Horatia Nelson Johnson

Restoration of the memorial to Horatia Nelson Johnson

The fully restored memorial to Horatia Nelson Johnson As part of the restoration work along St David's Avenue, it was agreed earlier in 2005 to fund the restoration and cleaning of the memorial to Horatia Nelson Johnson (1832-1890) as the Society's contribution to the celebrations surrounding the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. The memorial is in plot 26 and is very close to the St Edward Brotherhood.

The work has been undertaken by Pankhurst Graphic Masonry of West End, Woking, Surrey. The restoration work comprised cleaning the front face of the headstone and then repainting the inscription. The result has transformed the appearance of the headstone and we hope this restoration will ensure the headstone is easily found by any visitors wishing to locate the grave as part of the Trafalgar 200 celebrations

Horatia Nelson Johnson was the seventh of nine children born to Horatia Nelson (1801-1881), Nelson's child by Emma Hamilton. Her father was the Rev. Philip Ward (1795-1859), for many years Vicar of St Mildred's Church, Tenterden, Kent.

Horatia Nelson Ward married William Johnson (1827-1891) in August 1858, and they lived in London, latterly at 6 Gower Street. They had several children: William Horatio (born 1859), Philip (1861-1948), and Marjorie - who died in infancy. However none of the children appears to be buried at Brookwood. Horatia died in October 1890, and William died in the following March.

The headstone is located in a group of four graves. To the left is a similar headstone commemorating members of William Johnson's brother's family. To the right is a memorial to William Johnson's great friend Thomas Attree (died 1902) and his second wife, although Thomas is actually buried in Gibraltar. The fourth memorial commemorates John Senior (died 1888) and at present his relationship to the others is unclear.

You can read the Woking News & Mail's account of the restoration here.

Details of other restoration projects may be seen here.

Pankhurst Graphic Masonry may be contacted at Studio Unit 4, Pankhurst Farm, Bagshot Road, West End, Woking, Surrey GU24 9QR, or telephone 01276 855242