William Crundall | |
---|---|
Mayor of Dover | |
In office Thirteen times between 1886 – 1910 | |
Preceded by | William John Adcock (1885, 1890) |
Succeeded by | William Bromley (1911) |
Personal details | |
Born | June 24(?), 1847 Dover, Kent, England |
Died | (1934-02-25)February 25, 1934 Dover, Kent, England |
Political party | Conservative |
Sir William Henry Crundall (June 24, 1847 ― February 25, 1934) was a wealthy timber merchant and politician from Dover, Kent, England who served as the Mayor of Dover a total of thirteen times between 1886 and 1910.
Biography
William's exact birthdate seems to be lost. It is believed that he was born in 1847, which is seemingly confirmed by his ancestry. However, an article written by Terry Sutton states that "... making a huge impact on Dover, the town where he was born on Midsummer's Day." If this were the case, according to the UK Legal Calendar, William would have been born on June 24. This has yet to be confirmed. It also states that William was born in 1846, which is the only widely available source that claims this; likely a typo. William left school at the age of fourteen to begin work. It is said that he later became a volunteer with the East Kent Regiment, retiring from the unit in 1878 with the rank of captain.
In 1883 William was elected to Dover Town Council as a representative of the Castle Ward. Now part of the Town & Castle Parish Ward of the Dover District.
William would serve as the town's mayor for thirteen nonconsecutive terms, them being 1886-1888, 1891-1894, 1897-1899, 1904, and finally in 1910. The most terms served by a Dover mayor in town history. It is also worth noting that William was knighted by 1891.
William is most widely known for his street widening projects that were taken during his mayoralties. First assuming office in 1886, he was also associated with introducing the Dover Corporation Electric Trams in 1897. The second system of its kind in England and the company behind the 1917 Crabble Tram Accident. The deadliest tram crash in UK history.
In 1899 author Samuel Statham wrote The History of the Castle, Town, and Port of Dover, of which was dedicated to William.
It is stated by 1922 William was a deputy lieutenant of Kent. He passed away on February 25, 1934 likely from some form of flu or possibly pneumonia, simply known as a "fatal chill." His final wish was to be cremated, hence the whereabout of his remains are unknown.
References
- "Sir William Henry Crundall". Dover.UK.com. Dover. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- Terry Sutton. "Rogue... or Local Hero?" (PDF). Dover-Kent. Dover Society. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- "The Dover (Electoral Changes) Order 2019". legislation.gov.uk. Local Government, England. January 29, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- "Previous Mayors of Dover". Dover Town Council. Dover Town Council. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- Samuel Percy Hammond Statham (1899). "The History of the Castle, Town, and port of Dover". Internet Archive. London, New York, Bombay, Longmans, Green, and Co. p. 172. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- "Bench Street Tram". Dover Museum. Dover Museum. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- Lorraine (November 1, 2014). "Crabble Tram Accident – 19 August 1917". The Dover Historian. The Dover Historian. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- Samuel Percy Hammond Statham (1899). "The history of the Castle, Town, and Port of Dover". Internet Archive. London, New York, Bombay, Longmans, Green, and Co. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- Terry Sutton. "Rogue... or Local Hero?" (PDF). Dover-Kent. Dover Society. Retrieved January 15, 2025.