Naturalist Gilbert White (1720 – 1793) lived in the village of Selborne in Hampshire and his home is now a museum. I keep meaning to visit, but it is extremely close to Chawton, and it is Jane Austen’s home that draws me every time.
Gilbert White shared his home with a female tortoise who rejoiced in the name of Timothy (it was only discovered after White’s death that Timothy was actually female). Timothy, a rare and exotic Greek spur-thighed tortoise, was purchased from a sailor at Chichester Harbour. Timothy then lived with Gilbert White’s aunt, Rebecca Snooke, in East Sussex, but White adopted the creature in 1780 and kept the tortoise for the rest of its life. He documented her habits, hibernation, escape attempts (Timothy was adventurous and liked to venture out of the grounds, sometimes resulting in her being missing for days at a time – White suspected her of amorous pursuits) and feeding requirements (Timothy liked lettuce and was also partial to dandelions). The creature makes regular appearances in White’s important book The Natural History of Selborne. In 1782, for example, he recorded: “This hot weather makes the tortoise so alert that he traverses all the garden by six o’clock in the morning. When the sun grows very powerful he retires under a garden-mat, or the shelter of some cabbage; not loving to be about in vehement heat. In such weather, he eats greedily.”
Timothy died in 1794 (a year after Gilbert White). Her carapace was preserved and is now a treasured exhibit in London’s Natural History Museum. Today, the town of Selborne has adopted Timothy as a symbol, and the tortoise has inspired children’s books and educational programmes. Timothy has also been immortalised in art. In 1789, Swiss artist Samuel Hieronymus Grimm depicted Timothy in his illustrations for White’s book, distinguished artist Eric Ravilious sketched the tortoise for another edition, and a recent exhibition held in Chichester, England, had pictures of Timothy by contemporary artists. Gilbert White’s The Natural History of Selborne has never been out of print.
Watch this short, interesting piece on YouTube about Timothy’s shell in the Natural History Museum:
I found it so interesting learning about Timothy that I’ve decided my next visit to Hampshire MUST include a visit to the Gilbert White House, and when next in London I plan to pop into the Natural History Museum so I can view what is left of White’s beloved pet. I hope you have also found it interesting learning about this unusual pet. Do let me know what you think by leaving a comment.
Selected links for relevant websites, books, movies, videos, and more. Some of these links lead to protected content on this website, learn more about that here.
The Natural History of Selborne by Gilbert White
The Natural History of Selborne by Gilbert White
Gilbert White House
National History Museum: Gilbert White, the modern naturalist
Pallant House Gallery: Timothy the tortoise, man’s best friend
Artistic Horizons: Timothy the tortoise
The Guardian: Fourth most published book in English language to go online
Lafebervet: Greek or Spur-Thighed Tortoise
Jenny Gray
As children we had 2 tortoises as pets, but they were more likely terapins or turtles. The first my mother found walking along the street as she was taking me to pre-school kindergarten in Marrickville, Sydney. She was so worried it would wander onto the road and be squished by a car, so she picked it up and took it home. I can’t remember where the other came from, but we named them Bertie and Gertie.
Susannah Fullerton
Great names for them! Were they responsive pets????