Issue 14 January 2013 Bessemer 200th Anniversary Edition On behalf of the Friends of Charlton Village and the Bessemer 200 Working Party welcome to this special Bessemer 200th anniversary edition of the Hiz e-newsletter. In this issue we are honoured to have a contribution from Paul Bessemer, Sir Henry’ s Great Great Grandson who gives a family perspective to the great man and the events planned to mark this milestone. Other Bessemer descendents then add their own thoughts on what this anniversary means to them. We look back at 12 months preparation for the 200 th birthday of Charlton’s most famous resident with excerpts from Hiz editions published in 2012. Finally we complete the story with details of those events planned by the coordination team. We very much hope you will take time out to visit one or more of the following events: Events planned for 2013. Jan 19 th : Birthday party at the Windmill PH , Charlton. Steam Engines, music, period costume, food and Bessemer Ale from Tring Brewery. Exhibition of old photographs. 19 th Feb –end May: Bessemer Exhibition at the British Schools Museum in Hitchin Learn more about one of England’s unsung heroes born just walking distance from the Museum. May 18th : Victorian Fete also at the British Schools Museum. All the fun of a traditional Victorian Fete with Punch & Judy, Steam Fire Engine and the RNLI in the 19 th century. Period costume recommended.
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Issue 14 January 2013
Bessemer 200th Anniversary Edition
On behalf of the Friends of Charlton Village and the Bessemer 200 Working Party welcome
to this special Bessemer 200th anniversary edition of the Hiz e-newsletter.
In this issue we are honoured to have a contribution from Paul Bessemer, Sir Henry’s Great
Great Grandson who gives a family perspective to the great man and the events planned to
mark this milestone. Other Bessemer descendents then add their own thoughts on what this
anniversary means to them.
We look back at 12 months preparation for the 200th
birthday of Charlton’s most famous
resident with excerpts from Hiz editions published in 2012. Finally we complete the story
with details of those events planned by the coordination team.
We very much hope you will take time out to visit one or more of the following events:
Events planned for 2013.
Jan 19th
: Birthday party at the Windmill PH , Charlton.
Steam Engines, music, period costume, food and Bessemer Ale from Tring Brewery.
Exhibition of old photographs.
19th
Feb –end May: Bessemer Exhibition at the British Schools Museum in Hitchin
Learn more about one of England’s unsung heroes born just walking distance from the
Museum.
May 18th : Victorian Fete also at the British Schools Museum.
All the fun of a traditional Victorian Fete with Punch & Judy, Steam Fire Engine and the
RNLI in the 19th
century. Period costume recommended.
SIR HENRY BESSEMER 200TH
ANNIVERSARY
THOUGHTS ON BESSEMER 200 CELEBRATIONS
Sir Henry Bessemer was so fond of the blissful and idyllic times of his youth in Charlton and
Hitchin that, in later life, he named several of his residences “Charlton House” in honour of
those halcyon days where, in his Autobiography, he writes: “(I) could sometimes, in my quiet
walks round my own meadows, almost fancy myself at my dear old birthplace, Charlton, and
myself again a village boy“. In fact my grandfather, Howard Frank Bessemer, was born at
Charlton House, Upper Norwood in 1872 just down the road from the Crystal Palace.
Sir Henry would have been overjoyed at all the fantastic efforts that the Friends of Charlton
Village, the British Schools’ Museum, the Charlton Society and the Hitchin Historical
Society have made to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of his birth on 19th
January 1813.
Although inundated and crowned with honours during his lifetime, there is little nowadays in
the United Kingdom to recognise the enormous impact Sir Henry made to the Victorian era
and to Science in general.
the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, or “IOM3” (formerly the Iron & Steel Institute) have a Bessemer Room containing numerous artefacts bequeathed by Sir Henry and his descendants;
the IOM3 continue to award an annual Bessemer Gold Medal (established by Sir Henry in 1874) for outstanding services to the steel industry;
The “Bessemer Room” at the Science Museum which was once crammed with exhibits from Sir Henry’s life and inventions no longer exists, and many artefacts are now boxed up and consigned to storage;
there are a few streets named after him dotted about the country;
The only Blue Plaque (which commemorates a link between a location and a famous person) in honour of Sir Henry is in Charlton village on the house where he was born.
Baxter House, where the first steel experiments were made, and where his “gold paint”
business was conducted for many years, is now buried under Platform One of St. Pancras
Station opposite the old church.
Charlton House at Highgate is now La Sainte Union Convent School.
The site of his house in Northampton Square where he lived after his marriage to Ann Allen
is now part of City University.
His magnificent Estate at Denmark Hill, next door to the eminent art critic John Ruskin’s
residence, was demolished in 1947 and the large Blanchedown Estate of 682 houses is built
on the site. The only reminder of Sir Henry at Denmark Hill where he lived for 35 years is
Bessemer Road by King’s College Hospital, and Bessemer Grange Primary School where an
old oak tree, the sole survivor of his estate, stands lonely in the playground.
However, there is nothing at any of these locations to remember Sir Henry - other than the
one in his beloved Charlton Village.
Even during the later stages of his life, Sir Henry’s star was beginning to fade. In a letter to
his grandson, Henry William Bessemer in April 1892 six years before his death, Sir Henry
writes “At one time (20 years ago) everyone would have been too glad to serve me in such a
case, but these many obligations are now forgotten, and men whose fortunes I have made,
treat it as an old affair in which I also benefitted, and so we are quits”.
That is why it is so impressive and important that the village of Charlton and the town of
Hitchin have joined together magnificently to honour Sir Henry and the 200th
Anniversary of
his birth. His actual birthday is being marked by a party in the Windmill pub directly
opposite Charlton House where Henry was born on 19th
January 1813, with a special beer
“Bessemer Ale” brewed by Tring Brewery in his honour, and with music and even a play
about Sir Henry. The Bessemer 200 Exhibition at the British Schools’ Museum in Hitchin
will be a wonderful celebration of Sir Henry’s achievements, and Andy Gibbs and his team
have put an enormous amount of work and effort into remembering Sir Henry. The Museum
are also arranging a Victorian Fete with steam engines in the summer; and the Charlton
Society are marking his birth with an event in May. There are also several events being
arranged by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining throughout the year to coincide
with specific dates relating to Sir Henry’s life and inventions.
It is marvellous that the residents of Charlton and Hitchin have done so much to honour the
memory of one of their favourite sons, Sir Henry Bessemer. It is poignant that, at the 200th
Anniversary of his birth, the praise of his lifetime achievements which started with honours
from numerous learned societies and scientific institutes; various Honorary Freedoms from
Worshipful Companies and Cities; decorations from the Emperor Napoleon of France, Prince
Oscar of Sweden, the Emperor of Austria, the King of Württemberg, the King of the
Belgians, the Prince of Wales; and a Knighthood by Queen Victoria has come full circle, and
that the main celebrations of his incredible life and inventions are being cherished in the
village of Charlton and Hitchin where he was born and of which he was so very fond.
By Paul H. Bessemer (my grandfather was a grandson of Sir Henry Bessemer)
Comments from Bessemer descendants:
Charlotte Crankshaw (South Africa) A few years ago when I become interested in doing
genealogy and finding out about my ancestors, I was excited to learn that part of my family
heritage included being a Bessemer. This has taken me on an amazing journey of knowledge
and discovery – Sir Henry Bessemer being my Great Great Uncle. I am extremely grateful to
committed and dedicated individuals who have done so much work already in preserving the
Bessemer and especially Sir Henry Bessemer’s legacy. Thank you to everyone who has put
in so much time and effort to make this event memorable. My only regret is that my family
and I cannot be there to be part of the celebrations that have been organised to commemorate
Sir Henry Bessemer’s life and achievements. Although we are not able to be there, we are
grateful to have been included to feel part of this historic occasion.
Bill Bessemer (Australia): The memory fades over time and no more so than for the
Australian Bessemer’s who also face the tyranny of distance. It is not an easy journey for us
to visit the places you have described so articulately. I suppose we have always been
conscious of our name and heritage but your communications have given us a much better
understanding of Sir Henry, his ancestors and descendants. It has been a trip of discovery for
us and we thank you.
I suppose I would add something along the lines that descendents as far away as Melbourne
and Sydney in Australia have learnt much about Sir Henry leading up to the 200th
anniversary and they too would like one day to visit Charlton and Hitchin and visit those
places that so captivated him.
Joan Fairman-Schrecengost (USA): Sir Henry Bessemer is our great-great-great uncle. As
children, my siblings and I were told of a family relationship with Sir Henry Bessemer. As I
researched the Fairman genealogy I found much of the information we were given as children
was incorrect. My research revealed that it was through William Edward Fairman's marriage
to Francis Anne Bessemer, Sir Henry Bessemer's sister, that we are descendants of Sir Henry
Bessemer. In doing my research I found that Francis Anne and her sister, Sophia, were
embroiderers and did work for Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent and Princess
Victoria, who later became Queen Victoria. Some of their work might be seen at Kensington
Palace. I was unable to obtain much information regarding Francis Anne Bessemer or
photographs of her. I would appreciate any information on or photographs of Francis Anne
Bessemer.
Sincere thanks for everything,
Limited Edition Bessemer 200 Fine Bone China Mugs
A limited edition of Bessemer 200th
anniversary commemorative mugs are now available.
Price £6 each or 6 for £30. All proceeds to the British Schools Museum in Hitchin thanks to
our generous sponsor Consilium Financial Planning, www.consiliumfp.co.uk .
Mugs are currently on sale at the Half Moon PH, Queen St , and Hawkins Department Store
in Bucklersbury, Hitchin. They will also be on sale at the Exhibition at the British Schools in