Sydney Waterlow
Encyclopedia
Sir Sydney Hedley Waterlow, 1st Baronet, KCVO
(1 November 1822 – 3 August 1906) was an English
philanthropist
and politician, principally remembered for donating Waterlow Park
to the public as "a garden for the gardenless".
He was born in Finsbury
and brought up in Mile End
. He apprenticed as a stationer and printer and worked in the family firm of Waterlow & Sons Ltd, a large printing company employing over two thousand people. From that he moved into finance and became a director of the Union Bank of London.
He was a commissioner at the Great Exhibition in 1851 and a juror at the Paris International Exhibition in 1867 for which he was knighted.
He started his political career as a councillor in 1857 (when he introduced telegraph links between police stations). In 1863 he became an alderman
and began his philanthropic works. He was chairman of the philanthropic housing company The Improved Industrial Dwellings Company, which built the Leopold Buildings
amongst others. He also worked for many other charities. He was a Sheriff of the City of London in 1866 and Lord Mayor of London
from 1872-1873, and was made a baronet
on 4 August 1873.
In 1870, he bought large areas of land including the village of Fairseat (near Stansted, Kent
), a major portion of Stansted as well as other pieces of land from Wrotham
to Meopham
. The parts of the estate were linked by a small bridge bearing the family crest over Trottiscliffe Road (which is still in evidence today - see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/21539). In 1887, he built Trosley Towers on the crest of the escarpment on the North Downs
, to the east of Trottiscliffe Road. Two drive
s approached the house, and it was surrounded by wooded grounds. Later, other private drives were constructed, including Hamilton Drive which still survives within the Trosley Country Park
and runs from the site of the old House to Commority Road.
In 1872 he gave Lauderdale House (now in Waterlow Park) to St. Bartholomew's Hospital to be used as a convalescent home for the poor, staffed by nurses supplied by Florence Nightingale
, and in 1889 he gave the surrounding park to the London County Council
. His former house next to the park, Fairseat, became Channing Junior School.
He was a Liberal
Member of Parliament
for Dumfriesshire
(1868-1869), Maidstone
(1874-1880) and Gravesend
(1880-1885).
When Sir Sidney died in 1906, the Trolsey Towers estate passed to his son Philip (who also became a Sir). When Philip died in 1931, the estate was sold off. Some of the houses (of the estate) were bought by tenants, one of these was Pilgrims House, (see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1177043) with six acres of land, at the bottom of Trottiscliffe Road which went for £600. Trosley Towers and the woodlands around it, were sold to 'Mr E. E. Shahmoon' in 1935.
In 1936, Mr Shahmoon had Trosley Towers demolished and had Hamilton Lodge built along with adjoining stables. One story suggests that the Lodge and stables were built to accommodate the Shah of Persia and his racehorses on his visits to England.
The whole area was still owned by Mr Shahmoon when it was taken over by the army in 1942 during World War II
and Hamilton Lodge was to be the HQ of the Army Brigade that was stationed here. Later the Troley Towers Estate passed to Kent County Council, who created Trosley Country Park
.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(1 November 1822 – 3 August 1906) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and politician, principally remembered for donating Waterlow Park
Waterlow Park
Waterlow Park is a park in the south east of Highgate Village, in North London, England. It was given to the public by Sir Sydney Waterlow, as "a garden for the gardenless" in 1889....
to the public as "a garden for the gardenless".
He was born in Finsbury
Finsbury
Finsbury is a district of central London, England. It lies immediately north of the City of London and Clerkenwell, west of Shoreditch, and south of Islington and City Road. It is in the south of the London Borough of Islington. The Finsbury Estate is in the western part of the district...
and brought up in Mile End
Mile End
Mile End is an area within the East End of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross...
. He apprenticed as a stationer and printer and worked in the family firm of Waterlow & Sons Ltd, a large printing company employing over two thousand people. From that he moved into finance and became a director of the Union Bank of London.
He was a commissioner at the Great Exhibition in 1851 and a juror at the Paris International Exhibition in 1867 for which he was knighted.
He started his political career as a councillor in 1857 (when he introduced telegraph links between police stations). In 1863 he became an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
and began his philanthropic works. He was chairman of the philanthropic housing company The Improved Industrial Dwellings Company, which built the Leopold Buildings
Leopold Buildings
Leopold Buildings is a well-known historic tenement block of flats in Bethnal Green in the East End of London, England.The flats were built in 1872 by The Improved Industrial Dwellings Company, the philanthropic Model dwellings company founded and chaired by Sir Sydney Waterlow...
amongst others. He also worked for many other charities. He was a Sheriff of the City of London in 1866 and Lord Mayor of London
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
from 1872-1873, and was made a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
on 4 August 1873.
In 1870, he bought large areas of land including the village of Fairseat (near Stansted, Kent
Stansted, Kent
Stansted is a village and rural parish in the Tonbridge and Malling district of the county of Kent in the United Kingdom .It is located at , close by the M20 motorway...
), a major portion of Stansted as well as other pieces of land from Wrotham
Wrotham
Wrotham is a village situated on the Pilgrims' Way in Kent, at the foot of the North Downs. It is located one mile north of Borough Green and approximately five miles east of Sevenoaks. It is within the junction of the M20 and M26 motorways....
to Meopham
Meopham
Meopham is a large linear village and civil parish in the Borough of Gravesham and ceremonial county of Kent, in England, and lies to the south of Gravesend. The parish covers , and comprises two villages and two smaller settlements; it has a population of 6,427...
. The parts of the estate were linked by a small bridge bearing the family crest over Trottiscliffe Road (which is still in evidence today - see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/21539). In 1887, he built Trosley Towers on the crest of the escarpment on the North Downs
North Downs
The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England that stretch from Farnham in Surrey to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent. The North Downs lie within two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty , the Surrey Hills and the Kent Downs...
, to the east of Trottiscliffe Road. Two drive
Driveway
A driveway is a type of private road for local access to one or a small group of structures, and is owned and maintained by an individual or group....
s approached the house, and it was surrounded by wooded grounds. Later, other private drives were constructed, including Hamilton Drive which still survives within the Trosley Country Park
Trosley Country Park
Trosley Country Park is in Trottiscliffe, near Vigo, in Kent, England. Once part of a large woodland estate then after many changes it was passed to the council who turned in into a large country park.-History:...
and runs from the site of the old House to Commority Road.
In 1872 he gave Lauderdale House (now in Waterlow Park) to St. Bartholomew's Hospital to be used as a convalescent home for the poor, staffed by nurses supplied by Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale OM, RRC was a celebrated English nurse, writer and statistician. She came to prominence for her pioneering work in nursing during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers. She was dubbed "The Lady with the Lamp" after her habit of making rounds at night...
, and in 1889 he gave the surrounding park to the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
. His former house next to the park, Fairseat, became Channing Junior School.
He was a Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Dumfriesshire was a county constituency represented in the of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 2005. It was known as Dumfries from 1950...
(1868-1869), Maidstone
Maidstone (UK Parliament constituency)
Maidstone was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The parliamentary borough of Maidstone returned two Members of Parliament from 1552 until 1885, when its representation was reduced to one member...
(1874-1880) and Gravesend
Gravesend (UK Parliament constituency)
Gravesend was a county constituency centred on the town of Gravesend, Kent which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1868 until it was abolished for the 1983 general election....
(1880-1885).
When Sir Sidney died in 1906, the Trolsey Towers estate passed to his son Philip (who also became a Sir). When Philip died in 1931, the estate was sold off. Some of the houses (of the estate) were bought by tenants, one of these was Pilgrims House, (see http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1177043) with six acres of land, at the bottom of Trottiscliffe Road which went for £600. Trosley Towers and the woodlands around it, were sold to 'Mr E. E. Shahmoon' in 1935.
In 1936, Mr Shahmoon had Trosley Towers demolished and had Hamilton Lodge built along with adjoining stables. One story suggests that the Lodge and stables were built to accommodate the Shah of Persia and his racehorses on his visits to England.
The whole area was still owned by Mr Shahmoon when it was taken over by the army in 1942 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and Hamilton Lodge was to be the HQ of the Army Brigade that was stationed here. Later the Troley Towers Estate passed to Kent County Council, who created Trosley Country Park
Trosley Country Park
Trosley Country Park is in Trottiscliffe, near Vigo, in Kent, England. Once part of a large woodland estate then after many changes it was passed to the council who turned in into a large country park.-History:...
.