Smike

Here lies the remains of George Ashton Taylor, son of John Taylor of Trowbridge, Wilts; who died suddenly at Mr William Shaw's Academy of this place April 13th 1822 Aged 19 years.
Was William Shaw the 'Wackford Squeers' of 'Dotheboy's Hall' ? Yorkshire school of ill repute in the early Nineteenth century.
Was George Ashton Taylor the inspiration for 'Smike' in Charles Dicken's 'Nicholas Nickleby'? Treated badly by the Squeers family and rescued by Nicholas Nickleby; sadly to no avail.
Photographed at St Gile's church in Bowes this afternoon.
Charles Dickens and his writings was instrumental in the closure of these sub standard academies.