|
Although Norman Forbes was never as well known as his brother Johnston Forbes-Robertson, he
was a distinguished Shakespearean and played many roles; so many, in fact, that it will be
easiest simply to list the plays and parts by years: He made his stage debut in 1875 at the Gaiety Theatre, London, as Sir Harry Guildford in Henry VIII. He also played in Twelfth Night that same year. In 1879 he joined Sir Henry Irving in The Merchant of Venice. 1881: Paris in Romeo and Juliet with Wilson Barrett. From 1883 until 1887 he joined Sir Henry Irving's company at the Lyceum Theatre and in those years he played Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing, Gratiano in The Merchant of Venice, Rosencrantz in Hamlet, and Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night. In 1890 he joined Lilly Langtry for a production of As You Like It. In 1896 he again joined Irving's company and acted as Cloten in Cymbeline, played in Richard III, took the parts of Gobbo and Shylock in several productions of The Merchant of Venice, and, again, Sir Andrew Aguecheek. In 1904 he once more played both Gobbo and Shylock. In 1906 he joined Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to take the part of Lepidus in Antony and Cleopatra. Besides these roles he played at various times in his career Wolsey in Henry VIII, Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet. In 1916 he acted in several films, but his career in the cinema seems to have lasted only that one year. According to Ann Mills he toured America with Ellen Terry. Ellen called him the politest man in Britain. |
|
STOCKS MILL, WITTERSHAM This large white weatherboarded post mill on its single-storey tarred brick roundhouse, is the largest postmill in Kent. Though originally carrying common sweeps, four single-shuttered spring sets had been in use for most of its life, The mill is winded by a tail-pole and talthur and never had a fantail. It drove two pairs of stones overdrift, one each at breast and tail respectively. Its centre post is one of the stoutest to be seen on any mill. It stood on six foot high brick piers. The mill was built in 1781 and there is a date carved on the post "RV 1781", though this may possibly record the date of its removal as some think it started life at a previous site. The mill stopped work in 1900 and both the mill and the nearby Tudor-style millhouse were purchased by the Edwardian actor, Norman Forbes-Robertson. He took a keen interest in the mill and kept it in good order and well repaired during his ownership. However, the mill still needed extensive repairs by 1958 when new sweeps were fitted; more repairs were needed again in 1968. The mill was purchased by Kent County Council who undertook major restoration in 1980, fittingnew sweeps and repairing and repaintingthe woodwork. The mill has been firmly anchored by the tail-pole and massive steps; though the sweeps are shutter-less, they are turned annually through 90degrees to relieve strain. Nearly all the machinery has been dispersed. The mill is open to the public by the "Friends of Stocks Mill" on summer Sunday afternoons. LOCATION: Beside the B2082 road, 1 mile north-east of the village of Wittersham. GRID REF: TQ 132273 |
| His age was given as 39 in 1901 which puts his birth in 1862. He was actually 43 |