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 Hamburg was destroyed by fire, Atkinson at once went there: some of his work there was so admired by the Emperor of Russia, that heengaged him to go as architect to St. Petersburg. The Emperor sent him to make surveys in Siberia, and employed him on various works in different and distant parts of the empire. He extended his travels beyond the Russian territory. In 1858, he published his first volume of travels, "Oriental and Western Siberia," and in 1860, "Travels in the Regions of the Upper and Lower Amoor and Russian Acquisitions on the Confines of India and China, by Thomas Witlam Atkinson, F.R.G.S., F.G.S., author of Oriental and Western Siberia." It was dedicated by special permission to Her Majesty, and published by Hurst and Blackett. He presented a copy of his works to the village Library which still has the inscription, "Presented to the Cawthome Library with the best wishes for its success by T. W. Atkinson. 1st Nov. 1860." His first work was in 1819, "Gothic Ornaments from the different Cathedrals and Churches in England." In 1860, he came as a guest to Cannon Hall from the Rev. C. S. Stanhope's at Weaverham, and was present at the annual Harvest Thanksgiving and its Evening Meeting on Nov. 1. He died August, 1861, in his 62nd year, leaving a son born in Tartary, now in Honolulu, and two daughters, one of whom, Miss Emma Wilshere Atkinson, has written the "Lives of the Queens of Prussia" and other works.

One headstone is "In Memory of Seven Men who lost their lives at Bamby Colliery by Fire Damp" in 1805, and others speak of accident in the mine. John Livesley's epitaph tells us he "was Parish Clerk, Perpetual Overseer of the Poor, and Collector of the King's Taxes for a number of years": he is still remembered by a few as the "factotum" of the Parish: he died in 1833. "Juliet Frances Parkinson who died at the Parsonage June 11th, 1852," was a sister of the Curate at that time. The Armitages of Willroyd have several monuments, and there is one to a Mr. Robert Overend, solicitor, of Kirkburton, through his wife being a daughter of Charles Marshall of Dean Hill, who died in 1820.

There is a charming view over the valley from the steps at the West Entrance of the Churchyard, and the fine old elm near the Tower, which was some years ago struck with lightning, is sure to