Embedded Files
Algernon Barkworth and his sister Evelyn
Algernon and Evelyn were the children of Henry and Catherine. They were the last of the Barkworth family to live at Tranby House. Algernon lived there with his sister, Evelyn. He came into the house through a deal with his elder brother Edmund who inherited an estate at Piddletrenthide in Dorset and lived there.
After being educated at Eton and Cambridge, where he read Law, Algernon lived the rest of his life as a gentleman of leisure, though he did serve as a JP for many years. He was very fond of travelling and in 1912 booked a berth on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. Fortunately he survived the disaster after diving into the sea and climbing onto an upturned raft, from which he was rescued.
But travel was not Algy’s only pleasure. He was very fond of animals and kept a small menagerie at Tranby. He was also very mechanically minded and indulged in all sorts of gadgets. In his spare time he enjoyed photography and set up his own darkroom to develop his photographs.
Algernon also greatly enjoyed cars, as can be seen from the photograph, and had at least five different models. He was driven around in style by his chauffer, William Gardener, in a Rolls Royce but he also had an American roadster which he called ‘Trixie’.He was referred to by servants, and others who knew him, as something of an eccentric with a passion for collecting all sorts of artefacts; he was also of a rather grumpy disposition. Algernon was apparently loath to throw anything away and kept the clothes he had been wearing when he was rescued from the Titanic lifeboat.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse