The curious tale of Horatio Bright's mausoleum on the moors

[Alastair 12]

Interesting tale from the local studies magazine......

 

 

On 3rd February 1906, one of Sheffield’s most eccentric characters died. Horatio Bright was interred,without fuss or religious ceremony, in a mausoleum that he had constructed some years previously to house the remains of his first wife and son. In the early hours of the morning, Bright’s remains were carried, in a cab, from the family home at Lydgate Hall, Crosspool to his resting place at Hollow Meadows. There were no mourners, only the undertaker and the mausoleum’s caretaker witnessed the interment. His estate was valued at £137,000, but his will shocked Sheffield as not a single penny was left to good causes in the city. The trustees of the will were specifically instructed to give nothing to Sheffield charities.

 

Horatio Bright came from a wealthy family of Jewish jewellers and had been a prominent figure in the iron and steel industry. He started out as a representative for Turton Bros & Mappin and was so successful that he married the daughter of Thomas B Turton. Bright’s firm of Turton, Bright & Co made high quality dies for the Royal Mint. He exhibited a stubborn streak and was reputed to be a harsh taskmaster, although his employees were paid higher than average wages. He lived up to his wealth and indulged his passion for horses. He often took the reins of a splendidly turned-out coach and four, accompanied by out-riders in livery, to welcome guests to Lydgate Hall.

 

A double tragedy struck the family in 1891, when in the space of five months, both Bright’s wife and only son died. Both were interred, without religious ceremony, in a specially built mausoleum, the interior of which was sumptuously furnished and contained a small organ. Bright had been determined to carry out the last rites himself and this gave rise to gossip and speculation that he had abandoned all his religious beliefs. Bright visited the mausoleum regularly;playing the organ while his groom dusted the coffins and other furniture. Remarkably, his wife’s coffin contained a glass window so that Bright could gaze on her face. The tragedy took away all his interest in outside affairs and for the last ten years of his life he devoted little time to his business.

 

His death and burial attracted little interest in the local press, indeed Bright had left strict instructions that neither his life, career nor burial were to be given publicity.

 

The story took another strange twist. In1983 a report in the Sheffield Star highlighted the plight of the Bright Mausoleums at Hollow Meadows.In January there had been a break-in; grave robbers smashed their way through a half-inch thick steel door and ransacked the coffins inside.The police were working on the theory that the vandals believed there were valuables interred with the deceased. The trustees who looked after the Mausoleum and its surroundings were unsure if anything had been taken. The City Council wanted to deter further such attacks and asked the Home Office for permission to remove the human remains – this was refused. After a number of other attempted desecrations permission was finally given for the bodies to be exhumed and they were re-buried in Crookes Cemetery where a simple headstone marks the final resting place of one of Sheffield’s great eccentrics

[drinkingman 10]

It must have been a strange sight seeing him play the organ alongside the coffins, like something out of a Hammer Horror. Thanks for sharing the story. Sheffield's always had it's share of eccentrics.

[Greybeard 10]

"The tragedy took away all his interest in outside affairs and for the last ten years of his life he devoted little time to his business."

 

But not in other affairs.

 

Four years after the death of his first wife he re-married, - this time to a 24yr-old actress, who bore him a son as a 70th birthday present.

[Alastair 12]

Thanks for the extra information.

 

I managed to find a bit more about the site of the mausoleum online:

 

In the Book "Lest We Forget" by Douglas Lamb, the author describes a visit he made to the Bright Mausoleum at Moscar

 

"....the site is overgrown and derelict. There are two small buildings at the top of the hill, both of which are empty, together with a heap of rubble which may be the remains of a third building and five family gravestones set into the surface of a flat -topped, raised piece of ground plus many wind bent and stunted trees. Underfoot the ground is carpeted with weeds and lank grass. Even the iron gate, which is the only way in, is creaking with rust and disuse. It is altogether a desolate and God forsaken place - but whose God? "

I was contacted in the autumn of 2006 by someone who had additional information on the Mausoleum and Horatio's family.

 

"We do own Horatio Bright's mausoleum, it is set in a couple of acres of woodland he planted out in the 1850's at Moscar on the A57 Manchester Road. It is opposite Moscar Cottages and Moscar Lodge, and is the last bit of woodland on the left-hand side going away from Sheffield before the Moors and the Strines turn off. There is a gate next to the bus-stop. The Mausoleum was vandalised in 1982 and was bricked up, and the body's removed by the Council. It is no more than a shell now, we bought it in 1985,and have been restoring the wood ever since.

The bodies are in the Walkley Jewish Cemetery, and the lead coffins with glass windows are in the storerooms at Kelham Island."

[cat631 10]

What an interesting story. Thanks.

[depoix 11]

very interesting,thanks to all who contributed,but why do the coffins reside in kelham island,surely they should be interred with the bones of the deceased?

[Alastair 12]

very interesting,thanks to all who contributed,but why do the coffins reside in kelham island,surely they should be interred with the bones of the deceased?

 

I suppose the coffins were considered curiosities and that's why they were put in the museum. I think it's stranger that they reburied him and his family in the jewish cemetery when he had expressly rejected all religion.

[HughW 10]

I thought it was unlikely that the remains would be buried in the Jewish Cemetery as stated by Lamb. The pamphlet about Crookes Cemetery (It comes to us all 2004) confirms that they were buried there, and there is a photograph of the modern memorial.

 

The inscription says...

 

Herein rests / MARY ALICE BRIGHT / nee TURTON / the dearly loved and loving wife of / HORATIO BRIGHT / of Lydgate Hall Sheffield / who went to seep on the 26th April 1891 / in her sixty first year /

Also SAM / their dearly loved and only child / who went to sleep on the 2nd of September 1891 / in his thirty eigth year /

Also / the above named / HORATIO BRIGHT / who went to sleep [blank] /

Let none else rest herein

 

The pamphlet relates that after Horatio's death no public announcement was made and the funeral was arranged for early morning. But a reporter from the Sheffield Telegraph found out and was "hidden in the bushes before it was light".

 

Hugh

[ceegee 10]

There is an article about Horatio and his family on

http://www.chrishobbs.com/horatiobright.htm

and there is aphoto of his grave in Crookes Cemetery on

http://www.chrishobbs.com/horatiobright2.htm

The irony is that the Cemetery is more or less adjacent to his last residence Lydgate Hall which was demolished many years ago.

 

His brother Maurice Bright also married one of Thomas Turton's daughters Harriet

 

The 1881 Census has the following information

 

 

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Age Birthplace Occupation Disability

Maurice Delara BRIGHT Head M Male 55 Buxton, Derby, England Iron Merchant

Harriet A. BRIGHT Wife M Female 52 Sheffield, York, England

John L. BRIGHT Son U Male 21 Sheffield, York, England Iron Merchant

Albert S. BRIGHT Son U Male 14 Sheffield, York, England Scholar

Beatrice BRIGHT Daur U Female 8 Sheffield, York, England Scholar

Elizabeth WARDLEY Serv U Female 68 Sheffield, York, England General Servant

Source Information:

Dwelling Sharrow Head House Cemetry Road

Census Place Ecclesall Bierlow, York, England

Family History Library Film 1342120 Public Records Office Reference RG11 Piece / Folio 4638 / 83 Page Number 34

 

I am not sure where Maurice is buried but his wife Harriet is buried in the Turton family plot in Ecclesall Churchyard

[LoopyLou 10]

Thank you for posting such an interesting story.

 

i always thought sheffield had its mad streak !

[melthebell 863]

interesting article on his death / grave / mauseleum

 

the bit about his house being left empty for 20 years then used for youth groups / conservetives then demolished was a tad sad

[NigelT 10]

Judith Hanson's book on "Crosspool" confirms that Horatio married a 25-year old actress and had three more children, and shows a fascinating picture on page 35 of Lydgate Hall Crescent half-built, with Lydgate Hall still in situ. The caption says that after Horatio's death in 1906, Lydgate Hall was left empty, although spasmodically occupied by tennants. It was finally demolished in the 1930s and the crescent completed.