Real memorial obituaries – Combe Down, Monkton Combe, Midford

In memoriam et celebrationem

In memorial and celebration

DEATH OF MR. J. LEDGER HILL

WELL-KNOWN AGRICULTURIST AND WILTS J.P

We regret to record the death of Mr. James Ledger Hill, which occurred on Thursday at his residence, Combe Grove, Monkton Combe, near Bath.

Mr. Ledger Hill, who was in his 73rd year, was very well known and highly respected.

For the past two months Mr. Hill had been in very poor health, though the actual break-up occurred on the death of a son. Captain E. S. Hill, of the Royal Fusiliers, three years ago. This was a great blow to him, and one from which he never completely recovered. The deceased gentleman was head of the
Southampton Steamship Company, which business is now carried on by his two sons, Mr. A. J. I. Hill, the well-known Hampshire County cricketer, and Mr. B. P. Hill.

Mr. Hill formerly resided at Chetwynd, Bassett, and Bulford Manor, Wilts, and it was owing to the Government having purchased the property at Bulford, that he left and came to reside at Combe Grove, where he had been living since the year 1899.

He was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Wilts.

In addition to his interest in the shipping and coal industry, Mr. Hill was a director of the Wall- bridge Cloth Mills. Frome, and he was a very keen agriculturist, being a most successful breeder of sheep. Just about the time he came to Bath the question of the resuscitation of Bath Markets was being considered, and in this project the supporters of the movement warm sympathiser in Mr. Ledger Hill always to the fore and did much to scheme
by his whole-hearted support. himself a very successful exhibitor Christmas Show, and had
won several cups and prizes for first-class pens of sheep.

At one time Mr. Hill was well-known in the agricultural world in the north of England, and on the occasion of a very severe outbreak of foot-and- mouth disease in Northumberland, many years ago, Mr. Hill formed
one of the Committee of the Board of Agriculture appointed to take steps to stamp out the scourge, and it was mainly through the efforts of Mr. Hill that the disease was effectually checked and prevented spreading. His interest in agricultural matters In Bath was greatly appreciated, and his loss. will be keenly felt.

For some few years he was the representative of Monkton Combe on the Bath Rural District Council and evinced considerable interest in the performance of his duties, showing a lively concern in everything affecting the welfare of the parish. It was ill-health that caused Mr Ledger Hill's retirement a few years ago.

The deceased gentleman is survived by his wife, four sons, and five daughters. The SOD are
Mr. A. J. L. Hill: Captain W. P. Hill, of the Royal Fusiliers; Mr. H. P. Hill; and Second Lieut. G. D. Hill, of the 17th Hussars. The daughters are: Mrs. Page, Upton Lodge, Netley: Mrs. Sydenham, wife of Capt. E. Sydenham, of the Warwickshire Regt. now at Poona: Mrs. Hugh Pinckney, of Hedden Cottage, Hungerford: Miss Hill and Miss Ethel Hill.

Mr. Ledger Hill lost two sons - Lieut. W. H. T. Hill, of the 5th Royal Irish Fusiliers, who was killed at Ladysmith during the South African War, and Capt. E. S. Hill, Royal Fusiliers, who died at Combe Grove three years ago. Politically, Mr. Ledger-Hill was a Conservative.

The funeral will take place at 2 o'clock to-day (Saturday) at North Stoneham Church, Eastleigh.

THE LATE MR. J. LEDGER HILL. The death occurred early on Thursday morning at his residence Combe Grove, Monkton Combe, near Bath, of Mr. James Ledger Hid, J.P. for Wilts, and a well-known agriculturist.

He was a son of Mr. Dennis Hill of North Shields, and came to Wilts in 1887, taking up his residence at Bailor Manor, the estates of which were subsequently acquired from him by the War Office.

During his residence there Mr. Ledger Hill devoted a good deal of his time to matters of a public character in the direction of agriculture, and rural life and pursuits generally. On leaving Bulford he came to live at Combe Grove

He was head of the Southampton Steamship Company, which business is now carried on by his two sons, Mr. A. J. L. Hill, the well-known Hampshire County cricketer, and Mr. H. P. Hill, and a director of the Wallbridge Cloth Mills, Frome.

Mr. Hill was keenly interested in agricultural matters, and in the occasion of a very severe outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Northumberland, many years ago, formed one of the Committee of the Board of Agriculture appointed to take steps to stamp out the scourge.

While at Combe Grove Mr. Hill was a churchwarden at the parish church, and on the death of his son, Lieutenant L. T. Hill, of the 5th Royal Irish Fusiliers, who was killed in the defence of Ladysmith, he gave a handsome painted memorial window to the church.

He also took considerable interest in parochial affairs while at Monkton Combe. The deceased gentleman is survived by his wife, four sons and five daughters. The sons are Mr. A. J. L. Hill; Captain W. P. hill, of the Royal Fusiliers; Mr. L P. Hill; and Second-Lieutenant G. D. Hill, of the 17111 Hussars. The daughters are Mrs. Page, Upton Lodge, Netley ; Mrs. Sydenham, wife of Captain E. Sydenham, of the Warwickshire Regiment, now at Poona ; Mrs. Hugh Pinckney; Miss Hill and Miss Ethel Hill. Mr. Ledger Hill has lost two sons—Lieutenant W. If. T. Hill, of the 5th Royal Irish Fusiliers, and Captain E. S. Hill, Royal Fusiliers, who died at Combe Grove. The funeral took place at North Stoneham Church, Eastleigh, on Saturday. A service was held at Combe Grove on Friday, conducted by the Rector of I3ith (Prebendary S. A. Boyd), the family, the servants and employees being present. The remains were afterwards conveyed to Woking, Surrey, for cremation. The service at Stoneham, on Saturday, was conducted by the Rev. 11. Scott, of North Stoneham, and the Rev. D. Lee Pitcairn, of Monkton Combe. The hymns sung were Rock of Ages," and " God, our help in ages past." The mourners were Mr. A. J. L. Hill, Captain Walter Hill, and Mr. Harold Hill (sons) ; Mrs. Hugh Pinckney and Miss Ethel Hill (daughters); Mrs. Arthur Hill and Mrs. Walter Hill (daughters-in-law); Mr. Kennett Page, Mr. Hugh Pinckney, Mr. Ledger Hill, Mr. Maurice Hill, Mr. Arthur Shaw, Mr. Dennis Willey, Mr. Walter Nicholson, Mr. Victor Reichwalcl, Mr. George Mackay, and Mr. Eric Mackay (nephews); Miss Willey, Miss Constance Hill, Mrs. Nicholson, Miss Mackay, and Mrs. Alexander nieces) ; Mrs. Neale, Mr. George Wiltshire, Mr. Alexander, Captain Mowbray Cole, Mr. Willoughby P. Cole, Mr. G. Page, Mr, Beatty, Mr. Liepert, Mr. Reed, Mr. Sokes (representing foremen and workmen of Wallbridge Mills, Frome), Mr. Freemantle, Mr. Malley, Mr. Fray, Mr. Birmingham, Mr. Walter Keel, Mr. Arthur Sawyer, Mr. Smith, Miss Joyner, and Miss Selway, and many friends front far and near. .

There were several beautiful floral tributes, which were sent by the widow, the sons, the daughters, Mrs. Jack Collins, Mr. and Mrs. Ledger IIW, Mrs. Alfred Nicholson, and family. Mi. and Mrs. E , ic G. Hill, Mr. and Mrs. A. Bartlett, Mr. and Mrs. F. Arthur Shaw, Mrs. and the Misses Barran, Mrs. William Hill, Miss Constance Hill, Mrs. Reichwald and family, Mr. Alfred Tucker, Mrs. Alexander Mackay, all nieces and nephews at the Grange, Mr. W. and Miss J. Mackay, Mr. and Mrs. G. Wiltshire and family, Mrs. J. Streatfield Lipscomb, Mr. Maurice J. Lipscomb, Captain Mowbray Cole (Royal Fusiliers), the workpeople at Wallbridge Mills (Frome), Bath Branch Tariff Reform League, Misses Knott, Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Terry, the staff at 8, Gloucester-square (Southampton), office staff and foremen, Wallbridge Mills (Frome). Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Ingle, Miss Florence Gray, Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm E. Hodgson, Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan Jenkins, Misses Knott, indoor and outdoor staff at Combe Grove, Mr. W. 11. Frankham, Mrs. and Miss Neave. Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Sandals, old friends at Bulford, Mr. Willoughby P. Cole, and several others from friends at a distance.

The whole of the funeral arrangements at Combe Grave, Woking, and Stoneham, Hampshire, were carried out by Messrs. Jolly and Son, Bath.

At Monkton Combe Church, where Mr. was formerly churchwarden, the morning service on Sunday partook of a funeral character. 'The hymns rung were When our heads are bowed with ace," Jesus lives no longer now can thy terrors, Leath, appal us," and " There is a blessed home beyond this land of woe."

The Vicar (Rev. D. Lee Pitcairn) preached with defence to the approaching harvest festival, and the propriety of expressing thanksgiving for God's mercies despite the rainy summer, and then said: —" I have been speaking about thanksgiving, for the time turns our thoughts to that, yet we are gathered in this church as mourners. We are mourning the end of an honoured and useful life. We are mourning the loss of one whom for 13 years we have known and respected as a neighbour, and as a just and liberal employer of labour. We would gladly have seen him still moving among his dependent', as we used to see him. We would gladly have had him with us until the end of his lease of Combe Grove. But when he was stricken down with illness, while we have prayed for his recovery, we have not dated to ask that he should linger long in weakness and pain. His Heavenly Father and ours has called for the spirit He gave. And we have reason to be thankful for his coming among us, and the years he has spent here, thankful for the time when he was churchwarden and the interest he took in the welfare of the church and the village school; thankful for the employment he gave, for his kind relations with workmen, and for the Influence of the family. "The memory of the just is blessed."