Tom Emmott

Last updated

Thomas Clifford Emmott (1907–1964) [1] was a British writer and political activist.

Emmott was born in Burnley, Lancashire, [2] and grew up in Colne. He travelled the world, collecting curiosities such as emu and rhea eggs, a large trilobite, and pieces of volcanic rock. [3] He fought in World War I, and later claimed to have served with Military Intelligence. [4] He returned, in the 1940s, to live in Wycoller Cottage, becoming the only long-term resident of the remote village. While there, he wrote an autobiography entitled An Outlaw in the 20th Century and a volume entitled Eamot Eternal, in which he described his family's supposed descent from inhabitants of Atlantis and the incredible feats of ancestors who shared his name. [5]

In 1959, Emmott formed the "Lancastrian Party", with the stated aim of attracting attention to the neglect of north-east Lancashire, [4] and of representing "the little people who slink round lampposts". [6] He carved a stone in the garden with the inscription "LANCASTRIAN PARTY HQ", and stood in Nelson and Colne at the 1959 general election, and promoted his candidacy by distributing leaflets and badges. [3] [4] His campaign attracted limited interest, with his public meetings only having three or four attendees. [4] He took 4.6% of the votes cast, and lost his deposit.

Emmott remained at the cottage for many years, and became known for writing letters to prominent individuals complaining of persecution. [5] In particular, he claimed that people had been prevented from attending his campaign meetings. This left him frequently unemployed and in poor health. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">House of Lancaster</span> Cadet branch of the House of Plantagenet

The House of Lancaster was a cadet branch of the royal House of Plantagenet. The first house was created when King Henry III of England created the Earldom of Lancaster—from which the house was named—for his second son Edmund Crouchback in 1267. Edmund had already been created Earl of Leicester in 1265 and was granted the lands and privileges of Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, after de Montfort's death and attainder at the end of the Second Barons' War. When Edmund's son Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, inherited his father-in-law's estates and title of Earl of Lincoln he became at a stroke the most powerful nobleman in England, with lands throughout the kingdom and the ability to raise vast private armies to wield power at national and local levels. This brought him—and Henry, his younger brother—into conflict with their cousin King Edward II, leading to Thomas's execution. Henry inherited Thomas's titles and he and his son, who was also called Henry, gave loyal service to Edward's son King Edward III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colne</span> Human settlement in England

Colne is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Pendle in Lancashire, England. Located 3 mi (4.8 km) northeast of Nelson, 6 mi (9.7 km) north-east of Burnley, 25 mi (40 km) east of Preston and 30 mi (48 km) west of Leeds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wycoller</span> Village in England

Wycoller is a village in the civil parish of Trawden Forest in Pendle, Lancashire, England. It is 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Colne, near to the junction of the Lancashire, West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire borders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trawden</span> Human settlement in England

Trawden is a village in the Trawden Forest parish of Pendle, at the foot of Boulsworth Hill, in Lancashire, England. The village co-operatively owns and runs its library, shop, community centre and pub.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallace Hartley</span> English violinist (1878–1912)

Wallace Henry Hartley was an English violinist and bandleader on the RMS Titanic on its maiden voyage. He became famous for leading the eight-member band as the ship sank on 15 April 1912. He died in the sinking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friends of Real Lancashire</span> Lancastrian pressure group

Friends of Real Lancashire (FORL) is an apolitical pressure group affiliated to the Association of British Counties calling for the wider recognition of the historic boundaries of Lancashire in England. Its chairman is Philip Walsh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pendle Water</span> River in Lancashire, England

Pendle Water is a minor river in Lancashire, England. Rising on Pendle Hill, Pendle Water cuts a deep valley between Barley Moor and Spence Hill, where it feeds into the reservoirs of Upper and Lower Ogden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edith Rigby</span> English suffragette

Edith Rigby was an English suffragette who used arson as a way to further the cause of women’s suffrage. She founded a night school in Preston called St Peter's School, aimed at educating women and girls. Later she became a prominent activist, and was incarcerated seven times and committed several acts of arson. She was a contemporary of Christabel and Sylvia Pankhurst.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laneshaw Bridge</span> Civil parish in England

Laneshawbridge is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Pendle in England. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 918. It is to the east of Colne in Lancashire and is the easternmost settlement in Lancashire on the main road route, before the North Yorkshire border.

Colne Cricket Club is a cricket club who play in the Lancashire League, which plays its home games at The Horsfield in Colne. For the 2022 season, their club captain is Tom Bradshaw, their 2nd XI captain is Martin Kegg, their 3rd XI captain is Thomas Ellacott and their T20 captain is also Tom Bradshaw. Their professional is Geeth Kumara of Sri Lanka. The club has won the league on five occasions and won the cup six times, achieving a league and cup double in 1959. It has employed professionals including Amar Singh, Bill Alley, Joe Scuderi and Collis King.

The Nelson Leader is a weekly newspaper published every Friday for readers in the town of Nelson in Pendle, east Lancashire. England. It is edited from the 'Leader-Times' series of newspapers' offices in Nelson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pendle witches</span> English witch hunt and trial in 1612

The trials of the Pendle witches in 1612 are among the most famous witch trials in English history, and some of the best recorded of the 17th century. The twelve accused lived in the area surrounding Pendle Hill in Lancashire, and were charged with the murders of ten people by the use of witchcraft. All but two were tried at Lancaster Assizes on 18–19 August 1612, along with the Samlesbury witches and others, in a series of trials that have become known as the Lancashire witch trials. One was tried at York Assizes on 27 July 1612, and another died in prison. Of the eleven who went to trial – nine women and two men – ten were found guilty and executed by hanging; one was found not guilty.

Sir William Pickles Hartley was an English jam manufacturer and philanthropist who founded the Hartley's jam company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wycoller Hall</span> Building in Lancashire, England

Wycoller Hall was a late sixteenth-century manor house in the village of Wycoller, Lancashire, England. The hall was the centre of a sizeable estate but subsequently fell into disrepair. The ruins are now listed, and form part of Wycoller Country Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emmott Hall</span> Demolished county house in Lancashire, England

Emmott Hall was a country house in the village of Laneshawbridge, Colne, Lancashire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Stephenson</span> British politician

Andrew George Stephenson is a British politician serving as Lord Commissioner of the Treasury since October 2022. He served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Communities from September to October 2022. A member of the Conservative Party, he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Pendle in Lancashire since 2010.

Emmott is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malkin Tower</span> Site related to the Lancashire witch trials of 1612

Malkin Tower was the home of Elizabeth Southerns, also known as Demdike, and her granddaughter Alizon Device, two of the chief protagonists in the Lancashire witch trials of 1612.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Pendle</span> Borough in England

Pendle is a local government district and borough of Lancashire, England. It adjoins the Lancashire boroughs of Burnley and Ribble Valley, the North Yorkshire district of Craven and the West Yorkshire boroughs of Calderdale and Bradford. It has a total population of 95,757 (2021).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonard Hall (socialist)</span>

William Leonard Hall was a British trade union leader, journalist, and socialist activist, who held prominent positions in the Independent Labour Party.

References

  1. ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
  2. ↑ 1911 England Census
  3. 1 2 Paul Woffindin, "A summer's day view of Wycoller", Pendle Leader-Times, 1 February 2008
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 John I. Bentley, Portrait of Wycoller, pp.117-122
  5. 1 2 Peggy Hewitt, Bronte Country: Lives & Landscapes
  6. ↑ The Economist, vol.303, p.60


Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Quill and ink.svg

This article about a writer or poet from the United Kingdom is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.