William Frederick Webb
Encyclopedia
William Frederick Webb was one of four children born to Frederick Webb and Mary Shiel. He was educated at Eton
and later joined the army. During his time in the army, he became a Captain in the 17th Lancers
. Upon the death of his father in 1847, Webb inherited estates in Yorkshire
, Lincolnshire
and County Durham
, making him very wealthy.
in Ravenshead, Nottingham
from Colonel Wildman
. They outbid Queen Victoria to acquire Newstead Abbey. He moved his family into the Abbey
, which is famous for being the former home of the poet Lord Byron and set about improving Newstead. Mr Webb installed central heating and gas lighting and also redecorated the old chapel. Mrs Webb also contributed by filling the house with Byron memorabilia and entertaining guests from all over the world.
Mr Webb spent much time in Africa with his good friends Captain Codrington and famous explorer Dr Livingstone
, hunting big game. His 'treasures' can be seen in Newstead today; the tusks, skins and heads of the animals he caught while in Africa. Dr Livingstone was not only a great friend of William Webb, but also a friend of the whole family, as he made regular trips to Newstead, sometimes for as long as eight months.
William Webb was also a magistrate
and in 1865 became High Sheriff of Nottingham.
In 1889, Mrs Webb became ill with tuberculosis
and journeyed to Africa in October that year, in hope that the warm climate would help her recovery. However, on December 28, 1889, Emila Jane Webb died, aged 63. She was buried in the cemetery of St John's church, Wynberg, Cape Town
, South Africa. The white marble grave is still in good condition as at 2009 and states her age at death as being 55. It features a design on it that reflects motifs seen throughout Newstead Abbey.
Ten years later, in 1899, Mr Webb contracted laryngitis
while in Africa. He died from it and is buried at Luxor
in Egypt.
When Webb died, Newstead Abbey
was passed through each of his surviving children until Mr Webb's grandson Charles Ian Fraser sold it to Sir Julien Cahn
, who then gave it to Nottingham City Council in 1931.
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and later joined the army. During his time in the army, he became a Captain in the 17th Lancers
17th Lancers
The 17th Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, notable for its participation in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War...
. Upon the death of his father in 1847, Webb inherited estates in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
and County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, making him very wealthy.
Overview
Webb continued to make a considerable profit from his properties and land. In 1861, Mr and Mrs Webb purchased Newstead AbbeyNewstead Abbey
Newstead Abbey, in Nottinghamshire, England, originally an Augustinian priory, is now best known as the ancestral home of Lord Byron.-Monastic foundation:The priory of St...
in Ravenshead, Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
from Colonel Wildman
Thomas Wildman
Colonel Thomas Wildman was an officer in the Napoleonic Wars, a draftsman, and landowner. He was a nephew of the political reformer John Horne Tooke and friend of Lord Byron at Harrow. In 1816 he married Louisa Preisig...
. They outbid Queen Victoria to acquire Newstead Abbey. He moved his family into the Abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
, which is famous for being the former home of the poet Lord Byron and set about improving Newstead. Mr Webb installed central heating and gas lighting and also redecorated the old chapel. Mrs Webb also contributed by filling the house with Byron memorabilia and entertaining guests from all over the world.
Mr Webb spent much time in Africa with his good friends Captain Codrington and famous explorer Dr Livingstone
David Livingstone
David Livingstone was a Scottish Congregationalist pioneer medical missionary with the London Missionary Society and an explorer in Africa. His meeting with H. M. Stanley gave rise to the popular quotation, "Dr...
, hunting big game. His 'treasures' can be seen in Newstead today; the tusks, skins and heads of the animals he caught while in Africa. Dr Livingstone was not only a great friend of William Webb, but also a friend of the whole family, as he made regular trips to Newstead, sometimes for as long as eight months.
William Webb was also a magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
and in 1865 became High Sheriff of Nottingham.
In 1889, Mrs Webb became ill with tuberculosis
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...
and journeyed to Africa in October that year, in hope that the warm climate would help her recovery. However, on December 28, 1889, Emila Jane Webb died, aged 63. She was buried in the cemetery of St John's church, Wynberg, Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa. The white marble grave is still in good condition as at 2009 and states her age at death as being 55. It features a design on it that reflects motifs seen throughout Newstead Abbey.
Ten years later, in 1899, Mr Webb contracted laryngitis
Laryngitis
Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx. It causes hoarse voice or the complete loss of the voice because of irritation to the vocal folds . Dysphonia is the medical term for a vocal disorder, of which laryngitis is one cause....
while in Africa. He died from it and is buried at Luxor
Luxor
Luxor is a city in Upper Egypt and the capital of Luxor Governorate. The population numbers 487,896 , with an area of approximately . As the site of the Ancient Egyptian city of Thebes, Luxor has frequently been characterized as the "world's greatest open air museum", as the ruins of the temple...
in Egypt.
When Webb died, Newstead Abbey
Newstead Abbey
Newstead Abbey, in Nottinghamshire, England, originally an Augustinian priory, is now best known as the ancestral home of Lord Byron.-Monastic foundation:The priory of St...
was passed through each of his surviving children until Mr Webb's grandson Charles Ian Fraser sold it to Sir Julien Cahn
Julien Cahn
Sir Julien Cahn, 1st Baronet was an entrepreneur, philanthropist and supporter of cricket.-His cricket XI:...
, who then gave it to Nottingham City Council in 1931.
Family
On July 15, 1857, he married Emilia Jane Mills Goodlake, who was also came from a wealthy background. Together they had seven children:- Wilfred Webb (1858) (died at three months)
- Augusta Z. Webb (1859)
- Geraldine Webb (1860)
- Ethel Mary Webb (1863)
- Mabel C. Webb (1864)
- Algernon F. Webb (1866)
- Roderick B. Webb (1867).