Information about persons whose surnames begin with the letter W.
The Archives Department of Hampshire County Council hold a registered copy will of Henry Wheeler, of 111 Bradley Road, Crockerton, Warminster, Wiltshire, smallholder, dated 1941. Finding number: 5M62/60/1458.
archivescatalogue.hants.gov.uk/records/62005/60/1458
Tuesday 4th February 1941
Gravestone inscription in the churchyard of St. Mary The Virgin, West Knoyle:
In Proud Memory of
David Warburton
Flying Officer, R.A.F., V.R.
killed on active service
February 4th 1941
Aged 21 years.
“We thank God for every remembrance of you.”
At the Town Hall, Warminster, on Tuesday 30th March 1937, commencing at 7.00 p.m., Messrs. Dart & Son, conducted a sale by auction of freehold properties, acting on instructions from the executors of the late Uriah White. A large company was present and all 11 lots on offer were disposed of. The solicitors were Ponting & Marshall, of High Street, Warminster.
Lot 1.
Nos. 16, 17 and 18 Marsh Street, Warminster, were sold to Mr. N. White for £175.
Lot 2.
Nos. 5 & 6 Marsh Street, Warminster, were sold to Mr. J. Saunders for £100.
Lot 3.
No. 1 Marsh Street, Warminster, was sold to Mr. W.F. Pearce for £55.
Lot 4.
No. 9 Hillwood, was sold to Mr. N. White for £15.
Lot 5.
Nos. 28 & 29 Brook Street, Warminster, were sold to Mr. N. White for £55.
Lot 6.
2 and a half acres of pasture land at King Street, Warminster (at present let for £10 per annum), was sold to Mr. W.J. Holton for £195.
Lot Nos. 7 to 11.
Various cottages and gardens with demolition orders upon them, realised £50. (Nos. 13 & 14 Marsh Street, Nos. 18 & 19 King Street, and Nos. 26, 27 & 47 Brook Street).
DR. ROBERT LEWIS WILLCOX, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.
A short biography by Danny Howell.
Written in 1994.
Dr. Robert Lewis Willcox, the son of Mr. C. Willcox of Wareham, Dorset, practised in Warminster for the lengthy span of 44 years. He came to the town in 1870, taking over the practice of Dr. G. T. Vicary. On arriving in Warminster Dr. Willcox took up residence at Melrose (No.5 High Street), a property which had been used as a doctor’s house for nearly 150 years previously.
Robert Willcox married Louisa C. Young, daughter of the late Mr. A. Young of Melbourne, at Christ Church, Kensington, on 30th March 1871. The Venerable Archdeacon Sinclair officiated. Mr. and Mrs. Willcox had five children: Mr. Linzey Willcox (who became an engineer in Newcastle), Hilda Willcox (who died, aged two months, in January 1874), Major Edwy Willcox (who served in the Welsh Regiment), Hubert Liston Willcox (who qualified as a doctor and was eventually in partnership with his father), and Claude Willcox (who became the proprietor and managing director of the Warminster Motor Company).
Robert Willcox soon became closely associated with the daily life of Warminster and was held in high esteem by local residents. In his early days in Warminster he was an enthusiastic bell-ringer at the Parish Church of St. Denys (The Minster). He was the President of the Warminster Volunteer Fire Brigade from its establishment in April 1886 until 1913 when the Brigade was taken over by the Urban District Council. His forced resignation was much regretted by the firemen with whom he was very popular.
Dr. Willcox was the Medical Officer at Warminster Cottage Hospital and was largely instrumental in gathering the funds for the enlargement of the hospital in 1892. He was also active in improving the welfare of the Warminster community, and the town’s waterworks at Crockerton (now replaced) were once a memorial to Dr. Willcox’s support to the scheme proposed by William Frank Morgan. Dr. Willcox and Mr. Morgan were the two chief promoters of the project but were met with considerable opposition from the Local Board (the forerunner of the Urban District Council). Willcox and Morgan won the day and the waterworks they campaigned so hard for provided Warminster with a splendid supply – an example of the foresight of Dr. Willcox.
In 1901 Robert Willcox commissioned the building of a house incorporating a small surgery at Portway, Warminster, a year before his son Hubert passed his medical exams and joined him as an assistant to the practice. Hubert later became a partner in the practice, and a third doctor, Wilfred Lawrence Hogan, joined in 1912. Unfortunately, Hubert died, after contracting blood poisoning from a patient, in 1913.
Robert Willcox resided at the house and surgery at Portway, near the corner with George Street, from 1901 onwards. The property featured his initials “RLW” and the date “1901” on a stone between the ground-floor bay windows on its east facing front. The property remained as a surgery for the town’s doctors until 1990, when a new surgery was built between the Avenue and the Central Car Park. The Portway Surgery was afterwards demolished and its site is now occupied by the residential dwellings known as The Grove.
Dr. Willcox retired (nearly one year after the death of his third son, Dr. Hubert Liston Willcox, with whom he was in partnership with), in November 1914. The practice passed to Dr. W. L. Hogan and Dr. H. L. Blackley.
Dr. Willcox and his wife then moved to Salisbury. On his departure he was presented with an address from the people of Warminster, signed by Lord Bath, which read: “Your many friends in Warminster and the neighbourhood cannot permit you to bid them good-bye after your forty-five years’ residence and work among them without offering some tangible proof both of the warm friendship they feel towards you personally and of their appreciation of your professional skill and unselfish devotion to their welfare. Therefore, they beg you to accept the enclosed cheque for one thousand five hundred guineas, together with their most sincere wishes.” Several hundred people had donated towards Dr. Willcox’s farewell cheque.
Although in retirement at Salisbury Dr. Willcox often assisted the surgeons at Salisbury Infirmary, gave first-aid classes to Salisbury Boy Scouts, and lectured on first-aid to Salisbury Police. He continued to be a trustee of Warminster Hospital and was Honorary Consulting Surgeon to it. A link between Dr. Willcox and Warminster was also maintained because his son, Claude, was the Managing Director of the Warminster Motor Company at George Street.
Dr. and Mrs. Willcox were a devoted couple and were able to celebrate not only their golden wedding but also their diamond wedding anniversary (30th March 1931), on which occasion they received a congratulatory telegram from King George V.
Robert Willcox died during the early part of the afternoon of Wednesday 20th November 1935, at his home, 97 London Road, Salisbury. He was 89 and had been ailing for some years. His funeral service and interment took place at the London Road Cemetery, Salisbury, on Saturday 23rd November 1935. The Vicar of St. Mark’s, Salisbury, officiated, assisted by Canon H. R. Whytehead of Salisbury (a former Vicar of Warminster). Among the mourners were Lord Bath and representatives of Warminster Urban District Council.
1933
The Reverend William Henry Wilkinson, clerk, of Abbotsford, Boreham Road, Warminster, Wiltshire, died 10th August 1933. Administration (with will) at London, 16th September 1933, to Lily Wilkinson, widow. Effects £7,461 15s. 10d.
From The Modern Encyclopedia, published in the early 1930s:
Sir Christopher Wren. English architect. Born at East Knoyle, Wilts., Oct. 20, 1632. In 1657 he became professor of astronomy at Gresham College, and in 1660 Savilian professor of astronomy at Oxford. The chapel of Pembroke Collage, Cambridge, was his first building, 1663. His first design for St. Paul’s, 1673, was rejected, but in 1675 an amended version was approved. He was knighted in 1672, and in 1685 he became M.P. for Plympton. He died Feb. 25, 1723, and was buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral. Wren designed the Ashmolean and the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford; the west towers of Westminster Abbey; and parts of the palace at Greenwich. He restored Salisbury and Chichester cathedrals. His greatest work was to rebuild the churches and other London buildings destroyed in the Great Fire. Apart from St. Paul’s, he designed 50 churches, including St. Bride’s and St. Clement Danes, the halls of 36 City companies, and the Monument.
Warminster & Westbury Journal, Friday 7th June 1929:
DEATH OF MR. WILLIAM WALKER
A well-known Wiltshire resident passed away at Upton Lovel on Sunday in the person of Mr. William Walker, a former cloth magnate, who made West of England cloth famous the world over.
Aged 69 years, Mr. William Walker patiently endured a long illness, and his death was not unexpected.
His passing snaps a link with the past, for he literally grew white in the public service of his native town, Trowbridge, and it was only a few years ago that he passed into the peace of quiet retirement at Upton Lovel, where once were flourishing woollen mills which he owned. He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Walker, and was born at what is locally known as the Brick Platts, off Union-street. His grandfather was one of the converts John Wesley secured on his memorable visit to Trowbridge. His grandmother was a niece of that great Wesleyan evangelist George Whitfield.
Mr. Walker’s record of public service would fill a volume, so extensive was it in its activities. He had filled the chair of almost every public authority of note, including the old Local Board and the Urban Council, which succeeded it. For over 26 years he was a Guardian, and for 24 years represented the town on the County Council. With others he was responsible for many town improvements, of which present-day residents are enjoying the benefit, notably, the opening up of Court-street, and the commencement of the People’s Park.
He was the doyen of the Trowbridge Magisterial Bench, and continued to take the chair long after his retirement.
In business he succeeded the Gouldsmiths in carrying on the business of Messrs. Samuel Salter and Co., Home Mills, which then, as now, were noted for the production of the world-famed West of England cloth.
THE LATE MR. W. WALKER
FUNERAL AT TROWBRIDGE
In the presence of manyn old associates in public life, the funeral took place at the Trowbridge Cemetery on the 6th inst., of 0Mr. William Walker, who died at Upton Lovel, on the 30th ult.
The family mourners were: Mr. Joseph Walker, Amersham (son), Mr. W. Walker (grandson), Mr. J. Mackie (son-in-law), Mr Lovel Mackie (grandson). Dr. Kenneth Mackie (grandson) was absent owing to his being unable to leave his practice. From deceased’s residence: Mr. W.P. Mines, Mr. J. Petty, Mr. F. Boulter, and Mrs. Wheeler.
The large attendance included representatives of the Trowbridge Bench, of which deceased was Chairman for many years; the Urban District Council, the Trowbridge and Melksham Guardians, the Wilts Constabulary, and many of the organisations with which he had been associated; also a number of his former employees.
The remains were taken by road from Upton Lovel, the cortege being met at the Trowbridge Cemetery entrance by a large assembly. The officiating ministers were the Rev. H. Hall (pastor of the Conigre Unitarian Church), and the Rev. Harry Sanders (an old colleague in public service). The service was of a plain nature, passages of scripture being read and prayers said by the Conigre Pastor. A short address bearing on the useful public life of deceased was delivered by the Rev. Harry Sanders.
The interment was in the family vault, in which lie four predecessors, and was lined with dresses of lilac.
A plaque in St. Aldhelm’s Church, Bishopstrow:
“To the beloved and honoured memory of
Henry Raymond Wansey, M.A.
For 9 years he was a missionary in Japan
in parts then unreached by the Gospel.
On the 2nd anniversary of his induction
as rector of this parish,
he was called to higher service
24th April 1926.”
Photograph taken by Danny Howell
on Saturday 25th June 2016.
Postcard for C.H.V. Weston,
Hillside, 32 Vicarage Street, Warminster.
(1920s).
Marquees and Tents of all sizes.
Staging erected for Flower Shows, etc.,
also Tabling & Seating for any number erected
– on hire.
Estimates given free for any distance.
1922
Private residents in Warminster,
Surnames beginning with W
David Waddington, Domus, Boreham Road.
David Hatten Waddington, Boreham Road.
Joseph Wagstaffe, 5 Christ Church Terrace.
Mrs. Wait, 30 Woodcock.
Hugh Alexander Wakeman, 2 Boreham Villas.
William Thomas Wall, 44 Church Street (apartment).
Henry Walker, 12 Henford’s Marsh.
George Aston Warriner, Portway Villas.
William John Waylen, Imber Road.
James E. Webb, Sambourne Road.
R.W. Webb, Melrose, High Street (apartment).
Richard D. Webb, Ingleside, Imber Road.
Samuel Webb, Sunnyside, Church Street.
Miss R. Webster, 83 Portway (apartment).
William Webster, Craven House, Silver Street.
Mrs. Wedge, 77 Portway.
Mrs. Welsh, 28 High Street.
Cecil Herbert Valentine Weston, Hillside, Vicarage Street.
Peter West, 1 Coldharbour.
Thomas Whatley, 16 Pound Street.
William Whatley, 28 King Street.
Henry James Wheeler, Tresco, Boreham Road.
Ernest Charles White, 33 Sambourne Road.
Ernest Frank White, 86 Portway.
George White, Meadowview, Deverill Road.
James Henry White, 43 East Street.
John White, 32 Silver Street.
Miss Frances White, 88 Portway.
Miss Matilda White, 7 George Street.
Norman Uriah White, Deverill Road.
Uriah White, 3 North Row.
Arthur Whitmarsh, 14 Woodcock.
Edgar Whitmarsh, 5 Smallbrook Road.
Ernest Edward Whitmarsh, 48 Pound Street.
James Levi Whitmarsh, 62 Vicarage Street.
Ernest Whittle, Princecroft Farm, Bugley.
Miss Alice Whittock, Vernham House, The Close.
Elon James Wickham, 18 George Street.
Edwin Francis Wickham, 4 Oxford Terrace, East Street.
Frederick John Wickham, Thornbank, Upper Marsh Road.
George Stephen Wickham, 73 Portway.
Miss Wickham, 4 Christ Church Terrace.
William Harold Wickham, 4 St. John’s Terrace, Boreham Road.
William Wildman, Hillwood House, Deverill Road.
Lewis Claude Willcox, 21 George Street.
Thomas Alfred Willoughby, Weymouth Street.
John Abraham Willshire, 9 and 10 Woodcock.
Henry John Winter, West Parade.
Mrs. Wise, 18 East Street.
J. Witherington, 14 George Street.
Thomas Frederick Woods, 4 High Street.
Mrs. Wootton, 20 North Row.
Albert George Wort, 56 West Parade.
Charles Wright, Damask Farm, Upper Marsh Road.
George Wyatt, 1 Pound Street.
Lionel Sidney Wyer, 8 George Street.
