Captain Richard Fort (of The Elms)

Richard Ford was born on 11th February 1860 in Brussels, the son of Francis Clare Ford, a career diplomat.    Richard’s mother was the daughter of the Marques de Garafola in Naples.  Francis Clare Ford’s career took him to postings all over the world.  A sister and two brothers for Richard were born in 1862, 1866 and 1870.  His mother died of cholera in St Petersburg in 1872 when Richard was 12 years old.

Richard Ford was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade in June 1881 and attained the rank of Captain in 1890.  Two years later he retired with a gratuity.  His father died at the Hotel Imperial in Paris in January 1899 and is buried in Boulogne-sur-Seine.

In 1907, age 47, Richard Ford married Rosamund Isabel Ramsden, the daughter of Sir John and Lady Guendolen Ramsden at the parish church of St James at Gerrards Cross. (the couple pictured right).  It was a Society wedding and the Uxbridge and West Drayton Gazette devoted three entire columns to its effusive reporting of the event in its edition of 6th April.  ‘An event which called together some of the noblest and fairest representatives of society’ was the opening line of its coverage.  Almost two columns were devoted to the presents (which were ‘numerous and costly’) and the names of those who gave them.

The reception was held at the bride’s parents’ home, Bulstrode Park, attended by a phalanx of titled guests and the not so illustrious.  Afterwards, the couple travelled the continent for their honeymoon.

Captain and Mrs Ford took up residence in The Elms that same year.  Their son, Richard Brinsley Ford was born there on 10th June 1908.  Sadly, in 1911, Rosamund died, at George Street, Hanover Square, at the age of 38.  She was buried in Gerrards Cross.

Richard Ford continued to live at The Elms (pictured left, courtesy of Shirley Stride).  During the First World War he seems to have served with his old regiment in some capacity in his old rank and was most likely based at the regimental barracks in Winchester.  In 1919 he applied for, and was issued with, a Silver War Badge which was awarded to all those who were discharged from service because of illness or injury.

On July 3rd, 1918, Richard Ford married Mary Lilla Palmer in Holy Trinity, Brompton.   They had a daughter, Rosemary Clare, who was born in June 1919.  Shortly afterwards, a notice appeared in the West Sussex County Times of 26th July advertising the sale by auction of the Fords’ furniture and effects.

And thus ended Richard Ford’s association with Wisborough Green.  He died age 80 on 9th February 1941 at Milford, Surrey although his residence was in South Kensington.

Richard Brinsley Ford became an art historian, scholar, and collector. He inherited a large collection of art from his father (who himself had inherited his great-grandfather’s collection in 1918) and was an avid collector. A drawing that he purchased in 1936 was sold by his estate for $12 million in 2000.  He died in 1999.

This is an edited version of an article that appeared in the June 2023 edition of the Wisborough Green Village History Society’s monthly magazine ‘The Wisborough Green Historian’ which is free to all members.