Image Ref : JBN 0001.jpg

Memorial to Charlotte Rosamond Larpent, Leusdon

Charlotte Rosamond Arnold was baptised at Halstead, Kent, on 16 October 1791. She became the second wife of Francis Seymour Larpent on 4 December 1829, marrying at All Souls, Marylebone. He was an eminent member of society and, apparently, wealthy. He died in 1845, at the age of 69, and his widow became a noted benefactress – hence this memorial in Leusdon churchyard. (Images JBN 0002, 0003 and 0004 show the rest of the inscription around the base.) She built the church in 1863, and the nearby parsonage. Earlier, she had also built the school (for boys and girls), paid the running expenses and the teacher’s salary, and built a house for the teacher. The school was built on land given to the minister and churchwardens by the Rev. Thomas Fry, who was lord of the manor of nearby Spitchwick. He was a resident of Bath, which might explain her connection to Leusdon; she died at 12 Gay Street, Bath, on 28 April 1879. She was buried on 6 May at Holmwood, Surrey, where her husband had been buried 34 years before. When probate was granted, she was described as ‘late of Leusden in the County of Devon’. ‘Old Dartmoor Schools remembered’ (1991) by Mary Stanbrook gives further details of the school and Mrs Larpent’s involvement.