ASTONISHING PEOPLE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 257, 13 January 1941, Page 3

ASTONISHING PEOPLE

A COLLECTOR OF BONES He collected what most people and animals leave behind:—bones. The son of a farmer, his life's work can be seen in the museum at Taunton Castle, and 1 though lie had a high opinion of his owf: skill, he certainly was an astonishing fellow. Born at Banwell in Somerset in 1772, William Beard received all the schooling he had from the parish clerk who was also the village schoolmaster. .Like his father, hd worked on the land, and when he married he bought a small estate which iie Avorkecl himself . Tradition had it that Banwell Hill contained a large cavern, arid aroused by the possibility of something strange, William persuaded two ..miners to join him in sinking a shaft. At the depth of 100 feet they came to a stalacite cave. While making a second opening lower down the side of the hill, in order to form a better approach to the cave, he discovered a smaller cavern containing animal bones. The Bishop of Bath ' and Wells owned the land, and it was he who procured more help for AVilliam. Digging deep in the debris of the cavern more discoveries were made, bones of the bear, buffalo, reindeer and wo if being found. Captivated by his discovery. William let his land and spent all his time searching for bones and put-' ling them together. He acted as guide to the many visitors who came lo see the cavern and the bones he collected. Learning something of the scientific importance of his discoveries, he became an eager collector of the contents of the bone-caves of the neighbourhood. . A reserved man of quaint manners the nickname of "Professor" ■» 1>;,„ ! VI- Him n f .!v