At St Mary's Church in Finedon you can look down into the Mackworth Dolben family crypt. Outside there are two tablets remembering, among others, two sons of the family who died young.One is Digby Augustus Stewart Mackworth Dolben, a Uranian poet who was a cousin of Robert Bridges and with whom Gerard Manley Hopkins was infatuated. Digby was drowned in the Welland at South Luffenham, aged 19, in 1867 while bathing with the 10-year-old son of the rector. I am saying nothing.
South Luffenham, incidentally, is the Rutland village which at different times played host to Matt Monro and, reputedly, Hermann Goering.
A second son remembered on the tablet is William Digby Mackworth Dolben, who was drowned off the coast of Africa in 1863 at the age of 24.
For a long time William had a far more substantial memorial in Finedon. The Volta Tower was a 100ft tower the family erected in his memory.
It stood until 16 November 1951, when it collapsed, killing a Mrs Florence Northen who lived there with her husband. After the collapse it was discovered that no mortar had been used in its construction.
See The Volta Tower Awareness Group for more information and some photographs. It has to be said that the tower looks a bit of a monstrosity.
2 comments:
The tower looks spectacular in the picture, albeit outrageous in style. But the family's psyche seems to have been somewhat monstrous.
I have a number of artefacts and postcards relating to this tower and find it truly fascinating and the best building Finedon has ever had to boast (although there are a fair few). I disagree with it being called a monstrosity however you're entitled to your opinion. Thank you also for linking to my Facebook group "The Volta Tower Awareness Group". I also set up a Wikipedia page and keep your eyes peeled for more developments on the Awareness group in the summer!!
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