Arguably the oldest tortoise in the UK at the time.
On 3 April, 2004, Powderham Castle in Devon announced the sad passing of their beloved Timothy. An important family member, Timothy was a special spur-thighed tortoise.
He spent a lot of his life as a resident of the rose garden at Powderham, after his arrival there in 1935. And it was here that he died.
But Timothy had led an international life, even sailing the high seas.
Timothy was taken off a Portugese privateer warship in 1854, by Capt John Guy Courtenay-Everard of the Royal Navy, during the Crimean War. And he lived as a mascot aboard various Royal Navy ships until 1892, at the grand age of 48.
I’m guessing Timothy’s fortuitous finding by Capt John saved him from the common fate of tortoises being a food source on many sailing ships – where sailors would keep tortoises alive onboard as a source of fresh meat on board whilst sea. They would be stored in the hold for months at a time without food and water in a state of hibernation. Let’s move on.
He was hatched in around 1844 and believed to have been born on the Mediterranean shores of Turkey.
Timothy the tortoise with her warning tag on in 1998 (Image: Marc Hill (Apex))
At his career retirement Timothy took up residence at the Courtenay family home, headed by the Earl of Devon at Powderham Castle and was under the wing of Lady Gabrielle Courtenay , herself aged 91, at the time of his death at age 160.
Timothy led a roving life around the garden and reportedly was disturbed by the bombing around Powderham and Exeter in WWII, digging himself a shelter to hide under some garden steps. Timothy was a well known character to visitors.
And many remember him wandering around with a tag attached saying “ My name is Timothy, I am very old. Please don’t pick me up !”
Lady Devon described Timothy as being solar panelled and much faster in summer weather. And whilst keen upon strawberries, Timothy was also fond of Castor oil and azalea blossom
On Timothy’s underside was etched a translation of the Courtenay family motto – “Where have I fallen? What have I done?”
In 1926, the family decided Timothy was of prime age to find a mate . It was at this point that we discovered that Timothy was , in fact, a she!
Any mating was unsuccessful and despite the revelation, our now lady tortoise kept the name Timothy.
She is buried at Powderham Castle