William Harries Tilbury
An 18th century actor who appeared at Covent Garden, Drury Lane, Haymarket - and which other houses? The image is of the 2nd Covent Garden Theatre, in which WHT worked.

 
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...1830-1833...

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Book: THE LIFE AND REMINISCENCES OF E. L. BLANCHARD
by E. L. (Edward L.) Blanchard (Hutchinson & co., 1891)
page 105:

"... (TILBURY in his original character of Mr. Hollylodge, Buckstone his original character, Pansy; poor Bucky but very indifferent), and Planché's admirable burlesque of Ascent of Mount Parnassus."

page 120:

"... Adelphi; 'Marble Heart'*, very good. Look in at club; Mr. Copping from Australia, Courtney, Hartley, TILBURY, and pleasant party present."

page 165:

"* Written by Collins. Mr. and Mrs. Keeley, Pizarro and Rolla; George Honey, Alonzo; Mrs. Frank Matthews, Cora; Miss Cleveland, Elvira; TILBURY and A. Younge, Ataleba and Orowembo."

page 192:

"... farce of Twice Killed was also given, with the Keeleys, Messrs. Kinlock, Clark, TILBURY, W. Templeton, and Glendon, Miss Patty Oliver and ...."

page 309:

"... managers in 1830, Macfarren in 1831, and a noticeable performance of Acis and Galatea was given with E. Seguin, Mrs. Glover, Mrs. Humby, T. Green, and Mr. TILBURY. In December 1833 the theatre was called the Fitzroy and was run by some members of the Mayhew family ...."

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1835

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Publication: "THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE"
Obituaries (pages 97, 98)
Mr. William Blanchard

"May 9. At Chelsea, aged 66, Mr. William Blanchard, the eminent comedian." [...]

"Mr. Blanchard was twice married, and had several children. [...] On the Tuesday previous to his death, he dined at Hammersmith, and about 6 in the evening quitted his friends for his residence at Chelsea. On his way, he must have had a fit and fallen into a ditch, from which it appears that he could not extricate himself until nearly 3 o'clock in the morning. On the day after, he got up and shaved himself, but in the course of the evening was visited by another severe fit, which was succeeded by one on the Thursday, still more violent, and on the following day he died.

His remains were interred in the burial-ground of Chelsea New Church, attended to their final resting-place by his youngest son, aged 15; Mr. Fearman, his son-in-law; his brother-in-law Mr. Harrold; Mr. Fisher, father of Miss Clara Fisher; Mr. W. Evans, Mr. Thomas Grieve, Mr. Drinkwater Meadows, Mr. F. Matthews, Mr. Warner, and Mr. TILBURY. All the members of the dramatic corps would, from the high esteem they entertained for poor Blanchard, have attended his obsequies, had not his own particular relations wished the ceremony to be performed as privately as possible. He was fortunately a very old member of the Covent-garden Theatrical Fund, and hence his widow will receive for life an annuity of 40l. [£] per annum."

 
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[1835]

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Book: THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF A DRAMATIC AUTHOR'S LIFE
by Edward Fitzball (T. C. Newby - 30 Welbeck st., Cavendish sq., London - 1859)
vol. I, page 21

[Covent Garden] Osbaldiston's company consisted of G. Bennet, Collins, the singer, Haines, J. Webster, TILBURY, Manvers, C. Hill, Morley, Vale, Rogers, Collet, Mrs. Wm. West, Miss Taylor, (afterwards Mrs. Walter Lacey), Miss Turpin, (afterwards, as the pantomimists have it, Mrs. H. Wallack), a charming singer; then there was Mrs. Battersby, Miss Vincent, Mrs. Griffith, Miss Wrighton, and many others that I cannot recollect, with George Rodwell as our musical director ...."

vol. I, page 106

"... The yelping cry of legitimacy haunted him [Osbaldiston]" ... "Well we had what is called legitimacy; we had the very best authors and actors that could be engaged. In referring to the management of Osbaldiston, writers and speakers have always lost sight of this important fact. we had Charles Kemble, Macready, Vandenhoff, Elton, Farren, Power, Collins, H. Wallack, TILBURY, Webster, Mrs. West, Miss Helen Faucit, Miss Romer, Miss Turpin, Miss Taylor, and a whole phalanx of others nearly as good ...."

vol. II, page 33

"... my first introduction to the Adelphi Theatre, having been applied to, to adapt Sir Walter Scott's novel of 'Waverly', for Watkins Burroughs and delightful Mrs. Waylett ....

When Power quitted us, friend Osbaldiston handed over to me a French drama to translate, speedily brought out under the title of the Carmelites, in which he himself played, most excellently, Brissac, and John Webster, a very handsome young fellow, the other officer. TILBURY, Miss Turpin, and Miss Taylor and Mrs. Battersby making up the rear. This was a most excellent piece ...."

 
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1836

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Book: "GORE ON STAGE: THE PLAYS OF CATHERINE GORE"
by Gore (Routledge (UK), 1 May 1999)
ISBN 0815327358
(pages 17, 18):

16 April 1836
"... Covent Garden was the scene of Mrs. [Catherine] Gore's next historical drama, an adaptation of Casimir Delavigne's five-act comedy, 'Don Juan D'Autriche', ... entitled 'Don Juan of Austria', [which] began a twelve-performance run [into June] at Covent Garden on 16 April 1836, with the following cast:

"A special organ effect was advertised as 'Mr. Green's Seraphine' played by Mr. Land."

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TEMPLEMAN LIBRARY - UNIVERSITY OF KENT AT CANTERBURY
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS: PLAYBILLS

Playbill for the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, Bow street, London

30 May 1836 - 3 plays
"for one night only", to the benefit of Mr. Osbaldiston
JULIUS CAESAR; THE FOUR SISTERS; THE STEEL PAVILION; with songs
"The Four Sisters"
author: Mr. William Bayle Bernard (1807-1875)
actors: Mr. Pritchard, MR. TILBURY, Miss Pincott, Mrs. C. Hill, Mrs. Waylett
(ref:UKC/POS/LDN-COV:0595843)

 
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1839

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Book: REPRESENTATIVE BRITISH DRAMAS VICTORIAN AND MODERN PART ONE
edited by Montrose J. Moses (Kessinger Publishing, 1 April 2005)
ISBN 1417936614
(page 92)

"CAST OF RICHELIEU AS FIRST PRESENTED AT THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT GARDEN"

Alternative cast list, from
RICHELIEU OR THE CONSPIRACY, 1839
author: Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton
(Kessinger Publishing)

FIRST PERFORMED ON THURSDAY 7TH MARCH 1839 AT COVENT GARDEN

 
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1846

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6 January
Book: CHARLES DICKENS: THE STORY OF HIS LIFE
by John Camden Hotten (The Minerva Group, Inc. - 1 December 2001)
ISBN 0898756324

"THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH"

"During the summer and autumn of this year [1845] Mr. Dickens finished his new Christmas book, 'The Cricket on the Hearth (a Fairy Tale of Home)'; printed and published for the Author by Messrs. Bradbury & Evans, illustrated by Leech, Maclise and Stanfield, and dedicated to Lord Jeffrey." [...]

"The Lyceum was first in the field (21st December) ....

On 6th January following, Mr. WEBSTER's version of the story was placed on the Haymarket boards, with this strong cast:"

 
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Monday, April 13th

THE BIRDS
of Aristophanes
A Dramatic Experiment in One Act

Being an humble attempt to adapt the said "Birds" to this climate, by giving them new names, new feathers, new songs and new tales,

BY J. R. PLANCHÉ, ESQ.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Miss Horton: "Most Musical" but not "Most Melancholy"
Who on this particular occasion, has consented in the handsomest manner, to Mis-lead the Chorus,
and although a single Soprano, to supply a Parabasis.

Other Birds by a Flock of Auxiliaries from the Zoological Gardens.

 
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July-December
BLACKWOOD'S EDINBURGH MAGAZINE
"Things in General"
(page 637: discussion of "Dombey & Son" on stage)

"... the character of Mr. Chick, an old fool, who has a habit of whistling and humming droll tunes on the most solemn occasions, interrupting and interlarding conversation with "Right tol loor-rul," A cobbler there was," Rumpti-iddity bow, wow, wow!" Is it not certain that Mr. Dickens here had his eye on TILBURY or Bedford enacting the part? And for no other purpose whatever is this precious character introduced than to hit off this very original peculiarity!"

 
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Princeton University Library
Dept. of Rare Books & Special Collections, Manuscripts Division (TC042)

Letters by William Charles Macready to ... TILBURY, William Harries ...

 
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Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas, Austin, USA
Prints Collection, Folder List
Location: b-53.48

Description: TILBURY, William Harries, as Dr. Botts in "THE POOR RELATION" (not dated)

 
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1843-1847

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TEMPLEMAN LIBRARY - UNIVERSITY OF KENT AT CANTERBURY
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS: PLAYBILLS

Playbills for the Theatre Royal, Hay-Market, London
manager: Mr. Benjamin Webster (1797-1882)

25 October 1843 (to 28 October) - 4 plays:
LOUISON; WHO'S YOUR FRIEND; HE WOULD BE AN ACTOR; THE RAILROAD TRIP
"The Railroad Trip, or London, Birmingham, and Bristol"
author: Mr. John Maddison Morton (1811-1891)
actors: Mr. Buckstone, Mr. TILBURY, Mrs. Clifford [wife of W. Clifford?], Miss C. Connor
(ref.UKC/POS/LDN-HAY:0595902)

24 July 1846 (to 29 July) - 4 plays:
THE BLACK DOMINO; BOROUGH POLITICS; THE WONDERFUL WATER CURE; LEND ME FIVE SHILLINGS
"Borough Politics"
author: Mr. Westland Marston (1819-1890)
actors: Mr. Webster, Mr. TILBURY, Mrs. Glover, Mrs. Yarnold (wife of Edwin Yarnold)
"Lend Me Five Shillings"
author : Mr. John Maddison Morton (1811-1891)
actors: Mr. Buckstone, Mr. TILBURY, Miss P. Horton, Miss Telbin
(ref.UKC/POS/LDN-HAY:0595899)

23 December 1846 (to 26 December) - 3 plays:
THE ROUND OF WRONG; LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP; THE IRISH LION
"The Irish Lion"
author: Mr. John Baldwin Buckstone (1802-1879)
actors: Mr. Hudson, Miss P. Horton, Mr. TILBURY, Mrs. Stanley
musical arranger: Mr. T. G. Reed
(ref.UKC/POS/LDN HAY:0595898)

14 May 1847 (to 17 May) - 3 plays:
LONDON ASSURANCE; THE NEW PLANET (or HARLEQUIN OUT OF PLACE); THE IRISH POST
"The Irish Post"
author: Mr. J[ames] R[obinson] Planche (1796-1880)
actors: Mr. TILBURY, Mr. James Bland, Mrs. Humby, Mrs. Buckingham [wife of L. S. Buckingham?]
(ref.UKC/POS/LDN-HAY:0595896)

 
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1848

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THEATRE ROYAL HAY-MARKET
Mr. B. Webster, Sole Lessee
This evening, Saturday, April 29
12th time: "Old Honesty" & "Castle of Oranto"
4th time: a new and original apropos sketch, by the author of
"Did you ever send your wife to Camberwell"
(University of Texas, Playbill)

LOLA MONTES, or, A COUNTESS FOR AN HOUR

To be played every night but Wednesday - same bill on Monday

 
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THE SATIRIST (London)
29 April 1848
page 152, col. 1

"A clever apropos farce called Lola Montez or a Countess for an Hour, by the indefatigable Stirling Coyne, was brought forward on Wednesday evening. The heroine is not the notorious Betty Watson, but a clever little starcher, who, wishing to see court life, allows herself to be carried off by the officers of a German prince. The influence she carries over the elderly amorose is laughably exemplified, and the mock cachouca they dance is one of the most comic things imaginable; however, we must state that the manner in which Miss Kelley kicks the old gentleman is hardly in accordance with the refinement of the age. The horror of the stiff courtieurs and the dispair of the court barber, who is the real lover of the clear starcher, tend also to increase the fun of the piece. Mrs. Kelley plays as she alone can play, and Tilbury, as the foolish old potentate, acted up to her as near as man can go."

 
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THE SATIRIST (London)
27 May 1848
page 200, col 2

"Haymarket: Stirling Coyne’s Lola Montes or a Countess for an Hour, which was withdrawn by order of the Lord Chamberlain, through the said Lola Montez once having appertained to the ex-King of Bavaria, has been reproduced under the title of The Pas de Fascination; or, Catching a Govenor. The farce is still, to all intents and purposes, the same, although the scene now takes place in Russia, and the amourous prince is transformed into a Count Muffenuff, Governor of Neveraskwehr. The only really objectionable feature in the affair is still retained, we allude to the very vulgar mock cachuca, danced by Mrs. Kelley and Mr. Tilbury, in reference to which, we must say, that the manner in which the lady kicks the old gentleman behind, is certainly not before the spirit of the age."

 
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23, 25, July 1849

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THE ADELPHI THEATRE

William H. TILBURY appeared as Mr. Bartholomew Lane in "The Irish Post"

 
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13 December 1853

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William W. Appleton Collection of Early British Theater Letters
Columbia University NY, USA
Summary of a 3-page letter:

TILBURY, W. H.
To T. F. Robson (1822?-1864), Actor, Haymarket

'Complimenting his performances. Robson played Desmarets in 'Plot and Passion' by Tom Taylor and Jem Bags in ___ by Henry Mayhew, both in 1853.'

 
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1869 (publication)

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Book: THE WORKS OF DOUGLAS JERROLD
by Douglas William Jerrold - 1869
Page 157

"...theatre [Haymarket] and bringing fortune to the manager - about ninety nights. Mr. Farren, Mr. Charles Mathews, Mr. Strickland, Mr. Buckstone, Mr. TILBURY, Miss Fortescue, Madame Vestris, Mrs. Glover, and Mrs. Humby, were included in ..."

 
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William Harries TILBURY (1806-1884) was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery

(Listed in "Paths of Glory: A Select Alphabetical and Biographical List of Persons of Note Commemorated at the Cemetery of All Souls at Kensal Green", publication available from the Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery.)

 
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University of Kent Special Collections

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