Hidden Horsham - Thomas Oliver
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Totley Tunnel |
Thomas Oliver was born in Newton le Willows, Derbyshire in 1834, moving to Horsham c1860 after establishing himself as a builder of the emerging railway network, including the Great Western Railway
The railway arrived in Horsham in 1848 but it was not until 1857 that Oliver became involved in local work. Working with Edward Woods he engineered tracks around Petworth, Midhurst and Horsham. In later years he worked on his own for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway adding a second line between Coulsdon and Earlswood
Thomas Oliver & Sons was the contractor on Totley Tunnel, which is still the longest railway tunnel under land, excluding the London Underground, (the Severn tunnel is longer but goes under water). The tunnel is on the Midland Railway line between Dore and Chinley and is 3 miles and 950 yards long (5.7km). It was built between 1888 and 1893 with Oliver being responsible for 10.5 miles of the route
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To the Glory of God & in ever loving memory of Thomas |
Back at Horsham, Thomas Oliver had bought Tanbridge House, off Worthing Road, from Mrs Mary Redford c1870, having moved in during the 1850s. He had the house rebuilt in 1887, as shown above the door. The Latin inscription reads 'AD FOEDERA CRESCO', translating to 'I gain by treaty' or 'I grow for treaties'. The latter belongs to the Oliver family. The Oliver crest is a fist clenching an olive branch can be seen on the front of the building as can the entwined initials T, C & O representing Thomas and, his wife, Caroline Oliver, these being repeated on the left hand side
Oliver died on the 9th of October 1920 Abington, Lanarkshire. He is buried in the nearby Denne Road graveyard where there is a family stone. The children paid for a window in the Chapel of the Holy Trinity of St Mary's church in the Causeway. The single lancet window is the first on the left as you enter from the outside door. It is a bearded figure of Christ made up of stained and painted glass. Installed in 1924, it was designed by Frederick Etchells who noted that 'the glass is designed with a minimum of colour in order not to obscure the light in the chapel'. Also nearby is Oliver Road, named in his memory
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Following Oliver's death, the 16th October edition of the West Sussex County Times carried the following report, capitalisation and punctuation as per the original:
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In the presence of many mourners the funeral of Mr. Thomas Oliver of 'Tanbridge', a well-known and esteemed resident, took place at Denne Road Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon. The deceased gentleman, who was 86 years of age last March, died on Friday at Gilberscleugh, Abingdon, Lanarkshire, after about a fortnight's illness. The body, enclosed in a polished oak coffin, was brought to Horsham early on Tuesday morning, and the interment on Wednesday was preceded by a service in the Parish Church conducted by the Rev. A.F. Young, Vicar of St. Luke's Brighton, and formerly curate-in-charge of St. Mark's, Horsham. Mr Young read the lesson in church and also officiated at the graveside. He was assisted by the Rev. H.E.J. Matthew, curate-in-charge of Holy Trinity Church. The chief mourners were: Mr. Frank Oliver and Mr. Fred Oliver (sons), Mrs. Corrie Tonge and Mrs. Harry Savill (daughters), Mrs Frank Oliver (daughter-in-law), Colonel Corrie Tonge, (son-in-law), Mr Harry Savill (son-in-law), Mrs. Wm. Oliver, Major and Mrs. Peebles, Mr. E.I. Bostock, J.P., Mr Millward, Mr. Sabistan, Mr. Hickman (butler), Mr. E. Larwrence, (gardener) and the domestic staff. There were also present in the Church or at the graveside: Mr. A.W. Rawlinson and the Misses Rawlinson, Mrs. E. Willis, Miss E. Hodgson, Major C.R.B. Godman, Col. E.S. Godman and Miss M.B. Godman, Messrs. Charles Rowland, J.P., Nevill Oddie, H.C. Padwick, A. Stanford, Stanley Hunt, W.H. Redford, H.S. Smith, W. Jenden, Edward Lintott, E. Waller, etc. The inscription on the coffin was as follows: "Thomas Oliver, Born March 22nd, 1834. Died Oct. 9th, 1920"....after a lengthy description of the flowers it continues....The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. C.F. Jenden, of 32 Carfax |
External Links: Horsham Society: Thomas Oliver Oliver Road on Streetmap |
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