The Gwillim Simcoe Story

The Old Court, Whitchurch, Herefordshire, family home of the Gwillims since 1600, now an Hotel, was often visited by Elizabeth where she stayed with her grand-parents and aunts.

Blossom on the Tulip Tree in the graveyard of St. Dubricious. The tree is reputed to be over 300 years old!

The noticeboard at the Church of St Dubricius with the Memorial Cross on the left and the neglected Gwillim Grave Enclosure as it was in 1982 on the right.



	The Gwillim Memorial Committee meets annually in St. Dubricius Church. It is always an open meeting.
		The Old Court, Whitchurch, Herefordshire, family home of the Gwillims since 1600, now an Hotel, was often visited by Elizabeth where she stayed with her grand-parents and aunts.
	St. Dubricius Church with the Gwillim Grave Enclosure, The River Wye and the Exhibition panels in the church.
		In Cotterstock, Northamptonshire, birthplace by coincidence of both Thomas Gwillim, father of Elizabeth, and John Graves Simcoe, her husband. In the village church of St. Andrews, by the River Nene, there is a notable monument to Captain John Simcoe, R.N., father of John Graves Simcoe.
	Near Honiton, in Devon, England, stands Wolford Chapel. Signposted from the A303 with the Canadian Flag, built by General Simcoe, and the burial place for him, his wife, and several of their eleven children.
		In Exeter Cathedral, in Devon, England, there is a monument to General Simcoe and his son Francis Gwillim Simcoe (also the subject of a book by Maty Beacock Fryer). The crack in the Monument is due to a World War II bomb.
	Blossom on the Tulip Tree in the graveyard of St. Dubricious. The tree is reputed to be over 300 years old!	Tulip Tree, Liriedendron Tulipifera, By Peggy Gardiner The Tulip Tree was Introduced to Britain by the Tradescants, father and son, gardeners to Charles 1. They described it in 1656 as "Tradescant's White Virginia Poplar," because the leaves flutter on their long slender stems like those of poplars. The leaves are very characteristic, saddle shaped with four lobes and a flattened top, with a slender leaf stalk two to four inches long. The flowers are produced in June and July, tulip shaped with petals of greenish-white with an orange coloured spot at the base. The numerous orange-yellow stamens are crowded around the large and pointed pistil. Like the poplar, the Tulip Tree grows best on deep, moist soil. The timber is of good quality, especially from trees that are encouraged to grow rapidly. The tree is much valued for its beautiful form and fine bole. The roots and stem have a pleasant pungent scent. The wood, much used In North America, is known as 'Yellow Poplar.' It is smooth of fine grain and not easily split. North American Indians used to call the Tulip Tree, 'Canoe Wood' since canoes to carry up to twenty people could be hollowed out of a single log. In its native habitat the tree attains a height of over 150 feet and, in the country, specimens of over 100 feet are known. It is one of the largest and finest trees of the North American Forests.
		The noticeboard at the Church of St Dubricius with the Memorial Cross on the left and the neglected Gwillim Grave Enclosure as it was in 1982 on the right.