A Barnstaple Boy

Known as Barnstaple's biggest benefactor, William came from a humble background. The son of a shoemaker in the High Street, a visiting friend luckily recognized William's early intellect and helped him secure a place at Christ's Hospital School, London.  

Partnering with Thomas De La Rue, Rock helped invent a technique to reproduce fashionable Tuscan straw bonnets out of cheaper waterproof coloured paper. Subsequently he created the prosperous 'Wholesale Fancy Stationers' with his brother Henry, securing his fortune.      

William was the oldest of five children. A loving and responsible brother, Rock sent for his family, once he had secured his fortunes in London. His brother's Henry and Richard became business partners whilst his sister’s Prudence and Ann ran an ornamental stationer's shop in Greenwich.  

A devoted Christian and philanthropist William always held a great affection for Barnstaple. In 1845 he helped establish the Literacy and Scientific Institution. Furnishing the library with 600 books, Rock ensured 100 free memberships were provided every year to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.    

Following the Institute's success in 1888 Rock transferred the original collections to the building the museum occupies today, creating the ‘North Devon Athenaeum’. Gifting £12,000, a huge sum of money at the time, the Athenaeum remained for 100 years before moving to Barnstaple Library.       

Rock's contribution to Barnstaple wasn’t just in education. Working with Mayor John Chanter he secured land along Taw Vale and 'Rock Park' was officially opened to the public in 1879. Originally the park included a mound known as "Rock's Mount" formed from the remains of a lime kiln. This was replaced with a bandstand. Later additions included tennis courts, swimming baths, a boating lake and golf course.     

Rock was an outspoken activist who helped fund fellow reformers. He wrote open letters to the papers in London, Kent and North Devon attacking injustice and championing the poor.  One such incident involved a cholera epidemic in Barnstaple, where a year later, authorities had done nothing to improve conditions. Writing an open letter to the papers, Rock’s statement ‘Let the Rich Pay’ was circulated widely throughout North Devon.  

William Frederick Rock died on February 9th 1890 at the age of 88. His friend John Roberts Chanter, visited Rock just days before his death, reporting that he could not speak, but tried to do so; Chanter thought, however, that he could make out one word... "Barnstaple".