Inside Salisbury: Frogg Moody's New Bygone Salisbury book + The tale of the shooting party in Salisbury

Inside Salisbury: Revel in the history of Salisbury with the Tale of the Shooting Party

It was a real pleasure to interview well-known Salisbury resident, author and historian Frogg Moody this week. Frogg began to write his column about the city’s past for the Salisbury Journal back in 2016 and admitted to me that it can be ‘quite difficult to come up with weekly articles’.

Over the years, he has delved deeply into the past bringing fascinating tales to the fore and now his new book, aptly called Bygone Salisbury, shares some of those articles.

Watch the video to find out more.

Plus….

As a history enthusiast myself, I have spent some time researching a man who had an extraordinary influence not just in Salisbury but across the country. Influential and blind, he never let his handicap falter his life’s dreams.

Annette J Beveridge

https://insidesalisbury.uk Email: contact@insidesalisbury.uk

The Tale of the Shooting Party in Salisbury

PICTURE the scene.

It is 1858 and a shooting party starts to walk across the top of Harnham Hill little knowing that a life-changing accident is about to happen.

A gun was raised but the man failed to notice that his son was standing close by….too close. He fired but several pellets smashed through his son’s glasses blinding him in an instant.

The injured man was the son of William Fawcett - a well-known and respected man in Salisbury. A former city Mayor, he played a prominent role as a member of the Liberal Party.

But now he was the man who had shot his son.

William Fawcett

After years of struggling in London, William Fawcett came to Salisbury. It was 1815 and he managed to secure a job at a draper’s shop. Eventually, the shop became his when his employer retired.

Life seemed good. William Fawcett married Mary Cooper - the daughter of a solicitor who had acted as an agent for the Liberal Party to which he belonged. William and Mary had four children.

The year before his son Henry was born, William Fawcett had the honour of becoming Salisbury Mayor. This was in 1832.

The family lived in the heart of Salisbury until 1841 when the Earl of Radnor offered them the opportunity of leasing Home Farm at Longford.

Henry Fawcett

When young, Henry was enrolled as a border at Mr Sopp’s school in Alderbury. He was just eight years old and studied there for six years before moving on to Edmonson’s Queenswood College. It was there that he discovered his talent for public speaking and mathematics.

Just eighteen months later, Henry was at the King’s College in London.

As the years passed, his father wanted to make sure that Henry had the best education possible, but he was not financially secure. William turned to his good friend, the Dean of Salisbury, who believed that 19-year-old Henry deserved a place at Cambridge.

Although Cambridge was a hotbed of political debate and, at times, radicalism, life was generally good for Henry. He loved learning and made friends easily. He joined the Debating Club (the Union) and became one of its leading speakers.

Henry’s upbringing had been stable, but despite this, he remained aware of the harsh reality of life. During his childhood, Henry formed friendships with the workers on the Longford Estate, and firmly believed in an education for all. This sense of justice and fairness continued throughout his life.

Relief for the family

During his second year at Cambridge, Henry became what was known as a ‘pensioner.’ This meant his parents were relieved of some of the financial strain. Henry tried to win the Senior Wranglership (an accolade for being the highest-scoring student) but failed. However, he was elected to fellowship which was not just an honour but afforded him £250 each year.

Knowing that, in time, he would need to be financially independent, Henry’s aim was to study law but his eyesight had begun to deteriorate. After taking medical advice, Henry was told to stop reading for at least a year.

The Shooting Accident

Henry returned home.

It was then that the freak shooting accident happened. Henry’s mother and father were both distraught at the accident but Henry, now completely blind, had allegedly stated: ‘This will make no difference.’

His father was filled with guilt.

Henry’s mother Mary locked herself away. It was Henry’s sister who came to his aid, and who somehow kept the family together.

She numbered all his clothes for him and Henry used to instruct her to his choice of clothes by referring to the numbers. She would then lay them out for him.

Henry was determined to progress with his life and not to let his blindness stop him. He began to go out fishing again - a favoured pastime, and even went mountain climbing in Wales. He also practised ice-skating on the Cambridgeshire fens and Norfolk Broads which would freeze over.

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News of the accident reached far and wide. Henry received numerous letters of condolence but one letter in particular made a real difference.