REMEMBERING PEOPLE FROM THE PAST MISS FRANCES MARGERY HEXT (1819-1896)
This month's window display forms part of a creative research project carried out by the volunteers of Lostwithiel Museum as part of The Bright Sparks Project funded by FEAST and Cornwall Museums Partnership. Over the past six months we have been researching the life of one of Lostwithiel’s most important historical figures – Miss Frances Margery Hext who wrote the book Memorials of Lostwithel and Restormel published in 1891, a copy of which is on display in the museum.The assemblage box shown reflects important information gleaned about her life and the framed illustrations by the local artist Sally Atkins, show the numerous houses that she lived in. More information on the project and the life of Miss Hext can be found within the museum
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Information relating to the window display : Frances Margery Hext was born in 1819, baptised on 25th May 1819 in the parish of Lanlivery and died on 10th January 1896 in Lostwithiel. She was buried 15th January 1896 and her grave is in Restormel Road Cemetry.
The assemblage box shows:
Illustrations and photographs of houses Frances lived in RESTORMEL MANOR Frances’s father John Hext lived at Restormel Manor until his death on June 30th 1838. He moved there from the family home Trenarren just after he married in 1799. He leased the house from Earl of Mount Edgcumbe. In 1800 his father in law, Thomas Staniforth stayed there and wrote about it in his diaries The Staniforth Diaries (copy in the museum). Frances was born in 1819 and her family continued to live there until October 1838 when Mrs Hext moved with Frances to Lostwithiel. 23 NORTH STREET
Now Lowenna House - This is the home that Frances and her mother moved to. TRENARREN ![]() This is the home of her uncle Thomas Hext and in the 1871 census Frances is listed as living there. 1 QUEEN STREET (RUDGE HOUSE) The home that Frances lived in and in the 1891 census is listed as head of the house, living on her own means with three servants Credit: All illustrations by Sally Atkins ================
Other relevant information – Frances never married or had children. She was a philanthropist and important member of the community. In 1882 the head of a 14th century cross was discovered in a garden in Lostwithiel. Frances paid to have the cross restored to its former shaft in the churchyard of St Bartholomew’s Church (this can still be seen today). She took an interest in unusual and ornamental trees as she made special reference in her book to those planted near Restormel Castle by William Masterman. In her garden in Queen Street it is thought she may have planted the wonderful tulip tree that flourished for so many years and which was felled in 1999 (a piece of which is in the museum). She also took an
interest in painting, sketching and needlework. In her book on
Lostwithiel she embellished copies with her sketches and photographs.
Her needlework has also formed part of a Berlin woolwork coverlet
that is housed in Truro Museum. ![]() ![]()
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