FOOTBALLER AND MAKER OF PROJECTILES
Situated in the Unconsecrated/East Section of Jesmond Old Cemetery.
Lycurgus was born in Ashton under Lyne on the 26th June, 1875. His parents were Henry and Mary nee Charlesworth, with his Father recorded as being an Ironmonger; they were married at Hurst Methodist New Connexion Church, Queens Road, Ashton under Lyne and it was there that Lycurgus was baptised on the 19th August 1875. By 1881, the family were living at 12, Normanton Street, Brightside Bierlow in Sheffield. Lycurgus attended All Saints Church of England School, Pitsmoor, Sheffield, having also, interestingly, attended school at Broomhall, Govan. This ties in with an entry that notes one of his younger siblings had been born in Scotland, so the family had spent some time in Scotland around 1884 – 1886.
By 1891, the family have moved south and are in a house called ‘Park Villa’, Shrewsbury Road, West Plumstead. By this time, both his Father and himself are ‘Iron Founders’ at ‘The Arsenal’, which is presumably Woolwich Arsenal. The Census records that they have a domestic servant living with them and Lycurgus now has four younger sisters.
Lycurgus joined Royal Arsenal as an amateur in January 1892, but did not sign league forms until July the following year. The full back played once for Royal Arsenal before their induction to the Football League and appeared 21 times for the reserves. Interestingly, his amateur status meant that he was able to play four FA Cup matches for their arch rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, during his spell with the Gunners. Burrows struggled for first team opportunities when, now named Woolwich Arsenal, the Gunners entered the Second Division, playing only 10 times over three seasons. In 1895, he left to play for their North London rivals, making over 50 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur.
In the 22nd April, 1896 edition of The Sketch, an article on football comments thus on Lycurgus:
‘Mr. Lycurgus Burrows is the well known full back of the Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and one of the smartest men to be found in that onerous position. Born at Ashton under Lyne on June 26nd 1875, Burrows commenced his football career in Govan, with the Melrose. Thence he went to Sheffield, playing there with his school team, St. John’s, until leaving for Woolwich, where he joined the local Polytechnic. Subsequently, he made a few appearances on behalf of the Woolwich Arsenal, and, as a matter of fact, assisted that professional team before he was 16 years of age. As a back, he is very strong and dashing, and has earned a great name in the Southern district. Burrows stands 5ft 9 inches, and weighs 12st 10lb.’
In the autumn of 1898, Lycurgus marries Emily Eliza Gardner in Woolwich.
In 1898, a patent is listed in ‘The Volunteer Record and Shooting News’, with a Frederic Stubbs and Lycurgus Burrows , of 111, Hatton Garden. London, being identified as listing ‘Improvements in or relating to projectiles for rifled guns.’ By 1901, his Dad, Henry, is still living at Park Villa in West Plumstead and is recorded as being a ‘Steelworks Manager’. However, Lycurgus and Emily have moved back to Ecclesall, Bierlow and they now have a daughter, Ada Lizzie, who was born in 1900. A second daughter, Margery Emily, arrived in 1902 and a third, Cissie Mary, in 1908. At this time, Lycurgus is recorded as being a ‘Maker of Projectiles – Manager.’
In 1911, Lycurgus and his family are down south again, living at 19, Longlands Road, Sidcup, Kent and he is recorded as being an engineer making projectiles for a steel manufacturer. Interestingly, in a Directory of Newcastle for 1916, Lycurgus is shown as an Engineer at 32, Oaklands in the Gosforth/Coxlodge area of Newcastle but, by 1924, the Electoral Register shows him with his wife living at 1, Essex Gardens, in the polling district of Enfield. It may be that he cam up north in WW1 but then went back south again. In addition, in 1921, he is with his family in Footscray, Bromley, Kent. They then subsequently move back up north as, in the Evening Chronicle, dated 20th April, 1929, there is a lovely article relating to the marriage of Lycurgus’s daughter, Cissie Mary, to William Alexander of Brandling Park, Gosforth. They were married in the Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Street, London. Her sister, Margery and William’s sister were the Bridesmaids. Lycurgus’s home address is given as 22, Douglas Avenue, Gosforth. As an aside, the gowns and hats worn by the Bridal party were provided by George of Barrass Bridge, Newcastle!!
On 26th September, 1933, his wife Emily died and in 1935, Lycurgus married again to Kathleen Tweddell and had a daughter. By 1939, the family are living at 66, Harewood Road, Gosforth and Lycurgus is still working as an Industrial Furnace Engineer. By 1952, the Electoral Roll shows them living at 28, Kenton Lane, Newcastle and that was his home address in his probate entry.
Lycurgus died on the 23rd August, 1952 at St. Nicholas Hospital, Gosforth. His grave and headstone were moved from their original position to their current one following the mass exhumation of graves that took place in 1971. Kathleen died in Kendal, Cumbria, aged 90, in 1994.