Weavers, Wanderers & Wigneys traces the remarkable history of the Wigney family from humble weaving origins in Yorkshire to their rapid rise in the eighteenth century as wealthy bankers and brewers, becoming the pillars of society in Regency Brighton, spawning one of Brighton's first MPs, Isaac Newton Wigney, who later resigned after the collapse of the Wigney Bank, Although his descendants married well, they were to be involved in divorces, tragedies, elopements - even murders. But there were also poor, God-fearing Wigneys.
Some Wigneys stayed in London, others emigrated to Australia, America and Canada. William Wigney V even fought in the American Civil War.
In charting the Wigney family history, Tim and Heather King have created a roller-coaster ride, based on personal memoirs, newspaper reports and exhaustive research. Set against a background of profound historical and social change, and lavishly illustrated, this book is an absolute must for anyone fascinated by the many lives and generations, grand and modest, that make up all our family histories.
About the authors
Dr Tim King, author, biologist and grassland ecologist, has produced the most complete explanation of any plant community in terms of population dynamics of its species, that of the CG7 ant-hill community. As scientific ecologist he has published 17 papers, mainly on the ant Lasius flavus and plants. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, he has written ten textbooks, including the seminal introductory text, Ecology, has taught at Oxford Uniiversity and the Open University, and was a deputy head at Abingdon School after teaching at Westminster School and Magdalen College School, Oxford. Tim is also completing his first popular science book, Could an Ant Ride a Bicycle? For more details see: www.timking.co.uk.
Heather Fiske King née Wigney, is an artist. For years, helped by other worldwide members of the Wigney clan, she had researched her family history and become fascinated by their undiscovered stories. For more details see: http: //oxfordartsociety.co.uk/painters/king-heather/.
