Transcript

of

T. H. Harvey [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc., vol.  47, (1915), pp. 48-49.

by

Maxwell Adams (Ed.)

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s July 1915 Exeter meeting. Prior to his retirement, Mr Harvey had been Owner-Manager of the T. H. Harvey Chemical Works in Plymouth, a large manufacturing business typically needing a generous supply of coal tar for a wide range of products ranging from creosote to benzene. His business is mentioned in connection with specialized rail transport on the Northern Fine Scale website (archived copy). A paper by Dr James Gregory, University of Plymouth published online in April 2020, entitled “Filthy Plymouth: An environmental history of the three towns in the nineteenth century” asserts “There were also complaints against the stench emanating from the chimney of Harvey’s sulphate of ammonia works – a firm that also made cement – in Coxside in 1864, the works manufactured ammonia using ‘ammonial liquor’ piped from the gas works (a by-product which had accumulated to a dangerous extent at the gasworks), to which sulphuric acid was added”. (p. 16). The obituary, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Mr. Harvey, of Blackrock Grove, Fareham, who died on 15 April, 1915, at Lee-on-Solent, joined the Devonshire Association as life member in 1892. Formerly he carried on business in Plymouth as a tar distiller, sat on the bench of Plymouth magistrates, and represented Sutton Ward in the Town Council. He was also a member of the Water Committee about the time that the Burrator Reservoir was begun, and served on the Sanitary Committee, the Technical Instruction Committee, and the Finance Committee. In 1899 he removed to Fareham and interested himself in Church work, was vicar's warden at the Holy Trinity Church, Fareham, for many years, a great benefactor to the church, and a supporter of all good causes in the town and district. He also took part in the politics of the district, represented Fareham on the Hampshire County Council, and a few days before his death was appointed to the Commission of the Peace for the County of Hants.