AN ECCENTRIC BARONET.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 470, 5 August 1899, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN ECCENTRIC BARONET.

Of the many thousands who cross and recross Waterloo Bridge (writes a contributor to a Rome paper) very few doubtless were aware that the two dismal-look-ing houses abutting upon the Surrey side of the river, and in close contiguity to tho old shot to wet, were tenanted by an old and wealthy, but yet eccentric, baronet.

It was in tho garret of one of thoso houses-No. '.', Waterloo-road—that tho late Sir Henry Delves Broughton died recontly, at tho advanced age of 91 yoarß, Besides being one of the oldest, he was probably one of the most eccontric members of the baronetage. Foryears.it is said,he never crossed the threshold of tho bouse in which ho elected to live tho life of a recluse. Ho passed his timo almost exclusively in the room in which ho was eventually found dead. The cause of his death was senile decay. There was no one with him when ho dieJ, but a doctor had seen him the day before and during the few weeks previously, so that there was no necessity for an inquest. From the window of his garret the aged baronet was able to command an extensive view of the river and surrounding locality, but one of the things which seemed to afford him especial delight was to paper tho walls over and over again with pictures cut from the various illustrated papers. A dressing-gown was his chief article of attire.

He lived frugally. His meals were served and placed outside his room at stated intervals. No servants, it is said, entered the room for years. He had a htrong aversion to medical men, and any business had to be transacted with the baronet on one side and his interrogator on the other side of the partly opened door.

Still, with all his peculiarities, there aro those who will miss the late baronet. Ho was rich and he was generous to many old dependents. To the blind paperseller who daily stands en tho bridge close to the house he was also a friend. And yet it is stated that he had a distrust of members of his own sex, and always gave strict instructions against the admission of any male, except members of his own family, to the house. The rent roll of this eccentric baronet amounted to £30,000 a year, and he has lelt personalty to the amount of about £150,000. According to Debrett, there are two family seats/ Doddington Park, Nantwich, and Broughton Hall, Staffordshire, and the baronet was the patron of five livings.