Thomas Barritt (1743–1820) was an early British

antiquary An antiquarian or antiquary () is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artefacts, archaeological and historic sit ...

Life

Barritt was born at Withy Grove, Manchester in 1743, and came of Derbyshire yeoman stock, his forefathers having settled at Bolton and Worsley, but his father, John Barritt, was the first of the family resident in Manchester. Nothing is known of Barritt's education, but he developed a strong taste for archæological research which did not interfere with his success as a businessman. He lost a leg at an early age, and afterwards used an artificial one made of cork. He kept a saddle-maker's shop in Hanging Ditch, and gathered a very curious collection of manuscripts and miscellaneous objects of antiquity. He travelled about the district and made sketches and memoranda which were of great use to subsequent writers. He was one of the early members of the

Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society The Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, popularly known as the Lit. & Phil., is one of the oldest learned societies in the United Kingdom and second oldest provincial learned society (after the Spalding Gentlemen's Society). Promi ...

, and contributed several papers to its ''Memoirs''. He died 29 October 1820, aged 77, and was buried in the Manchester parish church. Barritt's claim to remembrance is that with great patience and skill he recorded many facts in the history of the district which would otherwise have been lost. He had a special interest in heraldry, and blazoning coats of arms.

Works

Among his contributions to the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society ''Memoirs'' are essays on supposed Druidical remains near Halifax, on antiquities found in the river Ribble, and on a Roman inscription found in Campfield. A number of his manuscripts were secured for Chetham's Library, Manchester, and at the end of the 19th century, several others were in private hands. He wrote verses also, and several of them have been printed, but they are little better than doggerel rhyme. His correspondence with the leading antiquaries of the time, including

Thomas Dunham Whitaker Thomas Dunham Whitaker (8 June 1759 – 18 December 1821) was an English clergyman and topographer who was Vicar of Whalley, Lancashire, Whalley, from 1809 and Blackburn (ancient parish), Blackburn, from 1818. He undertook landscape improvements ...

, Lord Stanley, Joseph Hunter and Sir John Prestwich appears to have been extensive. One of the most interesting objects in his collection was a sword which he believed to have been that of

Edward the Black Prince Edward of Woodstock (15 June 1330 – 8 June 1376), known as the Black Prince, was the eldest son and heir apparent of King Edward III of England. He died before his father and so his son, Richard II, succeeded to the throne instead. Edward n ...

John Parsons Earwaker John Parsons Earwaker (1847–1895) was an English antiquary. Life The son of John Earwaker, he was born at Cheetham Hill, Manchester, on 22 April 1847; his father was a merchant from Hampshire, and a close friend of Richard Cobden. Educated at ...

wrote a monograph on the swords attributed to the Prince, which discussed the claims of Barritt and others. cites ''Archæological Journal'', volume xxx. 1873 Two portraits of Barritt were engraved, in which he is represented with the famous sword and some other objects of his museum.

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References

;Attribution *; Endnotes: **Harland's Ballads and Songs of Lancashire, and Manchester Collectanea **Stanley's Historical Memorials of Canterbury, 10th edit. 1881, p. 181 **a communication from Canon C. D. Wray **Papers of the Manchester Literary Club, ii. 156 (Axon) **Reliquary, January 1869 (Thomas Gibbon).

Life

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Further reading