Alexander Wortley
Encyclopedia
Alexander Stuart Wortley (b. 1899 in York
, d. 1980), was an English eccentric
.
A Royal Navy veteran, he serverd in the Battle of Jutland
aboard HMS Agincourt
as runner to Captain Thynne. Alexander Wortley died aged 80 having lived his last 20 years in a green painted box in a garden in Rowley Cottage, Langley Park, Buckinghamshire
, donated by friend David Moreau. It measured 5 x 4 x 3 feet with an extension for his feet and small enough, he was quoted as saying, to keep women out. He paid no rent, rates or taxes and did not believe in insurance, pensions or governments. It was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the smallest residence of the world.
Wortley was one of ten children. His mother Mary was one of the 35 women killed by the Barnbow
munitions explosion in 1916.
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, d. 1980), was an English eccentric
Eccentricity (behavior)
In popular usage, eccentricity refers to unusual or odd behavior on the part of an individual. This behavior would typically be perceived as unusual or unnecessary, without being demonstrably maladaptive...
.
A Royal Navy veteran, he serverd in the Battle of Jutland
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle between the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet during the First World War. The battle was fought on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark. It was the largest naval battle and the only...
aboard HMS Agincourt
HMS Agincourt (1913)
HMS Agincourt was a dreadnought built in the early 1910s. The ship was originally ordered by Brazil, but the collapse of the rubber boom plus a lessening of the rivalry with Argentina led to her resale while still under construction to the Ottoman Empire who renamed her as Sultan Osman I...
as runner to Captain Thynne. Alexander Wortley died aged 80 having lived his last 20 years in a green painted box in a garden in Rowley Cottage, Langley Park, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, donated by friend David Moreau. It measured 5 x 4 x 3 feet with an extension for his feet and small enough, he was quoted as saying, to keep women out. He paid no rent, rates or taxes and did not believe in insurance, pensions or governments. It was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the smallest residence of the world.
Wortley was one of ten children. His mother Mary was one of the 35 women killed by the Barnbow
Barnbow
Barnbow was a munitions factory situated near the city of Leeds during World War I. It was officially known as National Filling Factory No. 1. In 1916 the factory suffered the worst tragedy in the history of the city , when a massive explosion killed 35 of the women who worked there.After the...
munitions explosion in 1916.