Wavellite
- Description
- Dr William Wavell born in Horwood, Barnstaple discovered Wavellite in 1805. This example of Wavellite has radiating acicular crystals on siltstone and is most likely from the High Down Quarry, Filleigh where Dr Wavell made his original discovery.
- Accession Loan No.
- 1994.1.1
- Common Name
- Wavellite
- Simple Name
- Mineral
- Full Name
- Wavellite
- Material
- Mineral
There are 2 comments
I am researching William Wavell and Wavellite. William Wavell M.D., FRS, was born on the Isle of Wight. He eventually started a medical practise in Barnstaple and bought a house which stood on Castle Green. There is no evidence to say he ever owned property in Horwood but in later life as a widower he went to live with his married daughter Maria Barston Wavell at Horwoord Vicarage. He died there in 1829. Sorry but half of what is written about William Wavell is nonsense!
Hi, there are a number of mistakes in your description of Wavell and Wavellite. I am researching William Wavell and the mineral. William was born on the Isle of Wight and was an orphan at the age of eight. He disappears for a time and does not follow the family tradition of attending Winchester College. He next appears in archived material as in the practice of William Curtis (the William Curtis who started Curtis’s Magazine). Wavell & Curtis went on botanical trips together and as a result of going to Clapham Common, Wavell met his future wife. His wife’s family provided the money for Wavell to buy out the practice of Curtis who then used the funds to start his magazine. Wavell moved to Barnstaple in circa 1776 and lived in Barnstaple. He knew of Wavellite at least by 1795 but it may of been found by others prior to this. Wavell lived at Horwood House only for the last three years of his life with his only daughter and his son in law Rev. Dene. Wavell has the credit for bringing Wavellite to the attention of the Scientific Community.