HORSFALL TURNER
,
ERNEST RICHMOND
(
1870
-
1936
),
schoolmaster and local historian
;
b.
13 Jan. 1870
at
Brighouse, Yorks.
, son of
Joseph Horsfall
Turner
, who was also a
schoolmaster
and
local historian
. He was educated at his father's school and commenced his career as a
teacher
at that school. Later he graduated at
London University
. He taught at
Blaenau Ffestiniog
and
Colwyn Bay
before being appointed
headmaster
at
Llanidloes County School
in
1895
. He learnt
Welsh
and then began to take an
interest in local history and geography
. Among other works he published
Wanderings in County Cardigan
(n.d.), and
The Municipal History of Llanidloes
(
1908
). These contain his own
pen and ink drawings
, since he was a skilful
illustrator
. Later in life, he became also an
artist in water-colours
. After retiring in
1932
he carried out much research into the history of the
Chartist movement
in
Montgomeryshire
and his manuscripts are now at the
National Library of Wales
. He was elected a member of
Llanidloes town council
in
1901
, and was twice
mayor
of the
town,
1908
and
1927-28
. In
1897
he m.
Annie
, daughter of
J.N.
Crowther
(
DWB
, 87)
, and they had a son who was
town clerk
at
Aberystwyth
. His wife d. in
1923
. He d. at
Llanidloes
,
13 Mar. 1936
, and was buried there.
Bibliography:
-
The Montgomeryshire County Times
,
18 Mar. 1936
;
-
Welsh Secondary Schools Review
,
1930
;
- information from his son.
Author:
Edward Ronald Morris, Llanidloes / Llanfyllin
