The Right Honourable Thomas Harley of Berrington Hall: the driving force behind the Leominster Canal

摘要

Thomas Harley, whose portrait appears on the front cover, was the 4th son of Edward Harley, the 3rd Earl of Oxford and Mortimer. Harley was, in all probability, born at Eywood in Herefordshire but quickly became introduced to London life with his education at Westminster School. He is largely remembered in relation to his Berrington estate and its connections with Henry Holland and his father-in law, Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, who designed respectively Harley's new mansion and its park. Harley's numerous achievements outside the boundary railings of Berrington are, however, not so well recognised. Therefore, to make good this deficiency, this article provides a summary of Harley's national importance, his local role in Leominster and Herefordshire, his substantial involvement with the Leominster Canal and those aspects of his life that specifically link Harley to the local parishes of Moreton and Eye and the church at Eye. The evidence presented in the article strongly supports the view that Thomas Harley was the principal driving force behind the early days of the Leominster Canal.