• Reference
    Z251/468
  • Title
    Items connected with the Newman Family Book: A Chalice of Castalian Dew by Thomas Ford Containing the inscription 'Thos S Newman, Ampthill 1873' In the 1851 census for Ridgmont Thomas Ford is described as aged 16, a pupil teacher at the Wesleyan School. He was born at Luton, the son of John Ford, a tailor and draper. This book of poems includes one on 'Woburn and its environs', a 17 page 'reminiscence of my youth.' Another poem is entitled 'Thomas Gosling', Ford's boyhood friend and another pupil teacher at the Wesleyan school, who 'doth lie beneath the shade of Ridgmont Church'. Thomas Gosling was buried at Ridgmont on 11th November 1855 aged 18 years and 'consumption' is written in the margin of the burial register. Other poems include 'The Bunyan Statue' and 'Ridgmount Park'.
  • Date free text
    c 1873
  • Production date
    From: 1870 To: 1875
  • Level of description
    item