Funeral of Mr. Broomhead Colton-Fox at Todwick

Mr. Barnard Platts Broomhead Colton- Fox was renowned as the Esquire, of Wales and of Sheffield, both in the West Riding of the county of York, Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Judicature.  His untimely death deeply upset a lot of people and the service was attended by a large number of the public in a churchyard at Todwick.

The story below is an excerpt from a newspaper pertaining to Mr. Broomhead Colton-Fox’s  funeral and the inquest about his death.

SHEFFIELD INDEPENDENT, DECEMBER 20, 1893

FUNERAL AT TODWICK

The remains of Mr. Broomhead Colton-Fox were interred yesterday afternoon in the churchyard at Todwick, which is situated about two miles from Wales Lodge, where the deceased resided. The funeral was attended, in addition to the relatives, by a large number of public and commercial men from Sheffield, representatives of various corporations with which the deceased was associated, and tenants and residents of Wales and the locality. Many of these travelled by the 1.10 train from the Victorian Station, and were conveyed in carriages from Kiveton Park Station to Wales Lodge, arriving there just as the cortège was about to start for Todwick. The procession was joined en route by several other vehicles containing arrivals by a later train. Altogether there were about 14 well-filled carriages.

The inhabitants living on the line of route between Wales Lodge and Todwick had drawn down their blinds or put up shutters out of respect to the deceased and his family, and numerous groups of villagers had assembled by the roadside as the procession passed. On the arrival of the cortège at Todwick Church there was a large company in the churchyard. And the sacred edifice proved quite inadequate to accommodate those who desired to join in the first part of burial service. This was conducted by the vicar of Todwick, the Rev. W. Cooper, and at the graveside the Rev. L. Deering, vicar of Wales, officiated.

The coffin, which was of unpolished oak, panelled, with brass fittings, bore the following inscription:–

Barnard Platts Broomhead Colton-Fox.

Born 3^rd Nov., 1834

Died 15^th Dec., 1893.

The grave—an ordinary earth one—is situated on the north side of the chancel.

A large number of wreaths and crosses were sent, and included amongst those who adopted this form of paying a tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Cole Bros., of Fargate. Mr. Reuben Thompson supplied the hearse and carriages.

An Introduction to Mr Broomhead     The Inquest into Mr Broomhead’s Death