Money was always a problem for the FitzClarence family, and the need for a marriage to a lady of wealth arose. Dora was eventually discarded, and the Duke of Clarence went on to marry Adelaide of Saxe Meiningen. In 1830 he became King William IV with Adelaide as his Queen. Dora returned to the stage, and died in penury in Paris in 1816.


George, 1st Earl of Munster was a soldier, a Privy Counsellor, Governor etc. of Windsor Castle, and something of a scholar.


Always short of money (as was his father) and with a sense of dissatisfaction, he sadly took his own life by shooting at his residence in Upper Belgrave Street, London, on 20 March 1842.


The funeral left his house, went through Knightsbridge, Fulham, Wimbledon and Kingston and, at 11.30, arrived at the parish Church at Hampton, where George had attended with his father and mother and all his brothers and sisters and half sisters on Sunday mornings.


He was laid beneath the nave of the church in a Vault under a plain slab: whether he chose his burial place himself or left it to his family, it seemed the right place. (See the book Mrs. Jordan’s Profession by Claire Tomalin. Penguin Books 1995.)


There are doubtless many other fascinating stories


13


surrounding the lives of the occupants of the South Crypt, but perhaps that of Edward Proger is the one to end with here.


He was Page of Honour to King Charles I, then performed commendable secret and important service during the Civil War; the King appointed him Groom of the Bedchamber to his son the Prince of Wales, who became King Charles II.


Bushy House Photo: J Miall


Edward was for 17 years a member of Parliament for the County of Brecon and was commanded by the King to build Bushy House. He lived there until his death.


Little surprise then that the family of the 7th Earl of Munster expressed a wish to have his remains near those of such an illustrious 1st Earl. The remains of the 7th Earl of Munster are interred in the North crypt adjacent to a plaque on the wall of the tower.


He died on 31 December 1713, aged 92. Ripley recorded that he died ‘of the anguish of cutting teeth, he having cut four new teeth and had several ready to cut, which so inflamed his gums that he died’. A good story, but that cause of death has not been substantiated in any other reports so far encountered.


TWICKENHAM PREPARATORY SCHOOL (IAPS co-educational day school: Girls 4 – 11, Boys 4 – 13)


‘Beveree’, 43 High Street, Hampton, Middlesex TW12 2SA www.twickenhamprep.co.uk Telephone: 020 8979 6216 email: office@twickenhamprep.co.uk


Caring family environment with Christian ethos Excellent Academic Results


Exceptional pastoral care with small class sizes


Exciting international thinking-skills programme for all pupils Extensive before and after school activities, including Breakfast Club


Main entry in Reception, occasional places in other year groups, and Scholarships available for Year 7 entry


Prospective parents are welcome to join the School for Assembly followed by a personal tour with the Headmaster


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