Tales, stories, information
He joined the Navy as a boy of 13 and worked his way through the ranks to admiral. He was one of a family connected with the navy in Hampshire which included one Admiral of the Fleet. The main family residence was in Hursley Park.
- Admiral E Heathcote
- Early Career
- Captain, Crimea
- Flag rank
- Marriage, infidelity and incest
- Heartbreak
- Divorce
- New beginnings
The front entrance of Hursley House
A fine sailing frigate which was both the making and undoing of Admiral Edmund Heathcote. This voyage was the first time Edmund Heathcote sailed in the Pacific. He was the senior lieutenant. The ship was mainly on the west coast of Mexico collecting treasure and specie, but they made one trip to Hawaii and Canada.
- Voyage of the 'Constance'
- Building the ship
- Hurricane
- Mexican silver
- Flight of capital
- War with Mexico
- Saviour of the merchants
- Captain's prerogative
- Pacific tour
- Hawaii
- Vancouver island
- Articles of war
- Captains proclamation
- Valparaiso again
- Sickness and isolation
- Loaded with specie
- Routine punishment
- Clandestine work
- Head for home
Gulf of California: 'Constance' mostly sailed here.
Edmund Heathcote had several challenges to maintain his standard of living when not on sea service. The Navy and Edmund understood that half-pay was what it meant. He had to make up his income from his own resources to Live well at Fritham Lodge.
- Half-Pay Time
- Edmund's Diary
- A resourceful man
- Financial planning
- Fritham Lodge
- Family pleasures
- Music
Fritham Lodge: the front largely as it was in 1880.
A legal battle of stubborn greed in 17th century England. The lawsuit was fought out in Chancery, at Westminster Hall.
- Chicanery
- Dispute and civil war
- Beginning the contest
- Santon Manor
- Intermediary
- Continuing battle
- Caught
- Out of time
- Justice
Westminster Hall, part of the Palace of Westminster.
The road through Swavesey is near and parallel to the Meridian line. A time capsule was buried near the centre of the village and on The Line in May 2000. Many of the village and their children were involved with the ceremony.
- Swavesey
- Poppy heads
- Village floods
- Burial
- Burial day
- School ceremony
- Classbooks
- End of burial
- Slab and plaque
Two meridian line markers in the village.
King George III had an observatory built for him at Kew. This provided him with a personal meridian line which he used to set the time for parliament's sittings.
- Kew Meridian
- Kew Meridian pillars
- Kew observatory
- Triangulation baseline
King George III. Kew observatory in Old Deer Park.