Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2017 | Page 65

Local history
and sometimes unpopular
conclusions shattered his brilliant
academic career at Oxford. An
expert theologian, in 1844 he
published a book titled The Ideal
of a Christian Church, his point
being that the Church of England
fell far short of the ideal. It seems
that the Ward family attracted
nicknames, and W. G . became
known as ‘Ideal Ward’ amongst the
Oxford community.
Unfortunately for him, the
Church of England controlled the
university’s jobs and awards. On
a snowy day in February 1845 he
was stripped of his degrees and
teaching position. Undaunted, he
did three things: he got married,
he joined the Roman Catholic
Church and he found a teaching
position at a Catholic college
where he and his wife Mary were
happy despite their lack of money.
However, in September 1849,
Ward’s Island uncle died, leaving
Ward immensely rich. He admitted
that he did not grieve for this
relative, stating that ‘I never cared
for him in the least’, probably
because ‘the Wards have always
differed on every conceivable
subject.’ One of the few family
members he did get on with was
his formidable aunt Emma Ward.
Fortunately she was capable of
acting as ‘deputy Lord of the
Manor’ in Ward’s absence, for
despite the wide ranging nature of
Ward’s Island responsibilities the
family did not take up permanent
residence there for nine years.
For a start, W.G.Ward disliked
Cowes, saying that the air
disagreed with him, and that there
were too many boring yachting
types around. He disliked being
a landed proprietor, as he had no
interest in farming or business and
was not a ‘sportsman’, which in
those days meant someone keen
on hunting, shooting and fishing.
In fact his terrible horsemanship
was notorious. Nor did he
appreciate the family’s grandiose
headquarters at Northwood
House, and sold off numerous
artworks including a (supposedly)
Egypto- Roman statue which was
bought by Queen Victoria for
Osborne House.
Happily, W. G. Ward eventually
came to enjoy life on the Island. As
well as the Cowes property, he had
inherited land near Freshwater;
he much preferred the windswept
western side of the Island and
decided to settle there.
Beginning in 1869, he built
Weston Manor on his Totland
estate, complete with a private
chapel, now Grade II listed. Weston
was a family home for the Wards’
eight children: typically W. G Ward
declared ‘I have no affection for my
children as such’ preferring them
when they became ‘reasonable
beings’. But according to his
daughter ‘every one of his children
adored him,’ and he was surprised
and touched by their affection.
Now W. G. Ward got to know his
neighbours, ranging from his
tenants with whom, his son Wilfrid
remembered ‘his designation
as Squire Ward was universal,’ to
the famous Freshwater Set led by
Alfred Lord Tennyson, another
gifted eccentric. On one occasion
Tennyson insisted on reading a
lengthy piece of work to Ward,
who responded ‘Dear me! I didn’t
expect to enjoy it at all [but] it is
splendid!’
Based at Weston Manor, W. G.
Ward continued to work and write
until his death in 1882. Among
those who mourned him was
his friend Tennyson: his tribute
included the words ‘How loyal
in the following of thy Lord’,
in recognition of the absolute
centrality of religious faith to
Ward’s life.
Fittingly, W.G. now rests under
an impressive monument in the
little Catholic graveyard next to St
Saviour’s Primary School, Totland.
www.visitilife.com
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