Thomas Nuttall, Ribblesdale’s Forgotten Botanist, Ornithologist and Explorer

Gill Jones
 JOURNAL 
 2013 
 North Craven 
 Heritage Trust 

In 1996 Enid Parker wrote an article in this Journal on Thomas Nuttall who was born in Long Preston on 5 January 1786. He left Long Preston at the age of 14 and was apprenticed to his father’s younger brother Jonas, a printer in Liverpool and owner of the company known as the Caxton Press. In 2011 the Long Preston Heritage Group (LPHG) published a very attractive illustrated booklet based on Enid Parker’s article, about this eminent man of his time - a botanist, Harvard professor, explorer and author. Further research by the group has added weight to his birthplace having been Hughenden House in Long Preston. Still more research is needed for absolute confirmation of this.

Recently the LPHG has been approached by Dr Gordon Mason, historical botanist, who in 2001 was awarded a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship to trace the life and works of David Douglas, for whom the Douglas Fir tree was named. Dr Mason has now turned his attention to discovering more about the life and works of Thomas Nuttall and is seeking any further information. The Long Preston Heritage Group is delighted that further work is being undertaken and, on his behalf, is asking if any members have information that they could provide. If you have, please contact:

Gillian Jones, Secretary, LPHG on 01729 840505 or gandi1@bigfoot.com. Further details about our Group and the Nuttall publication can be found on our website longprestonheritage.org.uk. (See the cover picture).

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