Thomas Telford - Telford's Death

Telford's Death

Telford's young draughtsman and clerk 1830-1834 George Turnbull in his diary states:

"On the 23rd Mr Telford was taken seriously ill of a bilious derangement to which he had been liable … he grew worse and worse … attended him twice a day, but it was to no avail for he died on the 2nd September, very peacefully at about 5pm. … His old servant James Handscombe and I were the only two in the house when he died. He was never married. Mr Milne and Mr Rickman were, no doubt, Telford's most intimate friends. … I went to Mr Milne and under his direction … made all the arrangements about the house and correspondence. … Telford had no blood relations that we knew of. The funeral took place on the 10th September . … Mr Telford was of the most genial disposition and a delightful companion, his laugh was the heartiest I ever heard; it was a pleasure to be in his society."