CFHS code : ED142a
Parish : St Edward
Inscription : In Memory of WILLIAM EDWARD RIDLER MA Fellow of Kings College b Sept 20 1831 d Aug 15 1860
Monument : Ground slab
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Lat Lon : 52.203334, 0.1365695 – click here for location
Monument
This ground slab lies against the west wall, close to the north border of the parish area of St Edward. It has been hidden for a long time bramble but was partially cleared in 2022. The carved inscription is still very clear.
Inscription
[Transcript by Cambridgeshire Family History Society]
‘In memory of William Edward Ridler MA
Fellow of King’s College
born Sept 20 1831 died Aug 15 1860’
William Edward Ridler (1831-60)
William Edward Ridler was born 20 September 1831 at Cheltenham. He was the son of W. Ridler. He came up to King’s from Eton College as a Scholar on 7 August 1850 and matriculated that Michaelmas. He became a Fellow of the College in 1853. Ridler received his BA in 1855 and his MA in 1858. He was appointed to a lectureship in 1860. Rider died 15 August 1860 in College, aged 28, and bequeathed his books to the College Library.
Funeral
A personal description of a funeral is a rare thing, which the following letter provides along with something of the man’s character:
‘The Revd. Tho. Brocklebank, Bursar, to the Provost.
King’s College, Cambridge,
Aug. 20, 1860.
My dear Sir,
Ridler was buried at the Cemetery on Saturday: his aunt and cousin are here, but did not follow: the V[ice] P[rovost], Bumpsted, W. Day, Bradshaw & Witt attended: I read the service: the weather held up partially, but the wind was very strong all the time. He has left to the College his philological, theological and classical books, not being already in the College Library: this shews his liking for the place, in fact I never knew anybody who enjoyed more thoroughly Cambridge literary life than he did: He told me of his intention some months ago. I think well of Hodgson to succeed him as lecturer in Composition.
Very truly yours,
T. Brocklebank’
Source:
Archives of King’s College
By Tracy Wilkinson