19 Facts About Ann Thwaytes

Ann Thwaytes became the benefactress to many causes and funded the construction of the Clock Tower, Herne Bay.

In 1817 at the age of 28 years Ann married William Thwaytes who was aged 67.

In 1832, during her husband's last illness, Ann Thwaytes developed a mental disorder which began with "low fever" and a subsequent nervous state in which she remained for ten weeks facing the wall whilst believing she was blind.

William Ann Thwaytes's Will makes her a "joint executrix and main beneficiary" and describes her as his "beloved wife" in spite of her earlier suspicion that he was poisoning her.

Ann Thwaytes soon became "very close" to her London surgeon Simm Smith.

Ann Thwaytes bought Cottage House at Clapham Common for herself, her sister Sarah Tebbitt and Sarah's children.

Ann Thwaytes then moved to Finsbury Circus where she lived with her companion Louisa Little between August 1835 and January 1838.

Ann Thwaytes divided her time between her town and country houses until 1866 when she died in her Paddington home.

Ann Thwaytes maintained Samuel Smith and his family at Charmandean, funding his daughters' education until they left to marry.

Ann Thwaytes added an iron-framed conservatory, and two pairs of wrought iron entrance-gates made as replicas of the former Buckingham Palace gates.

Sarah was called to Charmandean and told that Ann Thwaytes had been "advised by friends" to end their connection.

Ann Thwaytes's brother inherited the other half of the residue, and was to inherit Charmandean after Simm Smith's death.

Ann Thwaytes said that if she had been found to have been in sound mind, there remained the question of possible undue influence by the Smith brothers, putting the validity of the Will doubly in doubt.

Ann Thwaytes would talk to her friend Louisa Little, her niece Mrs Cook who noted Ann's sayings in a diary, and to servants and tradesmen, about her religious beliefs, but would close the discussion if rebuffed.

Ann Thwaytes would allow sermons to be read to her, and did not attend church; however she paid for a vault at Broadwater and Worthing Cemetery for the interment of Simm Smith and herself.

Ann Thwaytes funded and laid the foundation stone in 1836 for two schoolrooms to be built as an extension of Christ Church in William Street.

Ann Thwaytes contributed generously to a subscription appeal for a new infirmary at Broadwater.

Dixon was an amateur geologist who died young, and Ann Thwaytes funded his book, The Geology of Sussex when it was published posthumously.

Ann Thwaytes contributed towards one of the new stained glass windows which was dedicated to the late Reverends Peter Wood and William Davison.