Transcript

of

Robert Standerwick. [Obituary]

Trans. Devon Assoc., 1890, Vol XXII, p. 42.

by

Rev. W. Harpley, M.A.

Prepared by Michael Steer

The paper was delivered at the Association’s July 1890 Barnstaple meeting. The Legendary Dartmoor series provides a descriptive page on Thornworthy Down, Mr Standerwick’s moorland property, with a section on the discovery and excavation of the Thornworthy kists mentioned in the obituary. Two kists were investigated in 1879 by kind permission of Mr. Standerwick. Initially work was undertaken by antiquarian Samuel Slade, later joined by William Pengelly of the Association. In March 1880, Mr. Pengelly, as curator of Torquay Museum persuaded Mr. Standerwick to allow him remove the smaller of the kists to his museum for display. The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Robert Standerwick, of Thornworthy, Chagford, was the great-grandson of Williain Standerwick, of Steps, a younger son of the ancient family of Standerwick, of Broadway, Somerset, and was born in London 22nd June, 1818. He was educated at the Congregational School, Cheshunt, and entered into business in due time as a merchant and ship-owner. After a successful course of business he retired at the age of 50, and from that date made Devonshire his home. He married, first, Mary Ann, daughter of Thomas Popham, Esq., of Topsham, who died in 1871; and second, in 1873, Sarah Varwell, second daughter of Edward Hawkins, Esq., of St. Thomas, Exeter, who survives him.

On his retirement from business he settled at Mount Howe, Topsham, where he took an active part in public affairs as a member of the School Board and founder of the Working Men's Club, as also in religious matters. The attractions of Dartmoor, however, led him to change his residence from Mount Howe to Thornworthy, which he soon transformed from a common moor farm to a lovely country residence, and a centre of light and leading. The work he had begun at Topsham he continued at Chagford, where his memory will long remain. He died at Edgerton House, Pennsylvania, Exeter, the residence of his sisters-in-law, on the 26th February last.

From 1874 to his death he was a warm supporter of the Association, and on his estate of Thornworthy two kistvaens were found in 1879, as will be seen on reference to the Association's Transactions for 1880, pages 365-374. Of these, one has been placed in the Museum at Torquay.