Enoch Hall's Grave

Enoch Hall is a great nineteenth-century name and it belonged to an interesting nineteenth-century man. He was the master at the village school at Elslack, which our regulars from Skipton and Grassington pass each Sunday as they head to the county boundary. Furthermore, he served the village school from 1844 to 1872, finally called into eternity in 1888. He lies buried in the grounds of his parish church, close by his schoolhouse. Victorian school teachers were formidable figures at the best of times, and were certainly able to wield greater discipline and respect than members of the contemporary profession.

Before he became a teacher, however, Enoch Hall served as a soldier. He was one of Napoleon Bonapart's guards, and helped escort the former French Emperor to his final prison on the remote and tiny island of St Helena in the South Atlantic. Having previously escaped from a balmier exile on Elba in the Mediterranean, the victors were less inclined than ever to see the old Frenchman escape again and start afresh his conquest of Europe; Mr Enoch Hall was part of the British Government’s plan to ensure this never happened. His memorial describes him as ‘severe and stern’, while exhibiting warmer qualities to those who knew him.  

I suspect that the little delinquents and tearaways were nothing compared to the wily Frenchman who came close to becoming world dictator. Mr Enoch Hall’s firmness of character and intolerance of nonsense was just what Napoleon needed - and the kiddies of Elslack, too. May all of us, in our capacities as teachers, parents, pastors, friends and employers, know when to indulge and pander, turning a blind eye and overlooking offense, and when to 'put our foot down', be firm and plain, offering just rebuke.

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him. Proverbs 22:15

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool’s back. Proverbs 26:3