Norman Rowsell facts for kids

Norman Rowsell was an important Englishman who lived from 1855 to 1919. He was one of the very first people to start tea plantations in a country then known as British Ceylon, which is now Sri Lanka. Besides being a successful tea planter, he was also a well-known sportsman. He even became the first Labour Commissioner for Ceylon, helping workers come to the tea estates.

Who Was Norman Rowsell?

Norman Rowsell was born in July 1855 in Lambeth, England. His parents were Benjamin Rowsell and Sarah Norman. He went to school at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Faversham.

Moving to Ceylon and Starting Tea Plantations

In 1880, when Norman was 25 years old, he left England. He traveled all the way to Ceylon. There, he settled near a place called Dickoya. He started managing a large farm called Abbotsleigh Estate. He worked there until 1904.

At Abbotsleigh, they grew different crops.

• In 1883, about 19 acres of land were used for a new crop: tea.
• At the same time, 209 acres were used for coffee and cinnamon.

Norman also managed another farm called Florence.

Family Life

Norman Rowsell married Florence Henrietta Congreve. They had three children while living in Ceylon. Their second child, Maud Esme, married her cousin, Cecil Ralph Townshend Congreve, in 1911.

Helping Workers: The Labour Commissioner Role

In 1904, the Planter's Association of Ceylon created a special office. It was called the Ceylon Labour Commission. This office was in Tiruchirappalli, India. Norman Rowsell was the very first person to lead this important office.

The main goal of the Commission was to help Tamil workers. These workers came from India to Ceylon to work on the tea plantations.

• When the Commission first started, the government of Ceylon helped pay for it.
• Later, the plantation owners took over all the costs.

Norman had many helpers, both Indian and European. One of his assistants, who started in 1911, was John Still. John Still later wrote a famous book called Jungle Tide.

Norman Rowsell passed away in 1919 in Coonoor, India. He was visiting his daughter Esme and her husband at their home.

Norman Rowsell's Sporting Life

Norman Rowsell was not just a tea planter; he was also a very talented sportsman. An article written after he died described him as "one of the best known Ceylon planters and sportsmen of his day."

Cricket and Rugby

By 1883, Norman was the Honorary Secretary and Treasurer for the Dickoya Maskeliya Cricket Club. His younger brother, Eustace, also played sports and was a planter in Ceylon. Eustace was part of the Blackheath F.C. football team in 1891. Norman himself was the Captain of Ceylon's Up-Country XV rugby team in 1892.

Tennis Skills

Norman was also a good tennis player. He competed in the Men's singles of the Ceylon Championships in 1889. This tournament took place in Nuwara Eliya.