Richard Tidd
c1773-1820
Print by Robert Cooper, after Wivell. Courtesy British Museum Images
Little known of the historical Tidd’s youth except that he is born in Grantham about 1773, and apprenticed to a bootmaker, named Cante.
He is reported to be involved with Colonel Despard’s 1802-3 conspiracy, but escapes arrest and flees to Scotland.
The authorities keep an eye on him and allege (for instance) that Tidd voted illegally in a Westminster election and joined several regiments, but deserted each time, soon after accepting the bounty
Plundering some but not all of the reported facts, Turtle Soup for the King explores Tidd’s life with a different eye.
The only known portrait, made after the death sentence Is passed, shows Tidd at the time of his deepest humiliation.
St. Wulfrun’s Church, GranthamSource unknownTHUNDER AND LIGHTENING IN GRANTHAM
Mr Cante heaved himself to the edge of the bed. As his plump toes stretched out and sought for boots, he heard a new explosion, which flashed and cracked, illuminating the room and snapping at the window. He brushed the curtain aside. A pane had shattered; yet another unwelcome expense! All at once, the heavenly spectacle subsided, and there, through the broken glass, stood church and steeple, as erect and magnificent as ever. When he turned, Mrs Cante was at the bedroom door, her face crumpled in despair.
“No need for tears, my cherry-bun,” he said. “St Wulfram’s is saved!”
“Did I not tell you he was no bloody good?” she cried.
Turtle Soup for the King, 26th July, 1789
From Grantham, Richard Tidd moves to Nottingham, where in fiction, at least, he joins the shoemakers’ guild, attends a lecture by radical Geordie school-teacher, Thomas Spence and makes army boots that will survive the monsoons.
— none of which keeps him out of the notorious
Nottingham Town Gaol, where defining life-lessons are to be learnt.
Courtesy National Justice Museum, ManchesterEdward Marcus Despard
1753-1803
Alexander Hogg, 1804. Courtesy British Museum ImagesColonel Despard is an Irish soldier who fights with the British army in the Americas with a distinction acknowledged by Nelson. He leads the defeat of the Spanish in a battle on the coast of present-day Belize, of which he later becomes Superintendent. He is also known for fighting what in today’s terminology is called racism.
But in London, 1803, with six co-conspirators, he is accused of plotting to kill King George III.
Despite reports that Tidd is connected to the Despard conspiracy, I have found no evidence in archives, neither is Tidd mentioned in Peter Linebaugh’s expansive study of Edward and Kate Despard, Red Round Globe Hot Burning. University of California Press, 2019.
Although Turtle Soup for the King focuses on a later conspiracy, Despard’s influence on Richard Tidd is marked, and the colonel is reflected modestly in one the few characters who are both entirely fictional and active.
In this image, published a year after his execution, Despard addresses the crowd moments before his death at Horsemonger Lane Gaol, 1st February, 1803.
HOLE IN THE WALL PASSAGE, BROOKE’S MARKET HOLBORN
The Tidd family lived in a cramped apartment in a small alleyway between Baldwin’s Gardens and Dorrington Street in Holborn, now in the London Borough of Camden.
Author's snapshot, April, 2021
The Tidds lived in what was probably a wooden structure amongst many others on several floors of this alleyway, which still has a view to Brooke’s Market.
“Hole in the Wall Passage” is listed in 1929 rate books, but not for 1955, by which time it had been rebuilt and renamed.
Author's snapshot, May 2021HOLE IN THE WALL PASSAGE, BROOKE’S MARKET HOLBORN
Tidd’s Family apartment is in an alley that still exists between Brooke’s Market and Baldwin’s Gardens.
Hole in the Wall Passage is listed in 1929 rate books, but not for 1955.
MAP REFEENCES:
Horewood Regency A--Z: p 14 Ba….. Contemporary A-Z of London: p193 7K
View is from the far side of Brooke’s Market looking towards Dorrington Street. The alleyway formerly known as Hole in the Wall Passage is on the right, in shadow.
Author's snapshot, 2015. Although there was at one time a Hole in the Wall Tavern close by, the only Local mentioned in connection with Tidd (or his near neighbour, Brunt) is the White Hart, Brooke’s Market.
It seems unlikely that the Tidds’ home survived until the second world war, when Holborn was badly affected by bombing.
Image Courtesy A London Inheritance. @vanishedLondon. 
Tidd would not have approved of the post-war renaming of Hole in the Wall Passage to Leigh Passage. The Barons Leigh of Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, were local landowners, their ancestor having bought Richard Baldwin’s Garden in 1689.
Author's snapshot, 2021. Information courtesy Camden History Society.Tavern radicals are prone - until the law forces them out - to meet at taverns, including
The Black Lion was a popular restaurant and hotel complex off Fleet Street. There appear to have been two entrances - Cooper’s Hotel on Bouverie Street (above, source unknown) and the Black Lion Tavern / Restaurant on Water Lane (roughly the present Whitefriars Street) IN 1819, the premises appear to have the same landlord, Mr Cooper, and are connected at the rear.
A favourite of Henry Hunt, who is reported to enjoy the fish and chip suppers, the Black Lion is a regular haunt for radicals of the gentlemanly and “tavern” or “ultra” varieties, including Thistlewood’s Spencean Group, of which Tidd (in fiction at least) is acting chair, while the leader is in prison.
The Water Lane entrance is used by Thistlewood’s Group to access their meeting place, presumably rented from the Black Lion (until new laws prevent it).
Turtle Soup for the King refers to at least 27 historical taverns in London and elsewhere, all listed in the appendix.
The Crown and Anchor, Strand Entrance, 1851. J Findlay. Courtesy British Museum ImagesThe Crown and Anchor stood opposite St Clement the Dane Church, the Strand on a site now dominated by King’s College, London.
About five minute’s westward walk from the Black Lion, its ballroom on the first floor accommodates up to 2,500 people. It is a popular meeting place, especially for radicals, including the London Corresponding Society (of which Edward Despard - and possibly also Tidd are members). Charles James Fox famously celebrates his fiftieth birthday here.
It is the setting for a significant meeting of London’s tavern radicals in July 1819. Later, William Davidson visits the Crown and Anchor for entirely different purposes, in fiction, as in life.
An unexpected journey.
Tidd is one of the two conspirators who - in the author’s imagination - make an unexpected journey with unexpected consequences - all with good narrative purpose. Perceptive readers will know what to look for on this map.
Right canal, wrong century. I’d say this photograph (source unknown) is about 1920. For relevance to the matter in hand, I refer you to chapter thirteen of Turtle Soup for the King:
“I don’t care if you’re a pair of runaway bishops,” said the captain. “Just pay your way and leave me in peace.”
THERE WAS NEVER ANY DOUBT ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THE CATO STREET TRIALS
from Richard Tidd’s testimony“Where in hell did you get those?” asked Tidd, impressed.
“Tut, tut, Tiddy; you know I can’t reveal my sources!” said Edwards, “and there’s no need to tell anyone else I’ve done you a favour.”
“How is this a favour?”
“You have a large family, and may have occasion to defend them.”
“We can’t keep no guns here,” replied Tidd, “not with so many bairns about, and ’t lads acting half like soldiers already.”
Turtle Soup for the King, 24th December, 1819
Sgt Legge, 2nd Battalian Coldstream Guards on Tidd’s arrest“If ’t world is rid of a single tyrant, I shall face ’t gallows with a proud heart.”
“You shall be disappointed, Mr Tidd,” snarled the guard.
“Says you,” replied Tidd.
“You singed that gentleman’s collar, no more. He’ll be lying on top of his tart now, which is more than you’ll ever do again.”
Turtle Soup for the King, 23rd February, 1820
Mrs Tidd - Mary (renamed Eliza)
born c.1775
Richard Tidd writes no letters to his family on the night before his execution. Almost the only impetus for creating a Mrs Tidd is the description in her husband’s trial of “a very decent woman”. Given her circumstances, Eliza quickly took off in my mind and by 1820 becomes a proud participant of the conspiracy. The name Eliza avoids confusion with her older daughter and Mary Brunt (Molly in the novel).
“Ma! The letter carrier is here, and he’ll only talk to you!” called Marjorie from half way up the stairs. Eliza Tidd, scraping taters in the kitchen, was astounded. She had never received a letter in her life.
“Get away with your nonsense!” she said.
“Suit yourself, ma” said the cheeky lass, grimacing and dodging the wallop as she hurried back to her friends.
Turtle Soup for the King, 11th August, 1819
His Majesty’s Letter Carrier, 1818. Source unknownReports of the historical Tidd household are variable, reflecting perhaps flexible family arrangements of the time. The number of Eliza’s reported children varies between one (presumably Mary) and the possibly exaggerated number in this appeal for public support, quoted in the trial reports.
“Tidd was grateful to John Bunyan for an uninterrupted smoke of his pipe every night, but since he could no longer afford the baccy, even that pleasure had been absent in recent months. Still, the peace was welcome, and Mary’s voice was as clear as an angel, her face just as sweet. His step-daughter would easily find employment in the theatre, if her mother were not so set against it. Eliza would rather die of starvation than offer a child to the iniquitous domain of public entertainment”.
Turtle Soup for the King, 17th May, 1819
John Bunyan’s Wife reads the Bible to him. John C Nimmo / William Strang, 1884,
Courtesy British Museum ImagesMary Tidd Barker
born about 1793
To create a consistent family community, I have favoured Mary as Richard Tidd’s step-daughter since infancy, two sets of younger twins of his own, and the two orphans mentioned during the trials and in the reference below. In life, Mary speaks at all the trials and her bravery reportedly moves the coldest hearts. As a witness for the defence she may not visit her father, and makes a last-minute appeal to Home Secretary Sidmouth.
My Lord
My father Richard Tidd who is now under sentence of death and ordered for execution tomorrow I have never seen since the time he was first taken. May I entreat that Our Lordship will take that into consideration and grant me an order for to be admitted to see him to day, sure your Lordship who is a father and a Husband will not be so devoid of feeling to refuse the only consolation of an afflicted daughter. I appeal to your Lordship’s feelings and trust I shall not be disappointed, tho though some unforeseen accident. I have been entirely excluded different from any other relatives tho I have made repeated applications and tomorrow shall be left destitute with two Orphan children and no support for them.
Oh My Lord let me again appeal to your feelings and let me and my infant children see my father before it is too late.
Your Lordship’s
Most Obt Hub Servt
Mary Barker
Sunday afternoon
Courtesy National Archive, Kew, Transcribed by the author
“I like a spirited girl,” said the King. “Tell me, Henry, what does Mrs Barker ask, and is she pretty? I’m inclined to please her.”
the King to Sidmouth, (adjusted by artistic licence) Turtle Soup for the King, 29th April, 1820