often have been rather a mystery to some of their subjects, who from the nature of the case could not always be completely in the confidence of the experimenter. In 1914 he found the work connected with the family estate at Stocksfield was absorbing a great deal of his time and he retired to devote himself more completely to it. Even in the routine work which it involved his versatility showed itself. I remember his showing me on one occasion that a certain problem connected with the estimation of timber in a wood was really the same as one connected with molecular physics, "though," he added, "I don't think practical foresters realise this." He was one of the most courteous and kindest of colleagues, in fact it is difficult to quote examples which illustrate this point because, though anyone who was on the staff with him can recall instances they can hardly be particularised on account of their intimately personal nature. It was this quality which led him to spend so much of his time during the war in visiting military prisons, attending courts martial and acting as visitor for the Emergency Committee of the Society of Friends in the prisoner-of-war camps at Stobs and Catterick.

www.pennyghael.org.uk/Foster.pdf, citing J. A. D. Bootham magazine, April 1937
 

A keen member of the Geographical Association, he was a foundation member of the Newcastle-on-Tyne Branch, and for some years was a member of its committee. He kept up this connection until his death. In retirement, he found time to indulge his wide sympathies with, and deep interest in, topics of international or world-wide importance. He was a close and earnest follower of the fortunes and policies of the League of Nations and of all movements which had for object the betterment of human life and international understanding.

E.F.E. Kirk in Hugh Richardson 1864–1936
 

Then there was Hugh Richardson, a man of the most brilliant intellect, and—as John Dell has said of him—kindness and consideration personified. He was once invited to a dance with Miss Gray, who presided so successfully for 23 years over the domestic side of Bootham. In those days you had programmes, and before the dance began you approached the ladies of your choice one by one, and asked for the pleasure or the honour of standing up with them for No. 14, or whatever it might be. If the lady were favourable, she allowed you to write your name on her programme for No. 14 while she did the same for you. To arrive unpunctually, therefore, was to spoil your chances of obtaining the partners you wanted. Just as Hugh Richardson and Miss Gray were about to set out, a boy reported and detained her. She begged Richardson to go on without her, adding that she would follow when she could. Having seen to the boy she was informed by one of the maids that a cab was awaiting her, and on arriving at the dance, Hugh Richardson handed her a programme inscribed with the names of the best dancers present. He had gone round the room in his courtly manner, engaging them with a gracious 'Sir, I am told you are a competent dancer. The lady whose programme I hold is a most competent dancer.' He had modestly left one blank space near the end of the evening (the Lancers, I think) for which of course she asked him. As they were dancing it, some juggins trod on a lady's dress, tearing it badly. Immediately from his evening coat tails, Hugh produced two large white safety pins, offering them with a bow: 'Mad, allow me.'

John Dell has described him as a master of improvization. He was, but not a master of boy nature in its more mischievous moods. One foggy morning he had a double science period with the Upper Schoolroom. He told them about dead reckoning, how ships find their way at sea in foggy weather. Then, providing each boy with a compass, he invited them to find their way across the field to the pavilion and back. One by one he saw them set off. Watch in hand he waited for their return. He saw no more of them during those two periods. All lost without trace!

In my last term I had a chat with him in Gala week. We were standing near the Bootham Park railings. He told me that Lunatic Asylums were henceforward to be Mental Hospitals, that people—normal people—would go to them at week-ends for rest and refreshment, much as they now go to the seaside. I was to learn afterwards that he had himself in that way visited a Hydro. But when (in the evening) he sad town to dinner, the one thing he had dreaded happened. The lady next to him, fishing for sympathy, told him how at any moment she might drop down dead. Gravely he answered her: 'Madam, I congratulate you. It is the fear of death that adds the spice to life.'

Victor W. Alexander, in Bootham 26.4:144-145
1936-11-24 of Wheel Birks; d. Wheelbirks, Stocksfield GRO index; National Probate Calendar; Bootham School Register; Bootham 18.2:95; Newcastle Journal, 1936-11-25; ACAD
1936-11-25

Heard that Hugh had died in his sleep on Monday night. Very grieved to think we shall so him no more. He was so good & kind & clever & has been a friend for many, many years & a beloved brother-in-law.

diary of Mary S.W. Pollard
1936-11-26

B. Betty & I by 9.40? train to N/C. Here I bought lilies & white lilac for Colin & we had a drink. To Stocksfield where Colin met us & drove us to Wheel Birks—found Evie there. After lunch, coffin put on farm cart, surrounded by holly & wreaths & taken by large horse, labourers walking beside, to Hindly Church. We went straight to graveside, & Laurie read 90th psalm & spoke most beautifully on the husbandman who plants trees & does not see the result thereof. Colin read Whittier's poem "call him not heretic" & Donald Gray spoke v. nicely. It was all very pathetic. We went back to tea, & then it began to pour. Molly motored us to her house to see the children & we got back to York after 9.0.

LATE MR H. RICHARDSON

Many Mourners at Hindley

Many mourners attended the funeral at Hindley Cemetery, Stocksfield, yesterday afternoon, of Mr Hugh Richardson, of Wheelbirks, Stocksfield, father of Mr Colin S. Richardson, the well-known dairy farmer and agriculturist.

Mr Richardson, who was 72 years of age, died suddenly at his home on Tuesday. Prior to his retirement he was Master of Languages at Bootham School, York.

The service at Hindley was conducted in the manner of the Society of Friends by Mr Richardson's brother, Mr Lawrence Richardson, and many friends bore testimony to Mr Richardson's life and character. The coffin was borne to the churchyard on an evergreen covered horse-drawn lorry.

The family mourners were Mr and Mrs Colin Richardson, son and daughter-in-law; Mr and Mrs Thomas, son-in-law and daughter; Mrs Adams, daughter; Mr and Mrs Lawrence Richardson, brother and sister-in-law; Mr Gilbert H. Richardson (Newcastle), brother; Mrs Weiss, Mrs Morall [sic], and Mrs Pollard sisters-in-law; Mrs Lovibond (Hexham, also representing Dr Lovibond and Mr Tom Lovibond); Mis Morall, niece; Mr Herbert Richardson, nephew; Mr and Mrs L. Alaric Richardson, Mr and Mrs C.E. Richardson, Mr and Mrs E.R. Thomas, Mrs Adams, and Mr and Mrs L. Richardson.

Others present included Mrs Brodrick Dale (also representing Mr Brodrick Dale), Mr John Balden, Mr C. Burdus, Mr H. Davison, Mr W. Brown, Mr John Challoner, Mr Middleton, Mr Jacob Robson, Mr John E. Hall, Mr Adam Rogerson, Mr and Mrs T.T.F. Farbridge, Mr Geoffrey Nicholson, Mrs Frank Richardson, Mr John Frank Richardson, Mrs E.X. Jessop, Mr B.P. Hill, Mr R.K. Wallis (also representing Mr T.W. Wallis), Mr H.E. Nicholl, Mr W.E. Lishman, Mr L.H. Booth, Mr Edwin Richardson, Mr W. Booth (Messrs Watson, Burton, Booth and Robinson, solicitors), Dr R.T. Raine, Professor W.L. Renwick, Dr R.W. Wheldon, Mr Donald Gray, Mr and Mrs Norman Gaudie, Miss Grace Pumphrey, Miss Louie Briggs, Miss Mary Legg, Mr J.W. Bell, Mr R. Doxford, Mr E. Charlton, Mr Andrew Clapham, Mr M.J. Mall, Mr A. Bisset, junior (representing Mr A. Bisset), Mr R. Donald Scott, Mr D.H. Sanderson, Mrs Altass.

The underbearers were Mr Webster, Mr Dixon, Mr Sinclair, Mr John Webster, Mr James Waugh, and Mr W. Urwin, members of the estate staff.

Others present from the estate were: Mr and Mrs Hornsby, Mr and Mrs Dalrymple, Mr and Mrs James Waugh, Mr and Mrs Webster, Miss Harrison, Miss Wareham, Mr and Mrs Sinclair, Mrs Oselton, Miss Waite, Mr Macreadie.

The funeral arrangements were by Mr E.E. Sisterson, Stocksfield.

Newcastle Journal, 1936-11-27
1937-03-17 will proved at Newcastle-on-Tyne by Mary Foster Thomas (wife of Ebenezer Rhys Thomas) Colin Spence Richardson farmer and Esther Watson Adams (wife of Alan Henry Adams); effects £10,545 6s. 5d. National Probate Calendar
  The Hugh Richardson Papers, 1905-1934, are held as Collection DG 032 in the Swarthmore College Peace Collection. The collection consists of letters written to Richardson by peace leaders—such as Horace Alexander of the Peace Committee of the Society of Friends and Carl Heath of the National Peace Council—and others, as well as letters regarding Richardson's visits to prisoners-of-war (mostly from internees in the camps, thanking Richardson for his letters, visits and gifts). It also contains Richardson's manuscript articles and play, his travel journals, periodicals in German from prisoner-of-war camps in Scotland and the Isle of Man, and miscellaneous material. Hugh Richardson Papers, which contains a detailed description of the collection


02. Arthur Richardson, RBA

1865 Q3 b. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland GRO index; censuses
1871 scholar, living at 29 Rye Hill, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with his family, a nurse, and two domestic servants TNA: RG 10/5075 f77 p6
1881 scholar, one of 24 pupils at Bancroft Boys School, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, under Cranstone Woodhead, schoolmaster RG 11/1418 f114 p5
1886-03-01 a student at the Newcastle School of Art; awarded a third grade prize for two studies of anatomy in charcoal Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1886-03-02
1887-09-17 student at the Newcastle School of Art; had been awarded a third grade prize for a shaded figure from the antique Newcastle Evening Chronicle
1890-05-07 exhibiting at the Royal Academy:

"Ryton Church" (1892) is another water-colour, daintily finished, by Arthur Richardson, but the least conspicuous object in the picture is the church itself, a portion of the spire only showing up from among the bank of trees in the foreground.

Shields Daily News
 

The Tyne  by Arthur Richardson

'The Tyne', by Arthur Richardson [Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums / Bridgeman Images]
1890-11-06 artist, of Newcastle on Tyne; m. Lydia Susie Russell (1870–1953, of 1 Wickham Gardens, Deptford, b. New Cross, London, d. of John Russell, Captain S.S. Malaga), at St Peter's pc, Deptford, London, after banns parish register; GRO index; censuses

FASHIONABLE WEDDING AT ST. PETER'S, BROCKLEY.

Yesterday afternoon, there was considerable excitement in the Wickham-road, caused by the news that a fashionable wedding was to be celebrated at St. Peter's Church. Before the time fixed for the marriage, 2.30, a large number of friends and well-wishers of the happy pair assembled in the Church, which was tastefully decorated with chrysanthemums and plants from the Nursery of Mr. Child, of Lewisham High-road. Punctually to the time appointed, the bride, Lillie, youngest daughter of Captain John Russell, of Mayfield, Wickham Gardens, arrived at the church, and was met at the chancel steps by the bridegroom, Mr. Arthur Richardson, of the Gables, Newcastle-on-Tyne. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. C. H. Grundy, who was assisted by the Rev. Alfred Hawken of Eltham. The service was fully choral. Mr. John Curran, A.C.O. presided at the organ.

Among the guests were Mrs. Capt. Russell (mother of the bride), Mr. and Mrs. David Richardson, Rev. C.H. and Mrs. Grundy, Rev. Alfred and Mrs. Hawken, Miss S.A. and Miss J.H. Richardson, Mr. Hugh Richardson, Mr. Alaric Richardson, Mr. and Miss Fry, Miss Pumphrey, Mr. Laurence Richardson, Mr. Grantham, Mr. and Mrs. Rawley Cross, Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, Mrs. and Miss Parsons, Miss Ramage, Mr. Fazan, Miss Rogers, Miss Barker, Mr. Glanville, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Russell, Master Harold, Mr. Ernest and Miss B. Russell, Mrs. and Miss Grace, Mr. Greig, Mrs. and Miss Felmingham, Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Miss Middleton, Mr. and Mrs. Lockyer, Mrs. Deighton, Miss Chapple, Mrs. and Miss Cartte, Miss Alice and Miss Annie Russell, Miss Edith and Miss Nellie Richardson, Miss May Parsons, and Miss Jessie Lockyer.

The bride was given away by her father, and Mr. Alaric Richardson was best man.

The bridesmaids were Misses Alice and Annie Russell (cousins of the bride), the Misses Edith and Nellie Richardson (sister and cousin of the bridegroom), Miss May Parsons and Miss Jessie Lockyer.

The bride was attired in a dress and train of white corded silk trimmed with white embroidered crepe de chêne, with tulle veil embroidered with silk and orange blossoms.

Brockley News, New Cross and Hatcham Review, 1890-11-07
Children: Christopher (1892–1932, b. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire), Ambrose (1896–1971, b. Newcastle-upon-Tyne), and Ralph David (1902–1983, b. Cheltenham) GRO index; censuses
1891 artist (painter), neither employer nor employed, living at Wheelbirks (private), Broomley, Northumberland, with a general servant; the household also includes a boarder, and apparently the boarder's wife, whose relationship to the household head is given as "housekeeper", though no occupation is stated in the relevant column RG 12/4244 f5 p3
1893-02-27 presided at a meeting of the Bewick Club, for the purpose of discussing the advisability of forming a company to erect new club rooms and art galleries Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1893-02-28
1893/1911 artist, art master, Cheltenham Ladies College, of Cheltenham Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
1894-03-10 at the Fine Art Exhibition:

"Milton's Cottage at Chalfont," by Arthur Richardson, is broadly painted, and will interest lovers of the great English Bard, but Mr. Richardson's best work is a beautiful little water-colour entitled "Sunrise on the Tyne Valley," a scene near Hodden-on-the-Water. The colour is refined and delicate in tone.

Cheltenham Looker-On
1895-03-02 at the Cheltenham Fine Art Society exhibition: "Mr Arthur Richardson exhibits two clever pictures, "Moonrise" (264) and "A Golden Harvest" (268) [ . . . ]" Cheltenham Chronicle
1896-02-14 at the Cheltenham Fine Art Society exhibition:

Of Mr Arthur Richardson's two exhibits, one, "A Rainy Day" (188) is evidently a portrait of a lady, whose surroundings—a conventional garden in front of a town house—are cleverly treated. "The Harvest Field" (261), by the same artist, is an effective little picture, but the foreground is rather blurred and indistinct when compared with the far more carefully detailed middle distance.

Cheltenham Chronicle, 1896-02-15
1897-02-27 at the Cheltenham and County Fine Art Exhibition: "Oh! River flowing in the Sea," by Arthur Richardson, is a pretty composition, pleasing in colour and well executed; his smaller work is of equal merit." Cheltenham Looker-On
1898-05-14

MR. ARTHUR RICHARDSON'S

OUT-OF-DOOR

SKETCHING CLASSES

Commenced on FRIDAY LAST, May 13th.

Further particulars at the LADIES' COLLEGE, or at CLEVELAND, Tivoli Road.

Cheltenham Looker-On
1900-05-05

MR. ARTHUR RICHARDSON'S

OUT-OF-DOOR

SKETCHING CLASSES

Commenced on FRIDAY LAST, May 13th.

Further particulars at the Ladies' College, or at Mr. Richardson's Studio, Montpellier Rotunda.

Cheltenham Looker-On
1901 art teacher and artist, own account, living at Lang Syne, Tivoli Rd, Cheltenham, with his wife, his son Ambrose, and a nurse RG 13/2465 f113 p30
1903-02-21 at the Cheltenham Fine Art Society exhibition: "Mr. Arthur Richardson has successfully grappled with the difficulties of lamplight and firelight in his portrait study of two ladies, entitled "The Song."" Cheltenham Chronicle
1904-01-20

ARTISTIC.—Mr. Arthur Richardson, of Lang Syne, Tivoli-road, Cheltenham, has been elected as a member of the Royal Society of British Artists.

Cheltenham Examiner
1906-02-28 at the Cheltenham Fine Art Society exhibition: . . . ""A Passing Storm" (93), by Arthur Richardson, R.B.A., in which the artist has caught one of the "exquisite moments" of which most people are oblivious" . . . Cheltenham Examiner
1907-02-27 at the Cheltenham Fine Art Society exhibition:

Mr Arthur Richardson, R.B.A., is represented by two charming drawings—"Evening on the Wye" (223) and "A North Country Ferry" (243). The first is a particularly beautiful work, perhaps the most effective of the many good things of his which have been seen here. The massed foliage seen through the light haze, and the gleam on the river caught from the last rays of the setting sun, make up a scene of tender witchery [ . . . ]. Mr. Richardson is a poet painter, selective and interpretive, but also true to nature, and his influence as a teacher must be a powerful stimulus to appreciation of good art at the Ladies' College.

Cheltenham Examiner
1908-07-21 at the Clarence-street Public Art Galleries, exhibited 'Rising Mists,' described as "an exquisitely tender drawing" Cheltenham Examiner, 1908-07-23
1911 art teacher, artist, Ladies College, living alone at Lang Syne, Tivoli Rd, Cheltenham RG14PN15564 RG78PN947 RD333 SD2 ED29 SN12
1911-09-16

PAINTING CLASSES.

ARTHUR RICHARDSON, R.B.A.,

Having discontinued teaching at the Ladies' College, is shortly opening a Studio of his own.

                Apply, at present:—

LANG SYNE, TIVOLI ROAD.

Cheltenham Looker-On
1912-12-28

DRAWING, PAINTING, AND LIFE CLASSES.

PEN AND INK.

ARTHUR RICHARDSON, R.B.A.,

MONTPELLIER ROTUNDA STUDIO,

and 10, SUFFOLK SQUARE.

Cheltenham Looker-On
1913-11-29 at the Fine Art Exhibition: ""Mr. Arthur Richardson, R.B.A., an accomplished artist, was the judge in the painting department." Cheltenham Looker-On
1914-05-30

DRAWING, PAINTING, AND LIFE CLASSES.

PEN AND INK.

ARTHUR RICHARDSON, R.B.A.,

MONTPELLIER ROTUNDA STUDIO,

and 10, SUFFOLK SQUARE.

Cheltenham Looker-On
1915-09-04 Cheltenham Looker-On
1921 artist, landscape painter, own account, at home; married, but on his own in 8 rooms at 1 West Cliff, Dawlish, Devon RG 15/10405 RD2712 SD1 ED3 SN292
1928-07-29 of 1 West Cliff, Dawlish, Devon; d. Newton Abbot RD GRO index; National Probate Calendar

RICHARDSON.—At Dawlish, on July 29th, aged 63, Arthur Richardson, formerly of The Gables, Newcastle, and of Cheltenham.

Newcastle Journal, 1928-08-02
1928-09-24 will proved at Exeter by Christopher Richardson and Ambrose Richardson, motor engineers; effects £11,794 5s. 3d.; resworn £11,529 14s. 2d. National Probate Calendar


03. Edith Richardson, LLA (Hons) (Edie)

1867 Q3 b. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland GRO index; censuses
1871 living at 29 Rye Hill, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with her family, a nurse, and two domestic servants TNA: RG 10/5075 f77 p6
1881-01/1883-06 of Newcastle-upon-Tyne; at The Mount School, York The Mount School, York. List of Teachers and Scholars 1784–1816, 1831–1906. 1906, York: Sessions; H. Winifred Sturge, ed. (n.d. [1932]) A Register of Old Scholars of The Mount School, York 1931–1932. Leominster: The Orphans' Printing Press
1881 scholar, living at The Gables, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with her family, a nurse, a cook, a housemaid, and an under housemaid RG 11/5051 f89 p2
  LLA Hons, Cheltenham and Armstrong Coll.; Herkomer Sch. of Art and Paris Studios Sturge, ed. (n.d. [1932])
1890-11-06 one of six bridesmaids at the wedding of her brother Arthur, at St. Peter's Church, Brockley Brockley News, New Cross and Hatcham Review, 1890-11-07
1891 living at The Gables, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with her family, a nurse, a housemaid, and a cook RG 12/4197 f115 p38
1896-04-09 one of the bridesmaids at the wedding of Mabel Spence Watson and Hugh Richardson, at Newcastle fmh Shields Daily Gazette, 1896-04-10
1899-01-02 exhibited with the Art Circle, in the ladies' common room at Durham University College of Science, Newcastle:

Miss Edith Richardson exhibits besides several illustrative designs, a nice picture of a girl walking in a woodland path, and others.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle
1899-05-12 included in the Northern Artists exhibition at the Royal Academy:

In Miss Edith Richardson's "The Boy and the Winds" (691) there are some large bramble-leaves that seem carefully studied, and she has another picture entitled "The Path" (627).

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer
1901 artist (painter), own account, at home, living alone at Studio, Rosebery Rd, Bushey, Hertfordshire RG 13/1314 f103 p22
1902-06-24 at the exhibition at the Academy of Arts, Newcastle:

Edith Richardson, in her "Boy with a Book," splendidly justifies herself in making a picture out of nothing. Anyone could see this boy every day and not give him a thought, but here on canvass [sic] the art of the painter, without apparent effort, makes of him a character.

Newcastle Journal
1903-10-26 again exhibited at the Academy of Arts Newcastle Evening Chronicle
1905-09-22 Newcastle Daily Chronicle
1911 artist and writer, living alone in 2 rooms at The Studio, Rosebery Road, Bushey RG14PN7693 RG78PN379 RD140 SD1 ED7 SN152
1914-01-15/-19 probably the E. Richardson who stayed with Frank and Mary Pollard at 44 Queen Anne's Road, York Frank and Mary Pollard visitors' books
1921 artist & author, own account, at home; living in 5 rooms at The Studio, Tolmers, Hertford RG 15/07130 RD138/1 SD138/1 ED11 SN36
1926-03-06 had recently given £150 to the North of England Temperance League, in memory of her father, "who was a temperance worker in Newcastle for many years" Newcastle Evening Chronicle
1932 artist and author, The Studio, Tolmers, near Hertford; 7 books published, some with own illustrations; pictures (oil and water colour) exhibited at Royal Academy, and other public galleries; decorative work taught and done. Ran a "doorstep library" Sturge, ed. (n.d. [1932])
  no published books located in the BL catalogue, or at Bookfinder.com or Amazon.co.uk; either the books were published anonymously/pseudonymously, or they were privately printed only  
1935-09-09 of The Studio, Tolmers, near Hertford; d. at the Bedford Lodge Nursing Home, Hertford GRO index; National Probate Calendar
1935-10-22 will proved at London by the Public Trustee; effects £8942 9s. 7d. National Probate Calendar


04. Lawrence Richardson, MSc

1869-08-22 b. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland GRO index; censuses
1871 living at 29 Rye Hill, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with his family, a nurse, and two domestic servants TNA: RG 10/5075 f77 p6
1881/1886 at Bootham School, York Edgar B. Collinson, ed. (1935) Bootham School Register, 2nd edition
1881 scholar, of Friends Boys School, 20 Bootham, St Giles, York, Yorkshire RG 11/4717 f55 p50
1885 O.Y.S.A. scholarship Collinson, ed. (1935)
1886 Matric., 6th in Hons
1890-07-26

ELSWICK LEATHER WORKS.—Mr. Alaric Richardson (son of the late Mr. James Richardson) and Mr. Lawrence Richarson (son of Mr. David Richardson, the present senior) were on Saturday assumed as partners in the old-established firm of Edward and James Richardson. To celebrate the event Mr. D. Richardson invited the workmen and their families to spend the day at his estate, Wheel Birks, Stocksfield. A special train, conveying 350 people, left Newcastle at 9:15, and arrived at Stocksfield at 10. Tea was provided on the lawn. Singing and speeches of congratulation and thanks wound up a pleasant day, and the party returned to Newcastle at 9 p.m.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1890-07-29
1891 leather manufacturer, employer, living at The Gables, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with his family, a nurse, a housemaid, and a cook RG 12/4197 f115 p38
by 1896-03-23 had contributed £2 to the Armenian Relief Fund Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1896-03-23
1896-04-09 best man at the marriage of his brother Hugh to Mabel Spence Watson, at Pilgrim Street fmh, Newcastle Shields Daily News
1897 of the Gables, Newcastle; subscriber to Robert Spence Watson's History of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne Members of the Lit & Phil
by 1898-10-18 had donated £5 to the mayor's fund for the relief of the distriess caused by the hurricane in the West Indies Morning Post
1899-04-24 present at the bi-annual gathering of the Newcastle and Gateshead Poor Children's Holiday Association and Rescue Agency, at the Club and Shelter, Percy Street, Newcastle Newcastle Chronicle, 1899-04-29
1901 leather manufacturer, employer, of 'The Gables', Gloster Ter., Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, living with his family, two housemaids, and a cook RG 13/4772 f87 p1
  went out to South Africa twice after Boer War, on behalf of Friends' Relief Committee Collinson, ed. (1935)
1902/1903 a volume of Selected Correspondence from these dates was later (1977) published WorldCat
1902-02-07 one of two men reappointed as auditors of the Newcastle Dispensary Newcastle Journal, 1902-02-08
190302-04

Tyneside Peace Association.

A meeting of the Tyneside branch of the International Peace and Arbitration Association was held at the Co-operative Hall, Gateshead, last night. There was a good attendance, presided over by Mrs. Spence Watson. An address was given by Mr. Lawrence Richardson on his experiences in South Africa, where he was sent out by the Society of Friends.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1903-02-05
1904-05-17 of Newcastle-upon-Tyne; m. Gertrude Mary Edmundson (1877–1947), at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Friends' meeting-house, Northumberland GRO index; Old York Scholars' Association (1971) Bootham School Register. London: Oyez Press; Ackworth Old Scholars' Association Annual Report (1904); Bootham 2.2:159
Children: Mary Edmundson (1906–2001), Constance (1907–1989), Winifred (1910–1992), Herbert Watson (1913–1988), Helen (1916–2000), all b. Newcastle-upon-Tyne GRO index; The Friend; Sturge (1932); Ackworth Old Scholars' Association Annual Report (1998)
1906-11-11

Lecture at Backworth.—A very interesting lecture on the "Buddist Philosophy," was given in the Backworth Institute Hall, on Sunday night last by Mr. Lawrence Richardson of Newcastle. Councillor J.M. Barrow was in the chair. Mr. Richardson gave excerpts from the teachings of Budda, and also selections from Sir Edwin Arnold's poem "The Light of Asia." After the lecture some beautiful lantern slides were shown illustrating the scenes of interest, prominent places in India around which the Buddist teaching is woven. A vote of thanks was given to the lecturer. The audience though not large, was a very interested one.

Morpeth Herald, 1906-11-17
1907-11-20 had felt obliged to relinquish his post of chairman of the Tyneside Peace Association Newcastle Evening Chronicle
1907-12-20 of Stoneham, Beechgrove Road; Hon. Treasurer of the recently formed North-Eastern Association for the care of the feeble-minded Newcastle Daily Chronicle
1908-02-17 one of two auditors to the Newcastle Dispensary Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1908-02-18
1908-10-23 of Beech Grove-road, Newcastle; honorary treasurer of the new Home at Monkton Hall, near Jarrow, for the North-Eastern Association for the After Care of the Feeble-minded Jarrow Express
1910-05-15 of Newcastle Frank and Mary Pollard visitors' books
1911 leather manufacturer, employer, living in 12 rooms at Stoneham, Beech Grove Rd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, living with his family, a cook, a housemaid, and a nurse RG14PN30600 RG78PN1753 RD558 SD3 ED22 SN295
1911-07-02 treasurer of the North-Eastern Associated for the feeble-minded Shields Daily Gazette, 1911-07-03
1912-11-02 had presided at the first lecture of the session of the Newcastle Citizens' Guild of help, at its HQ at 43 Blackett Street Newcastle Daily Chronicle
1913-02-04 elected to the committee of the Newcastle Lit and Phil Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1913-02-05
1914-02-18 leather manufacturer; co-executor of his father's will National Probate Calendar
1914-08-04 presided at a meeting of the Tyneside Peace Association Newcastle Journal, 1914-08-05
1915-05-08 a member of the executive committee to prepare for the visit to Newcastle of the British Association, in September 2016 Newcastle Journal
1916-12-18

NEWCASTLE FRIENDS AND PEACE TERMS.

We have received the following communication for publication:—

The following members of the Society of Friends in Newcastle welcome the opportunity for negotiation which has just arisen, and encourage His Majesty's Government and the Allies to state definitely the basis upon which they are willing to enter into a discussion of the terms of peace: Robert Wilson, Gilbert H. Richardson, Elizabeth Spence Watson, Teresa Merz, E. Innes Gower, James A. Halliday, Hugh Richardson, Lawrence Richardson, J.W. Bell.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle
1918-12-12 one of the signatories to a list of question to put to Parliamentary candidates in Newcastle Newcastle Journal
1919-08-11 chairman of the executive committee of the newly merged Citizens' Service Society Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1919-08-12
1919/1923 registered from his business in Shumac Street, Newcastle; abode Stoneham, Beech Grove Road electoral registers
1920-12-02 chairman, Newcastle Branch Save the Children Fund Newcastle Journal
1920/1928 member of the Schools Committee OYSA (1971)
1921-01-22 re-elected as one of the vice-presidents of the Newcastle Astronomical Society Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1921-01-22
1921 leather manufacturer, employer, working at Elswick Leather Works, Newcastle on Tyne; living in 9 rooms at Stoneham, Beech Grove Rd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with his wife and their two youngest children, as well as a housemaid, a children's nurse, and a cook RG 15/25290 RD558 ED2 SD26 SN215
1922 manufacturer National Probate Calendar
1924-01-11 re-elected as one of the vice-presidents of the Newcastle Astronomical Society Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1924-01-12
1925-04-04 at the opening of an additional wing at the North Easter Counties Home for Feeble-Minded Boys, Monkton Hall, Jarrow:

Mr. Lawrence Richardson, hon. treasurer since the home was started, had resigned, and the committee appreciated his good services.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1925-04-06
1926-02-26 reappointed as one of the two auditors to the Newcastle Dispensary Newcastle Evening Chronicle
1927-12-09 "The Interferometer" was the subject of a lecture given last night by Mr Lawrence Richardson in the Lt. and Phil. in connexion with the Newcastle Astronomical Society." Newcastle Journal, 1927-12-10
1928-01-20 presided at the annual meeting of the Newcastle Astronomical Society Newcastle Journal, 1928-01-21
1930 leather manufacturer National Probate Calendar
1931-09-16 a supporter of a plan for fostering and maintaining craft skill among Gateshead unemployed, as discussed by several Gateshead residents associated with the Bensham Grove Settlement Newcastle Evening Chronicle
1932-02-25 opening of Ashfield House, as a nursery school and clinic:

It was formerly the residence of Mr Lawrence Richardson, of the firm of Messrs E. and J. Richardson, Ltd., leather manufacturers, Newcastle, and the nursery school scheme has gratified his wish that the premises might be used for some public social purpose.

Newcastle Journal
1935 leather manufacturer, of Stoneham, Beech Grove Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne; hobby—astronomy Collinson, ed. (1935)
1936-05-25 presided at the annual meeting of the Newcastle West End Branch of the League of Nations Union, in the Westgate Road Baptist Church Hall Newcastle Evening Chronicle, 1936-05-26
1937-04-02 with his wife, of Stonehame, Beech Grove Road, Newcastle, at the date of their daughter Mary's marriage to John Philipson at the Pilgrim Street Friends' Meeting House Newcastle Evening Chronicle
1938-05-23 represented the Society of Friends at a meeting in support of the appeal for funds for a proposed Newcastle Church of the Divine Unity, held in the New Bridge Street Unitarian Church, which was to be demolished Newcastle Evening Chronicle, 1938-05-24
  distinguished amateur astronomer; Hon. MSc (Durham) OYSA (1971)
1939 of Newcastle-upon-Tyne The Friend
1939-09-29 managing director leather works, living at Stoneham, Beech Gr. Rd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with his wife and his daughter Winifred, with a cook general 1939 England and Wales Register (TNA: RG 101)
1940-12-23 represented the Literary and Philosophical Society at the funeral of Dr F.W. Dendy Newcastle Journal, 1940-12-24
1941 of Stonehame, Beech Gr rd, Newcastle 4; tel. Newcastle 34580 phone book
1942-10-13 of Beech Grove Road, Newcastle; letter the Journal re 'No reprisals' Newcastle Journal
1945/1946 of Stonehame, Beech Gr rd, Newcastle 4; tel. Newcastle 34580 phone book
1953-11-12 of 30 Osborne-avenue, Newcastle-upon-Tyne; d. Newcastle T. RD GRO index; Bootham; National Probate Calendar
1954-04-03 will proved at Newcastle-upon-Tyne by Mary Edmundson Philipson, married woman, and Herbert Watson Richardson, farmer; effects £29,371 2s. 6d. National Probate Calendar


05. Gilbert Hancock Richardson (Gillie)

1871-09-05 b. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland GRO index; censuses; 1939 England and Wales Register (TNA: RG 101)
1881 scholar, living at The Gables, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with his family, a nurse, a cook, a housemaid, and an under housemaid RG 11/5051 f89 p2
1884/1889 at Bootham School, York Edgar B. Collinson, ed. (1935) Bootham School Register, 2nd edition
  "Kept bees; taut myself Phonography; Curator of Workshop, Librarian; Rote three essays; Took Green and some lectures on Philosophy: Sec of Tyneside Students' Assoc." Collinson, ed. (1935)
1891 at Armstrong College, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
student of science, living at The Gables, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with his family, a nurse, a housemaid, and a cook RG 12/4197 f115 p38
1893-07-11

GALLANT RESCUE FROM DROWNING IN THE TYNE.—Mr Alaric Richardson, of the firm of Messrs E. and J. Richardson,. of the Leather Works, Newcastle, was engaged in launching a new boat on the Tyne near Waterson's Old Forge yesterday morning about twelve o'clock when cry was raised that a little child had fallen into the water. A scene of the greatest excitement immediately followed. The young gentleman, without a moment's delay, dived into the river, swam to the spot where the child had fallen, and happily succeeded in catching hold of it. In the meantime Mr Gilbert Richardson, cousin to the former gentleman, alarmed by the noise, came down to the edge of the water, and seeing how matters stood also plunged in to the child's assistance. Between the two swimmers the little one was then supported until the arrival of a boat, when it was safely placed on board. The gallant young rescuers shortly afterwards were enabled to get into the newly-launched boat, which had been rowed to the spot. Had it not been for their promptitude the child, whose name and residence are unknown, would undoubtedly have perished, there being, owing to the full tide, about 20 feet of water at the place.

Shields Daily News, 1893-07-12
1894-01-16 secretary and treasurer of the Tyneside Students' Association Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1894-01-17
1895-02-23 had passed the University Extension course on 'The History of English Gothic Architecture' Newcastle Evening Chronicle
  "Traveld abroad, visiting Egypt in 1895 and 1908" Collinson, ed. (1935)
1896-03-21 with his brother Lawrence, of the Gables; both attended the funeral of William Nesbit Pearson, at Elswick Cemetery Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1896-03-23
1897-02-23 of Elswick Leather Works; had subscribed £10 to the Queen's Commemoration New Infirmary Fund Committee Newcastle Chronicle
1899-08-01 of Newcastle; attended the funeral of Wm Jones, at the Friends' Burial Ground, Bishopwearmouth; rode in the sixth carriage, with Mr and Mrs Thomas Pumphrey and Mr D. Richardson Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette
1900 published "Catalog of Frends' Library, Newcastle" Collinson, ed. (1935)
1901 leather manufacturer, employer, of 'The Gables', Gloster Ter., Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, living with his family, two housemaids, and a cook RG 13/4772 f87 p1
1902-05-17 had donated £5 to the Mansion House Relief Fund for the relief of the distress resulting from the volcanic eruption in St Vincent London Daily News
1903 "On Ayton School Com." Collinson, ed. (1935)
published "Catalog of Frends' Library, South Shields"
1904-02-26 of Newcastle Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette
1905-02-10 had donated £2 to the fund for the relief of victims in Russia and Poland London Daily News
1907-01-30 departed Liverpool for New York, aboard the S.S. Baltic New York passenger lists
1907-02-08 manufr, of Newcastle; arrived New York from Liverpool, destination The Elms, Poughkeepsie, New York; in good health; not an polygamist or an anarchist; 5'10½", fresh complexion, brown hair, brown eyes
1908-01-20 had donated part 5 of 'Oxyrhynchus Papyri' to Armstrong College, Newcastle Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1908-01-21
1910-11-01

Lecture at Y.M.C.A., Newcastle.

In connection with the Newcastle Y.M.C.A. Literary and Debating Society a lecture was given last night on "Glimpses of Egypt, Ancient and Modern," by Mr. G.H. Richardson. Mr. H. Armstrong presided, and there was a fairly large and appreciative audience. The remarks of the lecture were followed with interest, and the lime-light views were very fine. On the motion of Mr. J. Davison, the secretary of the Society, which has a large and growing membership, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Richardson for his discourse.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1910-11-02
1911 superintendent repairs and extensions of machinery and buildings, leather manufacturer, employer, boarder in 10 rooms at Langbaurgh Farm, Gt Ayton, Yorkshire RG14PN29335 RG78PN1698 RD536 SD1 ED10 SN1
1911-07-18 present at the wedding of Thomas Edmund Harvey and Alice Irene Thompson, at the Friends' Meeting House in St Martin's Lane, Charing Cross Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 1911-07-19
1912 "Ackworth Scool Com." Collinson, ed. (1935)
  Classical Assoc.
1913 "Frends' Central Educ. Com. and Mtg for Sufferings"
1913-09-12

There are signs from many quarters that people are not content with our existing spelling. These words were spoken to our interviewer last evening by Mr. Gilbert Richardson, of the Gables, Elswick Road, an enthusiastic advocate of the "Sceem of the Simplified Speling Societyi." [ . . . ]

Newcastle Evening Chronicle, 1913-09-13
from 1913 onwards "occupied largely with International Language Ido: Helpt translating several pamphlets and publishing Ido-English and English Ido Dictionaries" Collinson, ed. (1935)
1914/1918 "Helpt with Belgian refugees"
1914-10-13 Hon. Sec. of the Belgian Relief Fund, 28 Collingwood St, Newcastle; wrote to the paper on the subject Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1914-10-14
by 1915-08-21 had subscribed £20 to the Belgian Refugees Fund Newcastle Journal, 1915-08-21
1916-04-13

THE NEED OF AN INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE.

Mr. Gilbert H. Richardson lectured last evening for the Newcastle War and Peace Circle at the Mining Institute on "The Factor of Language in European Unity. [ . . . ] The need of an international language had been more than ever felt since Latin had fallen out of use. He reviewed the wide tests of Esperanto, and he stated the principal features of the Ido system, which was the language evolved by 321 delegates, who had had under review 76 projects for an international language. It was announced ready for use just before the war, and but for the war a conference on the subject would have been held at Luxembourg.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1916-04-14
1917/1923 "Clark of Newcastle M.M." Collinson, ed. (1935)
1917-10-20  of Newcastle; present at the funeral of J.W. Steel, at Darlington Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1917-10-22
1918-12-07 had recently explained the processes of leather manufacture to students of the Agricultural Department, Armstrong College, on a visit to the Elswick Leather Works Newcastle Journal, 1918-12-07
1919/1920 registered from his business in Shumac Street, Newcastle; abode The Gables, Gloucester Terrace electoral registers
1920-09-14

INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE QUESTION.

An interesting history of the international language, "Ido," has been published, which includes an article by Professor Otto Jespersen recommending its use as the official language of the League of Nations. Mr Gilbert H. Richardson, of Newcastle, is responsible for the translation of the book from the Ido into English.

Newcastle Journal
1921/1925 registered from his business in Shumac Street, Newcastle; abode 164 Rye Hill electoral registers
1921-04-19 of Rye Hill, Newcastle; had been looking after two Austrian children who had been staying in England for nearly twelve months Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1921-04-20
1921-05-26 had been present, with his wife, at the first annual meeting of donors and subscribers to the Bensham Grove Settlement, Gateshead Newcastle Daily Chronicle
1921 leather manufacturer, employer, working at Elswick Leather Works, Newcastle on Tyne; boarding with the family of James William Grierson, in 5 rooms at Seaton Cottage, Great Ayton, Yorkshire RG 15/24158 RD536/1 SD536/1 ED12 SN88
"Helpt with Viennese Children" Collinson, ed. (1935)
1922-12-24 of 164 Rye Hill, Newcastle-on-Tyne letter from Gilbert H. Richardson to Molly Richardson, possessed by Paul Thomas [written in simplified spelling]
1924/1928 "Entertained German students during their vac." Collinson, ed. (1935)
1925 Institute of Philosophical Studies and International Phonetic Assoc.
1926-10-06 chairman of the subcommittee of the Newcastle Society investigating the city's litter problem Newcastle Evening Chronicle
1927 published Time and Space Chart of Human History, and, in Ido 'Flugo' "(vers)"  
joined Tyne Soc. Anti-Litter
1927-01-27 of 164 Rye Hill, Newcastle Newcastle Journal
1927-10-03

Mr Gilbert H. Richardson, an acknowledged authority on Ido, has promised to give a free lantern lecture on "The Problem of an International Auxiliary Language, and Its Solution in Ido," in Lockhart's Café, at 63, Grainger Street (near Grey's Monument), Newcastle, at 7.30 p.m. on Monday.

Newcastle Journal, 1927-10-01
1928-01-24

Mr Gilbert H. Richardson, of Newcastle, is the author of a small book of verse written in the international language, Ido, and printed in Antwerp. The title is "Flugo," and it contains a narrative of Mr Richardson's flight by aeroplane from London to Paris and back. To this is added a short poem describing the British Isles, and another characterizing the Youth Movement in contemporary Germany. Altogether, ten different metres are used. [ . . . ]

Newcastle Journal
1928 joined Institute of Industrial Psychology Collinson, ed. (1935)
1929 published 'Space e Tempo' (vers)
"conducted a Speakers' Clas for wimen"
1930-09-15 Leder-Fabrikant; departed Hamburg for Newcastle aboard the Accrington Hamburg passenger lists
1931-02-27 chaired a meeting on a report on housing in Sedgefield Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1931-02-28
1934 published 'Naturo ed Arto' (vers); and Egiptia Collinson, ed. (1935)
1935 leather manufacturer, of 164 Rye Hill, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 4; one of the consultants in pronunciation for Webster's New International Dictionary of the Eng. Lang; hobbies—reading, walks, sketching, simplified spelling
1939-05-09 member of the committee of the Easington District Nursing Association Newcastle Evening Chronicle, 1939-05-10
1939-09-29 director leather firm, living with a housekeeper at 164 Rye Hill, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1939 England and Wales Register
1950-07-13 of 164 Rye Hill, Newcastle-upon-Tyne; d. Wheelbirks, Stocksfield, Northumberland GRO index; Bootham; National Probate Calendar
1950-12-12 will proved at Newcastle-upon-Tyne by Lloyds Bank Limited; effects £62,705 15s. 8d. National Probate Calendar
 

A passage on the 'History of Our Language' by Otto Jesperson, translated from the Ido original by Gilbert H. Richardson, appears on p. 139 of Large, Andrew (1985) The Artificial Language Movement, Oxford: Blackwell.

 


06. Dr Catherine Mary Richardson, MD, ChB (Katie)

1874-10-01 b. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland GRO index; censuses; 1939 England and Wales Register (TNA: RG 101)
1881 scholar, living at The Gables, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with her family, a nurse, a cook, a housemaid, and an under housemaid RG 11/5051 f89 p2
1889 Easter passed pianoforte exam, junior division, of the Royal Academy of Music Newcastle Courant, 1889-07-13
1891 not found in census  
1892-07-22 of the Ladies' College, Cheltenham; in the first division, University of London Matriculation exam Western Daily Press
1893-07-01 had been awarded a certificate for her work on 'The Victorian Half Century', as part of the University of Cambridge extension lectures Newcastle Courant
1895-08-09 of Durham College of Science, Newcastle-on-Tyne; passed the preliminary scientific (M.B.) exam, in the second division York Herald
1896-04-09 one of the bridesmaids at the marriage of Hugh Richardson and Mabel Spence Watson, at Pilgrim Street fmh, Newcastle Newcastle Daily Chronicle, 1896-04-10
1900-07-28 registered in Scotland The Medical Register for 1913
1900 M.B., Bac. Surg.
1901 practitioner of medicine, resid. officer, of Bruntsfield Lodge, Edinburgh Morningside, Midlothian, Scotland 1901 Scotland census
1903-04-02 of London; shortlisted for the position of assistant house surgeon at the North Riding Infirmary Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette
1903-05-29

DERBYSHIRE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

[ . . . ] Miss Catherine Mary Richardson, M.B., Ch.B. (Univ. Edinburgh) has been appointed house surgeon of the same institution

Sheffield Daily Telegraph
1905-03-30 house surgeon at the Children's Hospital; gave evidence in two inquests at Derby Town Hall Derby Daily Telegraph, 1905-03-30
1905-07-28 awarded MD degree at the Edinburgh University graduation ceremony Edinburgh Evening News, 1905-07-28; The Medical Register for 1913
1908-12-29 gave evidence at the inquest into the death of Mary Ann Conolly, in Fulwell Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette, 1908-12-30
1910 Dip. Publ. Health Durh., Univ. Edin. The Medical Register for 1913
1911 general practitioner of medicine, own account, living in 7 rooms at 5 Side Cliff Road, Roker, Sunderland, Durham, with a working housekeeper RG 14/30233 RD555 ED21
1913 of 5 Side-Cliff Road, Roker, Sunderland The Medical Register for 1913
1921 registered medical practitioner (assistant school medical officer), employed by Stockton-on-Tees Education Committee, working at The School Clinic, Bridge Road, Stockton-on-Tees; living with a working housekeeper in 6 rooms in Linden Avenue, Stockton RG 15/24272 RD544 SD1 ED9 SN199
1939-09-29 registered medical practitioner, enrolled with local emergency committee of the British Medical Ass[ . . . ], living at 4 Park Avenue, Hexham, Northumberland, with two domestic servants 1939 England and Wales Register
1957-12-29 of 4 Park Avenue, Hexham, Northumberland; d. at The General Hospital, Hexham GRO index; National Probate Calendar
1958-03-13 will proved at Newcastle-upon-Tyne by Lloyds Bank Limited, Colin Spence Richardson, farmer, and Esther Watson Adams (wife of Alan Henry Adams); effects £8402 4s. 5d National Probate Calendar


07. Lewis Fry Richardson, MA, DSc, BSc, FRS, FInstP

1881-10-11 b. The Gables, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland GRO index; censuses; Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  attended local schools in Newcastle for six years Oxford DNB
1891 scholar, living at The Gables, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with his family, a nurse, a housemaid, and a cook TNA: RG 12/4197 f115 p38
1894-01/1898-07 at Bootham School, York, "where he received every encouragement to pursue his interest in natural history" Bootham School admission register; Edgar B. Collinson, ed. (1935) Bootham School Register, 2nd edition; Oxford DNB
1898-07-23 had attained Honours division in the University of London matriculation exam Yorkshire Evening Press
  at Durham College of Science, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Oxford DNB
  MA, DSc (Lond.), in physics Collinson, ed. (1935)
1900 gained a scholarship to King's College Oxford DNB
1900/1903 at King's College, Cambridge; admitted 1900-10-01; BA (Nat. Sci. Trip., Pt I, 1st Class) Cambridge Independent Press, 1903-06-26; Collinson, ed. (1935); King's Coll. Reg.; Who's Who
1901 undergraduate (Cambs.), one of four visitors with Charles Coleby Morland and family, at 73 Morland Road, Croydon, Surrey RG 13/640 f141 p1
 

In the following ten years Richardson took a series of research and teaching posts, twice at the National Physical Laboratory, twice in industry, and twice in university physics departments. Of greatest significance for his future career was a spell with National Peat Industries from 1906 to 1907. Here he was asked to calculate how best to design drains in a peat moss, taking into account the annual rainfall. As the mathematical equations involved were not formally soluble, he was led to study approximate methods of solution, first graphical and then numerical. This resulted in the publication in 1910 of his first important paper 'The approximate solution by finite differences of physical problems involving differential equations' .

Oxford DNB
  at NPL, Teddington, for three years King's Coll. Reg.; Who's Who
1904/1905 demonstrator (part-time), University College, Aberystwyth Teachers' Registration Council registers
1909-01-09 of Newcastle-upon-Tyne; m. Dorothy Garnett (1887–1956, b. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, d. of William and Rebecca (Samways) Garnett), at the Congregational Church, Lyndhurst Road, Hampstead, London GRO index; Bootham
1910-05-15 with his wife, of Newcastle on Tyne Frank and Mary Pollard visitors' books
1910-08-21 physicist; arrived Liverpool from New York, aboard the White Star Line Celtic UK incoming passenger lists
1911 scientific expert, Sunbeam Lamp Company, metal filament electric incandescent lamp manufacturer, worker (working for limited company), living in 11 rooms at 9 Gainsborough Gardens, Hampstead, with his brother-in-law James Clerk Maxwell Garnett and his family RG14PN593 RG78PN22 RD8 SD1 ED3 SN149
1912 became an associate member, the Society of Telegraph Engineers UK electrical engineers' lists
1912-04-20 applied for a patent on an apparatus for warning a ship of its approach to large objects in a fog; this was five days after the sinking of the Titanic Belfast News-Letter; provisional patent specification 9423, 1912
1912/1913 lecturer and demonstrator, College of Technology, Manchester Teachers' Registration Council registers
 

Richardson realized that his method for obtaining approximate solutions to differential equations could have many practical applications, including weather prediction. His appointment in 1913 as the superintendent of Eskdalemuir observatory in Dumfriesshire and the encouragement of the director of the Meteorological Office, Sir Napier Shaw, at last gave him the opportunity to develop his ideas.

The Scotsman, 1913-06-24; Oxford DNB
1913-05-11 of Eskdalemuir Frank and Mary Pollard visitors' books
1914/1915 of Eskdale Observatory, Langholm, Dumfriesshire UK electrical engineers' lists
1916-06-24/1919-01 engaged in the war; entitled to British and Victory medals British Army World War I medal rolls index cards; UK World War I service medal and award rolls; Teachers' Registration Council registers
1916

By 1916, when he resigned from the Meteorological Office to join the Friends' Ambulance Unit, he had practically completed the first draft of his book Weather Prediction by Numerical Process. All that remained was to compute a weather forecast to demonstrate how his method would work. He made the necessary calculations while serving as an ambulance driver in France.

Oxford DNB
  served with the FAU with the French Army King's Coll. Reg.; Who's Who
1916-06-24/1919-01-25 of Kings College, Cambridge; orderly, FAU, Dunkirk; commission Hon. R. Coventry, Personnel British Red Cross Register of Overseas Volunteers; British Red Cross Society volunteers
  due to an incompatibility in their blood types, the couple were unable to have children of their own Oxford DNB
Adopted children: Olaf Kenneth Morley (1917–1983), Stephen Alexander (1920 – after 1953), and Elaine Dorothy (1927 – after 1983) OYSA (1971)
1919

His war experiences and Quaker beliefs led him at the same time to turn his thoughts to the causes of war and how to prevent them. He felt that it might be useful to tackle this problem by an objective scientific approach. His first paper on this subject, Mathematical Psychology of War, was published at his own expense in 1919. In it he postulated that the rate of increase of the warlike activity of one nation depended on the current activity of the opposing nation.

On returning to England in 1919 Richardson was reappointed by Shaw, this time to work at Benson Observatory with W. H. Dines on topics relating to numerical weather prediction. He experimented on measuring the vertical distribution of temperature and wind, atmospheric turbulence, and radiation. He derived a criterion, the 'Richardson number' , for determining whether turbulence will increase or decrease.

Oxford DNB
1920 resigned again from the Meteorological Office because he felt unable to work directly for the armed services—the office had become part of the Air Ministry
1920/1929 senior lecturer in charge of physics department, Westminster Training College, London SW1 Teachers' Registration Council registers; Oxford DNB
1921 teacher of physics, employed by and working at Westminster Training College, Horseferry Rd, London SW1; living in 8 rooms at 31 Bridge Lane, Golders Green, London, with his wife, their adopted sons, a general domestic servant, and his sister-in-law Hilda Garnett as a visitor RG 15/06603 RD130 SD3 ED29 SN135
1922

Richardson's book on Weather Prediction by Numerical Process was finally published in 1922. Although the pioneering nature of his method was widely recognized, the book had no practical impact: existing observing and computing facilities were very inadequate and his computed forecast was grossly in error. His ideas were taken more seriously in the 1950s thanks to the availability of better observations and much faster computers, and within a few years numerical methods had been introduced all over the world. In his early years at Westminster, Richardson continued his meteorological researches, especially on atmospheric diffusion. From his experiments he deduced a new law for the rate of diffusion; some twenty years later the same law was obtained independently on theoretical grounds.

Oxford DNB; Who Was Who, accessed 20 Dec 2015
1922-12 of 31 Bridge Lane, N.W.11 card from Lewis Fry Richardson to Molly Richardson, possessed by Paul Thomas
1923/1928 living with his wife at 31 Bridge Lane, Hendon, Middlesex electoral registers
1924-07-25 physicist; departed for Canada on the S.S. Caronia, travelling cabin class, visiting the British Association in Toronto; wife of 31 Bridge Lane, Golders Green, London NW11 Canada, ocean arrivals
1924-08-26 physicist, of 31 Bridge Lane, Golders Green, London; arrived London from Montreal, on the Cunard Andania UK incoming passenger lists
1926

 

FRS The Scotsman, 1926-02-19; Collinson, ed. (1935)

While still a student at Cambridge, Richardson had decided to spend the first half of his life under the strict discipline of physics and then to apply this training to researches on living things. The change came in 1926 when he abandoned meteorology for psychology, immediately after being elected a fellow of the Royal Society. By 1929 he had already published the first of a series of papers on the quantitative estimation of perception, including brightness, colour, loudness, and pain. The accepted view at that time was that such measurements were meaningless but twenty years later his methods were being used widely by psychologists.

Oxford DNB
  physicist and meteorologist, of Kilmun, Argyll, Scotland Old York Scholars' Association (1971) Bootham School Register. London: Oyez Press
1927-04-01 professional address: The Technical College, Paisley, Scotland; registered with the Teachers Registration Council Teachers' Registration Council registers
1929 BSc Psychology Collinson, ed. (1935)
living with his wife at 31 Bridge Lane, Hendon, Middlesex; an Eleanor Swan also registered there electoral registers
1929-12-06 of King's; received MA degree from Cambridge Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 1929-12-07
1929/1940 Principal, Paisley Technical College, Scotland OYSA (1971); Teachers' Registration Council registers
  mathematician and pacifist Oxford DNB
1935 Principal of Paisley Technical College, of 38 Main Road, Castle Head, Paisley; formerly on staffs of National Physical Laboratory of Meteorological Office and of Westminster Training College, London; hobby and interest—scientific research Collinson, ed. (1935)

Another break came in 1935 when, after the failure of the disarmament conference in Geneva, Richardson decided to re-examine his earlier work on the causes of war. By using expenditure on arms as a measure of warlike activity, he showed that his simple mathematical model of an arms race corresponded roughly to what had happened in the run-up to both world wars. He next analysed statistically data on past wars and other deadly quarrels from a card catalogue which he himself had compiled, and found a number of significant relationships which he then tried to explain. As he was unable to find a publisher for the books containing all his findings, he published them himself on microfilm. Edited versions were published posthumously in 1960 under the titles Arms and Insecurity and Statistics of Deadly Quarrels. Another posthumous publication, The Problem of Contiguity, was influential in the development of fractals and of chaos theory.

Oxford DNB
1939-09-29 not found in 1939 Register 1939 England and Wales Register (RG 101)
1939 published Generalized Foreign Politics Who Was Who
1943 left Paisley for Hillside House, Kilmun, on the Firth of Clyde
  Fellow Brit. Psychological Soc.
  formerly Hon. Secretary of Royal Meteorological Society  
1945-05-26 retired; living in Argyll, Scotland New Hampshire marriage intention certificate for Stephen A. Richardson
1953-09-30 d. Hillside House, Kilmun, on the Firth of Clyde, Argyll, of a heart attack GRO index; Bootham; National Probate Calendar; Oxford DNB

LATE DR LEWIS FRY RICHARDSON

Dr Lewis Fry Richardson, a distinguished member of the Society of Friends, and a former Principal of Paisley Technical College, died at his home, Hillside House, Kilmun, Argyllshire, on Wednesday.

A Doctor of Science of London University, a Fellow of the Royal Society, and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society, Dr Richardson was internationally known for his writings on the cause of war.

Born at Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1881, and educated at York and King's College, Cambridge, Dr Richardson, who served in France with the Friends' Ambulance Unit during the First World War, was the author of a number of original investigations on physics, mathematics, meteorology, and latterly psychology, although principally he was a mathematician.

His book, "Generalised Foreign Politics," published in 1939, made a deep impression abroad, particularly in the United States. He retired from his Paisley appointment in 1940 to further his private studies, and two of his last works were "Arms and Insecurity," in 1949, and "Statistics of Deadly Quarrels," in 1950, both microfilms.

Dr Richardson is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.

The Scotsman, 1953-10-02
1953-10-05 cremated at Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland, followed the same day by a memorial service of the Society of Friends in Glasgow Oxford DNB
1953-11-16 confirmation; estate of £3726 18s. 1d.
1953-11-25 confirmation of Dorothy Richardson sealed at London National Probate Calendar
 

See also: Oliver M. Ashford, Prophet—or professor: the life and work of Lewis Fry Richardson (1985);  Ernest Gold, Obits. FRS, 9 (1954), 217–35; Collected papers of Lewis Fry Richardson, ed. O. M. Ashford and others, 2 vols. (1993)

 
 

MODERN weather forecasting owes much to the skills of meteorologist Lewis Fry Richardson.

He realised it should be possible to produce a forecast from calculations based on simultaneous data from different locations.

In the 1920's he attempted to produce a 24-hour forecast with the help of a group of assistants armed with mechanical calculators, but quickly found it would take literally years to formulate.

Today the same calculations can be done in a matter of seconds with computers.

Manchester Evening News, 1988-08-23

  Giles Foden's 2009 novel Turbulence is a fictional depiction of Richardson's life.  


Children of John and Sarah Augusta Richardson | Children of Isaac and Deborah Richardson | Richardson page | Family history home page | Website home page

 

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