Devonshire Feb 16

news from France. Josiah, her only
child, had died suddenly – probably
of heart failure brought on
by ‘dropsy’ (oedema). She arranged
for his body, together with three of
his young children who had died
previously and had been buried in
a cemetery in Paris, to be exhumed
and returned to Exmouth.
As the coffins waited in the courtyard
of a French convent there was
a coup d’etat and Frances Nisbet
and her remaining family were
forced to flee the city, dressed as
peasants. They managed to get
back to England safely and made
their way to Fanny’s London home
at 23, Harley Street.
Meanwhile the four coffins came
back to Exmouth unexpectedly and
were landed at the Temple Steps.
What to do? In his book Exmouth
Milestones (The Raleigh Press, 1948)
Eric Delderfield writes:
The Customs House officer had
them removed to the house of Mr.
Edmund Weller, then being built
but not completed on the sea front
where Alston Terrace now joins it.
Being circular in shape it was to
be called Beach Castle but forever
afterwards it became known locally
as Corpse Castle and subsequently,
when it was only frequented by the
town’s strays, as Cat’s Castle and
was always thought of as being
haunted.
A year later Fanny Nelson died at
Harley Street on 4th May 1831
and who would say that it was
not of a broken heart? Her body
was brought from London and
was buried beside her son and her
grandchildren in the churchyard
at Littleham.
Her eldest grandchild, also called
Fanny, later wrote of her grandmother’s
good nature, and her devotion
to her husband's memory and said
she often kissed a miniature of him.
Lady Nelson once confided to her,
”When you are older little Fan, you
may know what it is to have a broken
heart”.
The dove and the volcano
Lady Byron left Exmouth and
returned to London. She too was to
suffer the intense pain of outliving
her only child. Ada died in 1852
after a long illness. She was 36 years
old, the same age as her father and
at her written request is entombed
in the Byron family vault at the
church of St. Mary Magdalene in
Hucknall, Warwickshire.
A portrait artist later wrote of the
grieving mother, “There is a lambent
sorrow about her, bland and touching,
but she was no more fit for him
than a dove for a volcano, poor
Lady Byron. She looks as though
she saw an inward sorrow. Perhaps
his sublime head is always haunting
her imagination”.
Byron’s spirit it seems had haunted
them both, wife and daughter,
throughout their lives.
JOHN FISHER
Nelson House - on the Beacon, Exmouth. Famously
Fanny Nelson used her own sedan chair to visit the
town and seashore
The Assembly Rooms: built
in 1794 and once centre of
Exmouth's social scene
Byron Court - once home to Lady Byron and
her mathematical genius daughter, Ada. The
computer language ADA is named after her.
hubcast
We are after researchers for
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DEVONSHIRE
Magazine Delivery People
In Barnstaple Required
We're after reliable people, who can work on a computer
from home, that would like to help us compile organisations
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Good rates of pay, ideal for people looking for an extra bit
of income, internet connection is a must.
Call Nigel Jones or Charlotte Fergie if you’re interested in
this work on 01395 513383
Ideally for a husband and wife team, possibly retired
and looking for extra income, our delivery round needs
servicing 6 times yearly. Can you help? Great for couples
as one can drive, the other drop off magazines. All outlets
pre-agreed and very happy to receive the magazine - set
delivery round so once you’ve learnt it, it’s super easy.
Good rates of pay, doesn’t tie up all your time, but gives
you extra income for things like holidays, etc. You need
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Call Nigel Jones or Charlotte Fergie if you’re interested
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88
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