William Roger Brown facts for kids
Sir William Roger Brown (born in 1831 – died on 14 May 1902) was an important English businessman and a kind person who gave a lot of money to help others. He was known as Roger Brown and owned a large estate in Beckington, Somerset.
Early Life and Home
Roger Brown was born in 1831. His father, James Brown, was a tea merchant from Hilperton, near Trowbridge, Wiltshire, and also from Bath. After finishing school, Roger started working in his uncle Samuel Elms Brown's cloth mills in Trowbridge. In 1857, he married his uncle's daughter, Sarah.
In 1859, Roger and Sarah began building their own large house called Highfield in Hilperton. They kept adding to it for many years.
Roger Brown's Career and Contributions
Roger Brown became very wealthy from his cloth-making business. He was a leading figure in the textile industry in Wiltshire, employing about a thousand people at one point in his company, Brown & Palmer. He also became a Justice of the Peace for Wiltshire, which meant he helped keep law and order in the local area. He owned a lot of land in Beckington, making him the "lord of the manor," a title for a major landowner.
Roger Brown was one of the first members of the Wiltshire County Council, which helps run the local government. In 1898, he was given the important role of deputy lieutenant for the county, and he also served as the High Sheriff for 1898–99, another significant local position.
Roger Brown was very generous. He gave the land for a new school in Newtown, Trowbridge, which opened in 1901. His name is on the school's foundation stone. Between 1887 and 1889, he also paid about £20,000 to build the Trowbridge Town Hall. This grand building was a gift to celebrate Queen Victoria's 50 years on the throne (her Golden Jubilee). A marble statue of him was placed inside the town hall to remember his generous gift.
In 1893, Queen Victoria made Roger Brown a knight bachelor, which means he was given the title "Sir." In 1895, he received a special design for his family's coat of arms.
Roger Brown's Legacy
Roger Brown's wife, Sarah, died on 6 December 1899. To honor her memory, he built and paid for two groups of special cottages called almshouses. These homes were for six widows who needed a place to live. Today, these homes are known as Lady Brown's Cottage Homes and can still be seen on Polebarn Road in Trowbridge, though they have been changed into five homes. They are described as having a cozy, old-fashioned look with many chimneys and gables.
Sir Roger Brown passed away on 14 May 1902. He and his wife were buried in a large, grand building called a mausoleum in Trowbridge cemetery. His estate was worth a lot of money, about £425,137 at the time. In his will, he left money to buy fuel for people in need.
The mausoleum is made of pink granite and has a rounded doorway. Sadly, parts of this special building, like its bronze gates and doors, were stolen over time.
