Shep's Place Family Tree

Village News 01 DEC 2009

The Panter family was one of the most important families in and around Whitchurch a century and half ago. This name is possibly known to our readers simply because of the inscription on the Clock Tower.

Because of her investigation into the history of the Tower, Penny Walshe ‎(a major member of the Clock Tower Grant proposal team)‎ came upon Christobel Panter a great-great grand daughter of John Leach Panter, the most important member of the family.

The Panters owned several properties in the area including “The Clock House” ‎(now known as “Marsden”)‎. It was in the corner of Miss Amelia Panter’s house that the Tower was erected in memory of her brothers and sisters in 1867.

The Tower was built in 6 months for a total of £200! We do not know the cost of the clock but it must surely have been less than the cost of the building itself.

John Leach Panter, one of nine children, left school at 15 and went to work as clerk in London. After three years he was offered a job in the West Indies, again as a clerk. After many years in the Americas he returned to work in London. He became a wealthy man and bought a number of houses in the Ross/ Whitchurch area for members of his extended family many of whom are buried in Llangrove and Ganarew.

None of the Panters were, however, buried in Whitchurch for apparently there had been a disagreement with the Vicar of St. Dubricius.