Thomas Horsfall Midwood

Epithet: Photographer (1858-1927)

Record type: Biographies

Parish: Maughold

Town / Village residence: Ramsey

Biography: Thomas Horsfall Midwood (1858-1927) was a Ramsey based photographer. He was the son of Charles James Midwood (Gentleman) and Mary Ann Horsfall. He was baptised on 27 December 1858. He married and had children Charles, James, Edith Horsfall, Mona Alice, Mildred Mary, Thomas Goodman and George Bellhouse. Charles took over the running of the photographic studio on his father's death.

T H Midwood was a Member of Ramsey Commissioners, Captain of Ramsey Golf Club, Freemason and Justice of the Peace (see obituary Mona's Herald 20 April 1927 page 2) as follows:

Death of Mr. T. H. Midwood, J.P
By the death of Mr Thomas Horsfall Midwood, on Good Friday morining, Ramsey lost one of its most respected and honoured citizens. Mr Midwood had been in bad health for a year or more: Some months ago, he underwent a course of treatment for pernicious anaemia at Asterley Hall, Cheshire, a private institution established and conducted by Mr. Provis, father of the well-known amateur T.T. rider. His malady, however, had obtained too firm a hold before starting the treatment, and he returned to Ramsey not greatly improved in health, and died as stated. A member of an old Cheshire family, Mr Midwood took up residence in Ramsey when quite a young man, and established the flourishing photographic business, latterly carried on by his son, Mr Charles Midwood, and other members of his family. When H.M. the King and Queen Mary visited the Island in 1920, he photographed the Royal group at Bishopscourt, and was afterwards congratulated by his Majesty on the excellence of his work. Mr Midwood hid behind a quiet refined disposition a zealous public spirit, and a genius for effective work. He served ior many years on the Town Board; he was Chairman of the Ramsey Lifeboat Committee. Secretary of the Hospital Committee, Chairman of Ramsey Advertising Board, a member of the Territorial Committee, a past member of the Board of Guardians, and he was a past captain of Ramsey Golf Club. He was also an enthusiastic Freemason: he was a Past Master of St. Maughold's Lodge, and held high office in the Isle of Man Province. Mr Midwood was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1918, and at the time of his death was a member of the Ramsey Licensing Bench. He leaves a widow and several children.

THE FUNERAL
The funeral, which took place on Easter Monday morning, was attended by all the public authorities of Ramsey and the North of the Island, and by a large number of his brother Freemasons, and members of the general public. The coffin was carried from Mr Midwood's late residence to St. Pauls Church, where he had been, a regular attender and office-bearer for many years, by members of the Lifeboat crew, and a service was conducted by the Rev. M. W. Harrison, M.A. At Lezayre Churchyard, the pall-bearers were members of the St. Maughold's Lodge of Freemasons. The committal service was performed by the Rev. Canon Kermode. M.A.

Midwood's studio was located on South Promenade, Ramsey between the Lifeboat House and the Catholic Church (See Isle of Man Victorian Society Newsletter number 97 page 15).

Occupation / profession: Photographer

Nationality: Manx

Gender: Male

Date of birth: December 1858

Place of birth: Isle of Man

Date of death: 1927

Place of death: Isle of Man

External sources: Mona Street, Ramsey

Name Variant: Thomas Horsfell Midwood

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