Howard Dudley
Encyclopedia
Howard Dudley wrote the first illustrated history of Horsham
, West Sussex
, in 1836. The book was entitled The History and Antiquities of Horsham and its Vicinities. He also produced the lithographs and woodcut
s that were used as the illustrations, and then went on to print the book himself. Dudley was only 15 at the time.
This was Dudley’s second book; the first being a wider ranging history of Sussex
entitled Juvenile Researches of which he produced two editions in 1835 and 1836.
The two texts are extremely rare today and are unlikely to become available on the open market. However, facsimile copies have been reproduced on two occasions and now the full text and images of the Horsham book are available online. The first facsimile was published by Cecil Cramp in 1973 and features images of a superior quality to its successor in 2002 published by Dick Richardson. The Horsham book is dedicated to the Right Hon George O’Brien Wyndam, Earl of Egremont and Baron Cockermouth
.
Born in 1820, Dudley was the only son of Quaker parents George and Sarah Dudley. He spent his early years in Fleet Street
, London
but on the death of his father in 1827 the family moved to Eastbourne
, West Sussex
, near to Midhurst
. Dudley married Jane Ellen Young on December 1, 1849 in Edinburgh
, and returned to London three years later.
Howard Dudley died childless of consumption
on July 4, 1844. Dick Richardson’s book, upon which the above text draws, quotes Dudley’s obituary in Gentlemen’s Magazine: “Dudley was a mild and amiable man, affectionate in his domestic relations, and his gentlemanly manners, bright ideas and pungent remarks, and a very great choice of words, made him a delightful companion. He died with an earnest profession of his belief in Jesus Christ.”
Horsham
Horsham is a market town with a population of 55,657 on the upper reaches of the River Arun in the centre of the Weald, West Sussex, in the historic County of Sussex, England. The town is south south-west of London, north-west of Brighton and north-east of the county town of Chichester...
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, in 1836. The book was entitled The History and Antiquities of Horsham and its Vicinities. He also produced the lithographs and woodcut
Woodcut
Woodcut—occasionally known as xylography—is a relief printing artistic technique in printmaking in which an image is carved into the surface of a block of wood, with the printing parts remaining level with the surface while the non-printing parts are removed, typically with gouges...
s that were used as the illustrations, and then went on to print the book himself. Dudley was only 15 at the time.
This was Dudley’s second book; the first being a wider ranging history of Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
entitled Juvenile Researches of which he produced two editions in 1835 and 1836.
The two texts are extremely rare today and are unlikely to become available on the open market. However, facsimile copies have been reproduced on two occasions and now the full text and images of the Horsham book are available online. The first facsimile was published by Cecil Cramp in 1973 and features images of a superior quality to its successor in 2002 published by Dick Richardson. The Horsham book is dedicated to the Right Hon George O’Brien Wyndam, Earl of Egremont and Baron Cockermouth
George Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont
George O'Brien Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont was a British peer. A direct descendant of Sir John Wyndham, he succeeded to his father's titles in 1763 at the age of 12, inheriting estates at Petworth, Egremont, Leconfield and land in Wiltshire and Somerset. He later inherited the lands of the Earl...
.
Born in 1820, Dudley was the only son of Quaker parents George and Sarah Dudley. He spent his early years in Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
but on the death of his father in 1827 the family moved to Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, near to Midhurst
Midhurst
Midhurst is a market town and civil parish in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England, with a population of 4,889 in 2001. The town is situated on the River Rother and is home to the ruin of the Tudor Cowdray House and the stately Victorian Cowdray Park...
. Dudley married Jane Ellen Young on December 1, 1849 in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, and returned to London three years later.
Howard Dudley died childless of consumption
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
on July 4, 1844. Dick Richardson’s book, upon which the above text draws, quotes Dudley’s obituary in Gentlemen’s Magazine: “Dudley was a mild and amiable man, affectionate in his domestic relations, and his gentlemanly manners, bright ideas and pungent remarks, and a very great choice of words, made him a delightful companion. He died with an earnest profession of his belief in Jesus Christ.”
External links
- The History and Antiquities of Horsham transcribed with illustrations and reproduced in full on Hidden Horsham
- The History and Antiquities of Horsham pdf reproduction of original book