Timothy The Tortoise: The Remarkable Story Of The Nation's Oldest Pet

by Rory Knight Bruce

Timothy made his first appearance in the nation's history when he was a ship's mascot in the Crimean War in 1854. After a long naval career, he retired for a quieter life on land and was given to the Earl of Devon in 1892. From then until his untimely death in April 2004, he lived in Powderham Castle where he was much loved by family and visitors alike. Lady Gabrielle Courtenay, now 91, looked after him for the second half of his life, and she recalls the great stories and escapades involving Timothy: how he got drunk on azalea blossom, and how the family had to buy a special tortoise train ticket for him when they went on their holidays in the 1920s. Timothy's story is not just the tale of a remarkable tortoise, it is a social history of the last century and a half. Rory Knight Bruce has spoken to all those who knew him best, from the Devons to the aged retainers at the castle who looked after him. He was a symbol of continuity, and this is a warm and nostalgic account of the life he lived.

Genres: Nonfiction

162 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a nice look at an unusual subject; the resident tortoise at Powderham Castle, best known to me as the location for the film of The Remains Of The Day. The author had first met him while aged four, on a visit to Timothy in the rose garden, and later returned to interview him. Timothy, a Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise, died at a great age.

The tale of course has to visit all the good and famous people who owned either Timothy - since the Crimean War - or the castle - the earls of Devon and their families. We see how tortoises were used as live food stores aboard ship, how bombing made Timothy dig his own bomb shelter, and his rich diet of strawberries, dandelions and wisteria blossoms.

We explore the social history background, how punitive death duties on the estates caused the carving up of the huge land masses and selling off of homes. One heir after another came into a title and was killed during wars, the swift accumulation of tax occurring at a time when estates were largely funded by rents and agriculture and so could not double their income. Some estates went to commercial forestry and others to mink farms according to my wider reading, but the Courtenay family started a school of domestic science for ladies who no longer kept servants, opened hospitality ventures and opened the estate house to visitors. And filming.

Timothy died in 2004 at over 160 years old, and had touched many lives from the start of his career as a ship's mascot. Well done for taking the time to celebrate him. The author says he would like timothesis officially used as a word for wisdom in old age.

I read this book from the RDS Library. This is an unbiased review.

[sisterimapoet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not that interested in history or in the English aristocracy - but I am interested in all things tortoise. This book achieved a pleasing balance. It gave a great insight into the passage of history that took place during this little fellows life, and also precious glimpses of how he drifted gently through his days.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick read but hardly about the tortoise. Much more detail about the castle and family that owned him.

[^ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quirky book, which I found yesterday in a charity shop close to home. I bought it because, by coincidence, I had visited Powderham Castle only a week previously.

I say ‘odd’ because although I quite enjoyed this easy light read, I detected a whiff that the author had been uncertain as to how exactly to pull together sufficient material to produce a coherent narrative, and how to present it for sale at £10.00.

I suppose that his principle difficulty centred on the obvious: that a tortoise tends not to live a terribly exciting and event packed life. So Mr Knight Bruce has stuffed his book with memories and anecdotes both about and recounted by the Devon (and extended) family. This is all very interesting, and is often charmingly amusing; but he doesn’t necessarily shed much light ‘under the shell’ so to say. Mr Knight Bruce then fills the last pages of his book with a timeline of world events which took place during Timothy’s long life. That distastefully shrieked ‘space filler’ to me.

The English love their animals with a passion. The simple innocence, patience, and permanence of a long-lived tortoise is found in few humans. Those readers who own a tortoise may be interested to learn more of Timothy’s diet. I know of tortoises who like to eat dandelion leaves; but I’ve never before thought to offer a tortoise a (ducal) strawberry to tempt the interest.

At this point it must be said that, alas, Timothy is no more. RIP gentle tortoise (c.1844 – 2004). A week ago this book was not displayed for sale in the castle gift shop. English Good Taste prevailed; neither were there any stuffed soft toy nor sofa cushion ‘tortoises’ for sale.

The 18th Earl of Devon continues to cast a benign eye over and actively guide the fortunes of his lovely home, deer park, and, thanks to death-duties (taxes) his decreasing estate. The cherishment of long-term family contentment within the pages of this book mirrors the very real and warm pleasure of visiting the castle as a paying tourist. The spirit of Timothy can well be imagined purposefully plodding – all tortoises plod purposefully; some plod surprisingly quickly – along in the warm fragrant September sunshine of the Rose Garden; watching the generations of the nobility, their staff, and their visitors come and go, come and go, come and go.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice easy little book with lots of anecdotes