page_title: Ann Thwaytes
section_title: Broadwater area
hierarchical_section_title: Ann Thwaytes / Gifts and donations / Broadwater area
caption_attribution_description: Broadwater Church during renovations, 1866. Between 1853 and 1855 Ann Thwaytes contributed funds for renovations and took away some parts of the church to incorporate into her house Charmandean at Broadwater (now demolished).
context_page_description: Ann Thwaytes, known to contemporaries as Mrs Thwaytes, was the wealthy and eccentric English widow of grocer William Thwaytes, owner of Davison, Newman & Co.. She became the benefactress to many causes and funded the construction of the Clock Tower, Herne Bay.
context_section_description: One of Ann's first good works at Charmandean was to give coal to the poor. A Broadwater coal distribution society was formed; she supported this and continued to distribute coal regularly. She contributed generously to a subscription appeal for a new infirmary at Broadwater. This project was started by her friend and consulting surgeon Dr Frederick Dixon who had founded the local Worthing Dispensary in 1829 and treated poor patients for free. Dixon was an amateur geologist who died young, and Ann funded his book, The Geology of Sussex when it was published posthumously. She became financially involved in the 1853–1855 restoration of St. Mary's Church, Broadwater, contributing to chancel repairs, giving £100 towards a new organ and committing to the payment of £40 per year to the organist. She contributed towards one of the new stained glass windows which was dedicated to the late Reverends Peter Wood and William Davison.
caption: St Marys, renovations 1866
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