It was Sober October day 15 yesterday, and I was feeling a
bit cooped-up indoors, so thought I would catch the bus over to Trowbridge and
have a look at the shops. I bought a fur lined hoodie type thing in Next
that might be warm in the winter, and then had a mooch around a couple of
charity shops until I got bored. When I got back to the bus stop, I found it
was half an hour until the next bus home. How could I wile away the next 30
minutes? I remembered that I had read about a 19th century poet called George
Crabbe who was rector of St James Church from 1814 to his death in 1832. I
had never heard of him before, but apparently, he was very influential in his
day, and Benjamin Britten had even based an opera on one of his poems. There
was a memorial to him in the church.
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| Crabbe Memorial. |
I thought I could add him to my list of
famous graves I have visited. As you may know, in the last few years I have
seen the graves of George Orwell, Thomas Hardy, Lawrence of Arabia, Laurie
Lee, Seigfried Sassoon, Thomas Moore, C. Day Lewis and others. When I
entered the church, I found there was some sort of service or event going on,
with lots of people sitting in the pews. I didn’t want to disturb them and beat
a hasty retreat. So, I didn’t get to see George’s memorial, but I can’t say I
was exactly disappointed. I had a quick look in the churchyard instead. Most of
the headstones were so old and faded you couldn’t read them. One tomb caught my
eye though because it had obviously been well looked after. There was even a
faded wreath on top of it. The inscription had been restored in recent years.
It read-
Sacred to the memory of
Thomas Helliker
The thread of whose life was cut in the bloom
of youth. He exchanged mortality for immortality March 22, 1803, in the 19th
year of his age. The fatal catastrophe which led to this unfortunate event is
too awful to describe. Suffice it say that he met his death with the greatest
fortitude and resignation of mind. Considering his youth he may be said to have
but few equals. He died a true penitent. Being very anxious in his last moments
that others might take a timely warning and avoid evil company. This tomb was
erected at his earnest request by the cloth making factories of the counties of
York Wilts and Somerset as a token of their love to him and veneration of his
memory.
A second inscription was added later:
This tomb was formerly placed over the remains of
Thomas Helliker
At a time of great disturbance throughout the
manufacturing towns of this county. He was condemned for an offence against the
law of which he was afterwards believed to be innocent and determined to die
rather than give testimony which would have saved his own life but forfeited
the lives of others. Some of the cloth-workers of this town being so desirous
to perpetuate the remembrance of such an heroic act of self-sacrifice have
restored this memorial in the year of our lord 1876.
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Last Letter.
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His friends claimed
his body and carried him across Salisbury Plain for burial in Trowbridge. There
is an annual wreath laying ceremony on his anniversary organised by trade
unionists. The last letter he wrote to his family is on display in Trowbridge
Museum which I’ll try and visit the next time I’m in Trowbridge. I’m very pleased
that I accidentally came across the grave of Thomas Helliker. It is a
reminder of the terrible conditions and harsh laws that prevailed before the
advent of trade unions which fought for the workers’ rights which we enjoy today, but take for granted at our peril. |
| Annual Memorial. |
