Robert Arthington

[dogduke]

I was aware of the name and the Cookridge hospital named after him but knew very little(nothing!) about the man until a photo appeared in yesterdays top 50 on Leodis.The photo is Thorseby Society copyright so I hope that reproducing the text is acceptable.Undated, Image shows the house of Mr Robert Arthington born in 1823 Hunslet Lane, died 7th October 1900 at Teignmouth. Known locally as a miser he lived as a recluse in a large house in Headingley choosing to live and sleep in one room, refusing access to anyone else and existing on 1/2 crown a week. Visible on the table are saved bits of candles and spent matches. In the centre are his last purchases of a pound of candles and a bag of flour. Other items include a single candle holder, a top hat, a brush and a corked bottle. On the left of the fire is a rocking chair in which he would sleep everynight wearing a coat, visible over the arm of the chair. On the right of the fire is a piano thickly coated in dust and a hand wash basin under which fuel for the fire is stored. The floor is uncarpeted except for an inch and 1/2 of dust. Visitors permitted through the front door were brought by candle light to the room and the candle would be extinguished at which point Mr Arthington would tell them it was possible to speak as well in the dark as you could in the light. This miser existence allowed Mr Arthington to give thousands to charities in the last few years of his life and leave £1026746 to be distributed through charities and placed in trust after his death. The trust existed until 1936.One thing that puzzles me is is,if he led such a solitary frugal life how did he get to Teignmouth ?Surely a top contender in the Famous Sons of Leeds stakes.