Lillian Wilson

Lillian Barton was the daughter of wealthy Worcestershire carpet manufacturer John Evelyn Barton of Astley Hall, Stourport. Like many privileged young women at that time, archery was their chosen pastime/sport, but it was not until late in her career that Barton, later Lillian Wilson following her marriage to barrister Thomas Wilson in 1886, that she enjoyed her finest moments.

Wilson had the third best score after the two rounds of the 1908 Southern Counties Championship at Beddington Park, Surrey, behind two greats of the sport, Lottie Dod and Queenie Newall. Wilson then competed in the Double National Round at the London Olympics and finished a creditable eighth, with Newall and Dod winning gold and silver. Wilson followed that by taking the prize for the greatest number of hits from 60 yards at that year’s Grand National meeting at Oxford for the national championships.

Lillian Wilson died in the Southampton suburb of Bitterne aged just 44 in 1909.