David Besford was the skipper of the St. Patrick trawler in Lowestoft.
People
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John Charles Preston (Jack) Besford
Known as Jack, John Charles Preston Besford was a dentist and amateur swimmer, who became British and European swimming champion, and won the British backstroke title seven times from 1927 to 1936.
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Dr John Besford
Dr John Besford is a retired Harley Street dentist, famous for his specialism in prosthodontics.
Besford family in Northumberland
Explore the rich history of the Besford family in Northumberland through a series of articles written by John Hornsby.
The family can be traced back to James Besford, who was married in Rothbury, Northumberland, in 1679.
Discover the story of George Besford, who was injured in the Battle of the Somme, and later worked in the lamp cabin at Woodhorn Colliery, Ashington.
Find out how Jack Besford, who left school on his 13th birthday to work down the mine, would go on to become a leading trade unionist. His greatest achievement was to secure free secondary education for all children in Northumberland.
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David Besford (1897-1991)
David Besford was the son of David Besford and Mary Besford (neé Turnbull). David was born on 1st February 1897 at Middleton Street, Amble, Northumberland.
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David Besford (1863-1954)
David Besford was born on 11th September 1863 at Cowpen Colliery. He was the son of John and Margaret Besford.
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John William (Jack) Besford
John William Besford was born on 20th November 1891 at 19 Church Street, Amble, Northumberland. Always known as Jack, he was one one of twelve children, eight of whom survived to adulthood.
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George Besford (1893-1966)
George Besford was born at 19 Church Street, Amble, Northumberland on 31st January 1893. He would go on to serve in the Northumberland Fusiliers in the First World War.
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Mary Besford (later Thompson/Turner) (1888-1985)
Mary Besford was the daughter of David Besford and Mary Besford (née Turnbull). She was born on New Year’s Eve 1888 at Togston Terrace, Broomhill, Northumberland. She was David and Mary Besford’s first child (of 12). Her father was working at Broomhill Colliery in 1888.
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Thomas Besford (1899-1994)
Thomas Besford was the son of David Besford and Mary Besford (née Turnbull). Thomas was born on 8th November 1899 at Chevington Crescent, Northumberland.
Places
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Besford Court
Besford Court was the last great, gothic English country house. It is a Grade II*-listed building, located in the village of Besford.
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Besford House
Besford House, Belle Vue, Shrewsbury, was built originally as a private residence in 1893. In 1911 it was set up a boys’ home, as a way of getting children out of the workhouses. It has now been restored as a family home.
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Besford Church
The church of St Peter in Besford is a wonderful example of English church architecture and one of only a few timber frame churches in England.
Map
Explore our articles on an interactive map.
Unsolved mysteries
Help us get to the bottom of the unsolved mysteries of the Besfords.
🔍 Why did John Besford and Margaret Patterson marry in All Saints’ Church, Newcastle? (1850)
🔍 Why did William Besford die in Scotland? (1879)
🔍 Where was James Besford born? (1650s/60s)
🔍 Who was the George Besford buried at All Saints’ Church, Rothbury? (1721)
Condiments
Dr Besford’s Aubergine Pickle is a limited edition pickle created by chef Cyrus Todiwala in honour of dentist Dr John Besford, a regular diner at his restaurant. It is described as “bold and delicately spiced”, and is now marketed under the Mr Todiwala’s brand.
Todiwala has been described as a pickle connoisseur. As head chef at Namaste, east London, in the 1990s, he observed that once customers had tasted his range of home-made pickles, they would ask to take some home. He began bottling pickles on a small scale, and has since increased production to meet demand.
