#265, Thomas (Tom) FARR

Tom was educated at Fauconberg Grammar School, Uppingham and in London.

He is thought to have gone to Ceylon in 1870 (though his letter dated 14/4/1889 says I have been here 12 years which would make his date of arrival 1877) with a friend to plant coffee but actually established a Tea plantation on Horton Plain at 7000 ft.

He called his house Farr Inn and the estate was named North Cove, after North Cove Hall in Suffolk, his family's home for 10 generations. He was known as the 'Father of Ceylon Tea'.

In 1916 he rented Chittlehamholt Manor House near Chittlehampton, N Devon, where he became Church Warden, Chairman of the Parish Council and School Manager. He died there of Prostate Cancer on 9th November 1919 and was buried in the churchyard.  The parish magazine carried this entry on 20th November 1919:

The parish has sustained a loss in the death of Mr Farr of the Manor House, who passed peacefully away after a long, but patiently borne, illness.  He held the positions of Church Warden, Chairman of the Parish Council, and School Manager.  He was of such a kindly disposition that he became endeared to everyone, especially the school children, for whom he always had a warm smile and cheery word.  The sympathy of the parishioners goes out to Mrs. Farr in her great bereavement.