William Mandell Gunson was born at Bolton, Cumberland in 1822. Admitted pensioner 1843; sch. 1844; BA 1847; MA 1850; Fellow 1847; Praelector 1850, 1853; Tutor 1851-1870; Senior Dean 1868. He was a strong willed man with a great power to work, but with a kind and generous heart. His services to the College are commemorated by many old pupils and friends in a fitting memorial: the south oriel window in the Hall was filled with excellent stained glass (the work of Messrs. Burlison and Grylls) representing the founders, benefactors and worthies of the College.[PBR].
He is said to have been prouder of being a Cumberland man than a fellow of Christ's. He was instrumental in building a school in Cumberland.The idea of building the school in Fletchertown, long before the mining community grew up there, was championed by the Rev. William Mandell Gunson, M.A., a Cumberland man and tutor at Christ College, Cambridge between 1851 and 1870. Gunson approached George Moore about his idea and the venture was largely jointly financed by these two men, the shortfall being raised by local farmers. He retired to Cumberland in 1881 the year he died possibly by suicide while depressed..
The Col Mag May 1923 records that he spoke in broad Cumbrian, pronouncing 'naked' to rhyme with 'ached' and 'swan' to rhyme with 'van'.
Physical description
William Mandell Gunson was born at Bolton, Cumberland in 1822. Admitted pensioner 1843; sch. 1844; BA 1847; MA 1850; Fellow 1847; Praelector 1850, 1853; Tutor 1851-1870; Senior Dean 1868. He was a strong willed man with a great power to work, but with a kind and generous heart. His services to the College are commemorated by many old pupils and friends in a fitting memorial: the south oriel window in the Hall was filled with excellent stained glass (the work of Messrs. Burlison and Grylls) representing the founders, benefactors and worthies of the College.[PBR].
He is said to have been prouder of being a Cumberland man than a fellow of Christ's. He was instrumental in building a school in Cumberland.The idea of building the school in Fletchertown, long before the mining community grew up there, was championed by the Rev. William Mandell Gunson, M.A., a Cumberland man and tutor at Christ College, Cambridge between 1851 and 1870. Gunson approached George Moore about his idea and the venture was largely jointly financed by these two men, the shortfall being raised by local farmers. He retired to Cumberland in 1881 the year he died possibly by suicide while depressed..
The Col Mag May 1923 records that he spoke in broad Cumbrian, pronouncing 'naked' to rhyme with 'ached' and 'swan' to rhyme with 'van'.
