THE GRAVE OF MATTHEW ARNOLD

 AT THE GRAVE OF THE POET

MATTHEW ARNOLD 

(1822-1888)

Matthew Arnold was born on 24th December 1822 in Laleham, Middlesex and was Christened at All Saint's Church, Laleham on 23rd January 1823. His father was the educationalist, social reformer and Head Master of Rugby School, Thomas Arnold, D.D. (1795-1842) Matthew's mother was Mary Penrose Arnold. In 1828 when his father became Head Master, the family moved to Oxford, Matthew was 6 years old. Matthew was educated at Winchester College in 1836 before returning to Rugby School the following year. In 1840 Matthew went up to Balliol College, Oxford and was awarded his B.A. in 1844. The following year he taught at Rugby and later became a Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford.

All Saint's Church, Laleham 

Arnold's first volume of poetry was The Strayed Reveller in 1849. In 1851 he became an Inspector of Schools, a role that lasted thirty-five years. Other well-known poetry includes the dramatic poem, 'Empedocles on Etna' (1852),  'The Scholar Gypsy' (1853) and 'Dover Beach' (1867). In 1858 Arnold became Professor of Poetry at Oxford and his poetry was popular although he seemed to remain under the shadow of his fellow poets, Browning and Tennyson.

Matthew married Frances Lucy Wightman in 1851 and they had six children (three of the sons died young): Thomas Arnold (1852-1868), Trevenen William Arnold (1853-1872), Richard Penrose Arnold (1855-1908), Lucy Charlotte Arnold (1858-1934), Eleanor Mary Caroline Arnold (1861-1936) and Basil Francis Arnold (1866-1868).

Matthew Arnold's grave is situated to the right of the church which is 12th century with later additions (brick tower replacing the wooden steeple in 1732) as one enters from the front. His stone reads: 'Matthew Arnold eldest son of the late Thomas Arnold, D.D. Head Master of Rugby School, born Dec 24th 1822. Died April 15th 1888'.

Also with Matthew is his wife, 'Frances Lucy Arnold, wife of Matthew Arnold and third daughter of the late Honourable Mr. Justice Wightman. Born Sept 16th 1825. Died June 29th 1901'. Her funeral took place on 6th July 1901. Beside Matthew and his wife are their three sons: Thomas Arnold 6th July 1852 - 23rd Nov 1868, Trevenen William Arnold, 15th Oct 1853 - 16th Feb 1872 and their youngest child, Basil Francis Arnold, 19th Aug 1866 - 4th Jan 1868. Also in the churchyard is Matthew's grandmother, Martha Delafield Arnold (1751-1829) who was buried on 19th April 1829

Some facts in the incidents of Arnold's death are interesting. He was with his wife, Frances, in Liverpool awaiting the arrival of their daughter, Lucy and her husband, from the United States. They had been travelling from New York on the steamer 'Aurania'; Matthew was running for a tram car when he collapsed and died a while later of a heart attack.

His body which was placed in a simple coffin with a brass name plaque, was taken to London from Liverpool on the 11. a.m. express train with his widow, Frances and the three children, Richard ('Dick'), Lucy and Eleanor. His body was kept at Cobham for a day or two before.

The funeral took place at noon on Thursday 19th April 1888. The weather was warm and showery with sunny intervals. Some of those who attended were: poet Robert Browning (1812-1889), Professor Benjamin Jowett (1817-1893) Master of Balliol College, Oxford; the American author, Henry James (1843-1916) and the author and ghost story enthusiast, Augustus Hare (1834-1903) whose deadly six volume autobiography I have wrestled with.  Family members who attended include: Matthew's brother, Thomas Arnold (1823-1900), his nephews Edward Penrose Arnold Forster (1851-1927) [who transcribed the poetry of Schiller as E. P. Arnold Forster] and Hugh Oakley Arnold Forster (1855-1909), Arnold's widowed sister, Jane Martha Arnold [Arnold Forster] who married the M.P. William Edward Forster (1818-1886). The service was taken by the Dean of Westminster, George Granville Bradley (1821-1894) and among other mourners were Lord Coleridge, [John Duke 1st Baron Coleridge (1820-1894) and Lord Chief Justice] and George Smalley (1833-1916) of the New York Tribune.

And over a century later this 'creepy individual' with a death-obsession was lurking about the churchyard and any slight resemblance to myself is purely coincidental! Also of note is the church which contains the 'Lucan Chapel' and in the churchyard one can find the graves of some of the Earls of Lucan.