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1811 - 1859
1811 - 1859
Henry de La Poer Beresford, the third Marquis of Waterford, was born on 26 April, 1811.
Henry de La Poer Beresford, the third Marquis of Waterford, was born on 26 April, 1811.
In 1840, he finished fourth in the Grand National on his own horse, The Sea.
In 1840, he finished fourth in the Grand National on his own horse, The Sea.
Henry died on 29 March 1859.
Henry died on 29 March 1859.
The following, oft-told, account may be of interest.
The following, oft-told, account may be of interest.
In the early hours of Thursday 6 April 1837 Henry Beresford, 3rd Marquis of Waterford and his fox-hunting friends arrived in Melton Mowbray at the Thorpe End tollgate.
In the early hours of Thursday 6 April 1837 Henry Beresford, 3rd Marquis of Waterford and his fox-hunting friends arrived in Melton Mowbray at the Thorpe End tollgate.
They had been drinking heavily at Croxton races, and understandably the tollkeeper asked to be paid before he opened the gate for them. Sadly for him some repairs were underway, and ladders, brushes and pots of red paint were lying nearby; the Marquis and his cronies seized these and attacked the tollkeeper, painting him and a constable who intervened red.
They had been drinking heavily at Croxton races, and understandably the tollkeeper asked to be paid before he opened the gate for them. Sadly for him some repairs were underway, and ladders, brushes and pots of red paint were lying nearby; the Marquis and his cronies seized these and attacked the tollkeeper, painting him and a constable who intervened red.
They then nailed up the door of the tollhouse and painted that red before moving into the town carrying the purloined equipment. They rampaged down the Beast Market, (now Sherrard Street), through the Market Place and into Burton Street painting doors as they passed, pulling on door knockers & knocking over flower pots.
They then nailed up the door of the tollhouse and painted that red before moving into the town carrying the purloined equipment. They rampaged down the Beast Market, (now Sherrard Street), through the Market Place and into Burton Street painting doors as they passed, pulling on door knockers & knocking over flower pots.
At the Red Lion, (now part of the Harborough Hotel), they pulled down the sign and threw it into the canal. At the Old Swan Inn in the Market Place, next to what is now the Grapes, the Marquis was hoisted onto the shoulder of another man to paint the carved swan inn sign there red. (In 1988, when the old Swan Porch fell down, traces of red paint were found on the back of the carved swan when it was removed for restoration).
At the Red Lion, (now part of the Harborough Hotel), they pulled down the sign and threw it into the canal. At the Old Swan Inn in the Market Place, next to what is now the Grapes, the Marquis was hoisted onto the shoulder of another man to paint the carved swan inn sign there red. (In 1988, when the old Swan Porch fell down, traces of red paint were found on the back of the carved swan when it was removed for restoration).
They also vandalised the Post Office and the Leicestershire banking company before trying to overturn a caravan in which a man was fast asleep. Solitary policemen tried to intervene at intervals and were beaten up and painted red for their trouble. Eventually more police arrived in numbers and seized one of the men, Edward Raynard, who was put in the Bridewell prison. The others promptly returned and rescued him, breaking three locks and beating two constables, threatening them with murder if they did not produce the key.
They also vandalised the Post Office and the Leicestershire banking company before trying to overturn a caravan in which a man was fast asleep. Solitary policemen tried to intervene at intervals and were beaten up and painted red for their trouble. Eventually more police arrived in numbers and seized one of the men, Edward Raynard, who was put in the Bridewell prison. The others promptly returned and rescued him, breaking three locks and beating two constables, threatening them with murder if they did not produce the key.
The following day there was uproar; when the Marquis of Waterford finally came to he paid for all the damage to people and property, but the group was still brought to trial before the Derby Assize Court in July 1838.
The following day there was uproar; when the Marquis of Waterford finally came to he paid for all the damage to people and property, but the group was still brought to trial before the Derby Assize Court in July 1838.
They were found not guilty of riot but were fined £100 each for common assault, a considerable sum then. Following the incident, the phrase 'paint the town red' entered the language.
They were found not guilty of riot but were fined £100 each for common assault, a considerable sum then. Following the incident, the phrase 'paint the town red' entered the language.
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