I chanced across a History of Victorian Exeter in the The National Archives' library at Kew today. Knowing that there were two prominent Gidleys who filled the role of Town Clerk in that period, I checked for them in the index.
The book reference is:
NEWTON Robert. Victorian Exeter 1837 - 1914. Leicester UP, 1968.
Pages 116 - 117 deal with John Gidley, of the Honiton part of the Winkleigh Gidley family.He was born 21 Mar 1795 in Honiton, son of Courtenay Gidley and his wife Margaret nee Gordon, and several of the family were lawyers. John married Elizabeth Caroline Cornish, from a prominent Exeter family, and although they had at least nine children (several died young) and there were grandchildren, I haven't traced any further descendants in the male line. His home was in Bedford Circus.
"In 1865 the death of John Gidley "the learned and venerable clerk to the municipal body of the city" broke another link with the pre-Reform era and the traditions and manners of the eighteenth century. Town clerk of Exeter, judge of the provost's court, clerk to the Land and Assessed Tax Commissioners, recorder for the borough of Bradninch and member of an ancient Devon family, Gidley had been firm, tactful and hard-working, a conscientious pilot for the new council and its often strong-willed members. His tastes were described ... as "eminently archaeological and his learning that of that patristic, half-ecclesiastical, philological cast which benefits such pursuits." He was indeed a representative of the well-educated scholarly, professional men who formed the backbone of innumerable learned societies in the age that was passing. Originally said to be a man of Liberal principles, John Gidley had become a Conservative but he retained the respect of both political parties, guided the council through innumerable lawsuits, found time to maintain an extensive practice, and as a staunch Anglican, was reputed to have written powerful anonymous letters to the press in support of the bishop during the surplice controversy."
Page 204 deals with his son Bartholomew Charles Gidley, who died prematurely aged only 49 in 1888. From the census it seems he was educated at Ottery St Mary School, then Oxford University. Living in Southernhay in 1871, he had purchased Hoopern House, a Regency mansion, by 1881. For some years it was part of the University of Exeter, but has now returned to being a palatial private residence.
"In 1874 Alderman Gidley, an active and influential member of the [Conservative] party, and son of the first town clerk, resigned his position as alderman and was subsequently elected town clerk." He was Mayor of Exeter in 1870 - 1871, a Freeman of the city, and took a great interest in antiquarian matters, contributing articles to the Devon Notes and Queries magazine.
It seems there were dark deeds in the town hall at that time: a dishonest clerk in the Treasurer's department was responsible for a shortfall of £2000, and according to Newton's book, "the Conservatives were determined to retain control of key posts, [but] the personal integrity of Gidley was never in doubt."
The family has an impressive tomb in All Hallows on the Wall churchyard, Exeter, on a corner by the road where it is impossible for passing traffic to miss it.
2 comments:
Hello, came across your blog whilst searching for information about the Gidley family of Exeter.
One of Bartholomew's children was
Courtenay De Blois Gidley - he was a Captain, and in 1909 married Alice Waterhouse, a divorcee, and youngest sister of famous painter John William Waterhouse (www.johnwilliamwaterhouse.com). Alice died in 1919 in India; Courtenay died in 1950 in Worcester, he had been living in a house previously lived in by the composer Edward Elgar.
- Julia.
Thank you for that information, Julia. I didn't realise Alice Waterhouse was connected to the painter, nor did I know about the Elgar house. This is what brings family history to life.
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