tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040959712765757212024-03-18T16:51:24.517+00:00Landed families of Britain and IrelandOn this site, which was short-listed for the SAHGB Colvin Prize in 2019, I present the results of my research into the landowning families of the British Isles and the country houses which they owned. Comments, especially in the form of corrections, additional information or new illustrations, are very welcome. Please use the Contact Form in the right hand side bar to contact me privately or the comments facility at the bottom of the page to make a public comment.Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.comBlogger536125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-65264167005290194822024-02-23T16:43:00.008+00:002024-02-25T11:31:16.467+00:00(570) Berens of Kevington Hall<span style="font-family: georgia;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvfBrp2fdYo9X-6TKFhdMbd6Uq00Wg2Uc6SUvZT1wy-folrbCxu3nFgcA2taNxU8iOdeFizRFuw7qYUcr2JW959tsXm3O7wQfygpLOMOja6frmbxCn5bHH_eyUKMNQKtIH7UC6Ml75QpHLz7kmbL1ziI4QdjCRlcZLHLbkiRDaCJySODClkaQ2lMGUZC_/s1200/Berens%20of%20Kevington.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvfBrp2fdYo9X-6TKFhdMbd6Uq00Wg2Uc6SUvZT1wy-folrbCxu3nFgcA2taNxU8iOdeFizRFuw7qYUcr2JW959tsXm3O7wQfygpLOMOja6frmbxCn5bHH_eyUKMNQKtIH7UC6Ml75QpHLz7kmbL1ziI4QdjCRlcZLHLbkiRDaCJySODClkaQ2lMGUZC_/w167-h200/Berens%20of%20Kevington.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Berens of Kevington</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The Berens or Behrens family name is said to originate in Schleswig-Holstein on the borders of Germany and Denmark, but the branch of the family that came to England in the 18th century were previously established as merchants in Amsterdam (Netherlands). The use of a black bear on their coat of arms suggests the family's mercantile interests may have begun in the Russian and/or Baltic trade, but during the 18th century they became general shipping merchants, trading with the Dutch East Indies, British India and North America, and the countries of western and southern Europe. Herman Berens (c.1702-91), with whom the genealogy below begins, was evidently living and working in England by 1732, when he took British nationality. By the 1740s he was in partnership in London with his brother John Berens (d. 1787), who was naturalised in 1762, although the two brothers later traded separately. In March 1761 John suffered a daring robbery of plate at his house in Copthall Court, London, and this experience may have prompted his decision to buy a property at Southgate (Middx), where he built a handsome villa to the designs of Sir Robert Taylor in 1762-63, which he called Beaver Hall. This house, which was sold by John's executors in 1790 and greatly extended soon afterwards, is recorded in its original form in a sketch plan and pencil elevation by William Newton, who visited in 1765.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1eAMQGccrtM5h9vFM8a_V1rYhYdacZQOaazK_PyWDHW_3DRj0ehyphenhyphenXttUWhmhqk6bP4HMUD_THXcIZNBDN15ddPsrXf4POh7i8mRMoFHxp-Rc_9Ow6izDOhsXHmYynNP8VlleaYsDfqnQZsb0Pzt8ugFr_zLQfmvnydOIz7QcYiUccOHWbuEw8s-UY5JD/s581/Beaver%20Hall,%20Southgate%201%20RIBA%20sketch%20by%20Wm%20Newton%201765.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="472" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1eAMQGccrtM5h9vFM8a_V1rYhYdacZQOaazK_PyWDHW_3DRj0ehyphenhyphenXttUWhmhqk6bP4HMUD_THXcIZNBDN15ddPsrXf4POh7i8mRMoFHxp-Rc_9Ow6izDOhsXHmYynNP8VlleaYsDfqnQZsb0Pzt8ugFr_zLQfmvnydOIz7QcYiUccOHWbuEw8s-UY5JD/w274-h337/Beaver%20Hall,%20Southgate%201%20RIBA%20sketch%20by%20Wm%20Newton%201765.jpg" width="274" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Beaver Hall, Southgate: sketch plan and pencil elevation of the <br />house as first built, drawn by William Newton, 1765. Image: RIBA</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0YLtK_PcO7DuSos79WTbLHlsnOAHz_S5kvsGUzOrsrHYkawbTg3sD1oM-TDdACS9YNspVgkIGDnDPt1p4gs0hf6dHCNaV1VZWRXDG7Z_tHCXQ-YU_Fq4prdPVnaN82IdIJ3bafKuDq2hjNonpoZJVvXHmX0nucBDYGAD6TK2JTHAfEm0PCI0WwdV0X6j/s856/Beaver%20Hall,%20Southgate%204%20c1870.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="856" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0YLtK_PcO7DuSos79WTbLHlsnOAHz_S5kvsGUzOrsrHYkawbTg3sD1oM-TDdACS9YNspVgkIGDnDPt1p4gs0hf6dHCNaV1VZWRXDG7Z_tHCXQ-YU_Fq4prdPVnaN82IdIJ3bafKuDq2hjNonpoZJVvXHmX0nucBDYGAD6TK2JTHAfEm0PCI0WwdV0X6j/w351-h180/Beaver%20Hall,%20Southgate%204%20c1870.jpg" width="351" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Beaver Hall, Southgate: the house c.1870, showing it as enlarged c.1790. <br />Image: Enfield Local Studies Collection</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b></b></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">John's brother, Herman Berens, would undoubtedly have been familiar with Beaver Hall, and probably also knew Taylor personally as they were both active in the city of London. It is no surprise, therefore, that when Herman followed his brother's lead and bought a villa outside London, in his case Kevington Hall at St Mary Cray (Kent), it was to Taylor that he turned to modernise and enlarge it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Herman's purchase of a country villa began the family's transition from city merchants to landed gentry, which was continued by his only surviving son Joseph Berens (1745-1825), whose marriage connected them to the greater gentry. Like his father, Joseph was a director of the Hudson's Bay Company, but he seems to have retired from business in 1795 and devoted himself to the traditional roles of the landed gentry, as a justice of the peace and an officer in the local volunteers. His four sons were all sent to Oxford, and the two eldest went on Lincoln's Inn and became barristers, while the others went into the church and academia. The eldest son, Joseph Berens junior (1773-1853), succeeded in combining a significant position in the city (being Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, 1812-22) with his role as a landowner. He married a daughter of Richard Benyon of Gidea Hall (Essex) and Englefield House (Berks), and had five sons and one daughter. His eldest son, William Joseph Berens (1800-54), had pursued a career in the army, but he was terminally ill and in the throes of a messy divorce when his father died, and Kevington passed to his younger brother, Richard Beauvoir Berens (1801-59). Like his father, Richard was a barrister and pursued a career in the city, being Governor of the New River Co. - responsible for much of London's water supply - from 1847 until his death.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Richard was in turn succeeded at Kevington by his elder son, Richard Benyon Berens (1834-1916), who was the first of the family not to combine a career in the city with his responsibilities as a landowner. In 1883, he inherited the Culford Hall estate in Suffolk from his kinsman, the Rev. Edward Richard Benyon, but he sold it about five years later. He married the daughter of a leading lawyer and had nine children, several of whom predeceased him. His heir apparent, Richard Berens (1864-1909), was a barrister who was married but left no children, and his next son, the Rev. George Berens (later Berens-Dowdeswell) (1866-1945), was expected to inherit the Pull Court estate in Worcestershire from a cousin. When Richard died in 1916, therefore, he left Kevington to his widow, Fanny Georgina (c.1840-1924), with remainder to his fifth son, Cecil Berens (1869-1933), who had studied at the Royal Agricultural College and become a land agent. He had two sons and two daughters, but his younger son, a pilot in the RAF, died in an unexplained flying accident over Southampton Water in 1932. When he died in 1933, Cecil left a surprisingly large estate, in excess of £140,000, and it is not clear what the source of this wealth - six times what his father had left in 1916 - was. His elder son, Herbert Cecil Benyon Berens (1908-91), who became an accountant and merchant banker and amassed a considerable fortune, inherited Kevington, but the house was requisitioned for military use in the Second World War. By the time it was returned to the family the tentacles of London suburbia were creeping towards St Mary Cray and rather than repair and reoccupy the house he chose to sell it to Kent County Council for use as a primary school and to buy the more rural Bentworth Hall near Alton in Hampshire as a replacement seat. Bentworth was a less impressive house than Kevington, and probably rather smaller, but Herbert enlarged it with the addition of a single-storey wing (which ironically looks rather like a primary school classroom block). He lived at Bentworth until his death, after which it was sold, marking the close of the family's period as landed gentry.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Kevington Hall, St Mary Cray, Kent</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The estate belonged from later medieval times until the mid 18th century to the Manning family, whose house here was known as Manning's Hall. It was taxed on 12 hearths in 1664, but nothing is known about its character or appearance. After it was sold to Herman Behrens (d. 1791), it was remodelled and enlarged by Sir Robert Taylor in 1767-69, at a cost of £6,192. Behrens' notebook, of which there is a copy in the RIBA Library, </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">records the purchase of the land, the alterations to the house, the building of the offices and garden wall, together with costs of materials and labour. Berens perhaps knew Taylor through their respective connections in the city of London, but Richard Garnier has shown that the work at Kevington followed on Taylor's building of Beaver Hall, Southgate (Middx) in c.1762-63 for Herman Berens' brother, John Berens (d. 1787), and this probably led to the commission. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnE9dV91xdbo13bNv3IHs8NWw07RMb7JffPS6ZF34SgZoOEAuin52bS5xlt68D6BHF0nxHixj0g8DXg-M92GfR_6VB4DpQmGmSTEW0iMFfbaz41nVSyzxnqAvHZ2a_9J_UqvW5FG-esFbgA2xN_kwtzxeExQoYwMR98vatS4JsH7RtKOe7fsx7ADBnHM9/s712/Kevington%20Hall%208a%201938.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="712" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnE9dV91xdbo13bNv3IHs8NWw07RMb7JffPS6ZF34SgZoOEAuin52bS5xlt68D6BHF0nxHixj0g8DXg-M92GfR_6VB4DpQmGmSTEW0iMFfbaz41nVSyzxnqAvHZ2a_9J_UqvW5FG-esFbgA2xN_kwtzxeExQoYwMR98vatS4JsH7RtKOe7fsx7ADBnHM9/w640-h454/Kevington%20Hall%208a%201938.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Kevington Hall: the entrance front in 1938. Image: Historic England BB71/9324</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSf9SxbbAAEtjHU6tnyMCIBEcjkbImZolDlQBmDo2zNTNaYRjzKo1vnOO-61htYwnAwuRY7dTZbJep-xmwkZzlGXOH_2NBI1PfXUHBr0mvGQ6FZCLcP2jSF87jm9Dp-aGuITf6-g_BvYJz0zyzXvl11thrtcti5uxSxIcsePfbapDWNmy9WNJYtqLkqOf/s1230/Kevington%20Hall%207%20HE.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="1230" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSf9SxbbAAEtjHU6tnyMCIBEcjkbImZolDlQBmDo2zNTNaYRjzKo1vnOO-61htYwnAwuRY7dTZbJep-xmwkZzlGXOH_2NBI1PfXUHBr0mvGQ6FZCLcP2jSF87jm9Dp-aGuITf6-g_BvYJz0zyzXvl11thrtcti5uxSxIcsePfbapDWNmy9WNJYtqLkqOf/w640-h452/Kevington%20Hall%207%20HE.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Kevington Hall: the south front in 1938, showing the bow window added by Joseph Berens. Image: Historic England BB71/9619</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house at Kevington is unusually plain by Taylor's standards, with few of his characteristic design features, such as shaped rooms, octagonal glazing, and elaborate Rococo plasterwork. </span></span><span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Once the works were completed, the house showed no outward sign of its earlier origins, and became a square two and a half storey villa. Perhaps surprisingly, there seem to be no published engravings of the house showing it at this time, and as it was altered after Herman's death for his son, Joseph Berens (1745-1825), we cannot be quite certain what it looked like originally. Joseph added the broad curved bow - which stylistically could be an original feature but which is not bonded in to the rest of the elevation - to the centre of the south front, and no doubt also the tripartite windows on the upper floors of the west front, largely giving the house its present external appearance. Later additions include the single-storey </span></span><span><span style="font-family: georgia;">stuccoed bays built out either side of the curved bow, containing panelled tripartite windows flanked by pilasters, and probably also the </span></span><span><span style="font-family: georgia;">large pedimented porch on the west front, which has twin Doric engaged columns with narrow windows between them and further windows on the sides.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaxj8-oZ-fY6Q64j8hFjtOK4a51B1OPjN1eQDLK20LPgxGBcZZ6PChYMy5bgZIVfkBc49Rj-rDrUPCX6kR-PaGvFJtsgk0iGJ-wkGBaJweaoHW7lO6dEp_0yxpXus1CYI-btCdZiLo13151Gz9P16zHg-D60AyQ1uuXz7TldbFK-YCmEvCjnweQOiBL7D/s1259/Kevington%20Hall%2010%20HE%201938%20dining%20rm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1259" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaxj8-oZ-fY6Q64j8hFjtOK4a51B1OPjN1eQDLK20LPgxGBcZZ6PChYMy5bgZIVfkBc49Rj-rDrUPCX6kR-PaGvFJtsgk0iGJ-wkGBaJweaoHW7lO6dEp_0yxpXus1CYI-btCdZiLo13151Gz9P16zHg-D60AyQ1uuXz7TldbFK-YCmEvCjnweQOiBL7D/w640-h436/Kevington%20Hall%2010%20HE%201938%20dining%20rm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Kevington Hall: the dining room in 1938. Image: Historic England BB71/9341</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oYtjA2RdQdcNnHXKCN-nHZA8bHzU9WvlFnFlKsHPXuDxOYdbjNQtLYXF7jSmhUj9I3Xt-9IlRXmoArHrUK0jBr_HxU-FvTGcX9NlfwxRXqEuqjIt0AgVQYHyYPstjfEKITqfJ_Uqq4DYLVThebAkYSgSqiWTY2W0LxDVzWZ5etYC1FOIopZx5q8kF-Xy/s1261/Kevington%20Hall%2017%20HE%201938%20drawg%20rm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="1261" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oYtjA2RdQdcNnHXKCN-nHZA8bHzU9WvlFnFlKsHPXuDxOYdbjNQtLYXF7jSmhUj9I3Xt-9IlRXmoArHrUK0jBr_HxU-FvTGcX9NlfwxRXqEuqjIt0AgVQYHyYPstjfEKITqfJ_Uqq4DYLVThebAkYSgSqiWTY2W0LxDVzWZ5etYC1FOIopZx5q8kF-Xy/w640-h444/Kevington%20Hall%2017%20HE%201938%20drawg%20rm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Kevington Hall: the drawing room in 1938. Image: Historic England BB71/9339</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Inside, the house was a good deal more altered in the 19th century and later, and little of the original simple but elegant neo-classical decoration survives now. The best that remains is in the former dining room, which has a delicate swagged circular panel on one wall, formerly set above a fireplace, and further decorative plaster panels around the rest of the room. Photographs taken in 1938 show the house as it was during the ownership of the Berens family, with good ceiling cornices in the main rooms and a fine chimneypiece in the bow-ended drawing room. Probably around 1900, the entrance hall and the staircase behind were thrown into a single long room divided by an elliptical archway, and the original staircase was replaced with the present open well stair with rather widely spaced and spindly turned balusters. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNMcfLxzreYHb-9nHfwqKibJ2PtAGC7Byh53wyiDUGoUYwjFpH536i4g0m7FHt13jBypxQwUn6a-Q4pPPx-g7HMrKZsHQU0hQmmCACtU59LeSJR3Cu_Xq-eogWsVmJLjp5sfXNwYWDGEdCII7M7RnlXD-e7mD3CgwR84PWs2D8C1ra9FCawk14oT8kF0q/s1400/Kevington%20Hall%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNMcfLxzreYHb-9nHfwqKibJ2PtAGC7Byh53wyiDUGoUYwjFpH536i4g0m7FHt13jBypxQwUn6a-Q4pPPx-g7HMrKZsHQU0hQmmCACtU59LeSJR3Cu_Xq-eogWsVmJLjp5sfXNwYWDGEdCII7M7RnlXD-e7mD3CgwR84PWs2D8C1ra9FCawk14oT8kF0q/w640-h426/Kevington%20Hall%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Kevington Hall: the house today, after extensive recent restoration.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvjA6qtaFWET9zmPhmgQobpehLZwUVJTIdjd6yiBToWtyK_ZqcRi12-uirLkdx88lYu09SCnTM0l5I2udZH_zjabG8mZluweI4DbSk2gnaEIS0K_AbtTTAgsvto0L5nnut8RVhXZ0Fr_kYZpaX5M-Fylc71B0C0FXlelG1nnewunagHoTAr9db0_s_Vb_/s1400/Kevington%20Hall%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvjA6qtaFWET9zmPhmgQobpehLZwUVJTIdjd6yiBToWtyK_ZqcRi12-uirLkdx88lYu09SCnTM0l5I2udZH_zjabG8mZluweI4DbSk2gnaEIS0K_AbtTTAgsvto0L5nnut8RVhXZ0Fr_kYZpaX5M-Fylc71B0C0FXlelG1nnewunagHoTAr9db0_s_Vb_/w640-h426/Kevington%20Hall%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Kevington Hall: the hall and staircase today.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the Second World War the house was requisitioned and used as the headquarters of the Canadian army in Europe. At the end of the war it was returned to the Berens family but quickly sold to Kent County Council, which used it to house a primary (later infants') school. During forty years of school use, the historic interiors were considerably abraded, and additional accommodation was built on the site. The additions were all removed after the building returned to private ownership in 1987, and there have been several phases of restoration work since then. The house is now used as a conference centre and wedding venue, but the hall and staircase and the former library remain decorated and furnished in country house style.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: John Manning (d. 1435); to son, Hugh Manning (c.1431-1503); to younger son, Richard Manning; to son, John Manning; to son, Edward Manning; to son, Edward Manning (d. 1640); to son, Edward Manning; to son, Edward Manning (c.1654-1703); to son, Richard Manning (d. 1753); to nephew, Denzil Onslow (c.1698-1765); to son, Middleton Onslow (1732-1801), who sold to Herman Behrens (c.1702-91); to son, Joseph Berens (1773-1853); to son, Richard Beauvoir Berens (1801-59); to son, Richard Benyon Berens (1834-1916); to son, Cecil Berens (1869-1933); to son, Herbert Cecil Berens (1908-81); requisitioned during WW2 and sold 1947 to Kent County Council; transferred 1965 to Bromley London Borough Council; sold 1987; sold 1993... Mrs Janet Jackson (fl. 2006); to son, Jonathan Barlow Jackson (b. 1980). </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bentworth Hall, Hampshire</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house was built for Roger Staples Horman-Fisher after he bought the estate in 1832, as a replacement for the late medieval Hall Place, (which became a farmhouse). The new house was sited on a gentle ridge of open downland dotted with abandoned chalk pits, to the south of its predecessor. Alongside the construction of the house, Horman-Fisher laid out a small park, with a gate-lodge at the edge of Bentworth village and extensive woodland planting to provide shelter belts and an attractive setting for the house. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wWGpTsA8lwllRP2f9virSW9tvV2f9H1rrOCC6Y2PT3d3Sjs_MxnheWGN_AgBWAvP7sdSQz8mVFNxtUgZtvfrajoVmZJp3MstYNVtK9kGTGApn9Y79zDqIiNPWECIrn1XdRk4DGJOWDMG_GOG0P7ufQZl346FAM3YjlkI8kJsoTXNoufJJzu0LUrssn6l/s1426/Bentworth%20Hall%201a%20c1840.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="1426" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wWGpTsA8lwllRP2f9virSW9tvV2f9H1rrOCC6Y2PT3d3Sjs_MxnheWGN_AgBWAvP7sdSQz8mVFNxtUgZtvfrajoVmZJp3MstYNVtK9kGTGApn9Y79zDqIiNPWECIrn1XdRk4DGJOWDMG_GOG0P7ufQZl346FAM3YjlkI8kJsoTXNoufJJzu0LUrssn6l/w640-h438/Bentworth%20Hall%201a%20c1840.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bentworth Hall: the newly-built in c.1835-40, from an amateur watercolour. Image: Public Domain.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house itself was a Tudor villa with mullioned windows, of two storeys, with a front of three bays that gave a misleadingly modest impression, for further ranges to the rear made it much bigger than it looked at first, and in 1848 it had six principal bedrooms. The most remarkable feature of the house was that it was built of beautifully squared and coursed knapped flint ('</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">carefully and minutely cut and smoothed at an incalculable cost' according to the sale particulars of 1848) </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">with stone dressings. Inside, the hall and staircase were surrounded by four reception rooms (library, drawing room, dining room and breakfast room). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_HnPnT8I0FRwPWOx1wwMvNvxbr56zhfLfqHHQEwU95nTyb9fufRHrSgSo5ihqMZtHBmpiOl9CSIfeScpzCsU9s8wGCrhOXombPKE7rsoeeJ6TkqU1Fs0Vy4jamaTGmVK4JVfv5JFuCmt8u_9uIN7mqSXeEAsAkAVO-OA4eOY3OUawdBncTZpw75Mmu1Y/s927/Bentworth%20Hall%203%201905.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="927" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_HnPnT8I0FRwPWOx1wwMvNvxbr56zhfLfqHHQEwU95nTyb9fufRHrSgSo5ihqMZtHBmpiOl9CSIfeScpzCsU9s8wGCrhOXombPKE7rsoeeJ6TkqU1Fs0Vy4jamaTGmVK4JVfv5JFuCmt8u_9uIN7mqSXeEAsAkAVO-OA4eOY3OUawdBncTZpw75Mmu1Y/w640-h362/Bentworth%20Hall%203%201905.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bentworth Hall: the house in 1905.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ynkSjflNCrO7_Kkvr-JtcEkCJNKN-oPmAsWdxGoESe-uNQKQwTblqQvDd2JzVGEh9-fyKF1q2H-3Eux_Z3PHV-TDGuwpgzDK564WajAGablEbxQ28D-XXsHvK6UkXbCB3YeJ6hXSHKAnE92FyoH_Efc4qImzecwp9VvzHabSzDhrUAYgxFbaw3Ape1oD/s867/Bentworth%20Hall%204aa%201983.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="867" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ynkSjflNCrO7_Kkvr-JtcEkCJNKN-oPmAsWdxGoESe-uNQKQwTblqQvDd2JzVGEh9-fyKF1q2H-3Eux_Z3PHV-TDGuwpgzDK564WajAGablEbxQ28D-XXsHvK6UkXbCB3YeJ6hXSHKAnE92FyoH_Efc4qImzecwp9VvzHabSzDhrUAYgxFbaw3Ape1oD/w640-h426/Bentworth%20Hall%204aa%201983.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bentworth Hall: the house in 1983, showing the single-storey Modernist addition of the 1950s.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">After Maj. Berens bought the estate in 1947, he built a single-storey flat-roofed extension to the south side of the house, with large floor-length plate glass windows like a contemporary primary school, and also added two further lodges in neo-Georgian style, designed by Hugh Vaux. After his death, attempts to sell the house as a single unit were unsuccessful, and the property was divided into three dwellings, with two more being created later in the former stable block.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: built c.1832 for Roger Staples Horman-Fisher (1792-1866); sold c.1845 to Charles Bushe; sold 1848 to Jeremiah Robert Ives (d. 1865); to widow, Emma Ives (d. 1897); to son, Col. Gordon Maynard Gordon-Ives (d. 1907) of Gaston Grange; to son, Cecil Maynard Gordon-Ives (d. 1923); sold 1924 to Arthur d'Anyers Willis; sold 1932 to Maj. John Arthur Pryor, but requisitioned for military use in Second World War; sold 1947 to Maj. Herbert Cecil Berens (1908-81); sold after his death and divided into flats. The house was leased from c.1900-23 to </i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">William Graham Nicholson MP (1862-1942) of Basing Park. </i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Berens family of Kevington Hall</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Berens, Hermanus alias Herman (c.1702-91). </b>Son of Hermanus Behrens of Amsterdam (Netherlands) and his wife Regina, born about 1702. In partnership with his brother John (and possibly also another brother, Joseph) he established a mercantile house in London, engaged in general shipping business. The partnership was later broken and Herman became a director of the East India Company and of the Hudson's Bay Company. He was naturalized as an Englishman, 1732. Alderman of the City of London by 1780. He married, 17 July 1742, Magdalen (1721-90), daughter of Etienne alias Stephen Riou (1676-1740), and had issue:</span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) John Stephen Berens (1743-67), baptised at St Bartholomew Exchange, London, 25 August 1743; probably died unmarried and was buried at Enfield, 19 February 1767;</span></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Joseph Berens (1745-1825) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Magdalen Berens (1746-1800), baptised at St Bartholomew Exchange, London, 13 March 1745/6; died unmarried and was buried at Orpington, 5 June 1800; will proved in the PCC, 14 June 1800;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Catherine Berens (1749-1826), baptised at Enfield (Middx), 20 August 1749; died unmarried and was buried at Orpington, 18 November 1826; will proved in the PCC, 1 December 1826.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He purchased Kevington Hall in about 1766, and enlarged it to the designs of Sir Robert Taylor, 1767-69.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 31 December 1791 and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">was buried at Orpington (Kent); his will was proved in the PCC, 13 January 1795</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. His wife died 11 July 1790 and was also buried at Orpington.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Berens, Joseph (1745-1825). </b>Only surviving son of Herman Behrens (c.1702-91) and his wife Magdalen, daughter of Etienne alias Stephen Riou, born in London, 21 February and baptised at St Bartholomew Exchange, London, 28 February 1744/5. A director of the Hudson's Bay Company, 1776-95. DL for Kent (from 1797). An officer in the Kevington Volunteer Infantry (Capt., 1798). </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He married, 17 August 1772 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), Elizabeth (d. 1827), second daughter* of Sir Edward Hulse of Breamore (Hants), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Joseph Berens (1773-1853) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Elizabeth Magdalene Berens (1774-86), baptised at St Botolph, Bishopsgate, London, 26 October 1774; died young, 28 May, and was buried at Wilmington (Kent), 1 June 1786;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Henry Berens (1776-1852), born 19 February and baptised </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">at Farningham (Kent),</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 24 March </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">1776; educated at Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1795; called 1804); barrister-at-law; one of three commissioners appointed to inquire into the collection of excise duty, 1833; died unmarried, 12 May, and was buried at Sidcup (Kent), 22 May 1852; will proved 7 June 1852;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Ven. Edward Berens (1777-1859), baptised at Sutton-at-Hone (Kent), 4 August 1777; educated at Christ Church and Oriel College, Oxford (matriculated 1795; BA 1798; MA 1801); ordained deacon, 1801 and priest, 1802; domestic chaplain to Bishop of Exeter, 1803-17; vicar of Shrivenham (Berks), 1804-55 and rector of Englefield (Berks), 1817-55; rural dean and a prebendary of Salisbury Cathedral, 1829-32; Archdeacon of Berkshire, 1832-55; a liberal in politics and a supporter of religious orthodoxy with high church leanings, he wrote for the <i>Quarterly Review</i> and also published works including <i>Church Reform</i> (1828), <i>Advice to a Young Man on first going to Oxford</i> (1832) and </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Steadfast Adherence to the Church of England, Recommended and Enforced </i>(1852);</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> he resided at Shrivenham, where he built a new vicarage to the designs of Richard Pace of Lechlade in 1805; he married, 30 December 1805, Catherine (1781-1865), daughter of Rt. Rev. Henry Reginald Courtenay, bishop of Exeter, but had no issue; died 7 April 1859; will proved 24 June 1859 (effects under £45,000);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Maria Anne Berens (1778-1849), baptised at Sutton-at-Hone, 12 October 1778; married, 24 April 1804, at Farnborough (Kent), Rev. John Pratt (c.1773-1861), rector of Sedlescombe (Sussex), 1803-61, son of Henry Pratt of Orpington (Kent), and had issue four sons and three daughters; buried at Sedlescombe, 26 April 1849;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Sophia Caroline Berens (1780-1851), baptised at Sutton-at-Hone, 4 June 1780; married, 21 June 1804 at Sedlescombe (Sussex), Benjamin Harenc (1780-1825) of Foots Cray Place (Kent), and had issue five sons and four daughters; died 4 July 1851; will proved 18 February 1851;</span></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Richard Berens (1781-1849), born 1 October and baptised at Sutton-at-Hone (Kent), 28 October 1781; educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1800; BA 1804) and All Souls College (BCL 1807; DCL 1813); Fellow and Bursar of All Souls College; died unmarried at his house in London, 13 June 1849, and was buried at All Souls College, where he is commemorated by a monument; will proved in the PCC, 12 July 1849.</span></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived first at Hextable House (Kent) and after his father's death at Kevington.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 19 December 1825 and was buried at Orpington (Kent); his will was proved in the PCC, 31 December 1825. His widow died 27 April 1827 and was buried with her husband the following day.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* Her elder sister, Hannah, married <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2024/02/569-benyon-of-gidea-hall-and-englefield.html">Richard Benyon (later Benyon de Beauvoir) (1770-1854)</a>, establishing a close connection between the two families.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Berens, Joseph (1773-1853). </b>Eldest son of Joseph Behrens (1745-1825) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Edward Hulse of Breamore (Hants), baptised at St Botolph, Bishopsgate, London, 25 May 1773. Educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1791; BA 1796; MA 1798) and Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1795; called 1800). Barrister-at-law; Recorder of Romney Marsh by 1815. A member of the Hudson's Bay Company (Committee Member, 1801-33; Deputy Governor, 1807-12; Governor 1812-22). An officer in the Kevington Volunteer Infantry (Lt., 1798; Capt., 1798) and the London & Westminster Light Horse Volunteers (Cornet, 1809; Lt. 1812; Capt., 1815). He married, 11 June 1799 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), Charlotte (1774-1854), third daughter of <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2024/02/569-benyon-of-gidea-hall-and-englefield.html">Richard Benyon (1746-96)</a> of Gidea Park (Essex) and Englefield House (Berks), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) William Joseph Berens (1800-54), of Orpington Hall (Kent), baptised at St Giles in the Fields, Holborn (Middx), 12 June 1800; educated at Westminster; an officer in the army (Ensign, 1822; Lt., 1825; Capt., 1827; retired 1837) and later the West Kent Yeomanry Cavalry (Capt. 1848); JP for Kent; married, 20 July 1837 (div. 1854*) at Greasley (Notts), Louisa Maria (1813-57), daughter of Lancelot Rollston, but had no issue; died at Ryde (IoW), 11 June 1854; will proved in the PCC, 8 September 1854;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Richard Beauvoir Berens (1801-1859) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) <span style="background-color: white;"><span>Henry Hulse</span> </span>Berens (1804-83), of Sidcup (Kent), born 21/24 November and baptised at St Giles in the Fields, Holborn (Middx), 23 December 1804; JP for Kent and a Commissioner of Lieutenancy for London; a director of the Bank of England, 1849-80; Governor of Hudson's Bay Co., 1858-63 (Committee Member 1833-63 and Deputy Governor, 1856-58), and auditor of the New River Company; a freemason from 1851; married, 30 October 1841 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, Ellinor (1815-46), daughter of George Stone of Coopers, Chislehurst (Kent), and had issue one daughter (who with her husband took the name Berens in 1885); died 23 August 1883 and was buried at Sidcup (Kent); will proved 19 November 1883 (effects £71,282);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Rev. Edward Riou Berens (1807-66), born 12 January and baptised at St Giles in the Fields, Holborn (Middx), 13 February 1807; educated at Westminster, Christ Church and St Mary's Hall, Oxford (matriculated 1825; BA 1831; MA 1832); ordained deacon, 1831 and priest, 1832; vicar of Broxted and rector of Wickford (Essex), 1833-39 and Downham (Essex), 1839-66; married, 21 August 1849 at Woodmansterne (Surrey), Sophia Frances (1807-1900), daughter of Thomas </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Walpole of Stagbury, Woodmansterne, and had issue one daughter (who died young)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">; died 31 July 1866; will proved 22 September 1866 (effects under £35,000);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Charlotte Elizabeth Berens (1813-81), baptised at St Paul's Cray, 29 August 1813; after the death of her father, she lived with her brother Henry; died unmarried, 12 September, and was buried at Sidcup, 17 September 1881; administration of goods granted to her brother, 19 October 1881 (effects £40,265);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) George Samuel Berens (1819-43), baptised at St Pauls Cray (Kent), 31 January 1819; joined the Royal Navy and was mate of HMS Harlequin during an action in China for which the crew received medals, 1842; died 11 September 1843 and was buried at sea off the island of Borneo; administration of goods granted to his father, 1844.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Kevington Hall from his father in 1794.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Downham (Essex) but was buried at Orpington, 11 January 1853; his will was proved in the PCC, 18 February 1853. His widow died 1 July 1854.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">* This was a sensational divorce case. After a very short acquaintance, Louisa </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">eloped in 1853 with John Coventry (1793-1871) of Burgate House, Fordingbridge (Hants), son of the Hon. John Coventry (whom she married 2nd, 13 January 1857 at St Marylebone (Middx)). Efforts to trace the couple, who evidently stayed in hotels in Liverpool and Manchester as husband and wife, were unsuccessful. Berens initiated divorce proceedings in the House of Lords, but the bill only passed its final stages in the House of Commons a day or two after he had died.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Berens, Richard Beauvoir (1801-59). </b>Second son of Joseph Berens (c.1773-1853) and his wife Charlotte, daughter of Richard Benyon of Englefield House (Berks), born 14/16 December 1801 and baptised at St Giles-in-the-Fields (Middx), 27 January 1802. Educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1820; BA 1823; MA 1827) and Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1823; called 1828). Barrister-at-law. An officer in the West Kent Yeomanry Cavalry (Cornet, 1830). Governor of the New River Company, c.1847-59. He married, 10 January 1833 at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster (Middx), Catharine (1801-78), daughter of John Edmund Dowdeswell MP (1772-1851) of Pull Court (Worcs), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Richard Benyon Berens (1834-1916) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Catharine Frances Carolina Berens (1837-92), born 10 November and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), 13 December 1837; married, 12 August 1880 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, Lt-Col. Wilmot Grant (1839-1909) (who m2, 31 October 1893 at Thurlbere (Som.), Frances Mary (c.1863-1920), daughter of George Edwin Lance, judge in Indian civil service), son of Col. Edward Fitzherbert Grant; died without issue, 4 October 1892; will proved 10 January 1893 (effects £48,281);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Edward Osmond Berens (1839-72), born 27 July 1839; educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1857; BA 1861; MA 1864); an officer in the Kent Rifle Volunteers (Lt., 1860); died without issue, 31 January, and was buried at Orpington, 6 February 1872, where he is commemorated by a monument in the churchyard; will proved 22 February 1872 (effects under £14,000).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Kevington Hall from his father in 1853.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died of a stroke while riding, 25 February 1859, and was buried at Orpington where he is commemorated by a monument; his will was proved 11 May 1859. His widow died 5 August 1878 and was buried at Orpington, 10 August 1878, where she is commemorated on her husband's monument.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_PnqybnI9F1tpO1K2kd6fV-_ndTbul-a3KAm86FObA7xC2cK-tR4vlN58mSCiXjUbbM0Ty4p45XcVoU0jhhRvPZC_KLcMwt7u5eJm9901YqTK4mO3LBmHg9NIwzaZi-MOLWRR_8FIms3Z_XhVrTvMIf_tBX4t9L_JRIgmfyLOwfuEudsktBfUNcZufx8/s726/Berens,%20Richard%20Benyon%20NPG.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="666" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_PnqybnI9F1tpO1K2kd6fV-_ndTbul-a3KAm86FObA7xC2cK-tR4vlN58mSCiXjUbbM0Ty4p45XcVoU0jhhRvPZC_KLcMwt7u5eJm9901YqTK4mO3LBmHg9NIwzaZi-MOLWRR_8FIms3Z_XhVrTvMIf_tBX4t9L_JRIgmfyLOwfuEudsktBfUNcZufx8/w184-h200/Berens,%20Richard%20Benyon%20NPG.jpg" width="184" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Richard Benyon Berens (1834-1916)<br />Image: National Portrait Gallery</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Berens, Richard Benyon (1834-1916). </b>Elder son of Richard Beauvoir Berens (d. 1859) and his wife Catharine, daughter of John Edmund Dowdeswell MP, born 15 March 1834. Educated at Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1852; BA 1857; MA 1865). An officer in the West Kent Yeomanry Cavalry (Cornet, 1859; Lt., 1863; retired 1870). JP (from 1861) and DL (from 1892) for Kent; High Sheriff of Kent, 1893-94. He married, 13 June 1860 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), Fanny Georgina (c.1840-1924), daughter of Alexander Atherton Park, Master of the Court of Common Pleas, and had issue, with a daughter who was stillborn in 1861:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Richard Berens (b. & d. 1863), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">born 22 January and baptised at St Mary Cray, 12 February 1863; died in infancy and was buried at Orpington (Kent), 14 March 1863;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Richard Berens (1864-1909), born 28 January and baptised at St Mary Cray, 20 March 1864; educated at Westminster, Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1882; BA 1887; MA 1890) and Inner Temple (admitted 1887; called 1892); barrister-at-law; married, 3 December 1900 at St George, Bloomsbury (Middx), Elizabeth Evelyn (c.1877-1946) (who m2, 17 April 1915, Maj. Edgar Oswald Anderson (1876-1945)), daughter of John Fitzgibbons of Belton, Doncaster (Yorks); died in the lifetime of his father, at Felixstowe (Suffk), 14 July 1909; will proved 11 December 1909 (estate £9,249);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Rev. George Berens (later Berens-Dowdeswell) (1866-1945), born 11 January 1866; educated at Westminster, Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1884; BA 1888; MA 1891) and Leeds Clerical School (admitted 1888); ordained deacon, 1889 and priest, 1891; curate, 1889-1904 and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">vicar, 1904-07 of St Andrew, Bethnal Green (Middx); curate of Harworth (Notts), 1908-11; rector of Foots Cray (Kent), 1911-21;</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">assumed the additional name Dowdeswell by royal licence, 1916, on inheriting the Pull Court estate from his cousin, but was driven to sell it by the pressure of taxation, 1932, and retired to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Abbey,_Sutton_Courtenay">The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay</a> (Berks); married, 23 September 1918 at Foots Cray, Eveleen Mary MA, Fellow of British College of Nurses (1875-1967), eldest daughter of Dr William Hunter MD of Rothesay (Bute); died 28 November 1945 and was buried at Bushley (Worcs);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) <span style="background-color: white;">Herbert Berens</span> (1867-97), born 2 October and baptised at St Mary Cray, 17 November 1867; educated at Westminster; captain of the St Mary Cray fire brigade, 1895-97; died unmarried of pneumonia, 2 December 1897, and was buried at St Mary Cray;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Cecil Berens (1869-1933) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Maud Catherine Berens (1871-1960), born 28 September and baptised at St Mary Cray, 19 November 1871; married 1st, 25 November 1920 at St Mary Cray, Henry Pitt Tozer (1864-1928) of Bere Regis (Dorset); married 2nd, 3 June 1931 at Bere Regis (Dorset), William Bedford (1858-1936); died without issue, 9 July 1960; will proved 12 September 1960 (estate £25,045); </span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) <span style="background-color: white;">Edward Berens</span> (1873-1938), born 24 October and baptised at St Mary Cray, 21 December 1873; educated at Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1892; BA 1897); member of Bromley Board of Guardians, 1917-30 and Bromley Rural District Council, 1922-35; a keen cricketer; died unmarried, 2 October 1938; administration of goods (with will annexed) granted 25 November 1938 (estate £10,610);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Atherton Berens (1877-1940), born 21 May 1877; educated at Westminster and Pembroke College, Oxford; farmer; served in First World War with Army Service Corps, 1916-18; married, 3 November 1906 at St John, Paddington (Middx), Wenefrede Dorothy (1875-1956), daughter of Joseph Watson Overbury of London, and had issue three daughters; died 11 February 1940; will proved 13 April 1940 (estate £126);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Violet Frances Berens (1880-1949), born 10 November 1880; married, 31 July 1906 at St Mary Cray, Edward Loxley Waring (1863-1933) of Halstead Hall, Sevenoaks (Kent), son of William Waring of Woodlands, Chelsfield (Kent), and had issue; died 26 July 1949; will proved 10 October 1949 (estate £14,737).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Kevington Hall from his father in 1859. At his death he bequeathed it to his widow for life, with remainder to his fifth son, Cecil. He also inherited Culford Hall (Suffk) on the death of his kinsman, the Rev. Edward Richard Benyon, in 1883, but sold it about five years later to the Earl Cadogan.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 28 October 1916; will proved 21 February 1917 (estate £23,075). His widow died 4 April 1924; her will was proved 14 July 1924 (estate £3,463).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Berens, Cecil (1869-1933). </b>Fifth son of Richard Benyon Berens (1834-1916) and his wife </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Fanny Georgina, daughter of Alexander Atherton Park, Master of the Court of Common Pleas,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> born 12 May and baptised at St Mary Cray, 20 June 1869. Educated at Sherborne and Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. Estate agent. Master of West Kent Harriers, 1886-1905. During the First World War he was an Inspector of the Special Constabulary. JP for Kent (from 1922) and a member of Bromley Rural District Council and Bromley Board of Guardians. He married, 27 July 1905 at St Mary Abbots, Kensington (Middx), Mildred Turnour (1886-1984), only daughter of James Blackwood of Foots Cray (Kent), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Violet Cecil Turnour Berens (1907-70), born 26 June 1907; married, 25 July 1931 at St Mary Cray, Geoffrey Arthur John Smallwood (1900-73) of Milford (Staffs), barrister-at-law, deputy chairman of Leicestershire Quarter Sessions, 1947-71 and a stipendiary magistrate in Stoke-on-Trent, 1960-73, son of Arthur I. Smallwood of Leamington Spa (Warks); died 24 June 1970; administration of goods granted 1 October 1970 (estate £8,051);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Herbert Cecil Benyon Berens (1908-81) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Richard James Berens (1911-32), born 25 July 1911; an officer in the Royal Air Force (Pilot Officer); died as the result of a flying accident over Southampton Water, 4 December 1932;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Rita Sylvia Berens (1913-2002), born 4 September 1913; married, 5 August 1940 in India, as his second wife, Lt-Cdr. Patrick Spencer Boyle RN (1906-78) of Ashe Park (Hants), only son of Capt. the Hon. Edward Spencer Henry Boyle RN, and had issue one son; died 7 November 2002; will proved 9 June 2003 (estate £128,796).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Kevington Hall on the death of his mother in 1924.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 30 December 1933 and was buried at St Mary Cray Cemetery; his will was proved 26 February and 19 March 1934 (estate £141,323). His widow </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">married 2nd, 10 November 1945, Sir Oliver Hamilton Augustus Hart-Dyke (1885-1969), 8th bt.,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> and</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> died aged 98 at Balgowen, Natal (South Africa), 9 June 1984; her will was proved 8 November 1984 (estate in England & Wales, £20,136).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Berens, Herbert Cecil Benyon (1908-81). </b>Elder son of Cecil Berens (1869-1933) and his wife Mildred Turnour, only daughter of James Blackwood of Foots Cray (Kent), born 16 October 1908. Educated at Wellington College and Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1927). Merchant banker who began his career as an accountant with Hambro's Bank, 1931-39. An officer in the City of London Yeomanry (2nd Lt., 1939; Capt. by 1942; Hon. Maj.), who served in the Second World War with the Royal Armoured Corps and was a Prisoner of War, 1941-43; awarded the MC, 1942. After the war he was managing director of Anglo-Foreign Securities, 1944-51, and the Bentworth Trust from 1951, and was later a director of the Allied Irish Bank, 1966; and of Hambro's Bank, 1968 and Chairman of </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">International Distillers, 1962-72 and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Evans of Leeds, 1972. As a young man he played cricket for the Kent Second XI. He married, 10 October 1931 at St Margaret, Westminster (Middx), Moyra Nancy (1907-94), daughter of Louis Oliver Mellard (1873-1954), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Richard Wilfrid Beauvoir Berens (1933-98), born 18 February 1933; educated at Eton; colourful journalist who edited the 'William Hickey' column in the <i>Daily Express </i>and was notoriously a gambler and alcoholic; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">married 1st, 10 April 1958 (div. 1962), Hon. Nicole (k/a Minty) (1936-2011) (who m2, Michael Russell (1933-2020), literary agent and publisher, son of Edward Dennis Russell of Bournemouth (Hants), solicitor), only daughter of Richard Francis Roger Yarde-Buller (1910-91), 4th Baron Churston, and had issue one son and one daughter; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">married 2nd, 6 January 1965 (div.), Virginia Rose (1940-2023) (who m2, 1971, Mark Charles Grenville Fortescue (1947-82</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">), son of Brig. Arthur Henry Grenville Fortescue MC (1913-2005), and had further issue two daughters), youngest daughter of Anthony William Fabio Caccia-Birch MC (1898-1986) of Guernsey Lodge, Marton (New Zealand), and had issue one daughter; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">married 3rd, Oct-Dec 1971, Barbara, only daughter of Charles A. Neil, and had further issue two daughters; died 8 July 1998; will proved 16 September 1998;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Penelope Anne Georgina Berens (b. 1934), born 9 August 1934; married, 29 May 1954, Geoffrey Jackson Ackroyd (1930-82) of Candover Park, Brown Candover (Hants), second son of Geoffrey Ackroyd of Hayley Green Farm, Warfield (Berks), and had issue two sons and two daughters;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Jonathan Christopher Dowdeswell Berens (1936-76), born 11 December 1936; educated at Eton; partner in a firm of stockbrokers; married, 14 July 1960, Phoebe Helen (b. 1939) (who m2, 1986, Duncan A. Cavenagh), younger daughter of Leslie William Parkhouse of St Mary Abbots House, London W14, and had issue three daughters; committed suicide, 22 October 1976; will proved 19 January 1977 (estate £158,666);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) David John Cecil (k/a Henry) Berens (b. 1939), born 7 October 1939; educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford (MA 1961); managing director of London Trust plc, investment managers; married, 3 October 1963, Janet Roxburgh (1943-2019), youngest daughter of Archibald Roxburgh Balfour MC (1883-1958) of Lima (Peru), and had issue two sons and two daughters.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Kevington Hall from his father in 1933, but sold it in 1947 and purchased Bentworth Hall (Hants), which was sold after his death.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 27 October 1981; his will was proved 8 March 1982 (estate £1,105,564). His widow died 12 February 1994; her will was proved 12 May 1994 (estate £31,370).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Landed Gentry</i>, 1969, p. 43; B. Cherry & Sir N. Pevsner, <i>The buildings of England: London - South</i>, 1983, p. 193; M. Binney, <i>Sir Robert Taylor</i>, 1984, p. 95; R. Garnier, 'Two "Crystalline" Villas of the 1760s', <i>The Georgian Group Journal</i>, 1997, pp. 9-25; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">M. Bullen, J. Crook, R. Hubbock & Sir N. Pevsner, </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">The buildings of England: Hampshire - Winchester and the North</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">, 2010, p. 178;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101359374-kevington-county-primary-school-cray-valley-east-ward">https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101359374-kevington-county-primary-school-cray-valley-east-ward</a>; </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bentworth_Hall">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bentworth_Hall</a>;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://research.hgt.org.uk/item/bentworth-hall/">http://research.hgt.org.uk/item/bentworth-hall/</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">No significant accumulation is known to survive, but some papers may remain with the family.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Argent, on a mount vert a bear passant sable.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone explain the source of the wealth which Cecil Berens (1869-1933) left at his death?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide full information on the ownership of Kevington Hall since 1987?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide photographs or portraits of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 23 February 2024 and was updated 25 February 2024.</span></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-20610864442994244642024-02-13T11:47:00.004+00:002024-02-25T11:26:11.090+00:00(569) Benyon of Gidea Hall and Englefield House<span style="font-family: georgia;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1aCibC1lcHSeNs1Rj5z2uqgTwj-uQ5mfF0jqcZ6QY9rdcKCAkefttqUHZhVvueh2PXoa8oe3JUywtSosQU0xAd1K1mSwkVcMn8J6drt3B3KsL5Lp7ulfyd9OxyhOoJ9qQqkeiSHn0HsBw8QvZ_yOkCuaHlcOoOHBYIQ-GOVzqj5HvF4x10TLUmqvduM-/s1200/Benyon%20of%20Englefield.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1aCibC1lcHSeNs1Rj5z2uqgTwj-uQ5mfF0jqcZ6QY9rdcKCAkefttqUHZhVvueh2PXoa8oe3JUywtSosQU0xAd1K1mSwkVcMn8J6drt3B3KsL5Lp7ulfyd9OxyhOoJ9qQqkeiSHn0HsBw8QvZ_yOkCuaHlcOoOHBYIQ-GOVzqj5HvF4x10TLUmqvduM-/w167-h200/Benyon%20of%20Englefield.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;">Benyon of Englefield</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The Benyon family were established as merchants in London throughout the 17th century. Daniel Benyon (d. 1690) was master of the tallow chandlers' company in 1689-90, and his son, Daniel Benyon (1664-1708), with whom the genealogy below begins, perhaps continued his father's business. By the time of his death in 1708 he was living at Blackheath (Kent), and in less than two years he was followed to the grave by his daughter and his widow, all three of them being buried at Lee (Kent). This left only his young son, Richard Benyon (1698-1774), orphaned at the age of eleven, for whom responsibility evidently fell on Col. John Perry, probably a neighbour or friend of his father. In what seems at first sight an uncommonly callous and risky action, Perry sent the boy out to India, but it is not known what arrangements were made for him there, or indeed for his care during the journey. On arrival, he was taken into the household of Osmond de Beauvoir, who in due course arranged for his employment by the East India Company as a writer and later as a colonial administrator. He evidently showed some aptitude for the work, for at the age of just twenty he was appointed to the Council of Fort St. George (later Madras and now Chennai), and served in that role until 1725, when he made a first return to England, bringing with him his first wife. Richard had evidently already begun to make money in India, for in 1728 he bought the manor of Coptfold at Margaretting. He probably intended to make this his principal residence at the time, for he constructed a family vault in Margaretting church where he and several members of his family were later buried, but in about 1732 he returned to India, rejoining the Council at Fort St George and in 1735 heing appointed President or Governor of the Fort. Employment as an official of the East India Company offered many opportunities for private enrichment, which varied from straightforward commercial side-hustles to outright bribery, corruption and extortion. In the relatively lawless world of the Indian sub-continent, Benyon's hands seem to have been cleaner than most, but he still returned to England at the end of his Governorship in 1744 with a fortune estimated at £75,000. Once settled in England he bought further property in Essex, including the Gidea Hall estate in 1745, the Newbury estate in Ilford in 1747, and the North Ockendon Hall estate in 1758. He also married again, this time to Mary Wrighte (1714-77), who was the niece of the Osmond de Beauvoir who had taken him into his household in India thirty years earlier and also the widow of Powlett Wrighte of Englefield House, in which she held a life interest.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Richard and Mary Benyon made a town house in Grosvenor Square, London, their principal residence (although they do seem to have spent time at both Gidea Hall and Englefield), and there they raised their son, Richard Benyon II (1746-96) as well as Mary's son by her first marriage, Powlett Wrighte (1739-79). Once they reached adulthood, Powlett took possession of Englefield House and Richard junior made his home at Gidea Hall, and both men were responsible for alterations. Powlett died without issue in 1779 and the Englefield estate passed to his uncle, Nathan Wrighte (1717-89) for life, with remainder to Richard Benyon II, whose eldest son, Richard Benyon III (later Benyon de Beauvoir), was about to come of age. Probably recognising that Englefield, with its 11,000 acre estate, was a significantly grander property than Gidea Hall, Richard Benyon II installed his son at Englefield and left instructions in his will that Gidea Hall should be sold for the benefit of his younger children, although the other Essex property was retained for several further generations.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Richard Benyon III was married in 1797 to Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir Francis Sykes, another Indian nabob, whose seat at Basildon Park (Berks) lay fairly close to Englefield. Although the couple seem to have been happily married until Elizabeth's death in 1822, the fact that they had no children to inherit their Berkshire and Essex property did not deter Richard from remodelling Englefield House to the designs of Thomas Hopper. Richard had adopted the additional names Powlett Wrighte before Benyon in 1814, and in 1822 he changed his name again to Benyon de Beauvoir, on inheriting the Hackney (Middx) estate of his elderly great-great-uncle, the Rev. Peter de Beauvoir, rector of Downham (Essex). Shortly before his death, de Beauvoir had leased his entire estate at Hackney to William Rhodes </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">(the grandfather of Cecil Rhodes, the explorer)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, a speculative builder who had plans for developing the area as an up-market residential district. Richard Benyon de Beauvoir quickly realised that the lease, which gave him a paltry £1,200 a year, divided the returns from developing the estate unfairly, and he asked the courts to set it aside on the grounds that his great-great-uncle had not understood what he was agreeing to. The case was hotly contested and went all the way to the House of Lords, but final judgement was given in his favour in 1834. Having recovered possession, he implemented a new plan, developing the area as middle-class housing, the rents from which quickly made him an extremely wealthy man. When he died in 1854, the press speculated wildly about his net worth, estimating it at £7,500,000. That figure was vastly overstated, but the estate income in the 1880s suggests that the capital value might have been as much as £2.5 million. His wealth was not derived wholly from the Hackney estate, for in 1824, before development began, he was in a position to purchase the <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2017/09/306-bacon-of-redgrave-hall-gorhambury_30.html">Culford Hall</a> estate (Suffk) from the estate of Lord Cornwallis for £230,000, perhaps financed partly by borrowing. In 1839 he settled this property on his 'nephew', the Rev. Edward Richard Benyon (1802-83), who is said to have been born at Lausanne (Switzerland) in 1802 but who first appears on the public record when he went to Cambridge in 1820. No record seems to survive of Edward's parentage, he does not fit with the families of any of Benyon de Beauvoir's siblings, and it seems possible that he was actually Richard's illegitimate son. This would explain the generosity of Benyon de Beauvoir's lifetime gift to him.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">When he died in 1854, Richard Benyon de Beauvoir left Englefield House, the Hackney estate and his remaining Essex property to a genuine nephew, Richard Fellowes (1811-97), who was the second surviving son of Benyon de Beauvoir's sister Emma and her husband, William Henry Fellowes (1769-1837). He was the middle one of three brothers, collectively known as 'the lucky Fellowes', who all acquired country houses as a result of inheritances. Richard, who was a barrister, took the name Benyon at his uncle's request and settled at Englefield House, which he again remodelled in the late 1850s to the design of a little-known Scottish architect, Richard Armstrong. Richard Benyon served as chairman of the Berkshire Quarter Sessions for twenty years, and was noted as a philanthropist, said to have built more churches on and around his estates than any other man in modern times, although he kept his donations quiet, 'having a dread of his benevolent actions becoming known'. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTWdVMwO5PpPJQaWUzynsYfeXisr-Mkf-L7luacH-jjFTykRXrbDWKcK9MggPRdCIsEaDqeCI4IDc_Ogex-HxM8eIfRyWmFn1KR5dUQBAwKmUHLtrk8oVOIn_Hh39ikPYXEKbaaS2EbJ-7zOUK8Rz_RaUT3HBLl-QCs4sA2Iax-PFZI3RXBQH0sAthffj/s1800/Kingston%20Maurward%20House%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTWdVMwO5PpPJQaWUzynsYfeXisr-Mkf-L7luacH-jjFTykRXrbDWKcK9MggPRdCIsEaDqeCI4IDc_Ogex-HxM8eIfRyWmFn1KR5dUQBAwKmUHLtrk8oVOIn_Hh39ikPYXEKbaaS2EbJ-7zOUK8Rz_RaUT3HBLl-QCs4sA2Iax-PFZI3RXBQH0sAthffj/w320-h213/Kingston%20Maurward%20House%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Kingston Maurward House</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He and his wife had three daughters, but no son to succeed him, so at his death in 1897 the estates again passed to a nephew, this time his brother James' son, James Herbert Fellowes (1849-1935). James had also inherited Kingston Maurward House (Dorset) from his father, but he sold this in 1906. He took the name Benyon in 1897 and was Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire from 1901 until his death, when he was succeeded by his only son, Sir Henry Benyon (1884-1959), 1st bt, who was raised to a baronetcy in 1958. Sir Henry sold the remaining Essex estates to clear the death duties payable on his father's estates, but was able to retain the Englefield House and Hackney properties, although due to wartime restrictions during after the Second World War his properties deteriorated in both condition and value. He served as Lord Lieutenant, 1945-59, like his father, and was briefly Chairman of Berkshire County Council.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sir Henry and his wife had no children, so at his death his estates passed to his second cousin, Vice-Admiral Richard Benyon Shelley (1892-1968), the younger son of Col. Sir John Shelley (1848-1931), 9th bt. and his wife Marion Emma Benyon, daughter of Richard Fellowes (later Benyon) (1811-97). Admiral Shelley took the name Benyon, but passed the estate straight on to his eldest son, Sir William Richard Shelley (later Benyon) (1930-2014), kt., who as Bill Benyon was a long-serving MP for Buckingham and later Milton Keynes, 1970-92, and who was knighted in 1994 after retiring from the Commons. Sir Bill effected a remarkable transformation in the fortunes of his estates, carefully restoring Englefield House and encouraging and supporting the 'gentrification' of his Hackney property, with a resulting growth in the rental income it provides. He handed the estates over to his elder son, the Rt. Hon. Richard Henry Ronald Benyon (b. 1960) in about 2010. Mr. Benyon also pursued a political career, serving as MP for Newbury, 2005-19, and being made a life peer as Baron Benyon in 2021. He has continued the process of developing and diversifying his estates with vigour, and has ensured the succession, with five sons by his two marriages. The Hackney property is now managed on his behalf by his younger brother, Edward Benyon (b. 1962).<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Gidea Hall, Hare Street, Romford, Essex</b></span></h3><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house is first referred to in 1250. Sir Thomas Cooke obtained the king’s licence to create a park, and to rebuild and crenellate Gidea Hall in 1466, but 'falling under the displeasure of the Court, to the great injury of his fortune, he completed only the front'. His great-grandson, Sir Anthony Cooke (d. 1576), tutor to King Edward VI, who lived in exile during the reign of Queen Mary, completed it before 1568, when he entertained Elizabeth I here. The building was moated, and consisted of four ranges round a courtyard, with an open colonnade on one side, as is shown by a survey plan in John Thorpe's late 16th century 'Book of Drawings' at the Soane Museum. In the 17th century Gidea Hall was the second largest house in the liberty of Havering-atte-Bower, after the king’s house at Havering, being taxed on 35 hearths in 1670, and Marie de Medici, mother of Queen Henrietta Maria, stayed there in 1638, as a result of which a woodcut depicting the house was published in a French account of her visit.<br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYvH0qvG_BPiFs_nyiGq-8UODVKuKlJ7JcX4N14CEbtUjc5HF55n_Mi4zdHODUdU63lUZrCbD8R2Tq_7sAakdCRAVsq1d1bWs1O2zGc8tvNISwt2gccM-R3-GaJis9TJu_QnEAejys13JZ6FNDBs9089r54Xdt4Mfe1hbR_9tmpwfB2IqNdf3FrBFkLPY/s589/Gidea%20Hall%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="589" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYvH0qvG_BPiFs_nyiGq-8UODVKuKlJ7JcX4N14CEbtUjc5HF55n_Mi4zdHODUdU63lUZrCbD8R2Tq_7sAakdCRAVsq1d1bWs1O2zGc8tvNISwt2gccM-R3-GaJis9TJu_QnEAejys13JZ6FNDBs9089r54Xdt4Mfe1hbR_9tmpwfB2IqNdf3FrBFkLPY/w640-h520/Gidea%20Hall%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Gidea Hall: the house at the time of Marie de Medici's visit in 1638.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYsWHXxhQ33ugys7ufsGIfsykpRpI3Gs4NAgsTH5qxuZpEVnfoi-xAr8-EGHI4jf3VdnSPL3A765jSRdSUqnSUm06jYMj5fnQc1LxgehjmwO7pvkrEFykVOndYjr-KJodUTiPLIzhu0qwKmG_yvOZMkqXJO-VrxUHmqDYeAfOBGV6bus_IWDMHgUS24u1/s693/Gidea%20Hall%207%20JThorpe.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="693" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYsWHXxhQ33ugys7ufsGIfsykpRpI3Gs4NAgsTH5qxuZpEVnfoi-xAr8-EGHI4jf3VdnSPL3A765jSRdSUqnSUm06jYMj5fnQc1LxgehjmwO7pvkrEFykVOndYjr-KJodUTiPLIzhu0qwKmG_yvOZMkqXJO-VrxUHmqDYeAfOBGV6bus_IWDMHgUS24u1/w640-h438/Gidea%20Hall%207%20JThorpe.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Gidea Park: ground floor plan from John Thorpe's 'Book of Drawings' [Sir John Soane Museum vol. 101, T.164]</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">The fortuitous survival of both a plan and a view of the house suggests that </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thorpe's plan may have silently incorporated improvements of his own invention to increase the symmetry of the design; for example, he shows two canted bay windows and a doorway on the elevation nearest the viewpoint of the drawing, which the latter shows as having only one canted bay; and t</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">he external angles of the building had domed octagonal towers at the corners, barely suggested by Thorpe. In </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">the courtyard, two large domed staircase towers stood in the internal angles at either end of the hall range. These distinctive features allow the drawing to be correctly oriented to the plan, and make it clear that the hall range was that nearest the viewpoint, with the private apartments in the range to the left of this, the main entrance being by the bridge across the moat into the right-hand range, and the colonnade facing onto the courtyard lying on the fourth side. The hall was approached from the courtyard by a flight of steps up to a porch leading into the screens passage. The rooms on the service side of the screens passage appear to be very faintly labelled in pencil as 'Wynt' and 'Kit'; i.e. Winter Parlour and Kitchen. </span><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house and estate were sold soon after 1710 to Sir John Eyles, who pulled down the Tudor house and built a new one. However, some 16th century stabling west of the Georgian house survived until 1922 and if the stables in question are those shown on the right of the 17th century view - which the shape of the building on 19th century Ordnance Survey maps suggests may well be the case - then the Tudor house stood on almost exactly the same site as its successor, meaning that the 17th century view was taken from the north of the site, and that the archway on the horizon at the top of the drawing marked the access to the estate from the Roman road through Hare Street to the south. The drawing shows the land rising to that gateway, which which accords with the local topography, although it rather overstates the extent of the rise, which is only about ten feet.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpvIt5lE400hhD2s0rHRLXDnFoD2oXmQqPIurincaxRIcl1FB4faUE5O9EQ6pm5qb_uWYYL0BD3TyFEzw5YzW8pgP5wd25XFmUFE5VY-kjiD1jFZtCnnDJx0aaWaOJUqpopURuiaNWRgIk0_Pp6B2zIhrZKaRLPkC4DiZIhoFvr-UQwhbPmDgT19U04E0/s752/Gidea%20Park%2012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="752" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpvIt5lE400hhD2s0rHRLXDnFoD2oXmQqPIurincaxRIcl1FB4faUE5O9EQ6pm5qb_uWYYL0BD3TyFEzw5YzW8pgP5wd25XFmUFE5VY-kjiD1jFZtCnnDJx0aaWaOJUqpopURuiaNWRgIk0_Pp6B2zIhrZKaRLPkC4DiZIhoFvr-UQwhbPmDgT19U04E0/w640-h418/Gidea%20Park%2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Gidea Hall: engraving of the Georgian house in 1771.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sir John Eyles was a London financier, who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1726-27 and was Whig MP for Chippenham 1715-27 and for London, 1727-34. From 1715-25 he was <span style="background-color: white;">one of the commissioners to oversee estates forfeited to the Crown</span><span style="background-color: white;"> following the Jacobite rebellion, and h</span>e</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> also served two terms as a director of the East India Company, 1710-14 and 1717-21, before being brought into the South Sea Company as deputy governor to sort out its finances following the collapse of the 'South Sea Bubble'. His new Georgian house was a plain but massive nine by seven bay, three-storey block, said to have been dated 1718, but unfortunately his architect is not recorded. The long fronts to north and south had three bay projecting centres, framed by French quoins, and also projecting end bays. The two main storeys were of even height and separated by quite a deep cornice from a full attic storey. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6I4kKzv3vggowRxqCo2Zg-2EJfCrZ5w0Qlie9_zE36rvc3jQLGa-LgVQLyJjX4V_4aKGlfzJ1_X1KQlobf5vTKGtSbsgsqr8Oxg_uxU3jU7T4GMoNhaxnkk-yQqzInmeG4ZUmx6ToBvQL_MOO8kEvLytNU0XogqAFEoK9raH5n_oFETzizPZ-E1Sfee3/s942/Gidea%20Hall%2011%20Chapman%20&%20Andre%201777.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="942" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6I4kKzv3vggowRxqCo2Zg-2EJfCrZ5w0Qlie9_zE36rvc3jQLGa-LgVQLyJjX4V_4aKGlfzJ1_X1KQlobf5vTKGtSbsgsqr8Oxg_uxU3jU7T4GMoNhaxnkk-yQqzInmeG4ZUmx6ToBvQL_MOO8kEvLytNU0XogqAFEoK9raH5n_oFETzizPZ-E1Sfee3/w400-h341/Gidea%20Hall%2011%20Chapman%20&%20Andre%201777.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Gidea Hall: the estate as depicted on Chapman & Andre's map of 1777</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The end elevations may originally have had recessed centres, effectively creating pavilions at the angles (as is shown on Chapman & André's map of 1777), but they later acquired broad curved bows. When the house was first built, the service accommodation seems to have been in the basement, to which light was given by an area around the house, bridged by the steps to the doors in the centre of the facade. Nothing is recorded, and little can be deduced, about the original internal arrangement of the building, but its scale means that it must always have had a top-lit central staircase.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1745 the estate was sold to Richard Benyon, governor of Madras, who </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">is said to have enlarged the park in 1766, and</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">work does seem to have taken place in the grounds at this time. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The early 18th century house was set in a formal garden with a long canal to the north (Spoon Pond) and avenues converging on the house. Chapman & André's map, surveyed in 1773-74, shows that the remnants of this landscape survived but had been softened by the addition of an informal pond (now Black's Canal) to the west flanked by a wilderness with a sinuous path. The landscape architect Richard Woods was a tenant of the Benyons on their property at North Ockendon (Essex), and he was probably responsible for these works, although his name appears in the accounts only in connection with designs for a new ice house (for Richard Benyon junior) in 1776. The pond broadened at its southern end where it met the main road, making a new bridge necessary, and this was designed by James Wyatt. It survives, though it has been widened to the south, and is of three brick arches. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97W_XBFSOIjbthEKh4JsLaK8Z_Fd1Ky5lFTWdnz9_6xyMQy7gP6Dh41qgKNeFRKQhcWdVHf0CAhQZL9sygVGqSMQKY6sc3RTaMBnL3UNlKYJzC71C4UW63uQzfzxgMzpBoKYVF-CmpKbc7w-s9BMWNTfVZklHWD03JYDQPjD1oju1hTuvUpwt36kmVOtF/s638/Gidea%20Hall%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="638" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97W_XBFSOIjbthEKh4JsLaK8Z_Fd1Ky5lFTWdnz9_6xyMQy7gP6Dh41qgKNeFRKQhcWdVHf0CAhQZL9sygVGqSMQKY6sc3RTaMBnL3UNlKYJzC71C4UW63uQzfzxgMzpBoKYVF-CmpKbc7w-s9BMWNTfVZklHWD03JYDQPjD1oju1hTuvUpwt36kmVOtF/w640-h424/Gidea%20Hall%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Gidea Hall: an early 20th century photograph of the house showing the curved bows on the end elevations, perhaps added by James Wyatt c.1788.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">By 1788, Wyatt had also designed a temple for a cold bath, and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">he may well have been responsible for the addition of the broad curved bows on the end elevations of the house and for alterations to the interior decoration: the one photograph of the drawing room which is known shows a late 18th century ceiling much in his style. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">A pedimented orangery and a stable court with a clock tower and cupola would also seem to have been late 18th century; they survived in 1911 but were demolished soon afterwards. Another landscape gardener, the great Humphry Repton, was also a tenant of the Benyons, having his polite cottage on the main road in Hare Street. In 1794 he published an engraving showing Gidea Hall and its grounds, but there is no evidence that he was employed to make any improvements.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrk-TiZKHrCm7Hiiev8TOxu9fr-ejWRCk3QP-aJcRlbihmwVcVm46-gbPStqveUJRW5yusn1gk1xuESExHZ8Dhv78x2TvQS_TrHcyz4BKWqNcVJqzAxQwmj9lYXX-KM2MHkmrPmjfKMwsRYtqT13eMRZSrRC7hC-ZVy95uS_HCA1RZuw4YGQB2AihkhKj/s1144/Gidea%20Hall%202.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="1144" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrk-TiZKHrCm7Hiiev8TOxu9fr-ejWRCk3QP-aJcRlbihmwVcVm46-gbPStqveUJRW5yusn1gk1xuESExHZ8Dhv78x2TvQS_TrHcyz4BKWqNcVJqzAxQwmj9lYXX-KM2MHkmrPmjfKMwsRYtqT13eMRZSrRC7hC-ZVy95uS_HCA1RZuw4YGQB2AihkhKj/s320/Gidea%20Hall%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Gidea Hall: view of the estate by Humphry Repton, 1795</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimT3dP41KJFBcR5vqPopIi85D5SuQQ7DvmpKXsnIbaE2N2lOUWdMO147_Oze8tDoUIWtm_vlJr4uMnOfLvD2G2LD9borewOzlu-mI5JJVi1ed6sVDuEyJXT7fMOzYk0X5nH9SzFVZMHC6Bs84TA4CMqAKavI8OkWmoe6bTCGeKm1gwGy0pcm7tOvQ_km78/s976/Gidea%20Hall%205%20orangery%20c1911.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="976" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimT3dP41KJFBcR5vqPopIi85D5SuQQ7DvmpKXsnIbaE2N2lOUWdMO147_Oze8tDoUIWtm_vlJr4uMnOfLvD2G2LD9borewOzlu-mI5JJVi1ed6sVDuEyJXT7fMOzYk0X5nH9SzFVZMHC6Bs84TA4CMqAKavI8OkWmoe6bTCGeKm1gwGy0pcm7tOvQ_km78/w302-h187/Gidea%20Hall%205%20orangery%20c1911.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Gidea Hall: the orangery c.1911.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Richard Benyon left instructions in his will that Gidea Hall was to be sold, and the house was tenanted for a few years before a purchaser was found in 1802. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, wealth from London flowed into the surrounding countryside and led to the building of many villas for gentlemen, as well as the improvement of old farmhouses as smart seats. In the later 19th and early 20th century this first wave of suburban development was succeeded by rapid urban expansion which removed the seclusion and peace of places like Romford and made parks and gardens into valuable development land. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbB4EwPUPohbWhP3z8bgxnFFUE4VZ6-0kzzfSlhzewlR56tdgasF7ANu43HPpoHMKKehL_n2fBxSkI9FxTwqy_dxbieLGkDLO2ygi_4IgBKXixUB2adMqYRVddFR6OD-2oP6WPP-Vp01RhJNdutyOShgDBPNqWgDqn_GXIlDRxZxuVEz3k2PlCT0xx61D/s1444/Gidea%20Hall%2017.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="1167" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbB4EwPUPohbWhP3z8bgxnFFUE4VZ6-0kzzfSlhzewlR56tdgasF7ANu43HPpoHMKKehL_n2fBxSkI9FxTwqy_dxbieLGkDLO2ygi_4IgBKXixUB2adMqYRVddFR6OD-2oP6WPP-Vp01RhJNdutyOShgDBPNqWgDqn_GXIlDRxZxuVEz3k2PlCT0xx61D/w324-h400/Gidea%20Hall%2017.jpeg" width="324" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Gidea Hall: plan of the 1911 cottage exhibition in the garden suburb</span></td></tr></tbody></table>In 1883 the Gidea Hall estate was sold to the Lands Allotment Co. for development, and although the group of which this firm was part went bust in 1893 before anything had been done apart from the sale of some outlying areas, it remained earmarked for development. In 1897 the residue was bought by Sir Herbert Raphael, 1st bt., of Havering Court, who gave the lake and some land for a public park and from 1910 set about developing the remainder as a garden suburb. He had the novel idea of inviting one hundred architects and urban planners to design and build houses for the estate at their own expense, which were then opened to the public as an exhibition to showcase the buildings to prospective buyers, and also entered into a competition for the best design. He succeeded in securing 159 entries, including some from many of the leading architects in the Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau styles, and a second competition was run on similar lines in 1934 for houses in the Art Deco style. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEx5BwhEx9VXfwZJUvLZAVLCVsPFb4D2N2iEVTal1gkmshB468VPrXx3R6bfLlXtx2cfhm16wIWIbond7uYnoDtuajLm7Qiiq1IqloTl7w37NR6yXYVLbmR6qbmnE8La9a0h3xoaWIAswBmMx4dZV73WwOwAzWetBt7EvPffqrS4UJqiYO2MrGZX9DKg-h/s1479/Gidea%20Hall%2010%20demolition%201929.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="1479" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEx5BwhEx9VXfwZJUvLZAVLCVsPFb4D2N2iEVTal1gkmshB468VPrXx3R6bfLlXtx2cfhm16wIWIbond7uYnoDtuajLm7Qiiq1IqloTl7w37NR6yXYVLbmR6qbmnE8La9a0h3xoaWIAswBmMx4dZV73WwOwAzWetBt7EvPffqrS4UJqiYO2MrGZX9DKg-h/w640-h516/Gidea%20Hall%2010%20demolition%201929.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Gidea Hall: the house derelict, partially unroofed, and awaiting demolition, 1929.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Georgian house became a club house for a while, but by 1929 it was derelict and had been partially unroofed. In 1930 it was bought by a demolition contractor who pulled it down and sold the materials, although as he made a loss of £600 he was bankrupted in 1932. The Spoon Pool was filled in in the early 20th century and the site is now occupied by tennis courts. The immediate site of the house seems not to have been built on, and would offer excellent scope for future archaeological investigation.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><i>Descent: Robert of Havering; sold to </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic;">William Baldwin (fl. 1376), saddler of London; sold by 1412 to Robert Chichele of London, merchant, brother of Archbishop Henry Chichele... Robert and Christine Saltmarsh, who sold 1452 to Sir Thomas Cooke (d. 1478), draper and lord mayor of London in 1462; to son, Phillip Cooke (1454-97); to son, Sir John Cooke (1473-1536), kt.; to son, Sir Anthony Cooke (1505-76), kt., tutor to King Edward VI and father-in-law of Lord Burghley; to son, Richard Cooke (d. 1579); to son, Anthony Cooke (d. 1604); to son, Edward Cooke (1581-1625); to son, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic;">Charles Cooke (d. 1629); to sister Ann (d. 1652), wife of Sir Edward Sydenham, who sold 1658 to Richard Emes, cooper of London; sold 1664 to John Burch (d. 1668), a West India planter; to widow, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic;">Margaret (d. 1685), for life, with remainder to his sister Rebecca Hothersall; to sons, Thomas and Burch Hothersall; to Thomas Hothersall (d. 1710); sold after his death to Benjamin Haskins Stiles and John Hunter, agents for Sir John Eyles (1683-1745), 2nd bt., who rebuilt the house; to son, Sir Francis Haskins Eyles-Stiles (d. 1762), 3rd bt., who sold 1745 to Richard Benyon (1698-1774), governor of Fort St. George (Madras, India); to son, Richard Benyon (1746-96); to son, Richard Benyon (later Benyon de Beauvoir) (1769-1854); sold 1802 to </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic;">Alexander Black (d. 1835); to widow, Alice (d. 1871); to daughters, Anne, wife of William Neave and Adelaide, wife of Alfred Douglas Hamilton, who sold 1883 to the Lands Allotment Co., a member of Jabez Balfour’s Liberator group, which collapsed 1893; sold 1897 to Sir Herbert Henry Raphael (1859-1924), 1st bt., who gave part of the grounds for a public park and developed the rest as a garden suburb. </span></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Englefield House, Berkshire</b></span></h3><span style="font-family: georgia;">The estate belonged from at least the mid 12th century to the eponymous Englefield family. We know almost nothing about the manor house they had here, except that in the 19th century workmen undertaking repairs claimed to have found the date 1558 inscribed on a timber in the long gallery. Work at this date would have been undertaken for Sir Francis Englefield (d. 1592), a Catholic lawyer who was Master of the Court of Wards and Liveries under Queen Mary I, and who fled to Spain soon after Queen Elizabeth I's accession, being outlawed in 1564. His possessions were seized by the Crown and his complaints to the privy council falling on deaf ears, in 1576 he transferred his rights in all his property to a Protestant nephew, retaining the right to reclaim his property on presenting the nephew with a gold ring. In 1585, Sir Francis was attainted for treason and his possessions were formally forfeited to the Crown, but only after four years of litigation and a special Act of Parliament did the authorities succeed in getting a clear title to the lands, and even so the Protestant branch of the family was able to recover a house in the village and a small part of the land, which their descendants held for another 200 years.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Queen Elizabeth granted the estate in 1589 to her 'favourite', Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, but its descent over the next forty years was unusually complex. By 1599 it had come to the Queen's venerable counsellor, Lord Norris of Rycote (Oxon), who </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">settled</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">it on his third son, Sir Edward Norris. According to the latter's secretary, Dudley Carleton, in 1600 Sir Edward was 'making a parke about this house... having a purpose to enlarge his house the halfe as much as it is according to old Englefields building but after a new project". This letter seems to confirm that Sir Francis Englefield had been responsible for the earlier building, and makes it very likely that it was Norris who built the new main block which still forms the core of the present house. The Queen dined at Englefield on her way to Basing House (Hants) in September 1601, but if work had not started in 1600 it seems unlikely that the new building could have been completed by then, although it is probable that it was largely finished before Norris died suddenly in 1603. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7kjNjL-ESwFgKGn87FfZSAvGRXhF7rPolVhE_D89Bgzp4p1PmwGeFyvKhhHJW7YCBGgFcEQuhzbA8kGSw6Zz5mCNzYLEJjTXc8RZG3vuqT0_tk6feS4qXD3klPBuPy8OB8zcJtN6kxxlhhb0U8QLKLRLNFwHQS-VUnFQgvoKGh84aY7XbgSI3h256f_Z/s1557/Englefield%20House%2016%20c1775%20attrib%20Dance.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1205" data-original-width="1557" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7kjNjL-ESwFgKGn87FfZSAvGRXhF7rPolVhE_D89Bgzp4p1PmwGeFyvKhhHJW7YCBGgFcEQuhzbA8kGSw6Zz5mCNzYLEJjTXc8RZG3vuqT0_tk6feS4qXD3klPBuPy8OB8zcJtN6kxxlhhb0U8QLKLRLNFwHQS-VUnFQgvoKGh84aY7XbgSI3h256f_Z/w640-h496/Englefield%20House%2016%20c1775%20attrib%20Dance.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Englefield House: the earliest depiction of the house seems to be this view, from the background of Paulet Wrighte's portrait of c.1775, <br />showing it after his alterations, though the form of the house of c.1600 remains clear.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Although there are no known illustrations of the house before it was altered in the 18th century, the earliest views make clear that the new building was of three storeys, with an E-plan layout consisting of a central three-storey porch and shallow projecting wings at either end. Thus far, the house was traditional in arrangement, but the walls terminate in a castellated parapet, not gabled attics, suggesting an awareness of and sympathy with the late Elizabethan and Jacobean fashion for neo-medieval decoration, as at Longford Castle, Bolsover Castle and Wadham College, Oxford. The shallow pediments set over mullioned and transomed windows are reminiscent of those found on many houses in East Anglia at this time (e.g. Roos Hall), as is the flushwork decoration between the floors on the porch and bay windows. Such flushwork is also known in Wiltshire, however, and it seems more likely that the master mason responsible for the remodelling came from this more local source rather than from further afield. The pairs of shell-headed niches on the return walls of the two end bays are a motif which can be found in works of the 1590s by William Arnold (Montacute House and Cranborne Lodge), and since Arnold was also responsible for the design of Wadham College, with its crenellated parapets, he may tentatively be suggested as a possible designer. Sadly, nothing is known of the original interiors, which were completely remodelled later.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The estate was acquired in 1635 by John Paulet, 5th Marquess of Winchester and his wife, Lady Honora de Burgh. Their principal seat was Basing House (Hants) which was famously beseiged and destroyed in the Civil War. After the Restoration, they made no attempt to rebuild Basing, but settled at Englefield. In 1712, the estate descended to the Marquess' granddaughter and her husband, the Rev. Nathan Wrighte, who were probably responsible for the creation of the forecourt and formal gardens shown on an estate map of 1762, and for alterations to the house of which some traces remain. These include three fine carved Corinthian doorcases in the present entrance hall, which are believed to have been moved from the original entrance hall when it was converted into a library in 1855, and perhaps some elements of the ceiling in the library, including the slightly recessed rectangular section in the centre with delicate sprays of acanthus, and six medallions of birds, although the ceiling was otherwise altered in the 19th century. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">During the mid 18th century, Englefield saw the long minorities of Paulet Wright, who inherited in 1729, came of age in 1737 and died aged 24 in 1741, and of his son, also Paulet Wright, who was born in 1739 and came of age in 1760. It was the latter who eventually initiated further changes to the house. It is unclear when he gained effective control of the property, but it is unlikely that he had to wait until his mother's life interest expired at her death in 1776. It would seem that his alterations took place in the 1770s, and had probably been completed when his portrait was painted standing in front of the remodelled house. This was almost certainly before his marriage in 1777, as the portrait shows him standing alone. An account of 1792 in Robertson's <i>Topographical Survey of the Great Road from London to Bath and Bristol</i> says that he 'reduced and modernised' the house, and an undated plan of the house suggests that he intended to build a new corridor and staircase behind the Jacobean house, with a cupola-capped tower at either end of it, and ranges of new service accommodation set around a courtyard at the rear. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjH8twSMQCv-RT8Bcm224Scm1mijIWxbungp3xpMjg0aWDbIU2yaTZFnu369x6UoB1A7DXBCO2jPVeuitZzJMTKXwFGzy_xyWTDvjg95Y45toOBcnFJ0N6kVCzp9L6WLswFz0zXzPs3hNOnjmBsAiyEm2pOiYnwLK7UH_UuDUJtOllnztcN8AdH11wMwH/s2141/Englefield%20House%2014%20plan%201775.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1298" data-original-width="2141" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjH8twSMQCv-RT8Bcm224Scm1mijIWxbungp3xpMjg0aWDbIU2yaTZFnu369x6UoB1A7DXBCO2jPVeuitZzJMTKXwFGzy_xyWTDvjg95Y45toOBcnFJ0N6kVCzp9L6WLswFz0zXzPs3hNOnjmBsAiyEm2pOiYnwLK7UH_UuDUJtOllnztcN8AdH11wMwH/w640-h388/Englefield%20House%2014%20plan%201775.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Englefield House: plan of proposed alterations, c.1775. The works as completed seem to have been broadly in line with this scheme.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Broadly, this intention seems to have been carried out, for the wide corridor behind the main rooms on the south front still exists today, and the staircase is in the position (but not the Imperial form) the plan depicts. The cupola-capped towers at either end of the corridor were constructed at this time (though altered since), and major elements of the decoration of the dining room, drawing room and study look right for the 1770s. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Paulet Wrighte died in 1779, and his executors' accounts show that he left unpaid bills for new furniture from Ince & Mayhew, as well as a bill of 10 guineas from 'Mr Woods, surveyor' (no doubt Richard Woods, the landscape architect, who had worked for his half-brother at Gidea Park), and who was presumably consulted about landscape improvements. His alterations were evidently financed by raising money secured on the estate and his uncle, Nathan Wrighte, who inherited in 1779, was obliged to let the house as he could not afford to live in it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFFr7KcoYyYbQGQpkfBW-VTU-29kb7uMNO3OCXFGgJpVIhL8_aSeQWP9UV5jPp15ljUPsmN-lku-a2842qZMaDBhLIfagq1NggtIQ6qaq1swmxY8qk-AdMzsibnDnLDMWZRfk5a-7hwo6dFFJvAHLRflbEifJLmMfYZfvI0Tr9FQnKMYYWeqEebNKlDaG/s2802/Englefield%20House%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="2802" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFFr7KcoYyYbQGQpkfBW-VTU-29kb7uMNO3OCXFGgJpVIhL8_aSeQWP9UV5jPp15ljUPsmN-lku-a2842qZMaDBhLIfagq1NggtIQ6qaq1swmxY8qk-AdMzsibnDnLDMWZRfk5a-7hwo6dFFJvAHLRflbEifJLmMfYZfvI0Tr9FQnKMYYWeqEebNKlDaG/w640-h268/Englefield%20House%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Englefield House: a pencil sketch of the house c.1800.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1796 the estate came into the possession of Richard Benyon (1770-1854), who married Elizabeth Sykes, a Berkshire neighbour from Basildon Park, in 1797 and made his home at Englefield. Sir John Soane was employed at both Benyon's town house in London, in 1805, and at Englefield in 1806, but the entries in his cost book suggest he was only making repairs or minor alterations to both properties. These may have included the removal of cupolas from the towers, the replacement of the Venetian windows on the south front with large mullioned and transomed windows, and the opening up of a new entrance on the east side of the house. More extensive improvements did not take place until the 1820s, by which time Richard Benyon's income had been augmented by his inheritance of the de Beauvoir estate in Hackney (Middx) and he had changed his name to Benyon de Beauvoir. In about 1823 he brought in Thomas Hopper (whose work he may have encountered at nearby Purley Hall), who added the bay windows to the south fronts and side elevations of the drawing room and dining room. Those on the south front copy exactly the proportions and decoration of the Jacobean porch bay, while those on the side elevations are broader; together, they strongly reinforce the Elizabethan character of the house. He also added a series of rather curious small square turrets with finials to the skyline of the house, some of which concealed chimneys. Inside the house, the ceilings of the dining room and library (formerly the entrance hall) were given their current form. Work seems to have been completed by 1829, and to mark the remodelling, Benyon de Beauvoir commissioned a painting of the house from John Constable which now hangs in the house. It was also photographed early in the 1840s by W.H. Fox-Talbot, the photographic pioneer, in one of the earliest country house photographs.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFbpIo86-IzVUU6t-AdmGpJj47mOo6p9Qj8jIrmh0yaxOgkHhcmDjuvYa1Ds6KTmb7QdA0lZL4CwWQU0jGijRae31uL8x4gSxXq88CthRPBiV3Uix-W6P-Utp1wQuzPqNwO6VuoLKLFTbBnde0eZVl4JJsL6h1jDxJ_GhF1EAnP4LeQjF2Pf2wrJ4p_Fx/s1240/Englefield%20House%2042%20Fox-Talbot%20c1840-45.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1240" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFbpIo86-IzVUU6t-AdmGpJj47mOo6p9Qj8jIrmh0yaxOgkHhcmDjuvYa1Ds6KTmb7QdA0lZL4CwWQU0jGijRae31uL8x4gSxXq88CthRPBiV3Uix-W6P-Utp1wQuzPqNwO6VuoLKLFTbBnde0eZVl4JJsL6h1jDxJ_GhF1EAnP4LeQjF2Pf2wrJ4p_Fx/w640-h414/Englefield%20House%2042%20Fox-Talbot%20c1840-45.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Englefield House: photograph by W.H. Fox-Talbot, c.1840-45, showing the house as altered by Thomas Hopper in the 1820s.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Richard Benyon de Beauvoir died in 1854 and was succeeded by his sister's second son, Richard Fellowes (1811-97), who took the name Benyon and at once put in hand further changes to the house. The works were undertaken in c.1856-57 to the designs of Richard Armstrong (1799-1876), a Scottish architect who seems to have trained in the office of William Burn, acted as clerk of works to Edward Blore at Haveringland Hall, and also altered Haveringland for Benyon's elder brother at the same time as he was working here. His alterations to Englefield were extensive, but stylistically conservative and surprisingly sympathetic to the earlier fabric. The south front was entirely refaced and the porch at its centre was converted into a bay window, but the flushwork decoration of the porch and the 17th century shell-headed niches were faithfully reproduced in the new work. The crenellated parapet was replaced all round the house by a much showier fretwork balustrade that breaks forward over the bay windows with inset panels of coats of arms. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDI4SPd27xIV8h40fS0T8-bm_gj6dV6rpEFjD7PQ84X8JRFMw8dmso8j1RDffxDS_TgK1Q1bmmLRfF5gSWoQUSB5elHLPD8v7oBGdx-MXg6TuPk2RsJ8njzvMlD5e-qPSfReqErBiWQ3RYECI3gXxMi6P4ywn_nGjvWBuRRaLkGlevFZaI4d9kDYW0Y8ND/s2747/Englefield%20House%2021%20Richd%20Armstrong%201873.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1734" data-original-width="2747" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDI4SPd27xIV8h40fS0T8-bm_gj6dV6rpEFjD7PQ84X8JRFMw8dmso8j1RDffxDS_TgK1Q1bmmLRfF5gSWoQUSB5elHLPD8v7oBGdx-MXg6TuPk2RsJ8njzvMlD5e-qPSfReqErBiWQ3RYECI3gXxMi6P4ywn_nGjvWBuRRaLkGlevFZaI4d9kDYW0Y8ND/w640-h405/Englefield%20House%2021%20Richd%20Armstrong%201873.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Englefield House: view of the house as remodelled by Richard Armstrong in the 1850s, exhibited in 1873. The domed winter garden was never built.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Inside, the former entrance hall was converted into a large new library, and the 18th century Corinthian doorcases no doubt formerly in this room were moved to a new two-storey hall on the east side of the house, where a new main entrance was created. The present staircase dates from the 1850s, and the corridors which run through the house from east to west on the ground and first floors were also redecorated at this time. The most significant change was the rebuilding of the east tower which was made wider and higher than before, so that it became the dominant feature of the house from any angle, and creates the sort of picturesque asymmetry so favoured by Blore and his contemporaries. Armstrong probably also laid out the formal gardens </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">west of the house </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">in the style of W.A. Nesfield, and in 1862 created the neo-Jacobean gate screen at the end of the main approach drive on the A340. In 1860-61, the interiors of the house were extensively redecorated by J.G. Crace, though few traces of his work have survived today.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8g2OcIwF8nDhetBv2n4LV6x-qYEE-Bz3yqG4QnvNelxIpHNRyhynHWUxvN0ZyJDcu1hsBMv8RUICwTLLMywSPbCxrmG1Bj9xxo2F4oySdQwHspECFsPrabPbRr33Ktn8JFPIU3sZ1Dz9tuNQ6GZ8hMfogGde-EwNxXS0xUPz71jvcgwZFUFGQt53KU4jf/s1664/Englefield%20House%2024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1664" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8g2OcIwF8nDhetBv2n4LV6x-qYEE-Bz3yqG4QnvNelxIpHNRyhynHWUxvN0ZyJDcu1hsBMv8RUICwTLLMywSPbCxrmG1Bj9xxo2F4oySdQwHspECFsPrabPbRr33Ktn8JFPIU3sZ1Dz9tuNQ6GZ8hMfogGde-EwNxXS0xUPz71jvcgwZFUFGQt53KU4jf/w640-h412/Englefield%20House%2024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Englefield House: the library created from the former entrance hall in the 1850s.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">On 12 August 1886 a fire broke out in the laundry in the east wing of the house and did considerable damage, although it was happily prevented from spreading to the main block. The one interior of note that was damaged was the long gallery on the upper floor of the east range, where workmen had earlier found a timber dated 1558. The long gallery was quickly repaired, apparently under the direction of Richard Anderson junior, who continued his father's practice after his retirement in 1875, and was given a coved ceiling with skylights. It was probably Anderson junior who made the fine drawing of the house exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1873, which shows a large domed winter garden to the west of the house which was never built.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-5TUwVhzoajSQCB823lgZBxm_tgk_gROV9XS8mypLWwg_sE-tavOImOjP1q13O11rE3fzQtw0YXhZJ4k66-NZ-z3RLfPKRq9ckxn8pUdYZcQQTALh4WOEdCTJS3iOWD8K6Scuzg7i-cXPvNcVUwyi4aaxTIJJ0cEsQ4VtHWIorEJpO5iJ9in8Vav14yI/s640/Englefield%20House%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-5TUwVhzoajSQCB823lgZBxm_tgk_gROV9XS8mypLWwg_sE-tavOImOjP1q13O11rE3fzQtw0YXhZJ4k66-NZ-z3RLfPKRq9ckxn8pUdYZcQQTALh4WOEdCTJS3iOWD8K6Scuzg7i-cXPvNcVUwyi4aaxTIJJ0cEsQ4VtHWIorEJpO5iJ9in8Vav14yI/w640-h426/Englefield%20House%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Englefield House: the house today from the south-east. Image: Richard Croft. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1897, on the death of Richard Benyon without issue, the estate passed to his nephew, James Herbert Fellowes, who again took the name Benyon. By this date, the richly coloured and patterned decoration by Crace had fallen out of favour, and in 1907 he brought in Gillow & Co. to redecorate the house in a more neutral, loosely <i>dixhuitième </i>style. Further redecoration took place in 1937 for Sir Henry Benyon (1884-1959), 1st bt., under the supervision of Jacksons, the interior decorators.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: Sir Francis Englefield (d. 1592), attainted 1585 and forfeited to Crown, which granted 1589 to trustees for Robert Devereux (1567-1601), 2nd Earl of Essex; sold 1597 to Henry Norris (c.1530-1601), 1st Baron Norris de Rycote; who gave it 1599 to his third son, Sir Edward Norris (d. 1603); to widow, Elizabeth, later wife of Sir Thomas Erskine (1566-1639), 1st Viscount Fentoun and 1st Earl of Kellie, who sold 1622 to his creditors, Sir Peter Vanlore and William Rolfe, who sold 1623 to Erskine's stepdaughter's husband, Sir John Davis (d. 1626), kt.; to daughter, Lucy, wife of Ferdinand Hastings (1609-56), Baron Hastings and later 6th Earl of Huntingdon, who sold? 1635 to John Paulet (c.1598-1675), 5th Marquess of Winchester, whose lands were sequestered and sold 1649 to Sir Thomas Jervoise (1587-1654), but were restored to him at the Restoration in 1660; to younger son, Lord Francis Paulet (c.1646-96); to son, Francis Paulet (1686-1712); to sister, Anne Paulet (1685-1729), wife of Rev. Nathan Wrighte (d. 1721); to son, Powlet Wrighte (1716-41); to widow, Mary (d. 1777), later wife of Richard Benyon (1698-1774) for life and then to her son, Powlet Wright (1739-79); to uncle, Nathan Wrighte (1717-89) for life and then to half-brother, Richard Benyon (1746-96); to son, Richard Benyon (later Powlet Wrighte and then Benyon de Beauvoir) (1769-1854); to nephew, Richard Fellowes (later Benyon) (1811-97); to nephew, James Herbert Fellowes (later Benyon) (1849-1935); to son, Sir Henry Fellowes (later Benyon) (1884-1959), 1st bt.; to second cousin, Adm. Richard Shelley (d. 1967); to son, Sir William Richard Shelley (later Benyon) (1930-2014), kt.; to son, Richard Henry Ronald Benyon (b. 1960), Baron Benyon. From 1781-89 the house was let to Lady Clive, the widow of Clive of India.</i><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Benyon family of Gidea Hall and Englefield House</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benyon, Daniel (1664-1708). </b>Son of Daniel Benyon (c.1628-90) of Crooked Lane, London, tallow chandler, Master of the Tallow Chandlers Company, 1689-90, and his wife Mary, baptised at St Nicholas Acons, London, 12 August 1664. He married 23 April 1691 at St Anne & St Agnes, London, Elizabeth Moore, and had issue*:</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Richard Benyon (1698-1774) (</span><i style="font-family: georgia;">q.v.</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">);</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Elizabeth Benyon (d. 1709); died young and was buried at Lee (Kent), 29 July 1709.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived in London and later at Blackheath (Kent).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was very probably the 'Daniel Bynian' buried at Lee (Kent), 27 May 1708, whose widow was buried at Lee, 19 October 1709.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* Bernard Benyon, who died in India in 1715, and who is sometimes said to be an elder son of Daniel, describes himself in his will as the cousin of Richard Benyon (1698-1774).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZtQ2jaKi2vdDSlaWaEoW3DP-JqwI0ZdOqQlyBXCQgJ1-MZEcNByw_YHVpTMqMrD-rpefC3TlV9xwjT8SLVM3BlrYFi81KNSxVxJbGwQlAHx4lnDjUYGArHyz8gMDkCeei1mjuooTsM6a8EiB2GWTsq_gxcXdqXlYO9d52BGsv20e8FkHsIuSIEd-5-Xk/s292/Benyon,%20Richard%201698-1774.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="233" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZtQ2jaKi2vdDSlaWaEoW3DP-JqwI0ZdOqQlyBXCQgJ1-MZEcNByw_YHVpTMqMrD-rpefC3TlV9xwjT8SLVM3BlrYFi81KNSxVxJbGwQlAHx4lnDjUYGArHyz8gMDkCeei1mjuooTsM6a8EiB2GWTsq_gxcXdqXlYO9d52BGsv20e8FkHsIuSIEd-5-Xk/w160-h200/Benyon,%20Richard%201698-1774.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Richard Benyon (1698-1774) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Benyon, Richard (1698-1774). </b>Only recorded son of Daniel Benyon (1664-1708) and his wife Mary, born 26 November 1698. On the death of his mother he was orphaned and his guardian, Col. John Perry, sent him out to India, where he joined the household of Osmond de Beauvoir (whose niece he would eventually marry as his third wife). As soon as he was old enough he joined the East India Company as a writer, and was appointed a member of the Council of Fort St George (Madras), 1718-25, resigning on returning to England in the latter year. He subsequently went out to India again, and was re-elected to the Council in 1732, becoming President of Madras, 1735-44. He is regarded as one of the best and least oppressive early Presidents of Madras, who oversaw the rapid development of the city and the repulsion of two Maratha invasions. He returned to England at the end of his Presidency with a modest fortune of some £75,000. He married 1st, 17 October 1724 in Madras, Mary, daughter of Edward Fleetwood; 2nd, 14 October 1738, Frances (d. 1742), daughter of Richard Horden and widow of Sandys Davis; and 3rd, 18 July 1745, Mary (1714-77), daughter of Frances Tyssen of Hackney and widow of Paulet Wrighte (</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">1716-41) of Englefield (Berks), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Elizabeth Benyon (b. & d. 1727), born 7 May and baptised at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster (Middx), 7 June 1727; died in infancy and was buried at </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">St Martin-in-the-Fields,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 8 June 1727;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Lucy Benyon (b. & d. 1729), baptised at St George the Martyr, Bloomsbury (Middx), 14 February 1728/9; died in infancy and was buried at Margaretting, 17 May 1729;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Frances Benyon (b. & d. 1741), born 24 January 1741; died in infancy and was buried in Madras, 25 January 1742;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3.1) Richard Benyon (1746-96) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He bought the manor of Coptfold Hall at Margaretting (Essex) in 1728, while on a visit back to England. He bought Gidea Park in 1745 after retiring from the East India Co.; Great Newbury House, Ilford in 1747; and the North Ockendon Hall estate (Essex) in 1758. His third wife had a life interest in Englefield House. They also had a town house in Grosvenor Square, which seems to have been their principal residence.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 22 September and was buried at Margaretting, where he built a family vault, 4 October 1774; his will was proved in the PCC, 11 October 1774. His first wife died between 1733 and 1738. His second wife died in childbirth, 21 October 1742. His third wife died 18 September 1777 and was buried at Englefield; her will was proved in the PCC, 8 October 1777.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benyon, Richard (1746-96). </b>Only child of Richard Benyon (1698-1774) and his third wife, Mary, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">daughter of Frances Tyssen of Hackney and widow of Paulet Wrighte (d. 1740/1) of Englefield (Berks),</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> baptised at St George, Bloomsbury (Middx), 26 June 1746. Educated at Eton. A 'well-meaning and honest man', he was a supporter of Lord Fitzwilliam, his friend and Eton contemporary, and sat as MP for Peterborough, 1774-96, in the Fitzwilliam interest. He married, 3 September 1767 at Breamore (Hants), Hannah (1747-1828), eldest daughter of Sir Edward Hulse, 2nd bt., of Breamore House, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Richard Benyon (b. & d. 1769), baptised at Romford, 23 February 1769; died in infancy and was buried at Romford, 3 March 1769;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Richard Benyon (later Powlet Wrighte Benyon and then Benyon de Beauvoir) (1770-1854) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Hannah Elizabeth Benyon (1771-1852), born 1 June and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, 2 June 1771; married, 30 March 1813 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, Vice-Adm. Edward Fellowes (1772-1841) of Little Gidding (Hunts), son of William Fellowes (d. 1804) of Mortimer Lodge, Stratfield Mortimer (Berks), but had no issue; died 5 October and was buried at Stratfield Mortimer, 13 October 1852;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Maria Benyon (1772-1852), born 8 April and baptised </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 6 May 1772; married, 15 May 1797 by special licence, as his second wife, George Brodrick (1754-1836), 4th Viscount Midleton, of Peper Harow House (Surrey), MP for Whitchurch, 1774-96 and Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, 1814-30, and had issue one son and five daughters; died 14 January 1852; will proved in the PCC, 3 May 1852;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Charlotte Benyon (1774-1854), born 13 January and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, 10 February 1774; married, 11 June 1799 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, Joseph Berens (1773-1853) of Kevington House, St Mary Cray (Kent) and Lincoln's Inn, barrister-at-law, and had issue five sons and one daughter; died 1 July 1854 and was buried at Orpington (Kent); will proved in the PCC, 8 September 1854;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Louisa Benyon (b. 1775), born 30 August and baptised </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 25 September 1775; probably died young;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Harriet Benyon (1777-98), born 19 February and baptised </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">17 March 1777; died unmarried and was buried at Margaretting (Essex), 27 February 1798;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Edward Henry Benyon (1779-1806), born 9 April and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), 2 June 1779; lived at Newbury Hall, Barking (Essex); died unmarried at Nîmes (France), 25 January 1806; will proved in the PCC, 8 November 1806;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Emma Benyon (1780-1862) (<i>q.v.</i>); </span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) Frances Benyon (1781-1866), born 6 October and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, 2 November 1781; died unmarried in London, 3 February 1866; will proved 16 March 1866 (effects under £120,000);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(11) William Benyon (1786-97?), born 6 February and baptised </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster the same day; probably died young and was the person of this name buried at Margaretting, 6 December 1797;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(12) Charles Benyon (1789-1810), born 5 April and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, 28 June 1789; an officer in the Royal Navy (Lt.); killed in action while attempting to board an enemy vessel of the island of Elba, 11 September 1810.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Gidea Park from his father in 1774 and Englefield House from his kinsman, Nathan Wrighte, in 1789.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Bath (Som.), 22 August and was buried at Margaretting (Essex), 30 August 1796, where he is commemorated by a monument; his will was proved in the PCC, 14 September 1796. His widow died 27 April 1828, and was buried at Margaretting, where she is commemorated by a monument; her will was proved 9 June 1828.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WXgdqdKBvSDneO1XBduRWujAIHu8Ucgaz2uaDpZa2t-k2KNCHpLAJTGsBiDbzLNDHaPbYhfdnK8fd4rWXrX37FXyolgEe25a6RTz5HUla_FyrvinsXXxZeC_3yPm7i0pLnt0hY3DxOoDhyXysQyBDCynf_Oe8wI0wXsXcJPjXzwZUXKk9Gq_mGs5OWJP/s685/Benyon%20de%20Beauvoir,%20Richard%201770-1854%202.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="497" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WXgdqdKBvSDneO1XBduRWujAIHu8Ucgaz2uaDpZa2t-k2KNCHpLAJTGsBiDbzLNDHaPbYhfdnK8fd4rWXrX37FXyolgEe25a6RTz5HUla_FyrvinsXXxZeC_3yPm7i0pLnt0hY3DxOoDhyXysQyBDCynf_Oe8wI0wXsXcJPjXzwZUXKk9Gq_mGs5OWJP/w145-h200/Benyon%20de%20Beauvoir,%20Richard%201770-1854%202.jpg" width="145" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Richard Benyon de Beauvoir (1770-1854)<br />Image: The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Benyon (later Powlett Wrighte Benyon and then Benyon de Beauvoir), Richard (1770-1854). </b>Eldest surviving son of Richard Benyon (1746-96) and his wife Hannah, eldest daughter of Sir Edward Hulse, 2nd bt., of Breamore (Hants), born 28 April and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), 28 May 1770. Educated at Charterhouse and St. John's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1788; BA 1792; MA 1795). JP and DL for Berkshire. Independent MP for Pontefract, 1802-06 and for Wallingford, 1806-12; he retired from the House in 1812 and declined an invitation to stand for Reading in 1816. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">High Sheriff of Berkshire, 1816-17;</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">High Steward of Wallingford, 1828-44. He assumed the surnames Powlett Wrighte in addition to Benyon in 1814, and in 1822 substituted the name Benyon de Beauvoir on inheriting the Hackney estate. In 1839 he made a major benefaction of £5,000 towards the foundation of the Royal Berkshire Hospital. He became blind in his old age. He married, 27 September 1797 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, Elizabeth (1775-1822), only daughter of Sir Francis Sykes (1732-1804), 1st bt., of Basildon Park (Berks), but had no legitimate issue. It seems possible, however, that he had an illegitimate son, who he referred to as his nephew:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(X1) Rev. Edward Richard Benyon (1802-83), said to have been born in Lausanne (Switzerland) in 1802 and later naturalised as a British subject; educated at St John's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1820; BA 1824; MA 1827); ordained deacon, June 1826 and priest, December 1826; rector of Downham and North Ockendon (Essex), 1827-39, and of Culford (Suffk), 1839-83 and Elveden (Suffk), 1841-45; given the Culford Hall estate by his 'uncle', 1839; married, 5 October 1830 at Eyton (Herefs), Jane (c.1806-76), daughter of Edward Evans of Eyton Hall, but had no issue; died suddenly, 7 July 1883, and was buried at Culford; will proved 14 January 1884 (effects £50,167).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Gidea Park, a lease of the manor of Havering-atte-Bower, property at North and South Ockendon (Essex) and the Englefield House estate from his father in 1796, but sold Gidea Park in 1802 and the lease of Havering-atte-Bower in 1819. He inherited the Hackney (Middx) estate of the Rev. Peter de Beauvoir (who had conducted his marriage and was his great-great-uncle), rector of Downham (Essex) in 1822 and, after a lengthy legal dispute with the tenant of the estate, developed it for middle-class housing. In 1824 he purchased the 11,000 acre <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2017/09/306-bacon-of-redgrave-hall-gorhambury_30.html">Culford Hall</a> estate (Suffk) for £230,000, but he gave this property to the </i></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Rev. Edward Richard Benyon (1802-83) </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">in 1839</i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">. </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">At his death, he bequeathed Englefield House and the Hackney estate to another nephew, Richard Fellowes (later Benyon) (1811-97).</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 22 March 1854 and was buried at Englefield, where he is commemorated by an elaborate monument; his will was proved in the PCC, 1 June 1854 (effects under £300,000, although press reports after his death claimed his real and personal estate was worth as much as £7,500,000; the real figure may have been around £2,500,000). His wife died 29 October 1822 and was buried at Lower Basildon (Berks), where she is commemorated by a monument.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benyon, Emma (1780-1862). </b>Sixth daughter of </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Richard Benyon (1746-96) and his wife Hannah, eldest daughter of Sir Edward Hulse, 2nd bt., of Breamore (Hants), born 4 July and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq, Westminster (Middx), 25 July 1780. She</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> married, 23 July 1805 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, William Henry Fellowes (1769-1837) of Ramsey Abbey (Hunts), MP for Huntingdon, 1796-1807 and Huntingdonshire, 1807-30, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) William Henry Fellowes (1806-36), born 11 July and baptised at St Marylebone, 11 August 1806; educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1824; BA 1828); appointed a conservator of the Bedford Level Corporation, 1830; DL for Huntingdonshire, 1834; died unmarried, 17 March, and was buried at St Michael, Paternoster Royal, London, 22 March 1836;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Emma Fellowes (1808-87); a keen amateur meteorologist, who collected rainfall data for over fifty years; married, 9 August 1842, Rev. Henry William Townshend (later Powlett) (1797-1866), 3rd Baron Bayning of Honingham Hall (Norfk), younger son of Charles Townshend, 1st Baron Bayning, and had issue one son (who predeceased his father); died 10 November 1887; will proved 24 December 1887 (effects £50,570);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Edward Fellowes (1809-87), 1st Baron de Ramsey, born 14 April and baptised at St Marylebone, 8 May 1809; MP for Huntingdonshire, 1837-80; raised to the peerage as 1st Baron de Ramsey, 8 July 1887; inherited Ramsey Abbey from his father and remodelled it to the designs of Edwrd Blore, whom he subsequently employed to rebuild Haveringland Hall (Norfk); married 22 July 1845 at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster, Hon. Mary Julia (1825-1901), daughter of George John Milles (1794-1874), 4th Baron Sondes, and had issue two sons and two daughters; died 9 August 1887;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Richard Fellowes (later Benyon) (1811-97) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) James Fellowes (1813-89) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">Her husband inherited Ramsey Abbey, which he employed Sir John Soane to alter, and Haveringland Hall (Norfk). After his death she moved to Felthorpe Hall (Norfk).</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">She died at Felthorpe Hall, 27 January 1862; her will was proved 9 April 1862 (effects under £25,000). Her husband died 23 August 1837 and was buried at Ramsey (Hunts); his will was proved in the PCC, 6 December 1837.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LoAuRxr2osXjc92T3q2LhwMoCGIGwcPadle4ajXo6hWBJXOGABVk647SlObML1S1jo1cCP8hLca_MPppXWRXYNWVrnUCS6vx_qus-nJ_xbwUo03MYZ5R_O2omW2AzcCk_83j-Kg0JTPy_PHfmiMEyOUF52LyeTYwi1waVNWT5AuhEtAGJEIxWzNUyFN0/s314/Benyon,%20Richard%201811-97.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="250" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LoAuRxr2osXjc92T3q2LhwMoCGIGwcPadle4ajXo6hWBJXOGABVk647SlObML1S1jo1cCP8hLca_MPppXWRXYNWVrnUCS6vx_qus-nJ_xbwUo03MYZ5R_O2omW2AzcCk_83j-Kg0JTPy_PHfmiMEyOUF52LyeTYwi1waVNWT5AuhEtAGJEIxWzNUyFN0/w159-h200/Benyon,%20Richard%201811-97.jpg" width="159" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Richard Benyon (1811-97) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Fellowes (later Benyon), Richard (1811-97). </b>Third, but second surviving, son of William Henry Fellowes MP (1769-1837) of Ramsey Abbey (Hunts) and his wife Emma, second daughter of Richard Benyon (1746-96), born 17 November and baptised at Haveringland (Norfk), 9 December 1811. Educated at Charterhouse and St. John's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1829; BA 1833; MA 1836), and Lincolns Inn (admitted 1833; called 1837). Barrister-at-law. JP (Chairman of Quarter Sessions, 1864-84) and DL for Berkshire; High Sheriff of Berkshire, 1857-58; MP for Berkshire, 1860-76; an Alderman of Berkshire County Council, 1888-91. He assumed the name of Benyon in lieu of Fellowes by royal licence, 10 January 1855, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">in compliance with the wishes of his uncle</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. It was noted at the time of his death that he had probably built more churches than any other man in modern times, but he kept his philanthropy quiet, having 'a dread of his benevolent actions becoming known'. His charity extended to the support of many schools on and around his estate in Berkshire, the National Society, and missionary work overseas. He married, 25 April 1858, Elizabeth Mary (1833-1909), second daughter of Robert Clutterbuck of Watford House (Herts), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Marion Emma Benyon (1860-1948) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Edith Gertrude Benyon (1862-1953). born 15 January and baptised at St Mark, North Audley St., Westminster (Middx), 18 February 1862; married, 27 September 1894 at St Mark, North Audley St. Westminster, Alfred Ernest Hoare OBE (1861-1930) of Hendon (Middx), son of Francis Hoare of Cromer (Norfk), banker, and had issue two sons and one daughter; died 9 April 1953; will proved 26 June 1953 (estate £2,895);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Julia Benyon (1863-1905), born 19 November and baptised at St Mark, North Audley St., Westminster, 19 December 1863; married, 9 February 1888 (sep.), Sir Anthony Henry Wingfield (1857-1952), kt., of Ampthill House (Beds), Chairman of Bedfordshire Quarter Sessions and owner of a private zoo, eldest son of George John Wingfield (1822-60), and had issue two sons; after leaving her husband she lived with her mother; she died 17 September and was buried at Englefield, 22 September 1905.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Englefield House, the Hackney estate and the remaining Essex property from his uncle, Richard Benyon de Beauvoir, in 1854. At his death his estates passed to his nephew, James Herbert Fellowes (later Benyon).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 26 July 1897 and was buried at Englefield; his will was proved 4 November 1897 (effects £722,809). His widow died 23 October 1909 and was buried at Englefield; her will was proved 10 December 1909 (estate £261,372).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Fellowes, James (1813-89). </b>Fourth, but third surviving, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">son of William Henry Fellowes MP (1769-1837) of Ramsey Abbey (Hunts) and his wife Emma, second daughter of Richard Benyon (1746-96), born </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">31 July 1813. He was admitted to Christ's College, Cambridge in 1830 but did not reside, having already joined the Royal Navy in 1826 (Lt., 1838; retired 1841). DL and JP for Dorset; High Sheriff of Dorset, 1859. A staunch Conservative in politics, he was 'a man of some peculiarities', according to his obituarist. He married, 19 July 1847 at All Souls, Langham Place, Marylebone (Middx), Gertrude Charlotte (1826-1906), daughter of Nathaniel Micklethwait of Taverham Hall (Norfk), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) James Herbert Fellowes (later Benyon) (1849-1935) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) <span style="background-color: white;">Emily Gertrude Fellowes </span>(1851-82), born 19 February and baptised at St Mary, Bryanston Sq., Westminster (Middx), 15 April 1851; married, 30 April 1872 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, Sir Henry Cosmo Orme Bonsor (1848-1929), 1st bt. (who m2, 3 March 1886, Mabel Grace Brand), of Kingswood Warren (Surrey), brewer and company director, MP for Wimbledon, 1885-1900, son of Joseph Bonsor, and had issue three sons and two daughters; died 18 July and was buried at Tandridge (Surrey), 22 July 1882; administration of goods granted 7 March 1883 (effects £337);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Georgiana Charlotte Fellowes (1859-1936), born 17 April and baptised at St Marylebone (Middx), 20 May 1859; married, 14 January 1892 at St Marylebone, Francis William Preston (1851-98), barrister-at-law, son of Thomas Edward Preston (1816-90), and had issue one daughter; lived latterly at Westbrook House, Upwey (Dorset); died 31 October 1936; will proved 31 December 1936 (estate £75,452).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He purchased</i></span><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Kingston Maurward House (Dorset) in 1853.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 4 July 1889; his will was proved 9 August 1889 (effects £264,881). His widow died 25 April 1906 and was buried at Stinsford (Dorset); her will was proved 31 May 1906 (estate £74,348).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGgnUog27-ilt3QuURp1_67bX_zMVGKjIvlUw1Kpi7qjPruqT5uHMLCwrzaIvutr6xeaE9vGx0NoRkZsyuZeDQXV7Pnd_kuQBHojKMU_6BHSrvX4mWwxOnE174bOM2QRzWaqHu3dpH1OGCAy41DGDq0pgro6WWp-8YBIeP2lQAR1fLQkYY673R2AkSyvE/s685/Benyon,%20James%20Herbert%201849-1935.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="540" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGgnUog27-ilt3QuURp1_67bX_zMVGKjIvlUw1Kpi7qjPruqT5uHMLCwrzaIvutr6xeaE9vGx0NoRkZsyuZeDQXV7Pnd_kuQBHojKMU_6BHSrvX4mWwxOnE174bOM2QRzWaqHu3dpH1OGCAy41DGDq0pgro6WWp-8YBIeP2lQAR1fLQkYY673R2AkSyvE/w158-h200/Benyon,%20James%20Herbert%201849-1935.jpg" width="158" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">James Herbert Benyon (1849-1935)<br />by Oswald Birley. <br />Image: Reading University Art Collection </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Fellowes (later Benyon), James Herbert (1849-1935). </b>Only son of James Fellowes (1813-89) and his wife Gertrude Charlotte, daughter of Nathaniel Micklethwait of Taverham Hall (Norfk), born 30 October 1849. Educated at Eton, Magdalene College, Cambridge (matriculated 1868; BA 1873; MA 1876; Hon. Fellow, 1928) and the Inner Temple (admitted 1872; called 1875). JP and DL for Dorset; High Sheriff of Dorset, 1892-93. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He assumed the name of Benyon in lieu of Fellowes by royal licence, 1897, on inheriting the Englefield estate. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, 1901-35; President of Berkshire Territorial Forces Association, 1908-35; a member </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626;">of Berkshire County Council (Alderman from 1898; Chairman, 1916-26, and chairman of its education committee from its formation in 1903); President of University College, Reading, and first Chancellor of Reading University (to which he was a generous benefactor), 1926-35; a Governor of Abingdon School, 1902-34 (Chairman, 1903-27). He was also</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: georgia;"> a keen agriculturist. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> He married, 29 July 1875 at Uffculme (Devon), Edith Isabel GBE (1857-1919), youngest daughter of Sir John Walrond (1818-89), 1st bt., of Bradfield House, Uffculme, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Gertrude Fellowes (1876-1953), born 29 August and baptised at St Peter, Eaton Square, Westminster (Middx), 27 September 1876; married, 1 January 1897 at Stratfield Mortimer (Berks), Rev. Francis Edward Rooke (later Trelawny) (1862-1937) of Coldrennick (Cornw.), and had issue one son and one daughter; died 8 November 1953 and was buried at Menheniot (Cornw.); will proved 9 January 1954 (estate £14,034);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Edith Marion Fellowes (later Benyon) (1880-1942), born 19 January and baptised at Holy Trinity, Brompton (Middx), 21 January 1880; died unmarried, 9 November 1942 and was buried at Englefield; administration of goods granted 19 February 1943 (estate £25,089);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Sir Henry Arthur Fellowes (later Benyon) (1884-1959), 1st bt. (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Winifred Fellowes (later Benyon) (1893-1970), born 28 March and was baptised at St Saviour, Chelsea (Middx), 1 April 1893; died unmarried, 19 December 1970; will proved 18 February 1971 (estate £55,807).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Kingston Maurward from his father in 1889, and Englefield House, the Hackney estate and the remaining Essex property from his uncle, Richard Fellowes (later Benyon) in 1897. He sold Kingston Maurward in 1906.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 14 February 1935 and was buried at Englefield; his will was proved 28 June 1935 (estate £1,586,968). His wife died 25 March 1919; administration of her goods was granted 14 June 1919 (estate £2,572).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Fellowes (later Benyon), Sir Henry Arthur (1884-1959), 1st bt. </b>Only son of James Herbert Fellowes (later Benyon) (1849-1935) and his wife Edith Isabel GBE, daughter of Sir John Walrond, 1st bt., born 9 December 1884 and baptised at Holy Trinity, Brompton (Middx), 6 January 1885. Educated at Eton and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. An officer in the Berkshire Yeomanry (2nd Lt., 1910; Lt., 1917; Capt., 1917; retired 1921). JP for Berkshire; High Sheriff of Berkshire, 1925; Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, 1945-59. Member of Berkshire County Council, 1922-49 (Vice-Chairman, 1938; Chairman, 1948-49) and County Alderman, 1935-49; Chairman of Berkshire Agriculture Executive Committee, 1944-57 and Deputy President of Royal Agricultural Society, 1954. Appointed CBE, 1946 and created a baronet, 1958. He married, 10 March 1915 at Holy Trinity, Sloane St., Chelsea (Middx), Violet Eveline (1887-1964), second daughter of Sir Cuthbert Edgar Peek, 2nd bt., of Wimbledon House (Surrey) and Rousdon (Devon), but had no issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Englefield House, the Hackney estate and the remaining Essex property from his father in 1935, but sold the Essex estates to pay the death duties. During his ownership, wartime neglect and other issues led to Englefield becoming rather dilapidated.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 15 June 1959; his will was proved 2 July 1959 (estate £997,587). His widow died 3 February 1964; her will was proved 23 March 1964 (estate £168,972).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benyon, Marion Emma (1860-1948). </b>Eldest daughter of Richard Fellowes (later Benyon) (1811-97) and his wife, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Elizabeth Mary, second daughter of Robert Clutterbuck of Watford House (Herts),</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> born 14 February and baptised at St Mark, North Audley St., Westminster (Middx), 22 February 1860. She</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> married, 29 June 1882 at St Mark, North Audley St., Col. Sir John Shelley (1848-1931), 9th bt., of Shobrooke Park (Devon), son of Rev. Sir Frederick Shelley (1809-69), 8th bt., and had issue</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Elizabeth Marion Shelley (1883-1949), born 14 June and baptised at St Mark, North Audley St., 21 July 1883; married, 29 April 1911, Kenneth Loder Cromwell Prescott (1875-1922) of Arborfield Court (Berks), banker and company director, and had issue one daughter; died 19 November 1949; will proved 10 February 1950 (estate £27,094);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Sir John Frederick Shelley (1884-1976), 10th bt., born 14 October and baptised at St Mark, North Audley St., 19 November 1884; educated at Winchester and Trinity College, Cambridge; JP and DL for Devon; married 1st, 17 April 1912 at Exeter Cathedral, Nora Coleridge (1886-1953), daughter of Francis James Coleridge Boles (1854-1934), and had issue two sons and three daughters; married 2nd, 28 October 1953, Marianne (1885-1974), daughter of Maj. Wolstan Francis (1855-1945) and widow of Capt. John Theodore Martin Mee (d. 1950) of Hempsted (Norfk), poultry farmer; died 8 March 1976 and was buried at Shobrooke (Devon); will proved 7 May 1976 (estate £151,414); </span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Constance Mary Shelley (1890-1971), born 5 May and baptised at St Mark, North Audley St., 3 June 1890; married, 14 April 1921 at Shobrooke (Devon)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">, Noel Arthur Godolphin Quicke (1888-1943), son of Ernest Henry Godolphin Quicke of Newton House, Newton St Cyres (Devon), and had issue two sons and one daughter</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, died 1 November 1971 and was buried at Newton St. Cyres (Devon); will proved 10 January 1972 (estate £12,313);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Vice-Adm. Richard Benyon Shelley (1892-1968) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Mary Shelley (1895-98), born 16 September and baptised at St Mark, North Audley St., 19 October 1895; died young and was buried at St John the Baptist, Margate (Kent), 20 May 1898.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>She and her husband lived at Shobrooke Park (Devon). As a widow she moved to Newton House, Newton St. Cyres (Devon).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">She died 30 March 1948; will proved 7 June 1948 (estate £27,529). Her husband died 29 March 1931; his will was proved 19 June 1931 (estate £97,756).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29Kw11DScPyzfnpZb6abSJFjmkUKxcIacEyvhHjHdIpBPrjdvI_a1OUeAn7D6cmfs99KQT7F0oGDDFgWij4etk6an6l-WwIZ8qGodmdonstQh6if9eGc7AOV47dHkBGJi-vF1G9RHkTYXCg8vv-e1RBw65faJeJZb3Jo_N3kHXKcurYZMLPPACCLkKVpW/s800/Benyon%20(ne%20Shelley),%20V-Adm%20Richard%201892-1968.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="539" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29Kw11DScPyzfnpZb6abSJFjmkUKxcIacEyvhHjHdIpBPrjdvI_a1OUeAn7D6cmfs99KQT7F0oGDDFgWij4etk6an6l-WwIZ8qGodmdonstQh6if9eGc7AOV47dHkBGJi-vF1G9RHkTYXCg8vv-e1RBw65faJeJZb3Jo_N3kHXKcurYZMLPPACCLkKVpW/w135-h200/Benyon%20(ne%20Shelley),%20V-Adm%20Richard%201892-1968.jpg" width="135" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Vice-Adm. Richard Shelley <br />(later Benyon). Image: NPG </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Shelley (later Benyon), Vice-Adm. Richard Benyon (1892-1968). </b>Second son of Sir John Shelley (1848-1931),9th bt., and his wife Marion Emma, eldest daughter of Richard Fellowes (later Benyon) (1811-97), born 1</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">8 January and baptised at St Mark, North Audley St., Westminster (Middx), 20 February 1892. An officer in the Royal Navy (Lt., 1914; Lt-Cdr, 1922; Cdr., 1927; Capt., 1934; Rear-Adm., 1944; retired as Vice-Adm., 1948), who served in the First and Second World Wars. He was naval attaché to Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands at the outbreak of the Second World War, and Captain of the Mediterranean Fleet, 1940-42; appointed CBE, 1942 and CB, 1946. He took the name Benyon in lieu of Shelley by deed poll, 1964 and by royal licence, 1967. High Sheriff of Berkshire, 1958; Vice-Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, 1961-68. He married, 16 April 1929, Eve Alice (1900-95),</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> daughter of the Right Reverend Lord (Rupert Ernest) William Gascoyne-Cecil, Bishop of Exeter, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Sir William Richard Shelley (later Benyon) (1930-2014), kt. (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) James Edward Shelley (1932-2017), of Ramsdell (Hants), born 18 June 1932; educated at Eton and University College, Oxford (MA 1961); secretary to the Church Commissioners; appointed CBE, 1990; married, 16 June 1956 at Fulmer (Bucks), Judith (b. c.1934), only daughter of George Grubb of Gerrards Cross (Bucks), and had issue two sons and two daughters; died 18 January 2017; will proved 16 June 2017;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Andrew Thomas Rupert Shelley (1933-2018), born 18 November 1933; educated at Eton and Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst; an officer in the army (2nd Lt., 1954; Lt., 1956; Capt., 1960; Maj., 1967; retired 1988); married, 11 December 1971, Joanna Margaret (1938-2006), only daughter of Adm. Sir Randolph Stewart Gresham Nicholson CB DSO DFC (1892-1975), kt., of The Toll House, Bucks Green (Sussex) and had issue one son and one daughter; died 3 April 2018; will proved 3 September 2018;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) David Robert Shelley (1937-2018), born 2 April 1937; educated at Eton and University College, Oxford (BA 1961); married, 30 August 1971, Elizabeth Rhoda (b. 1938), younger daughter of Gilbert Graham Balfour of Upper Hardres (Kent), and had issue two sons; died 31 December 2018; will proved 1 December 2019.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at The Pickeridge, Fulmer (Bucks) until he inherited the Englefield House and Hackney estates from his kinsman, Sir Henry Fellowes (later Benyon), 1st bt., in 1959. He did not, however, occupy Englefield House but handed the estate over to his eldest son and lived latterly at The Lambdens, Beenham (Berks).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 13 June 1968 and was buried at Englefield; his will was proved 21 August and 31 October 1968 (estate £118,863). His widow died aged 95 on 4 March 1995; her will was proved 15 August 1995 (estate £116,456).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkj5dkJAS4Ac9UiITfugom8B45r8IehaqJugnZd1iK9qFl8_oKumBiR98zjEgG2xD74dvc5j_jrMx7_mAFXz-PXx6c2K0eVIgZRW5VrkOZdAGUgfDgC2D4NUmrwnL1IzwFdAEHv5Glc7hAa7CRqGWJGJFsMZKSb7dFCwNSuFxW26x1rStdwev5ap0Xcym/s526/Benyon,%20Sir%20William%20d2014.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="371" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkj5dkJAS4Ac9UiITfugom8B45r8IehaqJugnZd1iK9qFl8_oKumBiR98zjEgG2xD74dvc5j_jrMx7_mAFXz-PXx6c2K0eVIgZRW5VrkOZdAGUgfDgC2D4NUmrwnL1IzwFdAEHv5Glc7hAa7CRqGWJGJFsMZKSb7dFCwNSuFxW26x1rStdwev5ap0Xcym/w141-h200/Benyon,%20Sir%20William%20d2014.jpg" width="141" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sir Bill Benyon (1930-2014) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Shelley (later Benyon), Sir William Richard (k/a Bill) (1930-2014), kt. </b>Eldest son of Vice-Adm. Richard Benyon Shelley (later Benyon) (1892-1968), and his wife Eve Alice daughter of the Right Reverend Lord (Rupert Ernest) William Gascoyne-Cecil, Bishop of Exeter, born 17 January 1930. Educated at Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. He joined the Royal Navy in 1943 (Sub-Lt., 1951; Lt., 1951; retired 1956). With Courtaulds Ltd., 1956-64. MP for Buckingham, 1970-83, and for Milton Keynes, 1983-92; PPS to Minister of Housing. 1972-74; Opposition Whip, 1974-77. JP for Berkshire, 1962-77; County Councillor for Berkshire, 1964-74; Vice Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, 1994-2005 (DL 1970-94). Chairman of Peabody Trust, 1993-98 and Ernest Cook Trust, 1993-2004. He married, 24 August 1957, Elizabeth Ann (b. 1932), daughter of Vice-Adm. Ronald Hamilton Curzon Hallifax (1885-1943) of Shedfield (Hants), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Catherine Rose Ingrid Benyon (b. 1958), of Mayridge Fm, Englefield, born 15 November 1958; married, 22 September 1984, Peter David Ian Haig (b. 1954), son of Maj. Andrew Haig of Southernwood House, Hingham (Norfk), and had issue one son and two daughters;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Richard Henry Ronald Benyon (b. 1960), Baron Benyon (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Edward Benyon (b. 1962), born 23 May 1962; manages the Hackney estate on behalf of his brother; married, 17 June 1989 (div.), Karen Elizabeth (k/a Katy) (b. 1969) (who m2, 2004, Oliver Christian Davis (b. 1966) of Fifehead St Quintin (Dorset), vetinary surgeon), younger daughter of Robin Crofts of Nethercote House, Flecknoe (Warks), and had issue one son and one daughter;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Mary Elizabeth Benyon (b. 1965), born 4 July 1965; High Sheriff of Berkshire, 2020; a director of the Ernest Cook and Ufton Court Educational Trusts; married, 9 June 1990, Capt. Thomas Richard Phineas Riall (b. 1960), company director, son of Maj. Patrick Riall of Knockbawn (Co. Wicklow), and had issue two sons and one daughter;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Susannah Eve Benyon (b. 1969), born 17 May 1969; bookbinder and paper conservator; married, 18 May 1996, George Neville McBain (1960-2020), and had issue three sons and one daughter.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>His father handed over the Englefield House and Hackney estates to him on inheriting them.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 2 May 2014; his will was proved 16 July 2015. His widow was living in 2022.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRe9KcDBf2Myuc2ysiVpzAIBZsupdecMZluArow6OgPbd5Xk-j049nRKuN689pIz9VcAT7D_4vRTtqBidyHLWfmpXkUZ7S1y3NDVK02LLqOjtBZkjBVBy3UhH-UzDXYvQJ56WHQihdSLDVZBmTYEoEh9-7DDR98cGH6sdoA-BryHnW2N5OGhil_ZOx6pr/s475/Benyon,%20Richard,%20Baron%20Benyon.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="426" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRe9KcDBf2Myuc2ysiVpzAIBZsupdecMZluArow6OgPbd5Xk-j049nRKuN689pIz9VcAT7D_4vRTtqBidyHLWfmpXkUZ7S1y3NDVK02LLqOjtBZkjBVBy3UhH-UzDXYvQJ56WHQihdSLDVZBmTYEoEh9-7DDR98cGH6sdoA-BryHnW2N5OGhil_ZOx6pr/w179-h200/Benyon,%20Richard,%20Baron%20Benyon.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lord Benyon</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Benyon, Rt. Hon. Richard Henry Ronald (b. 1960), Baron Benyon.</b> Elder son of Sir William Richard Shelley (later Benyon) (1930-2014), kt., and his wife Elizabeth Halifax, born 21 October 1960. Educated at Bradfield College, Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester and Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. An officer in the army (2nd Lt., 1981; Lt., 1983; retired 1984). Land agent, 1987-90. He stood for parliament unsuccessfully in 1993 and 1997, but was Conservative MP for Newbury, 2005-19; appointed to Privy Council, 2016; created a life peer, 29 January 2021; Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 2010-13 and 2021-22; Minister of State for Biosecurity, Marine and Rural Affairs in DEFRA, 2022-date. Member of Newbury District Council, 1991-98? He married 1st, 8 October 1988 (div. 2003), Emma (b. 1963), daughter of Capt. Anthony Henry Heber Villiers (1921-2004) of Woodchester (Glos), and 2nd, 24 May 2004, Zoe Lavinia Beatrice (b. 1970), daughter of (Francis) Alastair Lavie Robinson (b. 1937) of Ousden (Suffk), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Hon. Henry Charles William Benyon (b. 1990), born 12 July 1990; director of Englefield Estate Trust since 2021; married, 2021, Sarah, daughter of Philip Proctor of Skelton (Yorks), and has issue one son;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Hon. Thomas Anthony Edward Benyon (b. 1992), born 6 June 1992; married, September 2022, Roseanna (b. 1992), elder daughter of Henry Vane Eden of Cromlix, Dunblane (Perths.);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.3) Hon. Frederick Richard Benyon (b. 1994), born 14 March 1994; educated at Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst; an officer in the army (2nd Lt., 2018; Lt., 2019, Capt., 2021) and an accomplished polo player;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Hon. Louis Benyon (b. 2005), born 19 November 2005;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.2) Hon. Jimmy Benyon (b. 2007), born 10 May 2007.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>His father handed over Englefield House and the de Beauvoir estate in Hackney to him c.2010.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Now living. His first wife married 2nd, 14 June 2013, as his second wife, <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2022/08/523-beckett-of-somerby-park-and_25.html">Edward John Beckett (b. 1953), 5th Baron Grimthorpe</a> of Brinkley (Suffk), and is now living. His second wife is now living.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Landed Gentry, </i>1952, p. 162; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">P. de la Serre, <i>Histoire de L'Entrée de la Reine Mère dans la Grand Bretagne</i> (1775), pl. ii; <i>VCH Essex</i>, vol. 7, 1978, pp. 64-72, 110-17;</span><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 10.92px;">.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">G. Jackson-Stops, 'Englefield House, Berkshire' in </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Country Life</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">, 26 February and 5-12 March 1981; S. Daniels, <i>Humphrey Repton</i>, 1999, pp. 59-60; F. Cowell, </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Richard Woods (1715-93): master of the pleasure garden</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">, 2009, pp. 194-95; G. Tyack, S. Bradley & Sir N. Pevsner, </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">The buildings of England: Berkshire</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">, 2nd edn., 2010, pp. 293-94; K. Smith, 'Englefield House: processes, practices and the making of a Company house' in M. Finn & K. Smith (eds.), </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">The East India Company at Home, 1757-1857</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">, 2017, pp. 191-204; </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/bookofexhibition00romf/page/n5/mode/2up">https://archive.org/details/bookofexhibition00romf/page/n5/mode/2up</a>;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Benyon of Englefield House:</i> deeds, estate and family papers, 13th-20th cents. [Royal Berkshire Archives D/EBy, D/EZ 173]; Essex deeds and papers, 15th-20th cents. [Essex Record Office, D/DBe; A10365]; Hackney deeds and estate papers, 1550-1950 [London Metropolitan Archives, E/BVR]; Hackney deeds and rent accounts, c.1727-1826 [The National Archives, C108/283]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Benyon of Englefield: </i>Vair, sable and or, on a chief wavy of the second, an Eastern crown between two mullets gules.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone demonstrate the precise relationship between Richard Benyon de Beauvoir and his 'nephew', the Rev. Edward Richard Benyon (1802-83)?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide photographs or portraits of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 13 February 2024 and updated 14-15, 25 February 2024.</span></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-70138542919144639032024-02-05T16:01:00.010+00:002024-02-13T09:01:32.982+00:00(568) Cavendish-Bentinck of Welbeck Abbey, Dukes of Portland - part 3<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">This post has been divided into three parts. <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2024/02/568-cavendish-bentinck-of-welbeck-abbey.html">Part 1</a> consists of my introduction to the family and its property, and an account of Welbeck Abbey and Bolsover Castle. <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2024/02/568-cavendish-bentinck-of-welbeck-abbey_5.html">Part 2</a> contains histories of the other houses built or acquired by the family. This part gives the biographical and genealogical details of the family.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;">Cavendish-Bentinck family, Earls and Dukes of Portland</span></b></h3><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUevzyIeB_ivwIbkqVD6Tr0nYjbJwsRD4YXUVA2dHo0Q3eIzOq_cLXJ10mrybQ6fL1Qz0WtuSmyGW9kFex4Wq-FwhHonPNrgvhZj82Cfej5ld7_x0xSBU3DD-Wdk0NMPEVth7b1nKncwNoRjf6ErhfSMlfuN2RQVOsFD-FEpGbyLgCyqhBn1PhTF7bhPKr/s2854/Bentinck,%20Wm,%201st%20Earl%20of%20Portland%202.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2854" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUevzyIeB_ivwIbkqVD6Tr0nYjbJwsRD4YXUVA2dHo0Q3eIzOq_cLXJ10mrybQ6fL1Qz0WtuSmyGW9kFex4Wq-FwhHonPNrgvhZj82Cfej5ld7_x0xSBU3DD-Wdk0NMPEVth7b1nKncwNoRjf6ErhfSMlfuN2RQVOsFD-FEpGbyLgCyqhBn1PhTF7bhPKr/s320/Bentinck,%20Wm,%201st%20Earl%20of%20Portland%202.jpg" width="269" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Hans William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bentinck, General Hans William (1649-1709) KG, 1st Earl of Portland. </b></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Fourth, but third surviving, son of Bernhard Bentinck (d. 1668), Baron Bentinck, lord of Diepenheim, Schoonheten etc. in the province of Overyssel (Netherlands) and his wife Anna (d. 1685), daughter of Hans Hendrik van Bloemendaal, Seneschal of Vianen, born 20 July 1649. Page of Honour, c.1664 and Nobleman of the Chamber, 1672, at the Dutch court. He was a confidential adviser to Prince William of Orange, whom he accompanied on a visit to England in 1670 (when he was awarded an honorary degree by Oxford University (DCL)) and who he nursed through an attack of smallpox in 1675. He acted as an envoy to England to arrange the marriage of William of Orange to Princess Mary in 1677, and again in 1683 and 1685. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was bailiff of Breda, 1674 and of Lingen, 1675, and was called to the States General as Lord of Drummelen, 1676, when he joined the Order of Nobility of the Netherlands; in 1681 he was appointed Verderer of Holland.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He served as an officer in the Dutch Horse Guards (Cornet, 1668; Capt. 1672; Colonel. 1675; Maj-Gen., 1683; Lt-Gen., 1689; Gen., 1697; retired 1699). He brought his regiment to England when Prince William was invited to take the English throne in 1688, and was present at the Battle of the Boyne, 1690, and also at Steinkirk, 1692, Landen, 1693, and the Siege of Namur, 1695, but gave up his command when the regiment returned to the Netherlands in 1699. After King William III's accession to the throne he was created Earl of Portland, Viscount Woodstock and Baron Cirencester, 9 April 1689, and appointed Groom of the Stole, First Gentleman of the Bedchamber, and Keeper of the Privy Purse, appointments which he held until 1700 and which brought him £3,000 a year. He was also appointed Superintendent of the Royal Gardens in June 1689, with George London as his deputy and William Talman as his comptroller, and in 1697 and 1699 respectively he was made Ranger of Windsor Great and Little Parks, posts worth £1,500 a year, which he held until 1702. In 1696/7 he was made a Knight of the Garter. In 1698 he was sent as ambassador and the king's plenipotentiary to France, negotiating the Partition Treaties with Louis XIV and the States General, for his part in which the House of Commons voted to impeach him on 1 April 1701, although the proceedings were dismissed by the House of Lords in June that year. In 1700 he resigned all his offices in the Royal Household, apparently in a fit of pique about being supplanted as the king's chief adviser by Arnold Joost van Keppel (1670-1718), 1st Earl of Albemarle. A good-looking man, he was staunchly loyal to King William III, but 'never possessed any of the graces of the courtier' and did not greatly care for the ways or character of the English, with whom he made no attempt to ingratiate himself. It is no surprise, therefore, that he was widely regarded with suspicion and unpopularity as a 'foreign favourite'. He married 1st, 1 February 1677/8 at The Hague, Anne (1651-88), Maid of Honour to Princess Mary of Orange (later Queen Mary II), daughter of Sir Edward Villiers (1620-89), kt. and sister of Edward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey; and 2nd, 12 May 1700 at Chiswick (Middx), Jane Martha (1672-1751), Maid of Honour and later Governess to the daughters of King George II, sixth daughter of Sir John Temple, kt. of East Sheen (Surrey) and widow of John Berkeley (c.1663-97), 3rd Baron Berkeley of Stratton, and had issue:</span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Lady Mary Bentinck (1679-1726), born 1679; married 1st, 28 February 1698, Algernon Capel (1670-1710), 2nd Earl of Essex, of Cassiobury House (Herts), Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, and had issue one son and two daughters; married 2nd, August 1714, as his first wife, Hon. Sir Conyers d'Arcy MP (c.1685-1758) of Aske Hall (Yorks NR) (who m2, 12 September 1728, as her third husband, Elizabeth, daughter of John Rotherham of Great Waltham (Essex)), but had no further issue; died 20 August 1726;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Willem Bentinck (1681-88), born before 3 March 1680/1; died young, 26 May 1687/8;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.3) (William) Henry Bentinck (1682-1726), 2nd Earl and 1st Duke of Portland (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.4) Lady Anne Margaretta Bentinck (1683-1763), born 1683; married, 1701, Baron Arent van Wessenaer (1669-1721) of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #434343;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Duivenvoorde Castle (Netherlands)</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, Ambassador of the States General to Great Britain, and had issue three daughters; died 3 May 1763;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.5) Lady Frances Wilhelmina Bentinck (1684-1712); born 18 February 1684; married, 19 December 1706, as his second wife, William Byron (1669-1736), 4th Baron Byron, but had no surviving issue; died 31 March 1712 and was buried at Hucknall (Notts);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.6) Lady Eleanora Sophia Bentinck (b. 1687), born 8 April 1687; died unmarried;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.7) Lady Isabella (k/a Belle) Bentinck (1688-1728), born 4 May 1688; married, 2 August 1714, as his second wife, Evelyn Pierrepont (1667-1726), 5th Earl and 1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull, and had issue two daughters; died 23 February 1727/8;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Lady Sophia Bentinck (1701-48), born at Whitehall, Westminster, 4 April 1701; married, 24 March 1728/9, as his second wife, Henry de Grey (1671-1740), 12th Earl, 1st Marquess and 1st Duke of Kent, of Wrest Park (Beds), and had issue one son (who died in infancy) and one daughter; died 14 June and was buried at Flitton (Beds), 20 June 1748;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.2) Lady Elizabeth Ariana Bentinck (1703-65), born at Whitehall, 27 June and baptised at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, 30 June 1703; married, 18 December 1720, Rt Rev. and Hon. Henry Egerton (1689-1746), Bishop of Hereford, 1724-46, fifth son of John Egerton, 3rd Earl of Bridgewater, and had issue five sons and one daughter; died 9 November, and was buried at Bruton (Som.), 15 November 1765; will proved in the PCC, 11 December 1765;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.3) Hon. William Bentinck (1704-74), 1st Count Bentinck [for whom see my post on the <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2024/01/567-bentinck-of-indio-house.html">Bentinck family of Indio House</a></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">];</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.4) Lady Henrietta alias Harriet Bentinck (1705-92), born at Whitehall, 12 December 1705; married, 15 October 1728 at The Hague, Rt. Hon. James Hamilton (1694-1758), 1st Baron Clanboye, 1st Viscount Limerick and</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 1st Earl of Clanbrassil</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> of the second creation, MP for Dundalk, 1715-19, Wendover, 1735-41, Tavistock, 1741-47 and Morpeth, 1747-54, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">and had issue one son and one daughter; died 10 June 1792;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.5) Hon. Charles John Bentinck (1708-79), born at Bulstrode Park, 2 June 1708; married, 11 January 1739, Lady Margaret Cadogan (1707-82?), daughter and co-heir of Lt-Gen. William Cadogan (1672-1726), 1st Baron and 1st Earl Cadogan; died at Zorgvliet (Netherlands), 9 March 1779; will proved in the PCC, 24 April 1779;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.6) Lady Barbara Bentinck (1709-36), born at Bulstrode Park, 20 October 1709; married, 18 February 1733/4, Hon. Francis Godolphin (1706-85) (who m2, Lady Anne Fitzwilliam (1722-1805)), MP for Helston, 1741-66 and later </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">2nd Baron Godolphin, of Baylies (Bucks) and Godolphin House (Cornw.), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">but had no issue; died 1 April 1736.</span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>In 1674 he bought the estate of Zorgvliet near The Hague, which remained his main residence in Holland. In 1676 William granted him Drimmelen, a lordship entitling him to a place in the Dutch nobility. In 1683, he purchased the lordships of Rhoon and Pendrecht and just before embarkation, in October 1688, William granted him several other Dutch lordships. In England he was granted Theobalds Park (Herts) in 1689. In London he had a house in Pall Mall and bought another in St James's Square for his son, but he also had apartments in several of the royal palaces. In 1695 he was granted a large estate in Wales, but a parliamentary outcry led to this being revoked; instead, the king quietly compensated him with more scattered lands in Cheshire, Cumberland, Norfolk, Suffolk and Yorkshire. In 1697 he was made Ranger of Windsor Great Park, and the Great Lodge (later Cumberland Lodge) became his favourite residence until he was obliged to give it up in 1702. In 1698 he was granted lands in Westminster (Middx) which were valued at over £376,000 in 1709. In 1702 he moved to Bagshot (Surrey) and in 1706 bought the Bulstrode Park (Bucks) estate.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died of pleurisy at Bulstrode Park, 23 November, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, 3 December 1709; his will was proved 22 December 1709. His first wife died in Holland, 20 November 1688 and was buried at Rhoon. His widow died 26 May 1751 and was buried at Mortlake (Surrey); her will was proved 20 April 1751.</span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncThpIshRob7n4LZ7TEk6Z0OD7rAN6jRrJVOguniDOTTPPAmHn5bwAkIfF40HurT8BxHVeNyUPnqsxlxCcpbRPQtdcQ77nniqCbQMyYbwMLfLu7SNqG_PVOyVMBr4Hq383LAry3LUDXr705yoDOQ7WpKdPEQIofDkltsI-d8-fAF23v9zDMZNvo3H-Hn6/s811/Bentinck,%20Wm%20Henry,%201st%20Duke%20of%20Portland.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="636" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncThpIshRob7n4LZ7TEk6Z0OD7rAN6jRrJVOguniDOTTPPAmHn5bwAkIfF40HurT8BxHVeNyUPnqsxlxCcpbRPQtdcQ77nniqCbQMyYbwMLfLu7SNqG_PVOyVMBr4Hq383LAry3LUDXr705yoDOQ7WpKdPEQIofDkltsI-d8-fAF23v9zDMZNvo3H-Hn6/w157-h200/Bentinck,%20Wm%20Henry,%201st%20Duke%20of%20Portland.jpg" width="157" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2nd Earl and 1st Duke of Portland </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bentinck, (William) Henry (1682-1726), 2nd Earl and 1st Duke of Portland. </b>Second, but eldest surviving, son of Baron Hans William Bentinck (1649-1709), 1st Earl of Portland, and his first wife, Anne, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">daughter of Sir Edward Villiers (1620-89), kt., born at The Hague (Netherlands), 17 March 1682. He undertook the Grand Tour in 1701-03, visiting Italy and Germany with his tutor, the historian, Paul de Rapin. Whig MP for Southampton, 1705-08 and for Hampshire, 1708-09. An officer in the Life Guards (Capt. and Lt-Col.), 1710-13. He was styled Viscount Woodstock from 1689 until he succeeded his father as 2nd Earl of Portland, 23 November 1709, and after the accession of King George I he was further created Duke of Portland and Marquess of Titchfield, 6 July 1716, in recognition of his father's service to the Hanoverian dynasty. A Lord of the Bedchamber, 1717-26. Unfortunately, he lost huge sums in the South Sea Bubble in 1720, and subsequently accepted the resident post of Governor and Vice-Admiral of Jamaica, 1721-26, although he did not arrive in Jamaica until 22 December 1722. He married, 9 June 1704 at Chiswick (Middx), Lady Elizabeth (c.1688-1737), elder daughter and co-heir of Wriothesley Baptist Noel, (c.1661-90), 2nd Earl of Gainsborough, of Exton Park (Rutland) and Twickenham (Middx), who brought him a fortune of £60,000 and a moiety of the Titchfield estate. They had issue*:</span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Lady Anne Bentinck (1705-49), born 7 April and baptised at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster (Middx), 12 April 1705; married, 30 August 1737 at St George, Bloomsbury (Middx), Lt-Col. Daniel Paul (c.1690-1749); died 7 July 1749 and was buried with her husband in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin; administration of goods granted in Dublin, September 1749;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Lady Mary Bentinck (c.1706-07), probably born in 1706; died in infancy and was buried at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster, 5 February 1706/7;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Lady Elizabeth Bentinck (1707-08), born 16 January and baptised at St James, Piccadilly, 25 February 1706/7; died in infancy and was buried at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster, 10 April 1708;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Lady Frances Bentinck (c.1708-10), probably born in 1708; died young and was buried at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster, 25 October 1710;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) William Bentinck (1709-62), 2nd Duke of Portland (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Hon. Henry Bentinck (b. & d. 1713), born 12 March 1712/3 and baptised at St James, Piccadilly, 29 March 1713; died in infancy and was buried at Hedgerley (Bucks), 12 September 1713;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Lord George Bentinck (1715-59), of Hall Place, Heston (Middx), born 24 December 1715 and baptised at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster (Middx), 22 January 1715/6; educated at Eton, 1725-28 and undertook a belated Grand Tour in 1739; an officer in the army (Ensign, 1735; Capt., 1743; Lt-Col., 1745; Col., 1752); ADC to King George II, 1751; Colonel-in-Chief of 5th Foot, 1754; MP for Droitwich, 1742-47, Grampound, 1747-54 and Malmesbury, 1754-59; married**, 29 June 1753 at Mayfair Chapel, Westminster and again, 9 October 1753 at St Benet, Paul's Wharf, London, Mary, eldest daughter of William Davies, but had no issue; died at Bath, 1 March 1759 and was buried at Heston (Middx); his will was proved in the PCC, 2 March 1759 (the day after his death!), and made his widow chief beneficiary and executrix; she quickly remarried, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">17 April 1759 at St Clement Danes, London, Joseph Griffith (b. c.1728)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Lady Anne Isabella Bentinck (1719-83), born 20 December 1719 and baptised at St James, Piccadilly, 16 January 1719/20; married, 8 November 1739, Henry Monck (c.1715-87) of Charleville (Co. Wicklow) and had issue one daughter; died in Ireland, 1783;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Lady Amelia Catherine Bentinck (1726-56), born at St Jago de la Vega (Jamaica), 5 April 1726; married, December 1747, Jacob Arend van Wassenaer (1721-67), Baron de Wessenaer, of The Hague (Netherlands) (who m2, Catherina van der Heim), and had issue one daughter; died 10 January 1756.</span></div></blockquote><div><i style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He was granted the Clancarty estate (135,000 acres) at Woodstock in Ireland during his father's lifetime, but this was annulled by the Resumption Act in 1701. </i>He acquired a moiety of the Titchfield (Hants) estate through his marriage in 1704, and </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">inherited most of his father's English property in 1709</i><i style="font-family: georgia;">.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at St. Jago de la Vega (Jamaica), 4 July 1726, but his body was returned to England for burial at Westminster Abbey, 3 November 1726; his will was proved 14 February 1727/8. His widow died in London, 19 March 1736/7, and was buried at Titchfield (Hants).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* Collins' <i>Peerage</i> says there were seven daughters, but I have found records of only six; it is possible that the seventh was born in Jamaica after 1722 and died young.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">** His wife was described by his aunt as 'a common woman about the town' who had been his mistress for some years previously, and the marriage was not accepted by his family, from whom he became distanced as a result. The couple evidently felt their first, clandestine, marriage might be challenged, and so a second ceremony was held a few months later. When Lord George died, his widow obtained probate of his will (of which she was executrix and chief beneficiary) within 24 hours, and she married again just six weeks later; the haste was no doubt intended to prevent Lord George's family seeking to overturn his will. Her second marriage </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">is normally said to have been on 24 June 1759 to Commodore Walter Griffith (d. 1779), but there is no record of such a marriage and the Commodore took command of a vessel on that day, so was probably not getting married! It is not clear whether Joseph Griffith was any relation of the Commodore; the marriage licence calls him 'esquire'.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6H9k05wq17kF4jGY4TkrgpxvHjTiWNj2rKAON4dfG44Ob3u5VPLBaW5FWNjrVCo18BXqzLdChqam8YH929xhohv6PnLx4qu_GMFsOgx00Ggsr1UyzURE4I0hr1sJ42u4DIII4NBdaV8RClJaKwtuG2g39ajbpjI00qFqVOYb-QJA8hhr5jLf_hanHHEi/s930/Bentinck,%20Wm,%202nd%20Duke%20of%20Portland.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6H9k05wq17kF4jGY4TkrgpxvHjTiWNj2rKAON4dfG44Ob3u5VPLBaW5FWNjrVCo18BXqzLdChqam8YH929xhohv6PnLx4qu_GMFsOgx00Ggsr1UyzURE4I0hr1sJ42u4DIII4NBdaV8RClJaKwtuG2g39ajbpjI00qFqVOYb-QJA8hhr5jLf_hanHHEi/w172-h200/Bentinck,%20Wm,%202nd%20Duke%20of%20Portland.jpg" width="172" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2nd Duke of Portland</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bentinck, William (1709-62) KG, 2nd Duke of Portland. </b>Elder son of (William) Henry Bentinck (1682-1726), 1st Duke of Portland, and his wife Lady Elizabeth, elder daughter of Wriothesley Baptist Noel, 2nd Earl of Gainsborough, of Exton Park (Rutland), born 1 March and baptised at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster (Middx), 8 March 1708/9. Educated at home by John Achard, a Swiss scholar, and later at Eton; he undertook a Grand Tour in Italy and France, visiting Venice, Padua, Rome, Naples and Toulouse, 1730-32. He was styled Viscount Woodstock until 1716 and then Marquess of Titchfield until he succeded his father as 2nd Duke of Portland, 4 July 1726; appointed KG, 1740/1. A Whig in politics, but he took no part in public affairs. Harleian trustee of the British Museum (in right of his wife), 1753-62. A Fellow of the Royal Society, 1739. Awarded an honorary degree by the University of Oxford (DCL, 1755). By some accounts he was 'the handsomest man in England' and although a less assertive personality than his wife, was 'wise, gentle and kindly'. He married, 11 July 1734 at the Oxford Chapel, Marylebone (Middx), Lady Margaret Cavendish (1715-85), a gifted, witty, intelligent woman who was a great collector and botanist, and an accomplished craftswoman*, and who had a wide circle of friends including Garrick, Rousseau and Mary Delany; she was the only daughter and ultimate heiress of Edward Harley (1689-1741), 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer. They had issue:</span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Lady Elizabeth Cavendish Bentinck (1735-1825), born 27 July and baptised at St Margaret, Westminster, 22 August 1735; a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Charlotte 1761-93 and Mistress of the Robes 1793-1818; married, 22 March 1759, Thomas Thynne KG (1734-96), 3rd Viscount Weymouth and later 1st Marquess of Bath, of Longleat House (Wilts), Secretary of State, 1768-70 and 1775-79, and had issue three sons and five daughters; died aged 90 on 12 December 1825 and was buried at Longbridge Deverill (Wilts), where she is commemorated by a simple tablet;</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Lady Henrietta Cavendish Bentinck (1737-1827), born 8 February 1737; married, 26 May 1763 by special licence, at her mother's house in Whitehall, Westminster, George Grey (1737-1819), 5th Earl of Stamford and 1st Earl of Warrington, of Enville Hall (Staffs) and Dunham Massey (Ches.), MP for Staffordshire, 1761-68 and Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, 1783-1819, and had issue four sons and six daughters; died aged 90 on 4 June 1827;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) William Henry Cavendish Bentinck (later Cavendish-Bentinck) (1738-1809), 3rd Duke of Portland (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Lady Margaret </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Cavendish</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Bentinck (1739-56), born 26 July and baptised at St Margaret, Westminster, 22 September 1739; died unmarried, 28 April and was buried at St Margaret, Westminster, 30 April 1756;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Lady Frances </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Cavendish</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Bentinck (1741-43), born 9 April 1741; died in infancy and was buried at St Margaret, Westminster, 5 March 1742/3;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Lord Edward Charles Bentinck (1744-1819), born 31 March and baptised at St Margaret, Westminster, 26 April 1744; educated at Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1761), and then undertook a Grand Tour, 1764-66; MP for Lewes, 1766-68, Carlisle, 1768-74, Nottinghamshire, 1774-96 and Clitheroe (Lancs), 1796-1802; he was several times rescued from financial difficulties by the 3rd Duke, but lived latterly in Brussels (Belgium) for reasons of economy; married, 28 December 1782 at St Marylebone (Middx), Elizabeth (1760-1837), eldest daughter of Richard Cumberland (1732-1811), dramatist and essayist, and had issue two sons (from whom descended the 8th and 9th Dukes of Portland) and two daughters; died in Brussels, 8 October 1819.</span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Bulstrode Park and the other Bentinck estates from his father in 1726, but sold his share in the Titchfield Place estate to the Duke of Beaufort c.1734-41. His wife acquired Welbeck Abbey on the death of his mother-in-law, the Countess of Oxford, in 1755, but as a widow lived at Bulstrode Park.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 1 May and was buried in Westminster Abbey, 8 May 1762; his will was proved 12 May 1762. His widow died at Bulstrode Park, 17 July, and was buried at Westminster Abbey, 30 July 1785; her will was proved 4 August 1785.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">* Her particular skill lay in the turning of wood, jet and amber. She also inherited the Harley passion for collecting, with an enthusiasm for paintings (both old masters and family portraits), gems and snuff-boxes. Her acquisitions included the famous Portland Vase, which she bought in 1782. Her interests extended to the natural world and she formed a museum of shells, beetles, insects, rare plants and flowers and a menagerie of exotic animals and birds, employing the Rev. John Lightfoot FLS to manage her collections. Mary Delany made hundreds of botanical illustrations for her, and she also employed a professional artist to make drawings of exotic plants. After her death, her museum was dispersed at an auction which lasted 38 days.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisc5KTnr7BaJNSrHITr7KrlPgBuZjeUHAZy66L7I4oke-P8pSG0nFmZTawRdrYdg1rwPbcYnFdFosXHZzkZAewi4DaI-hdXRZAnjsAd9lj57BlUb1IDNNoeyWChkgUIo-NyaxqO_KbXX0giT5mpBPDwUHSwUvUbbLf9UraA8bsiHi39v0RyDx-5gERHWDu/s1066/Cavendish-Bentinck,%20Wm,%203rd%20Duke%20of%20Portland.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisc5KTnr7BaJNSrHITr7KrlPgBuZjeUHAZy66L7I4oke-P8pSG0nFmZTawRdrYdg1rwPbcYnFdFosXHZzkZAewi4DaI-hdXRZAnjsAd9lj57BlUb1IDNNoeyWChkgUIo-NyaxqO_KbXX0giT5mpBPDwUHSwUvUbbLf9UraA8bsiHi39v0RyDx-5gERHWDu/w150-h200/Cavendish-Bentinck,%20Wm,%203rd%20Duke%20of%20Portland.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">3rd Duke of Portland</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bentinck (later Cavendish-Bentinck), Rt. Hon. William Henry Cavendish (1738-1809) KG, 3rd Duke of Portland. </b>Elder son of William Bentinck (1709-62), 2nd Duke of Portland, and his wife </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lady Margaret Cavendish (d. 1785), only daughter and heiress of Edward Harley (1689-1741), 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> born 14 April 1738. Educated at Westminster, 1747-54 and Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1755; MA 1757; DCL 1792) and then travelled in Germany, Poland and Italy, 1757-61. Whig MP for Weobley (Herefs), 1761-62. He was styled Marquess of Titchfield until he succeeded his father as 3rd Duke of Portland, May 1762. He was sworn of the Privy Council, 1765, and served as Lord Chamberlain, 1765-66, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Apr-Aug 1782, and Prime Minister, Apr-Dec 1783; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">leader of the Whig opposition, 1784-90. The repercussions of the French Revolution slowly drove a wedge between the duke and Charles James Fox, splitting the Whig party and leading Portland to an initially reluctant support of Pitt the younger, whose ministry he joined as</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Home Secretary, 1794-1801. He played a significant part in securing the Union of Great Britain and Ireland by acting as a channel for the payment of secret service funds to the Irish administration, where it was used to bribe Irish MPs and others into support for the Union. He further served as Lord President of the Council, 1801-05, and as Prime Minister, 1807-09, but by the time of his second premiership he was in ill-health and was no longer up to the demands of the role, dying shortly after leaving office. Throughout his political career he was a competent administrator and an adroit and principled politician, sustaining the Whig principle of opposing any increase in the influence of the Crown in public life, and refusing to pander to popular clamour in the interest of political advantage. Unfortunately, his political abilities were not matched by his business skills, and by the time of his death he was £500,000 in debt. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, 1795-1809, Harleian trustee of the British Museum, 1764-1809, Chancellor of Oxford University, 1792-1809, Recorder of Nottingham, 1794, and Elder Brother of Trinity House, 1797-1809 (Master 1807-09), and was appointed High Steward of Bristol, 1786, Fellow of the Royal Society, 1766, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, 1775, and Knight of the Garter, 1794. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He took the surname Cavendish-Bentinck informally in 1755 and by royal licence, 5 October 1801. He married, 8 November 1766 at Burlington House, Piccadilly, Westminster (Middx), Lady Dorothy (1750-94), only daughter of William Cavendish (1720-64), 4th Duke of Devonshire, and had issue, with a daughter who was stillborn in 1786:</span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) William Henry Cavendish Bentinck (later Scott-Bentinck and Scott-Cavendish-Bentinck) (1768-1854), 4th Duke of Portland (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) General Lord William Henry Bentinck (later Cavendish-Bentinck) (1774-1839), born at Burlington House, Piccadilly, Westminster, 14 September, and baptised at St James, Piccadilly, 19 October 1774; educated at Dr. Goodenough's School, Ealing (Middx) and Westminster School, 1788-91; an officer in the army (Ensign, 1791; Capt., 1792; Lt-Col., 1794; Maj-Gen., 1805; Lt-Gen, 1811; Gen., 1825) who played important liaison and political roles in Italy, 1799-1801, 1811-14; Col in Chief of the 11th Dragoons; MP for Camelford, Mar-May 1796, for Nottinghamshire, 1796-1803, 1812-14 and 1816-26, for Kings Lynn, 1826-27, and for Glasgow, 1836-39; Governor of Madras, 1803-07 and Governor-General of Bengal, 1827-33, where he abolished the practice of suttee and imposed many other reforms; first Governor-General of India, 1833-35; appointed KB, 1813, GCB, 1815 and GCH, 1817, but declined a peerage on his return from India; married, 19 February 1803 at St Marylebone, Lady Mary (1778-1843), second daughter of </span><a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2013/03/10-acheson-of-gosford-castle-baronets.html" style="font-family: georgia;">Arthur Acheson (c.1745-1807), 1st Earl of Gosford</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">, but had no issue; died at his house in Paris (France), 17 June, but was buried at St. Marylebone, 26 June 1839; will proved in the PCC, 5 November 1839;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Lady Charlotte Bentinck (1775-1862), born 2 October and baptised at St James, Piccadilly, 30 October 1775; married, 31 March 1793, Charles Greville (1762-1832), son of Fulke Greville of Wilbury (Wilts) and had issue three sons (the eldest of whom was Charles Greville (1794-1865), the famous diarist) and one daughter; died at Hatchford near Cobham (Surrey), 28 July 1862; will proved 5 September 1872 (effects under £25,000);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Lady Mary Bentinck (later Cavendish-Bentinck) (1778-1843), born 13 March and baptised at St James, Piccadilly, 13 April 1779; died unmarried, 6 November, and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, 14 November 1843;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Lord (William) Charles Augustus Bentinck (later Cavendish-Bentinck) (1780-1826) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Lord Frederick Bentinck (later Cavendish-Bentinck) (1781-1828), born 2 November 1781; educated at Westminster School; an officer in the army (Ensign, 1798; Lt., 1798; Capt., 1799; Maj., 1804; Lt-Col., 1804; Col., 1813; Maj-Gen., 1819); MP for Weobley (Herefs), 1816-24 and for Queenborough-in-Sheppey (Kent), 1824-26; married, 16 September 1820 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, Lady Mary (1785-1862), daughter of William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale, and had issue one son; died in Rome, 11 February 1828.</span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Welbeck Abbey and the other Bentinck estates from his father in 1762 and Bulstrode Park on the death of his mother in 1785. He employed John Carr and Humphry Repton to make alterations to Welbeck, but handed the estate over to his son in 1795. Much of the Bentinck property except Welbeck and the London estate was sold in his lifetime.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died following an operation to remove a kidney stone, 30 October and was buried at St Marylebone, 9 November 1809; his will was proved in the PCC, 18 November 1809. His wife died 8 June 1794 and was buried at St Marylebone.</span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBbnkjWTeTMpnqwmFhYwD1a93YDGlzCl6N4Za8j4OkRWiCjTppyHv8hegsjmKid0LD0vl5x81GBtPFJVfaMabY1kdUhNrd41B2mFMg3tBT7JJOHaz3qfWEF9bIGuaJVabnm1p0y8ALm2Oh9dwe9zZqtk1xz5GBxtJ1qjOlLlwyuQoVmSq4_M_lizeecPC/s689/Cavendish-Bentinck,%20WHC,%204th%20Duke%20of%20Portland.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="515" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBbnkjWTeTMpnqwmFhYwD1a93YDGlzCl6N4Za8j4OkRWiCjTppyHv8hegsjmKid0LD0vl5x81GBtPFJVfaMabY1kdUhNrd41B2mFMg3tBT7JJOHaz3qfWEF9bIGuaJVabnm1p0y8ALm2Oh9dwe9zZqtk1xz5GBxtJ1qjOlLlwyuQoVmSq4_M_lizeecPC/s320/Cavendish-Bentinck,%20WHC,%204th%20Duke%20of%20Portland.png" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">4th Duke of Portland</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bentinck (later Scott-Bentinck and Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck), William Henry Cavendish (1768-1854), 4th Duke of Portland. </b>Eldest son of William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (1738-1809), 3rd Duke of Portland, and his wife </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lady Dorothy, only daughter of William Cavendish (1720-64), 4th Duke of Devonshire,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> born 24 June 1768. Educated at Dr Goodenough's School, Ealing (Middx), Westminster, Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1785; DCL 1793), and in the household of Sir James Harris, ambassador to The Hague. He undertook a Grand Tour of Italy, visiting Venice, Rome, Florence and Livorno in 1789-90. MP for Petersfield, 1790-91 and for Buckinghamshire, 1791-1809, sitting as a Whig until 1793 and thereafter as a Pittite Tory. He took the name Scott-Bentinck by royal licence, 19 September 1795, and further added the name Cavendish in 1801. He succeeded his father as 4th Duke of Portland, 30 October 1809. A Lord of the Treasury, Mar-Sept 1807, Lord Privy Seal, Apr-Jul 1827, Lord President of the Council, 1827-28. Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex, 1794-1842. He was an enthusiastic improving landlord, and encouraged constant experiment among his tenant farmers, but he was a man of wide-ranging interests, including shipbuilding, where he persuaded a hostile Royal Navy to adopt the new principles of naval architecture advocated by Capt. Symonds, and horse-racing, where he was the Jockey Club's tenant at Newmarket and responsible for developing the course. In 1819 he won the Derby with <i>Tiresias, </i>but his delight was entirely in the sport, and he is said never to have placed a bet in his life. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and of the Society of Antiquaries of London. Having a healthy, outdoor lifestyle, he lived to a ripe old age, troubled only by gout, which became a serious affliction in his later years. He married, 4 August 1795 at Mrs Scott's house in Piccadilly, in the parish of St George, Hanover Sq,, Westminster, Henrietta (d. 1844), eldest daughter and co-heir of Gen. John Scott of Balcomie, Crail (Fife), and had issue:</span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) William Henry Cavendish Scott-Bentinck (1796-1824), styled Viscount Woodstock until 30 October 1809 and then Marquess of Titchfield, born 21 August and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, 29 September 1796; educated at home and at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1815; BA 1818; MA 1821); an independent-minded Tory MP for Bletchingley (Surrey), 1819-22 and for Kings Lynn, 1822-24; Greville regarded him as indolent but clever, as he could 'master...any subject he thought fit to grapple with'; his particular interest lay in economics, and he distinguished himself in the House of Commons in debates on currency; he was unusually tall, at 6 ft 5 in; he died unmarried, 5 March 1824 and was buried at St Marylebone, 13 March 1824; administration of goods granted 1824;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Lady Margaret Harriet </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Scott-Bentinck (later Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck) (1798-1882), born 21 April and baptised at St Marylebone (Middx), 20 May 1798; lived in Naples (Italy), where she was noted for her charitable works; succeeded to the Kilmarnock estates of 5th Duke in 1879; died in Naples, 9 April 1882; will proved 20 June 1882 (estate in the UK, £141,032);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Lady Caroline </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Scott-Bentinck (later Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck) (1799-1828), born 6 July and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, 7 July 1799; died at Nice (France), 23 January 1828;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) William John Cavendish Scott-Bentinck (later Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck) (1800-79), 5th Duke of Portland (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Lord (William) George Frederick Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (1802-48), born 27 February 1802; educated at home; an officer in the army (Ensign & Lt., 1818; Cornet, 1819; Capt., 1821; retired as Maj., 1826); private secretary to his uncle, George Canning as Foreign Secretary and Leader of the House of Commons, 1822-24; MP for Kings Lynn, 1828-48, but was notably active only in his last few years in the house, when he became the leader of the protectionist group within the Tory party; he had a passion for the turf and was an amateur jockey, 1824-45 and racing stud owner until 1846, who won the Thousand Guineas three times, the Two Thousand Guineas twice and the Oaks once, and was involved the reform of horse-racing; unfortunately he did not share his father's abhorrence of betting, and frequently turned to his father for payment of his debts; he was involved in at least three affairs of honour, but probably fought only once; he died unmarried of a heart attack, 21 September, and was buried at Marylebone, 29 September 1848;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Lord (William) Henry Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (1804-70), born 9 June and baptised at Cuckney (Notts), 4 November 1804; MP for North Nottinghamshire, 1849-57; Harleian trustee of the British Museum; he devoted himself to sporting pursuits, hunting six days a week in the season and excelling at shooting, stalking and breeding hounds, as well as in the field; Master of the Rufford Hounds, 1835-37 and of the Burton Hunt, 1842-64; he died at Tathwell Hall (Lincs), 31 December 1870; will proved 19 January 1871 (effects under £500,000);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Lady Charlotte </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (1806-89), born 14 January 1806; married, 14 July 1827 at All Souls, Langham Place, Marylebone (Middx), John Evelyn Denison (1800-73), 1st and last Viscount Ossington, of Ossington Hall (Notts), MP and Speaker of the House of Commons, 1857-72, but had no issue; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">succeeded her elder sister in the Kilmarnock estates of the family, and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">took name of Scott in lieu of Denison by royal licence, 26 June 1882; died 30 September 1889; will proved 15 November 1889 (effects £410,249); </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Lady Lucy Joan </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (1807-99), born 27 August 1807; married, 8 November 1828 at All Souls, Langham Place, Marylebone, Charles Augustus Ellis (1799-1868), 6th Baron Howard de Walden and 2nd Baron Seaford, and had issue six sons and one daughter; died at Malvern (Worcs), 29 July 1899;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Lady Mary </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (1809-74), born 8 July 1809; she wished to marry her eventual husband as early as 1841, but as her father strongly disapproved she agreed not to contract such a marriage until after his death; the duke executed a deed in 1848 which attempted to prevent her benefiting, in the event of the marriage taking place after his death, from sums to which she was entitled under his marriage settlement of 1795, but this was set aside by the courts in 1862; she married, 5 October 1854, Lt-Col. Sir William Topham (1810-95) (who m2, 7 August 1879 at St Mark, South Norwood (Surrey), Anne Tomlinson </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1824-96)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, daughter of Thomas Harrison), eldest son of Lupton Topham of Middleham (Yorks NR), but had no issue; died at Weybridge (Surrey), 20 July 1874 and was buried at Coverham (Yorks NR).</span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He was given Welbeck Abbey on his marriage in 1795, and inherited Bulstrode Park and the London property from his father in 1809, but finding the estates burdened by more than £500,000 of debt, he sold Bulstode to the Duke of Somerset in 1810, as well as selling other property in Northumberland and Cumberland. He also sold the lay rectorship of Marylebone to the Crown for £40,000 in 1816, allowing the Crown to promote the building of new churches in the district. His wife's trustees bought the Cessnock, Dean and Kilmarnock estates in Ayrshire for her, and she inherited Balcomie (Fife) from her father. The Duke enlarged the Ayrshire estate, notably by the purchase of Fullarton in 1803, but sold Balcomie; he developed the port of Troon on his estate and was responsible for building the first railway in Scotland between Troon and Kilmarnock.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Welbeck, 27 March, and was buried at Bolsover, 4 April 1854; his will was proved in the PCC and PCY, July 1854 (effects £980,000). His wife died at Welbeck Abbey, 24 April 1844; administration of her goods was granted in 1844.</span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkve_aQ8Rhk80OPs5onx4R1dD2OoCOU-AFt1WU1Lrq9FFd8OHHU1ZWS6RFZYN4b9QEcxQZKNrQ3hZix-CeJqEa5hGzsylBuwUi6FLYsj76Gf7WHVKP4MLah4pOp2Sb79jEA6hGYzg_9wfDV2ZdsP4u2XL6X37rDkwlUOLrjTyfgoKNyMU-COasPiwaqho/s1096/Cavendish-Bentinck%20J%205th%20Duke%20of%20Portland.webp" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="792" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkve_aQ8Rhk80OPs5onx4R1dD2OoCOU-AFt1WU1Lrq9FFd8OHHU1ZWS6RFZYN4b9QEcxQZKNrQ3hZix-CeJqEa5hGzsylBuwUi6FLYsj76Gf7WHVKP4MLah4pOp2Sb79jEA6hGYzg_9wfDV2ZdsP4u2XL6X37rDkwlUOLrjTyfgoKNyMU-COasPiwaqho/w144-h200/Cavendish-Bentinck%20J%205th%20Duke%20of%20Portland.webp" width="144" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">5th Duke of Portland</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck, William John Cavendish (1800-79), 5th Duke of Portland. </b>Second, but eldest surviving, son of </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">William Henry Cavendish</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Bentinck (later Scott-Bentinck and Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck), (1768-1854), 4th Duke of Portland and his wife </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Henrietta, eldest daughter and co-heir of Gen. John Scott of Balcomie, Crail (Fife),</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> born in London, 17 September and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), 30 September 1800. Educated at home, perhaps because was regarded as 'delicate'. An officer in the army (Ensign & Lt., 1818; Cornet, 1818; Capt., 1821; Lt & Capt., 1830). He was briefly a Canningite Tory MP for Kings Lynn, 1824-26, but he had no taste for public affairs, and when he found that his political opinions (in favour of the repeal of the Corn Laws) were opposed to those of his father and brother George, he carefully suppressed his political views to avoid this dissent becoming publicly known. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was styled Marquess of Titchfield from 1824 until he succeeded his father as 5th Duke of Portland, 27 March 1854.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Not until 1857 he did take his seat in the House of Lords, and shortly afterwards he called in a loan of £25,000 which his father had advanced to Disraeli for the purchase of Hughenden, apparently deliberately causing the Tory leader considerable inconvenience. He was twice offered, and twice declined, the honour of appointment as a Knight of the Garter, apparently in recognition of his charitable works. As his position demanded, he was a DL for Nottinghamshire, 1859-79. As a young man, he was keen on hunting and shooting, and he remained interested in hunting and racing in later life, although he ceased to participate in any sports. After leaving the army he travelled extensively in Germany, and developed an interest in opera. In later life, he was a noted supporter of local charities and his constant building programmes provided much needed local employment, but he became a recluse, taking the most extreme measures to avoid being seen in public, or even by his own servants. This tendency may have been inherited from his mother, who in her later years shunned all society and did not like to be observed by her servants. In the 1830s he courted the singer, Adelaide Kemble, who is said to have rejected a proposal of marriage, and he remained unmarried and without issue. Long after his death, h</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">is notorious eccentricities lent credence to false claims in 1896 that he had led a double life as a London draper called Thomas Charles Druce (d. 1864), which resulted in a celebrated peerage case.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Welbeck Abbey and the Marylebone and Ayrshire estates from his father in 1854. He bought the Langwell (Caithness) estate between 1857 and 1869. At his death most of his property passed to his first cousin once removed, who became the 6th Duke of Portland (q.v.), but the Ayrshire estate was divided between his sisters, Lady Ossington and Lady Howard de Walden, the latter of whom also inherited his property in Marylebone (Middx).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at his London home, Harcourt House in Cavendish Square, 6 December 1879, and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, 12 December 1879; his will was proved 12 March 1880 (effects under £1,500,000).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroabQ4p-UF2AmGpO8TZAL-a8n8b0fwMxG6cA0mf1lDUXcdSHBcPrdTswfYnTh-MyxoLTWi8yFg6nFC0AdxGmNX4xFV7jfvRCAeDWrcFAOMBS6tuvfH-E4KZyXXhES8cCfaX4S3EtGDb-u4e17TLhqHkJQxYhkVrpt5HlsZlJYSZxK-0auAeGY4RCLIrTa/s404/Cavendish-Bentinck,%20Lord%20WCA%20(1780-1826).jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroabQ4p-UF2AmGpO8TZAL-a8n8b0fwMxG6cA0mf1lDUXcdSHBcPrdTswfYnTh-MyxoLTWi8yFg6nFC0AdxGmNX4xFV7jfvRCAeDWrcFAOMBS6tuvfH-E4KZyXXhES8cCfaX4S3EtGDb-u4e17TLhqHkJQxYhkVrpt5HlsZlJYSZxK-0auAeGY4RCLIrTa/w158-h200/Cavendish-Bentinck,%20Lord%20WCA%20(1780-1826).jpeg" width="158" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lord William Charles Augustus<br />Cavendish-Bentinck (1780-1826) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bentinck (later Cavendish-Bentinck), Rt. Hon. Lord William Charles Augustus (1780-1826). </b>Third </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">son of William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (1738-1809), 3rd Duke of Portland, and his wife </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lady Dorothy, only daughter of William Cavendish (1720-64), 4th Duke of Devonshire,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> born at Burlington House, Piccadilly, Westminster (Middx), 20 May and baptised at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster, 17 June 1780. An officer in the army (Ensign, 1796; Lt., 1798; Capt., 1798; Maj., 1802; Lt-Col. 1802; retired 1811). MP for Ashburton (Devon), 1807-12; Treasurer of the Household, 1812-26; sworn of the Privy Council, 1812. He married 1st, 21 September 1808 at St Peter, Chester (Ches.), Georgiana Augusta Frederica (who used the surname Seymour) (1782-1813), daughter of the courtesan, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Elliott">Grace Dalrymple Elliott </a>(c.1754-1823), reputedly by either HRH George (1762-1830), Prince of Wales (later King George IV) or George James Cholmondeley (1749-1827), 4th Earl and 1st Marquess of Cholmondeley, both of whom acknowledged paternity), and 2nd, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">23 July 1816 at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster (Middx), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">after a notorious elopement and divorce*, Anne (1788-1875), illegitimate daughter of Richard Colley Wesley (later Wellesley) (1760-1842), 1st Marquess Wellesley, and formerly wife of </span><a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2013/02/abdy-of-albyns-baronets-part-2.html" style="font-family: georgia;">Sir William Abdy (1778-1868), 7th bt.</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">, and had issue:</span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) <span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Hon. Georgiana Augusta Frederica Henrietta Cavendish-Bentinck (1811-83), born 21 August 1811 and baptised at Heckfield (Hants), 6 September 1812; raised after her mother's death by Lord Cholmondeley at Cholmondeley Castle; died unmarried, 12 September 1883</span>; administration of goods granted 24 January 1884 (effects £1,568);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) <span style="background-color: white;">Anne Hyacinthe Cavendish-Bentinck</span> (1816-88), born 1 September 1816 and baptised at St Mary Abbotts, Kensington (Middx), 14 May 1818; died unmarried at Hotel St. Charles, Cannes (France), 7 June 1888; will proved 15 September 1888 (estate £48,322);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.2) Rev. Charles William Frederick (Cavendish-)Bentinck (1817-65), born 8 September 1817 and baptised at St Mary Abbotts, Kensington, 14 May 1818; educated at Merton College and New Inn Hall, Oxford (matriculated 1837; BA 1845; MA 1846); ordained deacon, 1846; vicar of Husborne Crawley and Ridgmont (Beds), 1849-65; married 1st, 26 September 1839 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, Sinetta (1821-50), 'a Romany princess', daughter of James Lambourne, and had issue two sons, who both died in infancy; married 2nd, 13 December 1859 at St Paul, Wilton Place, Westminster, Caroline Louisa (1832-1918) (who m2, 30 November 1870 at St Barnabas, Pimlico (Middx), Harry Warren Scott (1833-89), third son of Sir William Scott, 6th bt., of Ancrum (Berwicks)), eldest daughter of Edwyn Burnaby of Baggrave Hall (Leics), and had issue three daughters; died 17 August 1865 and was buried at Croxton (Cambs);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.3) Gen. Arthur Cavendish-Bentinck (1819-77) (</span><i style="font-family: georgia;">q.v.</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.4) Emily Cavendish-Bentinck (1820-50), said to have been born in April 1820; married, 8 November 1845 at Cuckney (Notts), Rev. Henry Hopwood (1810-59), rector of Bothal (Northbld), and had issue two sons and one daughter; died of puerperal fever following childbirth, 6 January 1850.</span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>After retiring from the army, he lived in London. His widow lived at Norfolk St. in the Savoy until her death.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died suddenly of an aneurysm, 28 April 1826 and was buried at St Marylebone (Middx), 3 May 1826; no will has been traced. His first wife died 10 December and was buried at St Marylebone, 17 December 1813. His widow died 19 March 1875; her will was proved 8 May 1875 (effects under £45,000).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* Sir William Abdy was awarded £7,000 in damages for 'criminal conversation' against Cavendish-Bentinck, but this seems never to have been paid.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1HXIhKAm2YTnChW9NxA2v2cV7fUKjXZ6lLIgu7frHmPprGMGggxfywrGszXl4CU7TCTD6nUc7ArGCMtmSRzIXcOyJvUSmKQ5R36cni28D-QBQiujobGb-VzovjBLUVoCfEjaLQYBKHYUb1Z_v0TgC7ybFWkCYHcpPwHS41VsjG1n5Ksh2UUANtdccBD4/s822/Cavendish-Bentinck,%20Lt-Gen.%20Arthur.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="688" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1HXIhKAm2YTnChW9NxA2v2cV7fUKjXZ6lLIgu7frHmPprGMGggxfywrGszXl4CU7TCTD6nUc7ArGCMtmSRzIXcOyJvUSmKQ5R36cni28D-QBQiujobGb-VzovjBLUVoCfEjaLQYBKHYUb1Z_v0TgC7ybFWkCYHcpPwHS41VsjG1n5Ksh2UUANtdccBD4/w168-h200/Cavendish-Bentinck,%20Lt-Gen.%20Arthur.jpg" width="168" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lt-Gen. Arthur Cavendish-Bentinck </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Cavendish-Bentinck, Gen. Arthur Charles (1819-77). </b>Second son of Lord William Charles Augustus Cavendish-Bentinck (1780-1826) and his second wife, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Anne, illegitimate daughter of 1st Marquess Wellesley, and formerly wife of Sir William Abdy, 7th bt.,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> born 10 May 1819. An officer in the army (Cornet, 1838; Lt., 1840; Capt., 1847; Maj., 1851; Lt-Col., 1854; retired as Col., 1858; Maj-Gen., 1868; Lt-Gen., 1877). He married 1st, 18 February 1857 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), Elizabeth Sophie (1835-58), eldest daughter of Sir St Vincent Hawkins-Whitshed, 2nd bt., and 2nd, 10 June 1862 at Weybridge (Surrey), Augusta Mary Elizabeth (1834-93), created in 1880 Baroness Bolsover in her own right, younger daughter of Very Rev. and Hon. Henry Montague Browne, Dean of Lismore, and had issue:</span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) William John Arthur Charles James Cavendish-Bentinck (1857-1943), 6th Duke of Portland (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Lord Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (1863-1931) of Underley Hall, Kirkby Lonsdale (Westmld), born at Eversleigh (Hants), 28 May and baptised at All Saints, Knightsbridge (Middx), 13 July 1863; educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1881); granted the style and precedence of a duke's son, 1880 and was heir presumptive to his half-brother until 1893; Conservative MP for Norfolk NW, 1886-92, Nottingham South, 1895-1906, 1910-29; member of London County Council, 1907-10; an officer in the Derbyshire Yeomanry (Lt-Col.), who served in the Boer War and First World War; Lord Lieutenant of Westmorland, 1927-31; married, 27 January 1892 at St Margaret, Westminster, Lady Olivia Caroline Amelia DGStJ (1869-1939), daughter of Col. Thomas Taylour (1844-93), Earl of Bective, but had no issue; died 6 October 1931; will proved 12 November 1931 (estate £57,452);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.2) Lord William Augustus Cavendish-Bentinck (1865-1903), born 31 January and baptised at Send, Ripley (Surrey), 29 March 1865; educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1883); granted the style and precedence of a duke's son, 1880; an officer in the 10th Hussars (2nd Lt., 1887; Lt., 1889; Capt., 1893; Maj., 1902), who served in the Boer War and was awarded the DSO, 1901; died unmarried of a heart attack at sea off Ismailia (Egypt), 4 November 1903; will proved 21 November 1903 (estate £100,637);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.3) Lord Charles Cavendish-Bentinck (1868-1956), of Birlingham Court (Worcs) and later of Oxton Hall (Notts), born in Dublin, 7 October 1868; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">granted the style and precedence of a duke's son, 1880</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">;</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">educated at Eton; an officer in the army (2nd Lt., 1889; Lt., 1889; Capt., 1900; Br. Maj., 1900; retired 1906 but returned to regiment, 1914; T/Lt-Col., 1916) who served in the Boer War (wounded and mentioned in despatches) and First World War (wounded, mentioned in despatches three times); Master of Blankney Hunt, 1906-08 and of Southwold and Burton Hunts c.1920; JP (from 1930) and DL (from 1937) for Nottinghamshire; married, 27 February 1897 at Taplow (Bucks), Cecily Mary DGstJ (1872-1936), daughter of Charles Seymour Grenfell, and had issue two daughters; died 19 June 1956; will proved 14 September 1956 (estate £73,143);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.4) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Ottoline_Morrell">Lady Ottoline Violet Anne Cavendish-Bentinck (1873-1938)</a>, born 16 June and baptised at St Thomas, St Marylebone (Middx), 23 July 1873; granted the style and precedence of a duke's daughter, 1880; educated at Somerville College, Oxford; a famous literary hostess and patron of the arts, who supported and promoted the work of many young artists, sculptors, poets and authors; she was also an enthusiastic decorator, gardener and photographer; married, 8 February 1902, in an open marriage where both parties took lovers, Philip Edward Morrell (1870-1943) of Garsington Manor (Oxon), MP for Oxford South, 1906-10 and Burnley, 1910-18, only surviving son of Frederick Morrell of Black Hall, Oxford, and had issue one son (who died young) and one daughter, but she also brought up several of her husband's children by other women; she had a long affair with Bertrand Russell from 1911 until her death, but other lovers may have included Augustus John, Henry Lamb, Dora Carrington and Roger Fry, as well as a gardener and stonemason employed at Garsington; the affair with the stonemason may have influenced the plot of D.H. Lawrence's <i>Lady Chatterley's Lover </i>(1928); died 21 April 1938 and was buried at Holbeck (Notts); will proved 20 July 1938 (estate £1,832).</span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at East Court, Wokingham (Berks) and in London after retiring from the army.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 11 December 1877 and was buried at Holbeck (Notts); his will was proved 18 March 1878 (effects under £25,000). His first wife died at Kinnard House (Perths) following childbirth, 4 January 1858. His widow died 7 August 1893; her will was proved 27 February 1894 (effects £7,534).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwoUMqj0Ph9WWVum9_v319vfYPEnhZ17TKAiUw2tZ6Ha5o5bQDdKu29UGYBrv4eFTEedHZNUUZJSL6H8O4mDY6kWfT515Es2KVCAjHa2WoaEfNhOaNjtl2LRemF1bULH-EijoakA3OWvruyXrjKzmrxoypbNAPWvvNmQPS_mM5A5e5g5GLJUhENi8smM0/s1690/Cavendish-Bentinck,%20Wm,%206th%20Duke%20of%20Portland.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1690" data-original-width="1169" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwoUMqj0Ph9WWVum9_v319vfYPEnhZ17TKAiUw2tZ6Ha5o5bQDdKu29UGYBrv4eFTEedHZNUUZJSL6H8O4mDY6kWfT515Es2KVCAjHa2WoaEfNhOaNjtl2LRemF1bULH-EijoakA3OWvruyXrjKzmrxoypbNAPWvvNmQPS_mM5A5e5g5GLJUhENi8smM0/s320/Cavendish-Bentinck,%20Wm,%206th%20Duke%20of%20Portland.jpg" width="221" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">6th Duke of Portland</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Cavendish-Bentinck, Rt. Hon. William John Arthur Charles James (1857-1943), 6th Duke of Portland. </b>Only child of Gen. Arthur Cavendish-Bentinck (1819-77) and his first wife, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Elizabeth Sophie, eldest daughter of Sir St Vincent Hawkins-Whitshed, 2nd bt.,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> born at Kinnaird House (Perths.), 28 December 1857. Educated at Eton, 1871-73. An officer in the Coldstream Guards (Lt., 1877-80); Lt-Col. of the Hon. Artillery Company, 1881-89; Hon. Col of 4th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters, 1889-91; President of Nottinghamshire Territorial Army Association. He succeeded his first cousin once removed as 6th Duke of Portland, 6 December 1879, and his stepmother* as 2nd Baron Bolsover, 7 August 1893, and was appointed GCVO, 1896 and KG, 1900, serving as </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Chancellor of the Order of the Garter, 1937-43</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. He was Master of the Horse, 1886-92, 1895-1905 and was sworn of the Privy Council, 1886. Chairman of the first Royal Commission on Horse-Breeding, 1888-1912; Lord Lieutenant of Caithness, 1889-1919 and of Nottinghamshire, 1898-1939. President of Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland, 1888-89; Provincial Grand Master of Nottinghamshire Freemasons, 1898-1933; and Harleian Trustee of the British Museum. He was Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St. John, and held foreign orders from Spain, Serbia and Belgium. He was a noted breeder of racehorses, and won the Derby in 1888 (with Ayrshire) and 1889 (with Donovan). He was the author of </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Men, Women and Things; Fifty years and more of sport in Scotland; Memories of Racing and Hunting</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">; and </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">The Red Deer of Longwell and Braemore. </i><span style="font-family: georgia;">In his later years he fostered research into the history of Welbeck and its collections, leading to the publication of A.S. Turberville's <i>History of Welbeck and its owners</i> (1938-39) and catalogues of his plate and pictures. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He married, 11 June 1889 at St Peter, Eaton Sq., Westminster (Middx), Winifred Anna DBE DGStJ JP (1863-1954), Mistress of the Robes to HM Queen Alexandra, 1913-25, only daughter of Thomas Yorke Dallas (later Dallas-Yorke) of Walmsgate (Lincs), and had issue:</span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Lady Victoria Alexandrina Violet Cavendish-Bentinck (1890-1994), born 27 February 1890; Extra Woman of the Bedchamber to HM Queen Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother), 1937; married, 25 November 1918, Capt. Michael John Erskine Wemyss (1888-1982) of Wemyss Castle (Fife), and had issue two sons; died aged 104, 8 May 1994;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) William Arthur Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (1893-1977), 7th Duke of Portland (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Lord (Francis) Morven Dallas Cavendish-Bentinck (1900-50), born 27 July 1900; educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford and trained in estate management; an officer in the RAF Volunteer Reserve (Fl-Lt.) and in the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Lt.); Chairman of Nottingham branch of Alliance Assurance; a semi-professional pianist, he was President of Mansfield & District Music Club; died unmarried, 22 August 1950; will proved 17 January 1951 (estate £56,884).</span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Welbeck Abbey, Bothal Castle and Langwell properties from his first cousin once removed in 1879. He and his son agreed to break the entail on the estates so that they could pass to the 7th Duke's daughters.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 26 April 1943 and was buried at Holbeck (Notts); his will was proved 16 September 1943 and 26 April 1943 (estate £210,916). His widow died 30 July 1954; her will was proved 21 October 1954 (estate £87,859).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">* This resulted from the unusual remainder in the Bolsover peerage patent to the heirs male of the body of Gen. Arthur Cavendish-Bentinck, rather than only the heirs male by Augusta. As a result, the barony of Bolsover became merged with the dukedom of Portland until it became extinct on the death of the 7th Duke in 1977.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheAPbwhTYUqaTu_Zsr4rUuMkESKAilCxmaoG4TvxtCODixC-1430Snb0M0b_kbontXYXO03vIwNg5sNxivk8dP1KUhmUDPOojGcgUAB2MnNrdNB8JeC0CF7L03EUvS6aKjnH92lAsOKgXathKwmv_Miqw5lPok-UJdUUf8Nr0scZM9h-On8TAbHkXbNmL/s310/Cavendish-Bentinck,%20WAH,%207th%20Duke%20of%20Portland.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="277" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheAPbwhTYUqaTu_Zsr4rUuMkESKAilCxmaoG4TvxtCODixC-1430Snb0M0b_kbontXYXO03vIwNg5sNxivk8dP1KUhmUDPOojGcgUAB2MnNrdNB8JeC0CF7L03EUvS6aKjnH92lAsOKgXathKwmv_Miqw5lPok-UJdUUf8Nr0scZM9h-On8TAbHkXbNmL/s1600/Cavendish-Bentinck,%20WAH,%207th%20Duke%20of%20Portland.jpg" width="277" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">7th Duke of Portland</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Cavendish-Bentinck, William Arthur Henry (1893-1977), 7th Duke of Portland. </b></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Elder son of William John Arthur Charles James Cavendish-Bentinck (1857-1943), 6th Duke of Portland and his wife Winifred Anna DBE, only daughter of Thomas Yorke Dallas-Yorke of Walmsgate (Lincs), born in London, 16 March and baptised at Welbeck, 22 May 1893. Educated at Eton. As a young man he was known as 'Sonny'. An officer in the Royal Horse Guards in the First World War, who served as an ADC on the Personal Staff, 1914-16 and later in France and Gallipoli. Lt-Col. commanding the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, 1933-36; hon. Air Commodore, 616 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force. Unionist MP for Newark, 1922-43, who served in government as an assistant whip, 1927, junior Lord of the Treasury, 1928-29 and Aug-Nov 1931. He was styled Marquess of Titchfield until he succeeded his father as 7th Duke of Portland, 26 April 1943. Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, 1939-62; Chancellor of Nottingham University, 1955-71, which awarded him an honorary degree (LLD, 1955). Joint MFH, Rufford Hunt, 1930. He married, 12 August 1915 at Welbeck, Ivy DBE (1887-1982), Maid of Honour to HM Queen Alexandra, 1912-15, only child of Lord Algernon Charles Gordon-Lennox, and had issue:</span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Lady (Alexandra Margaret) Anne Cavendish-Bentinck (1916-2008) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Lady (Victoria) Margaret Cavendish-Bentinck (1918-55) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>In 1930-32 he built a new house (Welbeck Woodhouse) in the park of Welbeck Abbey, to the designs of Brierley & Rutherford. He inherited the Welbeck Abbey, Bothal Castle and Langwell properties from his father in 1943. At his death his estates passed to his elder daughter, but his titles passed to his first cousin twice removed, Ferdinand William Cavendish-Bentinck (1888-1980).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 21 March 1977 and was buried at Holbeck (Notts). His widow died 3 March 1982.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Cavendish-Bentinck, Lady (Alexandra Margaret) Anne (1916-2008). </b>Elder daughter of William Arthur Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (1893-1977), 7th Duke of Portland, and his wife Ivy DBE, only child of Lord Algernon Charles Gordon-Lennox, born 6 September 1916. She was a prominent supporter of charities for the blind and of the Girl Guides, who had a permanent camp at Welbeck. Appointed CStJ. She was unmarried and without issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>She inherited the Welbeck Abbey estates from her father in 1977, and lived at Welbeck Woodhouse. Welbeck Abbey was leased to the Ministry of Defence as an army training college (Welbeck College) until 2005. At her death, her properties passed to her nephew, William Parente (b. 1951).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">She died aged 92 on 29 December 2008, and was buried at Welbeck; her will was proved 26 July 2011.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Cavendish-Bentinck, Lady (Victoria) Margaret (1918-55). </b>Younger </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">daughter of William Arthur Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (1893-1977), 7th Duke of Portland, and his wife Ivy DBE, only child of Lord Algernon Charles Gordon-Lennox, born 9 October 1918. She was a trainbearer for HM Queen Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother) at the coronation of 1937, and was then granted the status of a duke's daughter (six years before her father inherited the peerages). She married, 12 April 1950 at Welbeck Abbey, Don Gaetano Parente (1909-76), Prince of Castel Viscardo (Italy), eldest son of Marchese Enrico Parente, and had issue:</span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) William Henry Marcello Parente (b. 1951) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">She died of polio, 29 August 1955, and was buried at Holbeck (Notts). Her husband died 20 July 1976.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Parente, William Henry Marcello (b. 1951). </b>Only son of Gaetano Parente (1909-76), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Prince of Castel Viscardo,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> and his wife Lady (Victoria) Margaret, younger daughter of </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">William Arthur Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (1893-1977), 7th Duke of Portland,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> born 18 February 1951. High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, 2003-04. Appointed CBE, 2017. He married, 23 January 1981, Alison Jane MBE DL (b. 1948), psychotherapist, daughter of John Fraser Swan, and had issue:</span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Margherita Amelia (k/a Daisy) Parente (b. 1981), born 29 August 1981; educated at Bedales School; literary agent; married, 2011, Aaron David Rosenberg (b. 1982), son of Dr Dana Rosenberg of California (USA), and had issue;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) (Henry) Joseph Parente (b. 1983), born 12 January 1983; married, 2013, Anuszka, daughter of Mark Elland of Nether Langwith (Notts), and had issue. </span></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Welbeck Abbey estates from his aunt in 2008 and undertook a major restoration programme at Welbeck Abbey, as well as the </i></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Welbeck Project, a scheme to transform listed and architecturally significant 18th and 19th century buildings on the estate into a 21st century business community combining rural and creative industries. He recently moved to Welbeck Woodhouse and the Oxford Wing is being restored to provide a home for his son.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Now living. His wife is now living.</span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Principal sources</span></b></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: 400;"><i>Burke's Peerage and Baronetage</i>, 2003, pp. 3181-87; H. Repton, <i>Observations on the theory and practice of landscape gardening</i>, 1803, pp. 65-72; T. Besterman, <i>The Druce-Portland Case</i>, 1935; A. Hamilton Thompson, <i>The Premonstratensian Abbey of Welbeck</i>, 1938; A.S. Turberville, <i>A history of Welbeck and its owners</i>, 1938-39 (2 vols); J. Harris, <i>William Talman: maverick architect</i>, 1982, pp. 19, 46; M.C. Davis, <i>The castles and mansions of Ayrshire</i>, 1991, pp. 261-63; Sir N. Pevsner, I. Richmond, J. Grundy, G. McCombie, P. Ryder & H. Welfare, <i>The buildings of England: Northumberland</i>, 2nd edn., 1992, p.199; S. Daniels, <i>Humphry Repton</i>, 1999, pp. 166-70; P. Smith, 'Welbeck Abbey and the 5th Duke of Portland', in M. Airs (ed.), <i>The Victorian Great House</i>, 2000, pp. 147-64; P. Smith, ‘Lady Oxford’s alterations at Welbeck Abbey, 1741-55’, <i>Georgian Group Journal</i>, 2001, pp. 133-68; P. Smith, 'Welbeck Abbey and the 6th Duke of Portland', in M. Airs (ed.), <i>The Edwardian Great House</i>, 2001, pp. 77-92; L. Worsley & T. Addyman, ‘Riding houses and horses: William Cavendish’s architecture for the art of horsemanship’, <i>Architectural History</i>, 2002, pp. 194-229; P. Smith, 'The survival of the fittest: Welbeck Abbey and the great houses of Nottinghamshire in the 20th century' in M. Airs (ed.), <i>The Twentieth-Century Great House</i>, 2002, pp. 35-56; D.M.L. Onnekink, <a href="https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/1572">The Anglo-Dutch Favourite.The career of Hans Willem Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland (1649-1709)</a>, PhD thesis, Univ. of Utrecht, 2004; L. Worsley, ‘Female architectural patronage in the 18th century and the case of Henrietta Cavendish Holles Harley’, <i>Architectural History</i>, 2005, pp. 139-162; A. Gomme & A. Maguire, <i>Design and plan in the country house</i>, 2008, pp. 70-72; H.J. Grainger, <i>The architecture of Sir Ernest George</i>, 2011, pp. 315-22; R. Close & A. Riches, <i>The buildings of Scotland: Ayrshire and Arran</i>, 2012, pp. 326-27; C. Hartwell, Sir N. Pevsner and E. Williamson, <i>The buildings of England: Derbyshire</i>, 3rd edn., 2016, pp. 167-79; C. Hartwell, Sir N. Pevsner and E. Williamson, <i>The buildings of England: Nottinghamshire</i>, 3rd edn., 2020, pp. 678-90; <i>Oxford Dictionary of National Biography</i> entries for 1st Earl, 2nd Duchess, and 3rd and 5th Dukes of Portland, and for Lord William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck;</span><div style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://her.highland.gov.uk/Monument/MHG24066">https://her.highland.gov.uk/Monument/MHG24066</a>;</span></div><div style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vols33-4/pp37-41">https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vols33-4/pp37-41</a>;</span></div><div style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEXf1RgM1E">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEXf1RgM1E</a>;</span></div><div style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/member/cavendish-bentinck-lord-william-1802-1848">https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/member/cavendish-bentinck-lord-william-1802-1848</a>.</span></div></h4></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><h4 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Location of archives</span></b></h4><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Cavendish-Bentinck, Dukes of Portland: </i></b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">deeds, family and estate papers relating to Notts, Derbys, Bucks, Herts, Cumberland, London and Northumberland estates, 12th-20th cents [Nottinghamshire Archives, 157DD/P, DD104/1-2]; deeds, estate and family papers relating to Notts, Derbys, Bucks, Herts, Cumberland, London and Northumberland, 14th-20th cents [Nottingham University Archives, Pl, Pw]; Buckinghamshire deeds and papers, 16th cent-1810 [Buckinghamshire Archives, D-RA]; Titchfield deeds, manorial records and estate papers, 13th-18th cents [Hampshire Archives & Local Studies, 5M53]; St Marylebone estate papers, 1765-1882 [City of Westminster Archives BRA1208, D/Wh, Acc 2273, HDW]; Ayrshire estate papers, 1736-20th cent. [Ayrshire Archives, ATD1, ATD13]</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Cavendish-Bentinck, Margaret (1715-85), 2nd Duchess of Portland</i>: correspondence and papers, c.1712-81 [Longleat House Archives, PO]</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><h4 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Coat of arms</span></b></h4><span style="font-family: georgia;">Quarterly: 1st and 4th, Azure a cross moline Argent (Bentinck); 2nd and 3rd, Sable three stags' heads cabossed Argent attired Or, a crescent for difference (Cavendish)</span><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><h4 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can you help?</span></b></h4><ul style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone supply a good photograph of Welbeck Woodhouse?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide photographs or portraits of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><h4 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Revision and acknowledgements</span></b></h4><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 5 February 2024 and updated 7 February 2024. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">I am grateful for the assistance of Pete Smith, Alex Bond and Gregor Matheson Pierrepont with preparing the articles on this family, and to Dart Montgomery for suggesting improvements.</span></div></span></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-90795785604292436332024-02-05T16:01:00.009+00:002024-02-07T06:37:57.205+00:00(568) Cavendish-Bentinck of Welbeck Abbey, Dukes of Portland - part 1<span style="font-family: georgia;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8729Bbd2UYjZpE3xBC24GZ7mP8rJZezTfeB72SKtPhO_VGyLFFvdHlQEZI25AEETZlgtt1oeKM-3SPPtmWMirYwF9dD4NQiDsBWksQ7djJ9wM58E2-LcgiCbOj7a9jWbl3_jJOWHTD_CyPe_cfYhxSAiO5tiovN51o_Qtess45w11WC15yTUF9aETtruX/s563/Cavendish-Bentinck,%20Dukes%20of%20Portland.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8729Bbd2UYjZpE3xBC24GZ7mP8rJZezTfeB72SKtPhO_VGyLFFvdHlQEZI25AEETZlgtt1oeKM-3SPPtmWMirYwF9dD4NQiDsBWksQ7djJ9wM58E2-LcgiCbOj7a9jWbl3_jJOWHTD_CyPe_cfYhxSAiO5tiovN51o_Qtess45w11WC15yTUF9aETtruX/w182-h200/Cavendish-Bentinck,%20Dukes%20of%20Portland.png" width="182" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Cavendish-Bentinck, Dukes of Portland</span> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="background-color: white;">This post has been divided into three parts. This part consists of my introduction to the family and its property, and an account of Welbeck Abbey and Bolsover Castle. <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2024/02/568-cavendish-bentinck-of-welbeck-abbey_5.html">Part 2</a> contains histories of the other houses built or acquired by the family. <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2024/02/568-cavendish-bentinck-of-welbeck-abbey_76.html">Part 3</a> gives the biographical and genealogical details of the family. </p><div>General Hans Willem Bentinck (1649-1709) was a Dutch cavalry officer who rose to prominence as a childhood friend and later close confidant of Prince William of Orange (1650-1702), Stadtholder of the Netherlands, who was invited to assume the throne of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in 1688 as King William III. General Bentinck accompanied William to England in 1688, and subsequently fought with him in Ireland and on the continent in the 1690s. He was richly rewarded for his support in titles, offices and lands, being raised to the English peerage as Earl of Portland in 1689 and made Groom of the Stole, First Gentleman of the Bedchamber, Keeper of the Privy Purse and Superintendent of the Royal Gardens, offices which brought him an income of about £3,000 a year. This was in addition to his income from investments in stocks and bonds in the Netherlands, and from lands in Britain. In 1689 he was granted Theobalds Park (Herts), where the Jacobean palace had, however, been demolished during the Commonwealth. In the later 1690s he received a succession of royal grants of land across England, culminating in the grant of an extremely valuable estate in Soho and Westminster in 1698, but he seems not to have maintained a country house until he was made Ranger of Windsor Great Park, a post which he held from 1697 to 1702 and which came with the occupation of the Great Lodge (later Cumberland Lodge). On the death of King William III he was removed from this post and bought an estate at Bagshot (Surrey), before in 1706 settling at Bulstrode Park (Bucks) for his final years, where he began major improvements to the gardens. As a foreigner close to the king, on whom offices and gifts were showered, he was understandably unpopular with the native English aristocracy, and until he retired from most of his positions in 1700, he probably deliberately avoided the conspicuous display which his wealth could have commanded. He is said to have made some improvements to the Great Lodge at Windsor, but only at Bulstrode did he begin to create a setting appropriate to his position, and his death in 1709 meant that it was his son who completed those works.</div></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Earl of Portland married first, in 1678, Anne Villiers, an English lady who was maid of honour to Mary Stuart, the wife of William of Orange. She bore him two sons and five daughters, but died in 1688, while her husband was in England supporting William's bid for the throne. Not until he had withdrawn from most of his public offices in 1700 did he marry again, this time to Lady Berkeley, a young widow who was twenty-three years his junior. By her he had a further two sons and four daughters, the last of whom was born only a month before his death. His widow survived until 1751 and later had a career as governess to the children of King George II. The Earl divided his estates between the only surviving son of his first marriage, the Dutch-born Henry Bentinck (1682-1726), who succeeded him as 2nd Earl of Portland and inherited the majority of his English estates, and the elder son of his second marriage, the English-born William Bentinck (1704-74), who received his Dutch estates and was later ennobled by the Holy Roman Emperor as Count Bentinck. The English landholdings and descendants of the latter are considered in my post on the <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2024/01/567-bentinck-of-indio-house.html">Bentincks of Indio House</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Henry Bentinck (1682-1726), 2nd Earl of Portland, undertook an extensive Grand Tour in 1701-03, and soon after his return was married in 1704 to the elder daughter of the 2nd Earl of Gainsborough, who brought him a dowry of £60,000 and a moiety of the Titchfield estate in Hampshire (sold by their son in the 1730s), where the couple seem to have settled. He entered Parliament as Whig MP for Southampton in 1705 and sat for Hampshire from 1708, but in 1709, on his father's death, he was summoned to the House of Lords. He could expect no office under the Tory administrations of Queen Anne, and took a commission in the Life Guards for a few years, but with the Hanoverian succession in 1714 he came back into favour, being promoted in the peerage in 1716 by King George I to be Duke of Portland, and becoming a Lord of the Bedchamber in 1717. Unfortunately, he was a heavy loser in the South Sea Bubble, and his finances seem to have been temporarily so embarrassed that he accepted an appointment as Governor of Jamaica, a post which offered both a useful salary and a reduction in living costs, but which had a poor survival rate. He did not arrive in Jamaica until December 1722, and survived for just three and a half years before dying at the early age of 44.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The 1st Duke was succeeded by his elder son, William Bentinck (1709-62), 2nd Duke of Portland, who was then a youth of seventeen. He was noted for his handsome good looks, but seems to have had a retiring disposition, and socially he certainly played second fiddle to his remarkable wife, Lady Margaret Cavendish Harley (1715-85), the daughter and sole heiress of Edward Harley (1689-1741), 2nd Earl of Oxford. She brought the Ogle family properties (including Bothal Castle) and the Cavendish seats of Welbeck Abbey and Bolsover Castle into the Bentinck family, and also the 203 acre Harley estate in Westminster and Marylebone, where the streets took their names from family estates and titles, including Oxford St., Cavendish Sq., Harley St., Wigmore St. and Wimpole St. The development of this property, which had been begun by her father in 1717, was to be a major source of wealth for the Dukes of Portland in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Duchess of Portland was a witty and gifted woman, with a passion for botany, collecting and handcrafts, especially wood turning. She had a wide circle of intellectual friends, including Garrick and Rousseau, and we know so much about her because she features with great regularity in the letters of her friend, Mary Delany (1700-88). She formed a museum of shells, insects and plants, for which Mrs. Delany produced hundreds of her meticulous and distinctive watercolour-and-collage views of plants. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmJCgtMFrD4PA30ZiZYy32-s5puHrN3lPwBKGYaA_EpVuLAYE5GYNrpDKR0J_0a2o3NNer_R4o6NZILW1w-enLbwl5jFb5xrPQmdEBmP0IjCPwPn_QuF8mqx_zoRfJYXE4kj-u48XWXTSu-Wh0bSrcMkxrRe6GyLA3kQpxlwZ8vO3XJpHDhPPg39xEYqv/s952/Mary%20Delany%20collage.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="617" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmJCgtMFrD4PA30ZiZYy32-s5puHrN3lPwBKGYaA_EpVuLAYE5GYNrpDKR0J_0a2o3NNer_R4o6NZILW1w-enLbwl5jFb5xrPQmdEBmP0IjCPwPn_QuF8mqx_zoRfJYXE4kj-u48XWXTSu-Wh0bSrcMkxrRe6GyLA3kQpxlwZ8vO3XJpHDhPPg39xEYqv/w305-h471/Mary%20Delany%20collage.png" width="305" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Collage by Mary Delany from the <br />Duchess of Portland's museum.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTCdVt02fft8uN7-15FzG2rxnVfojaRyXRkkPYjh4EjwHRWgC6hGxU8O45cJpt-kZ8HWkCb95H4quHpE270-4O1VYcvDpKzfCLZINZICRuVW7pTxWTW4R2JmW3lMORPo3QfZTMaGCNu3akB1eiOtA0zd98pqfOYzMYAofE4__FcqgeiRH8tMok_wtfjBF/s1212/Portland%20vase.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="800" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTCdVt02fft8uN7-15FzG2rxnVfojaRyXRkkPYjh4EjwHRWgC6hGxU8O45cJpt-kZ8HWkCb95H4quHpE270-4O1VYcvDpKzfCLZINZICRuVW7pTxWTW4R2JmW3lMORPo3QfZTMaGCNu3akB1eiOtA0zd98pqfOYzMYAofE4__FcqgeiRH8tMok_wtfjBF/w311-h472/Portland%20vase.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Portland vase</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">She also collected in more traditional fields, including <i>objets d'art</i> and portraits. Her most famous acquisition was a Roman glass cameo vase dating from the early 1st century AD, which she bought in 1782, and which has been known since as the Portland Vase. This remained in the ownership of the family until 1945 (and is now in the British Museum), but the majority of her collections were dispersed at a 38 day sale after the Duchess' death in 1785.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The 2nd Duke died in 1762 and was succeeded by his son, William Henry Cavendish Bentinck (1738-1809), 3rd Duke of Portland. In contrast to his father, who took no part in public affairs, he played an active role in the House of Lords, becoming one of the leaders of the Whig party alongside Charles James Fox. He was briefly and ingloriously Prime Minister for nine months in 1783 and remained leader of the Whig opposition for the rest of the 1780s. The French Revolution created increasing differences of opinion between him and Fox, and in 1794 he reluctantly transferred his support to William Pitt the younger, joining his government as Home Secretary. In this role, which he held until 1801, he proved himself an able administrator. He was subsequently Lord President of the Council, 1801-05 and on the collapse of the Ministry of All the Talents in 1807 he again became Prime Minister, serving until shortly before his death, although by this time he was ageing and not fully up to the role.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The 3rd Duke made alterations to Welbeck Abbey to the designs of John Carr and Humphry Repton before handing the house over to his eldest son in 1795. He also undertook landscaping works at Bulstrode Park after his mother's death. Unfortunately, the attention which the 3rd Duke gave to politics was not matched by his attention to his private affairs, and his eldest son and heir, William Henry Cavendish Scott-Bentinck (1768-1854), 4th Duke of Portland, found on inheriting that his father had left half a million pounds of debts, despite having sold much of the outlying family property and the Soho estate in London in the 1790s. To address this situation, he sold Bulstrode Park to the Duke of Somerset and the lay rectorship of Marylebone to the Crown, as well as further estate sales in Cumberland and Northumberland, and turned his attention to improving the return from his remaining estates, investing particularly in drainage schemes. His wife brought him an estate around Kilmarnock (Ayrshire) and Balcomie House (Fife), and although he sold the latter he expanded the Ayrshire estate, buying Fullarton House and developing the port of Troon on his lands. He was successful in paying off his father's debts and increasing estate income, and in his later years was able to turn his attention to other interests, including shipbuilding and horse-racing, although he eschewed gambling in all its forms. Perhaps because he was obliged to give detailed attention to estate management he did not pursue his political career after his father's death, returning to Government only briefly in 1827-28 to serve under his friend, George Canning.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The 4th Duke had a long life, and outlived his eldest son, William Henry Cavendish Scott-Bentinck (1796-1824), whose promising parliamentary career was cut short by his early death. His next son, William John Cavendish Scott-Bendinck (1800-79), later 5th Duke of Portland, succeeded to his brother's parliamentary seat but clearly had no taste for public affairs, and it was left to a younger son, Lord George Scott-Bentinck (1802-48) to pursue the family's political interests, becoming a leader of the protectionist group within the Tory party. Protectionism was something both the 4th Duke and Lord George supported, but the 5th Duke took the opposite view, and he may at first have kept out of politics because he did not wish to advertise this difference. However, the 5th Duke became increasingly eccentric and reclusive as time passed. In this, he probably took after his mother, who hated being observed by her servants as she moved through the house at Welbeck, and the 5th Duke took this to new extremes, communicating with his servants only in writing and seldom leaving his small suite of rooms at Welbeck. When he did travel, to London or Scotland, he did so in a closed carriage which could be loaded directly onto a train. In London, high walls prevented passers-by seeing into his London house. He was not, however, a miser and he took a close interest in the management of his estates, buying the Langwell estate in Caithness as a Scottish retreat. At Welbeck, he conducted large-scale building operations, partly because he enjoyed building but probably also as a way of providing meaningful work on his estates. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The 5th Duke never married, and so on his death without issue, his property was divided under the terms of the 4th Duke's will. Welbeck, Bolsover and the Langwell estate passed to his first cousin once removed, William John Arthur Charles James Cavendish-Bentinck (1857-1943), who also succeeded him as 6th Duke of Portland, but the Ayrshire and London estates passed to his surviving married sisters, Lady Ossington and Lady Howard de Walden. It is for this reason that the (much reduced) London estate is today known as the Howard de Walden estate.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The young man who inherited Welbeck, Bolsover and Langwell, aged just twenty-one, had been acknowledged as heir by the 5th Duke but had neither met him nor been to Welbeck. He came with his stepmother and half-sister on a journey of discovery, and found that apart from the few rooms the 5th Duke had occupied, the house was stripped of furnishings and the grounds were a building site. The 6th Duke was not then terribly interested in the house, and his stepmother, created Baroness Bolsover in her own right in 1880, took on the task of making it habitable again. A decade later the duke commissioned the conversion of the 17th century riding house (already extended and reroofed by the 5th Duke) into a new library and chapel, which was done in 1891-96, but hardly was the mortar dry on this when, in 1900, an electrical fault caused a devastating fire which gutted the Oxford Wing of the house, although most of the contents were saved. The house was given a baroque makeover by Sir Ernest George, who created new and richly decorated but rather bland interiors. During the late 19th and early 20th century, the estate revenues were greatly bolstered by the income from coal mining in Nottinghamshire and Northumberland, allowing the 6th Duke to maintain a lifestyle that was little affected by fluctuating agricultural revenues or rising taxation. As he grew older, the 6th Duke became much more interested in the house and his possessions and family history, and he commissioned a series of books to document these topics: Turberville's two volume <i>History of Welbeck and its owners </i>(1938-39), as well as catalogues of the plate and pictures.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">By the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the 6th Duke was an elderly man. He had handed over much of the management of the estate to his heir, William Arthur Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (1893-1977), 7th Duke of Portland, who had built Welbeck Woodhouse as a new residence on the estate. After the 6th Duke died in 1943, the combination of death duties and the nationalisation of the coal industry made retrenchment necessary, and the Portland Vase was sold to the British Museum in 1945 (where it had been on loan for many years). The 7th Duke remained living at Welbeck Woodhouse, and when the dowager duchess died in 1954, the Abbey itself was leased to the Government as an army college, which remained in occupation until 2005. Compensation for the nationalisation of the coal industry was invested wisely in stocks and shares as well as in estate improvements, and the estate was admirably run throughout the post-war period. The 7th Duke had no sons, but he did have two daughters. The elder, Lady Anne Cavendish-Bentinck (1916-2008), never married, while her sister, Lady Margaret (1918-55) married and had a son, but died young. In these circumstances the 7th Duke broke the entail on the estates, so that they could pass to Lady Anne, and then to her nephew, William Parente, while the dukedom passed to a distant cousin. Mr Parente has recently moved out of the Abbey into a refurbished Welbeck Woodhouse, and the Oxford Wing is being extensively restored prior to his heir, Joe Parente, moving in. The dukedom became extinct in 1990, but there were still heirs to the earldom of Portland created in 1689, and this title is now held by the actor, Tim Bentinck (b. 1953), 12th Earl of Portland, who is best known to the wider public as the character David Archer in the long-running radio soap opera, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>The Archers.</i></span></div><div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Welbeck Abbey, Nottinghamshire</span></b></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The architectural development of Welbeck Abbey is perhaps more complicated than that of any other house which I have yet described for the <i>Landed Families </i>project, with the exception of Fonthill in Wiltshire. But whereas at Fonthill successive owners built a series of new houses, mostly on different sites to their predecessors, creating a series of self-contained stories, Welbeck was subject to a constant series of remodellings, demolitions and additions to the original house, which was itself a remodelling of parts of the abbey which stood on the site until its dissolution in 1538. The present house consists of two main ranges set at right-angles to one another, and known today as the North Wing (running north-south) and the Oxford Wing (running east-west), and these terms are employed below although they were not used before the mid 18th century when the house broadly assumed its present form. To try and make sense of the building, I have broken its history down into six chronological phases, which are treated in turn below.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><b>Phase 1: The Premonstratensian abbey and the first Tudor house.</b> </i></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Premonstratensian abbey founded by Thomas de Cuckney in 1153-54 became the senior house of its order in England in 1512. The church is thought to have stood to the north-east of the present house, but was probably demolished soon after the dissolution. The claustral buildings that stood south of the church were then converted into a house, and the vaulted undercroft of the present North Wing is a survival - dating to about 1250 - of the west claustral range. If the abbey was arranged in the usual way, this range would have had the abbot's hall and lodgings on the first floor, and since this residential accommodation was so often the part of a monastic site most readily adapted for domestic use after the dissolution, it helps to explain why the undercroft has survived. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwS0dbVIKxQc6VfSP7LbMfCltvwIQE7fjRPwtTnO6NlxGV0c8ypDx9sgSawtD8ngV1dWgqTpFComNklVuxZsF3BkLFkBIeiwr23pTAKc0jMl4SeuX0hphwv0rkweX3-g7zePMMrGY_THEySSKIM283KAALf6APQkLqPwPrUPuzBlmpj1bDMZmIqkn6zBP/s1024/Welbeck%20Abbey%2015%20SHGrimm%20c1780%20showing%20house%20in%20C17.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="1024" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwS0dbVIKxQc6VfSP7LbMfCltvwIQE7fjRPwtTnO6NlxGV0c8ypDx9sgSawtD8ngV1dWgqTpFComNklVuxZsF3BkLFkBIeiwr23pTAKc0jMl4SeuX0hphwv0rkweX3-g7zePMMrGY_THEySSKIM283KAALf6APQkLqPwPrUPuzBlmpj1bDMZmIqkn6zBP/w640-h486/Welbeck%20Abbey%2015%20SHGrimm%20c1780%20showing%20house%20in%20C17.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: drawing of the south front by S.H. Grimm c.1780, apparently based on a 17th century drawing, showing, on the right, the part of the house adapted from the south claustral range of the abbey, which was demolished by Lady Oxford in the 1750s.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">We are fortunate to have a watercolour by Samuel Hieronymous Grimm dating from about 1780 but evidently based on a 17th century drawing, which shows that the south claustral range also became part of the Tudor house. In 1597 the estate was described as having a 'fair' house and gatehouse, but, after the property passed to Sir Charles Cavendish in 1607, the site underwent further significant development.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Phase II: Works by John Smythson for Sir Charles and William Cavendish.</i></b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sir Charles Cavendish had been renting Welbeck from his brother-in-law for some years, but in 1607 he bought it and made it his main residence. At much the same time he bought Bolsover Castle and developed it as a place of retreat from Welbeck. By 1608 he had brought in John Smythson (and possibly at first his father, Robert Smythson) with a view to remodelling both properties. Sir Charles died in 1617 and work continued at both sites for his son Sir William (1593-1676), who was ennobled as Viscount Mansfield in 1620 and progressed through the ranks of the peerage until he was created Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1665. </span></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtX2He27dijQ4e-lsaA3AU9aCTMfDdeS1BCU3w6yafSHzcnWoOw7lVKFQ3PyQ13G6LLj0ps2yREDIrViEmoF0IWXstJbcX-6IGCVMiLLEO5oFcrouVXd2hgL-E5J3Y-PqbiNdt0DzITjonMZIEuAZ2TEv4gowgw5sNzXTt43DnJs3DVEAOTGgq9WJftvvy/s839/Welbeck%20Abbey%2016%20Smythson%20RIBA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="839" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtX2He27dijQ4e-lsaA3AU9aCTMfDdeS1BCU3w6yafSHzcnWoOw7lVKFQ3PyQ13G6LLj0ps2yREDIrViEmoF0IWXstJbcX-6IGCVMiLLEO5oFcrouVXd2hgL-E5J3Y-PqbiNdt0DzITjonMZIEuAZ2TEv4gowgw5sNzXTt43DnJs3DVEAOTGgq9WJftvvy/w640-h340/Welbeck%20Abbey%2016%20Smythson%20RIBA.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: proposed design for a new house by Robert or John Smythson, 1610 (north at the top). Image: RIBA</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Smythsons' first proposal seems to have been to demolish the old abbey buildings and to build a new courtyard house, comparable in scale to the great Jacobean prodigy houses like Theobalds or Hatfield, and entered through a great court to the east. Although the house would have been much more traditional in layout than the tall compact houses that the Smythsons built at Hardwick, Worksop and Wollaton, it would still have had correctly symmetrical elevations, with the single exception of a long and less regular wing (now the Oxford Wing) at the south-west corner. This departure from symmetry has led to the suggestion that this wing already existed when the scheme was drawn up, and - perhaps because it had only recently been built or remodelled - was incorporated within it rather than being marked for destruction. Lucy Worsley has suggested that it was in origin the guesthouse range of the abbey. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Perhaps because of the death of Sir Charles Cavendish in 1617, the grand scheme for a courtyard house was never realised, but John Smythson carried out some work to the house in a piecemeal fashion. The square projecting tower elements on the south front of the Oxford Wing are typical of the Smythsons and correspond to the towers shown on the 1610 plan. They are apparent on the Grimm drawing illustrated above, and indeed despite many later alterations are still recognisable today. The flat balustraded parapet and the lantern and cupola shown by Grimm are also clearly from the Smythson repertoire. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JEku67_wnzNNjxSWVm4MJVJ4E_IxP7djg-Jw1l0fpwzhYUbheoMZ4IhdVOBmorwQuZoUR_yj3RV6XMfvJGW8-IF73SizU8bDNJTDUFglDpJGuyVU8A85_JDMH-keW_F6Az-F7I_85SIkQ5VTzt_QG5Z1LqtqGlH1AS5hBIVBZYjsNi3zJEnCp8zzxOSU/s727/Welbeck%20Abbey%205.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="727" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JEku67_wnzNNjxSWVm4MJVJ4E_IxP7djg-Jw1l0fpwzhYUbheoMZ4IhdVOBmorwQuZoUR_yj3RV6XMfvJGW8-IF73SizU8bDNJTDUFglDpJGuyVU8A85_JDMH-keW_F6Az-F7I_85SIkQ5VTzt_QG5Z1LqtqGlH1AS5hBIVBZYjsNi3zJEnCp8zzxOSU/w640-h470/Welbeck%20Abbey%205.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: an engraving published in 1657 showing the west side of the North Wing from the Duke of Newcastle's treatise on horsemanship. The Oxford Wing ought to be visible on the right of the picture, but has been omitted.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">An engraving showing the west side of the north range was published in the Duke of Newcastle's treatise on horsemanship, <i>La Nouvelle Methode</i>, in 1657, and shows Dutch gables of the type employed on the riding school at Bolsover Castle, but between these gables and the Oxford wing it shows a traditional great hall with a steeply-pitched roof and a chunky porch which looks remarkably like the 'Porch at Welbeck' shown in two John Smythson drawings. A horse painting of c.1640 by Abraham van Diepenbeck showing a mighty steed in front of a rambling an ancient mansion, depicts the east front of Welbeck at this time, and shows that this whole side of the house was untouched by Smythson improvements. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kH81sKgAby6-laIeEi3VoMqkO3yVIaxWYXFqGBIT_VNNg3333GSg6Fw_i_eCk1HeQuOZdNq3XCqiPWJcyLeZb-FUOfF6490uUJNTKT2easy0sOY6kQHCM4HKk9Ncol8HSYo_srcD8dQbLDGcqN7-NU8xQTt1k4MJa3C4MZ7xkfal9JX1kJpoOiWzncO3/s1606/Welbeck%20Abbey%2017a%20west%20front%20C17.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1606" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kH81sKgAby6-laIeEi3VoMqkO3yVIaxWYXFqGBIT_VNNg3333GSg6Fw_i_eCk1HeQuOZdNq3XCqiPWJcyLeZb-FUOfF6490uUJNTKT2easy0sOY6kQHCM4HKk9Ncol8HSYo_srcD8dQbLDGcqN7-NU8xQTt1k4MJa3C4MZ7xkfal9JX1kJpoOiWzncO3/w640-h286/Welbeck%20Abbey%2017a%20west%20front%20C17.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: east front c.1640. The late Tudor character of the house remodelled from the earlier monastic premises is here fully apparent.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Little survives (and even less </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">in situ</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">) of the Smythson interiors, but on what is now the ground floor is the small but elaborately decorated Horsemanship Room, which has a sexpartite stone rib-vault with a large pendant boss, strongly reminiscent of some of the rooms in the Little Castle at Bolsover (see below). A stone tablet in this room is carved with symbols of the Ogle family, recalling the marriage of Sir Charles Cavendish to Catherine Ogle in 1591, but the unusual Mannerist fireplace, probably of the late 17th century, is an insertion. A room on the first floor has a large chimneypiece similar to the Serlian Doric type used by Robert Smythson at Wollaton, and with a moulded surround like those in the Little Castle at Bolsover (by John Smythson), but it appears to have been moved here from an unknown location in the 18th century.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Duke of Newcastle's ruling passion was for the art of horsemanship, or 'Haute Ecole', and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">although he clearly did some work on the house at Welbeck, he devoted at least as much attention to the construction of a riding school and stable block, which were the predecessors of the better-known ones at Bolsover. These buildings stood on the north and west sides, respectively, of a large and not completely enclosed courtyard, of which the east and south sides were formed by the North Wing and the Oxford Wing. Between the Riding School and the Stables there was a large gatehouse block, which seems to have been demolished around 1700. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Riding School was designed by John Smythson in 1622, and still stands north-west of the house, although altered in the 19th century, when it was extended and converted into a library and chapel (discussed below). Externally, it was an embattled but plain block, housing a single covered space, but dignified with two fine Mannerist doorcases at either end.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXLx6TA4tMrpz0f0iDEOb2rvseZyRXSDTfbAjuxc9H3RJK00B60dBHe2alTQ1tedWsPbITv88SgkCfH6UqP0fIw28Q-uFHPnrK3dZFCemw4q-86DwDM3H5WRIazrpz8Fp6jkid4tF1Yjeo6gkcvebaaoLazzWLk1pkYL0-0CRSIhI9Xm_VB2_coVNQdsJ/s835/Welbeck%20Abbey%2028a%20riding%20house%20Smythson%20drawing.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="835" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXLx6TA4tMrpz0f0iDEOb2rvseZyRXSDTfbAjuxc9H3RJK00B60dBHe2alTQ1tedWsPbITv88SgkCfH6UqP0fIw28Q-uFHPnrK3dZFCemw4q-86DwDM3H5WRIazrpz8Fp6jkid4tF1Yjeo6gkcvebaaoLazzWLk1pkYL0-0CRSIhI9Xm_VB2_coVNQdsJ/w640-h237/Welbeck%20Abbey%2028a%20riding%20house%20Smythson%20drawing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: design by John Smythson for the riding house, 1622. Image: RIBA</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejf0xugRDDmsXeP4a3prIRM5cOgD7MaKdNNnsQUN6gpoKWIiP40PLOX_8tvy0ywAUJAk5CeSw8RpxAqjT14uooC0muwh1hGsk2YVLeBHK-ag_1xQk69DZDUcTgG89b-tzi4aB3NVqXS9ktIdODvcKhzgrwuHGp_RO_GHRpa1Rafs9F9JTcfZhURzZboDW/s993/Welbeck%20Abbey%2029b%20stables%20elevation.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="993" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejf0xugRDDmsXeP4a3prIRM5cOgD7MaKdNNnsQUN6gpoKWIiP40PLOX_8tvy0ywAUJAk5CeSw8RpxAqjT14uooC0muwh1hGsk2YVLeBHK-ag_1xQk69DZDUcTgG89b-tzi4aB3NVqXS9ktIdODvcKhzgrwuHGp_RO_GHRpa1Rafs9F9JTcfZhURzZboDW/w640-h366/Welbeck%20Abbey%2029b%20stables%20elevation.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: design by John Smythson for the stables, c.1625. Image: RIBA</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The designs for the rather more elaborate stable block date from 1625, and it seems to have been built more or less to this design, but to have been joined on to the gatehouse block. The gatehouse was no doubt earlier in date (a gatehouse is mentioned in 1597) but the shaped gables above the entrance archway suggest it had also been altered by Smythson by the time it was the subject of another engraving in <i>La Nouvelle Methode</i> in 1657. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZ1Ot6BUGrC3OZh5GJBNH_glChqiY65SIPryVABmoIhRrON1enfkjdyQ2LOBZ6QC9pdetN3KtfVMstLwTnDnKRfQJ8-IHrLbdFdpfy1czfYFHCppwgW0-ajou_2x69XQyDlOCQDWUVZolz93eEZ_hjhKUVGLAvxQcjmo9JiBsn8rEWFm8gqe8UzVEU5J1/s1050/Welbeck%20Abbey%2031%201657.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1050" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZ1Ot6BUGrC3OZh5GJBNH_glChqiY65SIPryVABmoIhRrON1enfkjdyQ2LOBZ6QC9pdetN3KtfVMstLwTnDnKRfQJ8-IHrLbdFdpfy1czfYFHCppwgW0-ajou_2x69XQyDlOCQDWUVZolz93eEZ_hjhKUVGLAvxQcjmo9JiBsn8rEWFm8gqe8UzVEU5J1/w640-h468/Welbeck%20Abbey%2031%201657.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: the stable block (left) and gatehouse range (right) seen from the courtyard before the house, <br />from an engraving published in 1657 in <i>La Nouvelle Methode. </i>The riding house was just out of view to the right.</span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><b>Phase III: Changes from the late 17th century to 1755.</b></i></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1691 the Welbeck estate descended to the 1st Duke's granddaughter and her husband, the 4th Earl of Clare, who became the 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne of the second creation in 1694. In about 1703 they consulted William Talman, then the foremost country house architect in England, who provided several different designs for a large new Baroque mansion. Although skilfully planned, these designs were rather academic exercises in the manipulation of elements drawn from continental engravings, and they seem not to have found favour with the Duke and Duchess, who turned instead to Sir John Vanbrugh, then building Castle Howard (Yorks NR). He provided a much more lively design, seemingly based on and responding to one of Talman's proposals, but for whatever reason, neither architect's designs were pursued. </span></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGTTSISNOPVuxpJGJriBitVmjdTmRYpL6OUxbtiDTM7-4N6Fa_0VvKvB_aqXDRQ2agDlu10_ekHYwO5m-u5g52dZgwC0V99nYMl_yU7S9ofFxSvUUoay9huoQ8JfcH-n3LKBJ9ScAZYBBxkTaHppktrtgOql8SKPp5e8vCOWBKIkpDpb0UKTKs-uyRbxA/s2783/Welbeck%20Abbey%2033%20Talman.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="2783" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGTTSISNOPVuxpJGJriBitVmjdTmRYpL6OUxbtiDTM7-4N6Fa_0VvKvB_aqXDRQ2agDlu10_ekHYwO5m-u5g52dZgwC0V99nYMl_yU7S9ofFxSvUUoay9huoQ8JfcH-n3LKBJ9ScAZYBBxkTaHppktrtgOql8SKPp5e8vCOWBKIkpDpb0UKTKs-uyRbxA/w640-h174/Welbeck%20Abbey%2033%20Talman.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: unexecuted design by William Talman for a new house, 1703. Image: RIBA</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheC4-7z0DyoLZD2ZgqbAYF3XWjdbvfeZDHocg5P3vlGjUvfXz7heTGGJbmks3MOrbBo9c-ce_j1hfZTk4REVPwNXlIu7iyjlKb6rEx4TnTsRXgsHHLb-oOHqWgGtLejd-bVkIqFTfQcXt2uzJdM1D_4y4wrSH4QgrgvDo5afJZeMhG9txZqXvxqsPRA1me/s2101/Welbeck%20Abbey%2032%20Vanbrugh.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="2101" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheC4-7z0DyoLZD2ZgqbAYF3XWjdbvfeZDHocg5P3vlGjUvfXz7heTGGJbmks3MOrbBo9c-ce_j1hfZTk4REVPwNXlIu7iyjlKb6rEx4TnTsRXgsHHLb-oOHqWgGtLejd-bVkIqFTfQcXt2uzJdM1D_4y4wrSH4QgrgvDo5afJZeMhG9txZqXvxqsPRA1me/w640-h250/Welbeck%20Abbey%2032%20Vanbrugh.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: unexecuted design by Sir John Vanbrugh for a new house, c.1703. Image: RIBA<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The fact that both Talman and Vanbrugh incorporated domed towers either side of the centrepiece in their designs has led some previous commentators to suggest that their proposals were actually for the remodelling of the Oxford Wing, but the scale seems to make that unlikely: there are presently only five bays between the towers on the Oxford Wing and both Talman and Vanbrugh placed seven bays between their towers. Although neither Talman nor Vanbrugh seem to have enjoyed the Duke's patronage, it would seem that quite extensive work on the house was completed before his death in 1711, for while in 1697 Celia Fiennes noted that 'the house is but old and low buildings', Daniel Defoe in the early 1720s described Welbeck as 'beautify'd with large additions, fine apartments, and good gardens'. These works are unlikely to have been initiated after 1711 because the Duke's will, which bequeathed Welbeck away from his wife and daughter, so outraged them that the estate was mired in legal wrangling until 1719 when a private Act of Parliament settled the dispute and left the Duke's daughter and her husband, the scholar and bibliophile Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford, in possession. The couple lived first at Wimpole Hall (Cambs), but a financial crisis in 1736, caused by the Earl's reckless collecting and generosity, caused Wimpole to be sold. By 1740 most of the Earl's debts had been cleared, and when he died in 1741, leaving the bulk of his remaining estate to his widow absolutely, Lady Oxford settled permanently at Welbeck and was in a position to begin building.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Countess of Oxford's widowhood is one of the seminal periods in the development of Welbeck Abbey, and her work has a wider interest from several standpoints. Like her 3x great-grandmother, Bess of Hardwick, she was a strong-willed woman with a passion for building, who not only commissioned major changes to the building but directed the aesthetic outcomes in detail. She was clearly animated by an intense pride in her lineage, filling the house with portraits and other relics of her Cavendish, Harley, Holles, Vere and Ogle ancestors, and stating in a letter that her purpose in building was 'to incline my family to reside at the only Habitable seat of my Ancestors', an ambition in which she was successful. Her exterior work was largely demolition (of the remaining part of the south claustral range of the old abbey buildings) and remodelling rather than rebuilding, and was plain to the point of severity, but it concealed a series of fine new interiors which mixed the fashionable Palladian style with the Gothick revival and even a pioneering Jacobean revivalism. The Gothick and Jacobean work was no doubt felt to provide a sympathetic setting for the collection of family portraits and to evoke the interiors which those ancestors had occupied. It is notable that in executing the neo-Jacobean decoration, she both re-used and copied original Smythson work, clearly expressing a reverence for the home of her ancestors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Work began in 1741 with the underpinning of the west end of the Oxford Wing. In 1742, Lady Oxford brought in John James (d. 1746) to oversee the transformation of the house, with Joseph Martyr as joiner and Anthony and Thomas Ince as masons, later replaced by James Osborne. The Oxford Wing was given a new central doorway on the south front dated 1743, designed to accord stylistically with the original Smythson cornice to either side, and the lantern on this range was rebuilt and repositioned in 1749. Little is known about the interior of the Oxford Wing, which was remodelled after a major fire in 1900, but a plan of 1750 shows that it remained a warren of small rooms. Photographs survive of one bedroom in this wing, which show conventional if fairly rich Palladian decoration. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7kFyBueEFF-d7qlNleVumWzFXVGLkxyMXvfFCmAj9YkovFrxI5iFhi28NIZaJBjkN_NkRUOJ5088bsE3eYIRK-F0vVKivgoevPg9xIFWnY_B2-oIWJh9i3n2hg_HTrYugV2GDK_Du9efm1hmZ3wiB0Gh9MxIHe5uZOiBwsX6kINbHCSnVaB-_QJ4YoeT/s1188/Welbeck%20Abbey%2040.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="787" height="847" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7kFyBueEFF-d7qlNleVumWzFXVGLkxyMXvfFCmAj9YkovFrxI5iFhi28NIZaJBjkN_NkRUOJ5088bsE3eYIRK-F0vVKivgoevPg9xIFWnY_B2-oIWJh9i3n2hg_HTrYugV2GDK_Du9efm1hmZ3wiB0Gh9MxIHe5uZOiBwsX6kINbHCSnVaB-_QJ4YoeT/w561-h847/Welbeck%20Abbey%2040.jpg" width="561" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: the Gothick Hall, c.1985. Image: Pete Smith.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">More radical changes were made to the North Wing, where the old Great Hall with its steeply-pitched roof was pulled down and replaced by the two storey Gothick Hall in 1747-51. This is the most remarkable (if only partially surviving) interior, with an ambitious fan-vaulted ceiling, based on that in the Henry VII chapel at Westminster Abbey. It was executed by Joseph Rose, presumably to a design by John James, who as surveyor of Westminster Abbey would have been familiar with the original, although he had died before work began. The room originally had plaster piers around the walls, running up to support the vault, doorways with ogee heads, and a fine fireplace, carved by Christopher Richardson, of which the upper part survives. </span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIg-CW7xT6s01OjKcu4MvfMh9Pu9qSDwOJ9ZL-ijEkxa8B4qvmWd6a9H26lDpKmucxi29HzbQg6A90B3pXhjynDVb5tVpeaVakJBnsY8vJqhbFY7UbAUtnKIb_lidS4_SQpfEQOxCwekS1Yl_rxPxz1hKnrgQLwmuDitg55I0_TaxkEsHY2Mnu5sL6o9X/s1280/Welbeck%20Abbey%2034.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1280" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIg-CW7xT6s01OjKcu4MvfMh9Pu9qSDwOJ9ZL-ijEkxa8B4qvmWd6a9H26lDpKmucxi29HzbQg6A90B3pXhjynDVb5tVpeaVakJBnsY8vJqhbFY7UbAUtnKIb_lidS4_SQpfEQOxCwekS1Yl_rxPxz1hKnrgQLwmuDitg55I0_TaxkEsHY2Mnu5sL6o9X/w640-h450/Welbeck%20Abbey%2034.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: an engraving of the Gothick Hall in use as a library in 1821, showing the original decorative scheme. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The present entrance hall (originally the dining room) has a Jacobean-style chimneypiece dated 1744 made by Thomas Carter the elder and based on that in the Star Chamber at Bolsover Castle. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Little is known about the original decoration of the rooms on the east side of the North Wing, which were replaced in the later 18th century, but a corridor with Gothick panelling survives, as does the Gothick plaster vault and skylight formerly over the Great Stair, again by Joseph Rose.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNH4rkFfiWMkwH4gQ-iHHzFwd5474g2N0TGifq-FJ6bArxJlgTMl6Cmwo1NTpgGGQy3FKeXFEWNqESeMABM-VzeHzWlN0CbQjT-z6fvsM3OnRgMTGQJg4GPuT9Xk03ONNkjFGCl3pszTomfi8eix0bTOGWcSCeWH2ZCGsSZfItUA4dxOFwcNUntjJ55K-C/s928/Welbeck%20Abbey%2037a.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="662" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNH4rkFfiWMkwH4gQ-iHHzFwd5474g2N0TGifq-FJ6bArxJlgTMl6Cmwo1NTpgGGQy3FKeXFEWNqESeMABM-VzeHzWlN0CbQjT-z6fvsM3OnRgMTGQJg4GPuT9Xk03ONNkjFGCl3pszTomfi8eix0bTOGWcSCeWH2ZCGsSZfItUA4dxOFwcNUntjJ55K-C/w318-h446/Welbeck%20Abbey%2037a.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: ceiling of the Gothick Room. Image: Pete Smith</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgzWKml9MNC-ZMFfXp_CENE-7V8V1rlJHfhF1lYc6xwCBICmIdKEqea1D5-vHWsnWuVVOpMLUrc_-X_yFkdp-IuBWkY1762Y0Di7_hRDaQyS8PE8VcA7B76DQiaNOKRlsOMvp8BBfZ4SuiW_8fB4EGQOOOyOFxgW5ML4Waut5M6n_1NIu2rdhKruwsUQk/s1051/Welbeck%20Abbey%2038a.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="702" height="445" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgzWKml9MNC-ZMFfXp_CENE-7V8V1rlJHfhF1lYc6xwCBICmIdKEqea1D5-vHWsnWuVVOpMLUrc_-X_yFkdp-IuBWkY1762Y0Di7_hRDaQyS8PE8VcA7B76DQiaNOKRlsOMvp8BBfZ4SuiW_8fB4EGQOOOyOFxgW5ML4Waut5M6n_1NIu2rdhKruwsUQk/w298-h445/Welbeck%20Abbey%2038a.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Welbeck Abbey: ceiling over the former Great Stair, c.1750.</span><br style="font-family: georgia;" /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Image: Pete Smith </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">At the north end of the North Wing, Lady Oxford added a new block to provide a new north entrance, dated 1749, which partly survives behind later additions, and mixes classical, Gothick and Jacobean motifs in an idiosyncratic way. The entrance opens into the Vaulted Hall, rising through one-and-a-half storeys, with neo-Jacobean details based on Smythson's Horsemanship Room, including a central pendant. Above this were three rooms forming Lady Oxford's private suite. The central room, lit by the Venetian window in the north front, has another fine Gothick ceiling, with plasterwork and panelling incorporating the Ogle and Cavendish crests. One of the side rooms reuses an original Smythson fireplace which is much too large for the room. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6KaSJZ0b91iaR0QkecE7CoOcn1whmxHiS1WYxbUV5S-uGYbEPHUgwOhyQc74ftZk8UtAZ33Aqt9STjkzr-gwQagUZA0zPkRq_4CwGlK_4v4ZfQPg_b4PqK_f9ix-5kx7EgVY87CGMIrhi9MD0THoyCx0Z7d2XiPnAimpn50GmMdJ66jslBL_4XX9I_fT/s2272/Welbeck%20Abbey%202721.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6KaSJZ0b91iaR0QkecE7CoOcn1whmxHiS1WYxbUV5S-uGYbEPHUgwOhyQc74ftZk8UtAZ33Aqt9STjkzr-gwQagUZA0zPkRq_4CwGlK_4v4ZfQPg_b4PqK_f9ix-5kx7EgVY87CGMIrhi9MD0THoyCx0Z7d2XiPnAimpn50GmMdJ66jslBL_4XX9I_fT/w640-h480/Welbeck%20Abbey%202721.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: the driveway to the north entrance between the Smythson riding school and the 18th century service block. <br />Image: Nick Kingsley. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The creation of the new north entrance led to the demolition of Smythson's stables and the construction (by William Birch, mason) of a new range of offices parallel to the Smythson riding school and almost identical to it in external detail. The two blocks are separated by a drive leading to the new entrance, which was at first approached between a pair of small battlemented Gothick lodges, but these were later moved further north when the present arrangement of stone screens and boldly rusticated 17th century gatepiers was created.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Phase IV: Welbeck from 1755 to 1854.</i></b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">On the death of the 2nd Duke of Portland in 1762, his widow was left Welbeck Abbey for life, while the 3rd Duke inherited Bulstrode Park. Since the 3rd Duke preferred Welbeck, however, he agreed an exchange with his mother. In 1775-77 he commissioned John Carr of York to remodel the east front of the North Wing and to create a suite of rooms (drawing room, ante room, dining room and library) which entirely replaced Lady Oxford's interiors in this part of the house. His alterations to the exterior included the construction of a single-storey chapel which projected to the east from the south-east corner of the house, and which had a bellcote surmounted by a cupola above the east end. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl_OfmsT9VdNS2RuJ_A0WX_YrxY4cSpK04QvDHTyKZEZv1z_rxFDXK2IZcSMDX9563K9RtRf7j54_uElS8R7xtGFeft5UzpBWsyyPQmiVv9czxDKCiqFiJpVqbR1Osgn8W2LEm_0lE-1cDGPQIojBvSziJMyf0UXLiPifM-kTTZxfHMj5QOhwP8Y-Q3nw/s748/Welbeck%20Abbey%2021a%20PS.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="748" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl_OfmsT9VdNS2RuJ_A0WX_YrxY4cSpK04QvDHTyKZEZv1z_rxFDXK2IZcSMDX9563K9RtRf7j54_uElS8R7xtGFeft5UzpBWsyyPQmiVv9czxDKCiqFiJpVqbR1Osgn8W2LEm_0lE-1cDGPQIojBvSziJMyf0UXLiPifM-kTTZxfHMj5QOhwP8Y-Q3nw/w640-h274/Welbeck%20Abbey%2021a%20PS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Welbeck Abbey: watercolour by Repton from the first Red Book for Welbeck, showing the east side of the North Wing as altered by Carr, <br />a</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">nd the north front created by Lady Oxford c.1750. Image: Pete Smith.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The chapel was demolished in about 1860, and the rest of Carr's work was further remodelled by Sir Ernest George in the early 20th century, although some elements of his interiors were retained, but the appearance of the east side of the house at this time is recorded in a watercolour by Humphry Repton. Repton was at Welbeck because he was called in by the 3rd Duke in 1790 to make (unexecuted) proposals for landscaping the grounds, and he also suggested alterations to the house, which were at least partly carried out. These included alterations to the west side of the North Wing, removing the central pediment and adding small attic towers, and banking up earth on both sides of the wing so that the ground floor became a subterranean basement and the former </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">piano nobile</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> became the ground floor.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6KJma7MnJEd0sGeetxfxoVdnCAv8FUKtjbf3iZyTczZDLbFVXduwCyTG2fx8kpDbvG-26qUFnn5E9iDjDoGdIO9H9KxtYhWtY-Lnq9hv6ArGiD0KmOTpqIfDLf32Gk6X7Q6v2_vMEWa-mxy1XuyU1YbmIjXfinKUCRMMjFy6E2oTd2gA7pkL2a7l2HM2/s1055/Welbeck%20Abbey%206a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="1055" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6KJma7MnJEd0sGeetxfxoVdnCAv8FUKtjbf3iZyTczZDLbFVXduwCyTG2fx8kpDbvG-26qUFnn5E9iDjDoGdIO9H9KxtYhWtY-Lnq9hv6ArGiD0KmOTpqIfDLf32Gk6X7Q6v2_vMEWa-mxy1XuyU1YbmIjXfinKUCRMMjFy6E2oTd2gA7pkL2a7l2HM2/w640-h452/Welbeck%20Abbey%206a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: detail of an early 19th century painting of the house, showing the castellations added by Jearrad in 1809.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">After the 3rd Duke handed Welbeck over to his son in the late 1790s, Repton was brought back and prepared a further Red Book suggesting alterations to the grounds, but once again, nothing was done, although in 1809 R.W. Jearrad of Cheltenham added castellations to the parapet of the North Wing, enlarged the lake and built a bridge.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Phase V: Alterations for the 5th Duke of Portland, 1854-79</i></b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The 5th Duke of Portland is perhaps the saddest and most compelling character in the story of Welbeck. He never married and became increasingly shy and reclusive as he became older, achieving a legendary degree of reclusiveness of a kind that is only available to the extremely rich. Despite his morbid disinclination for the society of his fellow man, the 5th Duke had a passion for building which both served his desire for privacy and provided much-needed employment, and he may have been activated partly by philanthropic motives. In about 1860 he demolished Carr's chapel, and remodelled the Oxford Wing, extending it to the east and west and adding an extra storey, but reusing the cupola. The Duke was probably his own architect, but the recent discovery of drawings for Welbeck by the Mansfield architect, C.J. Neale - whose other known works are all minor - suggests that he was employed as a biddable amanuensis to realise the Duke's ideas. Much less was done to the North Wing - although schemes for a radical alteration were considered - but a long range of straight-sided gables were added to the east front, and the whole range was re-roofed in lightweight green copper tiles, which have continued to be used in later alterations. Lastly, both the Smythson riding school and the matching 18th century service wing were extended and re-roofed with the copper tiles. The riding school was given an elaborate roof structure based on Smythson's original design (now concealed) and was used as a library and later as a chapel, while a new and even larger riding school was built in the park, This, together with a covered gallop, new stables and kennels, an estate gasworks (with no less than four gasometers), estate workshops, a timber yard and new farm buildings, were referred to as the "New Works" and seem to have been designed by Neale.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUhBFfOZhK569o0t_GIFfzjDt4mqGmNKYC2kXA2Z0Kr3Rx3fEdUnQisPCRUnBarZ0PM0CNBx_ZHgZ0ZnCntPssNFj9f9rE6K0hp0jkP8jmkCGZqOZxZ3Ot3e29MWQ4El_qLmKfxXiS9M-spBmMa8FqR3yJq3E4lR0ELU_xzEX1dS8dEvyJM9o8kp5SqTx/s650/Welbeck%20Abbey%2060%20c1900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="650" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUhBFfOZhK569o0t_GIFfzjDt4mqGmNKYC2kXA2Z0Kr3Rx3fEdUnQisPCRUnBarZ0PM0CNBx_ZHgZ0ZnCntPssNFj9f9rE6K0hp0jkP8jmkCGZqOZxZ3Ot3e29MWQ4El_qLmKfxXiS9M-spBmMa8FqR3yJq3E4lR0ELU_xzEX1dS8dEvyJM9o8kp5SqTx/w640-h322/Welbeck%20Abbey%2060%20c1900.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: the house from the south-east after the changes made by the 5th Duke, photographed shortly before the fire of 1900.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The 5th Duke is most famous for the series of toplit 'underground rooms' (actually at the same level as the original ground floor, which Repton had turned into a basement by banking up earth against the North Wing) which he created north and west of the main house. His motive in building below ground is unclear, but perhaps he came to want to hide his buildings as he hid himself. The underground rooms were excavated by navvies with the aid of traction engines and steam ploughs, and were damp-proofed by having double walls with layers of asphalt between them that have proved remarkably effective. They were heated by hot air, and lit by octagonal skylights, supplemented by thousands of gas jets for nocturnal illumination. The first rooms to be completed were a suite of three library rooms some 236 feet long, with a roof supported on cast iron columns. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvBDwngFIbeGXA46ENKzCWeJxWgx50X42ITcfGSwdfUolEeMY5bsMWW1i3KBJUYMsk2DE6OYsWYkexSr9z0UVkFJQhNcuCesdDuYugVmX2eYuObsOnTduwgLGwxgUwnn5puvv3c3Cua030gy4jO1XSFfryC3BnrlTMhpGTjeHQzo8qCCCBj-0dyMSLqq1/s802/Welbeck%20Abbey%2045.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="802" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvBDwngFIbeGXA46ENKzCWeJxWgx50X42ITcfGSwdfUolEeMY5bsMWW1i3KBJUYMsk2DE6OYsWYkexSr9z0UVkFJQhNcuCesdDuYugVmX2eYuObsOnTduwgLGwxgUwnn5puvv3c3Cua030gy4jO1XSFfryC3BnrlTMhpGTjeHQzo8qCCCBj-0dyMSLqq1/w640-h396/Welbeck%20Abbey%2045.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: the subterranean ballroom or picture gallery from an early 20th century postcard.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1875 a large ballroom or picture gallery was begun south of the Smythson riding school, approached by a series of three small Museum Rooms with a long corridor on each side, one of which was used as a sculpture gallery. The immense scale of the Ballroom (154 x 64 ft) was achieved by using hollow box girders concealed in the roof structure. Beyond the ballroom the Rose Corridor runs yet further west, and was intended to communicate with a huge Bachelors' Hall, construction of which was abandoned at the Duke's death (with the excavation being converted into a sunken garden). The underground rooms were not the Duke's only excavations: he also constructed some three miles of cut-and-cover tunnels to link the house to the "New Works" and to bury drives to the north-east and south.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Phase VI: Alterations since 1880.</i></b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">When the 5th Duke died without issue, his estates were divided between his surviving sisters (who inherited his London and Ayrshire estates) and his first cousin once removed, who inherited the dukedom, Welbeck, and the Scottish estate which the 5th Duke had purchased himself. Astonishingly, the incoming young 6th Duke had neither met his predecessor nor been to Welbeck, and when he arrived, with his stepmother and half-sister (later Lady Ottoline Morrell), to take up his inheritance, it was to find the house largely uninhabitable. Apart from the 5th Duke's few rooms - themselves sparsely furnished - most of the house was completely unfurnished. Lady Ottoline later recorded how they found the house:</span></div><div><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">"...almost every room had a water-closet in the corner, with water laid on and in good working order, but not enclosed or sheltered in any way. All the rooms were painted pink, and the large drawing-rooms decorated with gold, but no furniture or pictures were to be seen. At last in [the Gothick Hall] was found a vast gathering of cabinets all more or less in a state of disrepair...[In] the 'ballroom'...were all the pictures belonging to the house - pictures that had come down from generation to generation, but taken out of their frames and set up against gaunt wooden horses. The frames were afterwards found hidden away in a storehouse."</span></blockquote></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The 6th Duke did not at first pay a great deal of attention to Welbeck, and it was his stepmother (created Baroness Bolsover in her own right in 1880) who repaired the house and made it comfortable again. She persuaded the 6th Duke to convert the extended Smythson riding house into a library and chapel, and he obtained designs from J.D. Sedding, who was recommended by Lord Mildmay of Flete (Devon). Designs were approved in 1889, but before work began on site in 1891, Sedding died suddenly of influenza, and the work was executed by his former assistant, Henry Wilson, who was probably responsible for many of the interior decorative details. Wilson also built a curved two-storey link block containing a corridor joining the North Wing to the Riding House. At either end of it, he built a staircase in a gabled cross-wing to connect the varying levels of the differing structures. A self-effacing new entrance was provided at the east end of the corridor. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvg0Qza6bHSkRT6gJN8uxvOVL5yv6ebsZWMxXVmgcjYc8TweslEnruuS8rPosTAkCoB9Hvnj7n9NHH70XTlNsnKMUvoDK9DVKuSHQf4LreUuICI-E03ziots9H-NX9LXogowH9DtrmI4dRJzAPkxeCCWae5RPqXIz3tN1CE3uxA7sgDIq37igmFGKXDKJ/s1024/Welbeck%20Abbey%2054.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvg0Qza6bHSkRT6gJN8uxvOVL5yv6ebsZWMxXVmgcjYc8TweslEnruuS8rPosTAkCoB9Hvnj7n9NHH70XTlNsnKMUvoDK9DVKuSHQf4LreUuICI-E03ziots9H-NX9LXogowH9DtrmI4dRJzAPkxeCCWae5RPqXIz3tN1CE3uxA7sgDIq37igmFGKXDKJ/w640-h476/Welbeck%20Abbey%2054.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: the Titchfield Library created by Henry Wilson in 1891-96 for the 6th Duke</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Stylistically, the interiors mixed English 17th century motifs with the Arts and Crafts and touches of </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Art Nouveau</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">, to striking effect.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The eastern section of the Riding House became 'the Titchfield Library', with a series of eight presses projecting from the walls into the room in a manner reminiscent of an Oxbridge college library. In the centre of the room a deep inglenook fireplace was created, with the arch of the inglenook carved in local alabaster by the sculptor F.W. Pomeroy, and an even more elaborate alabaster fireplace inside. A large round-headed archway with a colourful marble surround, filled with solid bronze doors, separated the library from the chapel, which is</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> arranged like an 18th century collegiate chapel, with full height columns supporting flat entablatures and a barrel vaulted plaster ceiling over the nave. It is encrusted with rich fittings that create a sumptuous, almost Byzantine atmosphere. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Q_i5ESMta8HpF4IsvYrX2dUhh2Y7Gjnybolv5Mr_2lACync7Q1W1WLttlK59lxSUGT-xq5NsJ8xmOV5TjmduNySAJZWF7ydCAsbXlwTpdm7qGrae4F80Hf6kgWE75ptG43uxlchS0SBV8LlIWqKHZM7qDMs4HKnJrI3KFMWdJOBsI0yZrITVGBA1uK0P/s2250/Welbeck%20Abbey%2057.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2250" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Q_i5ESMta8HpF4IsvYrX2dUhh2Y7Gjnybolv5Mr_2lACync7Q1W1WLttlK59lxSUGT-xq5NsJ8xmOV5TjmduNySAJZWF7ydCAsbXlwTpdm7qGrae4F80Hf6kgWE75ptG43uxlchS0SBV8LlIWqKHZM7qDMs4HKnJrI3KFMWdJOBsI0yZrITVGBA1uK0P/w640-h426/Welbeck%20Abbey%2057.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: the chapel created by Henry Wilson, 1891-96. Image: Royal Collection Trust.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1900 the house was seriously damaged by a fire which destroyed the upper floors of the Oxford Wing and damaged the rooms below, causing an estimated £50,000 of damage, although the contents were largely rescued thanks to the efforts of the servants and colliers from one of the Duke's pits. To repair the damage, the 6th Duke brought in Sir Ernest George, who was recommended to him by Lord Redesdale, for whom George had rebuilt Batsford Park (Glos). He not only reinstated the damaged areas, but also made architectural changes to the rest of the house. The east and west fronts of the North Wing were given a Baroque makeover, with a pediment on each side containing a carved tympanum and supporting sculptures by Albert Hodge. Heavily rusticated porches were added, that on the east side connecting with the family suites in the Oxford Wing. The external alterations to the Oxford Wing were happier, with the addition to the south side of two-bay pedimented wings with rusticated quoins and a segmental pediment over the entrance bay, adding movement and central emphasis to the facade. The interiors of the Oxford Wing were reinstated in a mix of late 17th century and Palladian styles, and almost all the state rooms in the North Wing were also altered. The 6th Duke was very pleased with the result:</span></div><div><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia;">"they [George & Yeates] not only restored and improved the accommodation in the Oxford Wing, but carried out many alterations in the house itself, I think most successfully: for they converted it from an old-fashioned inconvenient barrack into a comfortable modern house. I think Sir Ernest was an excellent architect. He was especially clever at adapting old houses to modern use, without changing their essential character".</span></blockquote></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7zJScYl7mJbXmXkHYY1X1XfQjjE7hftx2VxCRBZh-avM8KPEf4XvIxC1u8XGzh-Z_SkI-oMe68dz7Gh3dSE764e0Co0xaSehA_GUG41RoB3RpAkAK4GBloqSfEdO-V6eleq-9edPk1CId9xrMCoD7hvUn7uTbLktRPulE91YZx7EeFQnTdIJ7jw0U69z/s2272/Welbeck%20Abbey%202712.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7zJScYl7mJbXmXkHYY1X1XfQjjE7hftx2VxCRBZh-avM8KPEf4XvIxC1u8XGzh-Z_SkI-oMe68dz7Gh3dSE764e0Co0xaSehA_GUG41RoB3RpAkAK4GBloqSfEdO-V6eleq-9edPk1CId9xrMCoD7hvUn7uTbLktRPulE91YZx7EeFQnTdIJ7jw0U69z/w640-h480/Welbeck%20Abbey%202712.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: the Oxford wing and the east side of the North Wing in 2008. Image: Nicholas Kingsley. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSCYXyawhh-Q-v41oGKCQZypVNyoQCTS4FNCBnYJ-PPVwk6uN90XAvzq7fZnhTcsHJo8sIhzgEBRAVuSZlQddQVFePPvsWUUbcRVgsMcfyeQeCjxzPzvrXqaUvAs8Z1cTaEEc-2gPhBxDaKQgIF2mSjtNB72nyFmkPNgX3C8eRimd90MJb_Lk4KKKfZXX/s889/Welbeck%20Abbey%2059.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="889" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSCYXyawhh-Q-v41oGKCQZypVNyoQCTS4FNCBnYJ-PPVwk6uN90XAvzq7fZnhTcsHJo8sIhzgEBRAVuSZlQddQVFePPvsWUUbcRVgsMcfyeQeCjxzPzvrXqaUvAs8Z1cTaEEc-2gPhBxDaKQgIF2mSjtNB72nyFmkPNgX3C8eRimd90MJb_Lk4KKKfZXX/w640-h500/Welbeck%20Abbey%2059.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Welbeck Abbey: the new dining room created by Sir Ernest George, 1900-02. Image: <i>Country Life</i>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1930, the then Marquess of Titchfield (later the 7th Duke) commissioned a new house on the estate which he called Welbeck Woodhouse. He chose as his architects the York firm of Brierley & Rutherford, who were the lineal successors of John Carr's 18th century business. Walter Brierley, one of the most interesting architects of the early 20th century, had died in 1926, so the house was actually designed by his partner, James Hervey Rutherford, who based the design closely on one of Brierley's best houses, the neo-Georgian Sion Hill Hall near Thirsk (Yorks NR). The house was built in 1930-32, and in its comfort and simplicity it offered a marked contrast to the complex architectural palimpsest of the Abbey. The new house gave the Marquess and his family (who had earlier rented a house at Calverton near Nottingham) an independent residence on the estate, from which he could conveniently play an increased role in the management of the estate.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">During the First World War the army was invited to use the park at Welbeck as a camp, and they returned in the Second World War. The 6th Duke died in 1943 and his widow in 1954, after which the house was leased to the Ministry of Defence as the Army College, although the family retained the right to use the state rooms and private apartments in the house. Welbeck Woodhouse remained the home of the 7th Duke, and, after his death in 1977, of his daughter, Lady Anne Cavendish-Bentinck, while the 7th Duke's widow, Ivy, endowed the Harley Foundation to assist artists and craftsmen working in workshops on the estate. The foundation later built the Harley Gallery to display items from the Portland Collection and further workshops (designed by John Outram). The Army College moved to Leicestershire in 2005 (and closed in 2021), and Lady Anne's nephew and heir, William Parente, took up residence in the private apartments of the Abbey. Since he inherited the estate in 2008, he and his wife have overseen an extensive programme of repairs and investment into the estate buildings, and have collaborated with the Harley Foundation to provide limited <a href="https://www.welbeck.co.uk/experience/visit/welbeck-abbey-state-room-tours">public access</a> to the house. He has recently moved to a refurbished Welbeck Woodhouse, and the Oxford Wing is being restored to provide a home for his son and heir, Joe Parente.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: Crown sold 1539 to Richard Whalley (1499-1583); sold 1559 to Edward Osborne; sold? to Crown, which leased it 1573 to Richard Whalley and his son Thomas Whalley, who leased it 1575-82 to Sir John Zouche of Alfreton (Derbys); reverted 1582 to Richard Whalley jr, who granted it 1584 to Gilbert Talbot, later 7th Earl of Shrewsbury, who vested it in trustees for his wife, acquired the freehold and in 1607 sold it to his half-brother, Sir Charles Cavendish (d. 1617); to son, Sir William Cavendish (1593-1676), later created Viscount Mansfield (1620), Earl of Newcastle on Tyne (1628), Marquess of Newcastle on Tyne (1643) and Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne (1665); to son, Henry Cavendish (1630-91), 2nd Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne; to daughter, Lady Margaret Cavendish (1661-1716), wife of John Holles (1662-1711), 4th Earl of Clare and later Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne; to daughter, Lady Henrietta Cavendish-Holles (1694-1755), wife of Edward Harley (d. 1741), 2nd Earl of Oxford and Mortimer; to daughter Lady Margaret (d. 1785), wife of William Bentinck (1709-62), 2nd Duke of Portland; to son, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (1738-1809), 3rd Duke of Portland; to son, William Henry Cavendish Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (1768-1854), 4th Duke of Portland; to son, William John Cavendish Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (1800-79), 5th Duke of Portland; to first cousin once removed, William John Arthur Charles James Cavendish-Bentinck (1857-1943), 6th Duke of Portland; to son, William Arthur Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (1893-1977), 7th Duke of Portland; to daughter, Lady Anne Cavendish-Bentinck (1916-2008); to nephew, William Henry Marcello Parente (b. 1951), Prince of Castel Viscardo.</i></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire</span></b></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Bolsover is in origin an 11th century castle, created by William Peveril (of the Peak Castle in Derbyshire) on a naturally defensible scarp overlooking the broad plain to its west. It was forfeited to the Crown in 1155 and passed backwards and forwards between royal and lay hands during the later medieval period, being last garrisoned in 1322. It consisted of a roughly egg-shaped inner ward surrounded by thick stone walls, and an inner and outer bailey. It is thought not to have had a keep, though in 1540 Leland mentioned a 'great building' of which nothing more is known. In 1553 the site was granted to George Talbot, later 6th Earl of Shrewsbury and one of the four husbands of Bess of Hardwick. Her son, Sir Charles Cavendish, bought it in 1608 from the 7th Earl, and in the winter of 1611/12 he began building the present Little Castle to the designs of John Smythson (whose father Robert was, however, still alive and may conceivably also have been involved). Sir Charles himself was probably responsible for selecting the castle aesthetic of the project, which responds to the history of the site, the military tradition of the family, and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">the chivalric revival of the Jacobean period</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. Sir Charles' son and heir, William, belonged to the group of aristocratic jousters (including the Earl of Pembroke and Earl of Arundel) who regularly entertained the Court at this time, and the Little Castle should be seen as belonging to the group of houses, including Lulworth Castle and Ruperra Castle which were influenced by the nostalgia for medieval traditions. In 1617 Sir William Cavendish inherited the site and the project from his father, and the interiors of the castle (which largely date from the 1620s) appear to be influenced by what he had seen or a tour of Europe c.1612.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlqByvp_9AbNfFPFKYXKzhjhiW3ZZg0rwf57FL2UPA3jZ63KlirFLpYNsMNMXhAIXt1QT11ylSlybvlBVGMekj-JUiOpV2Wjc3UaHKe1ZlPRNwiktZXg27NL05ovjwi0pJdk_NoUYtb6LclSqV7Rf4DljclUgpHGH12o1681uaNKpUcJor0_NQRSeErI-/s1220/Bolsover%20Castle%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="1220" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlqByvp_9AbNfFPFKYXKzhjhiW3ZZg0rwf57FL2UPA3jZ63KlirFLpYNsMNMXhAIXt1QT11ylSlybvlBVGMekj-JUiOpV2Wjc3UaHKe1ZlPRNwiktZXg27NL05ovjwi0pJdk_NoUYtb6LclSqV7Rf4DljclUgpHGH12o1681uaNKpUcJor0_NQRSeErI-/w640-h326/Bolsover%20Castle%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bolsover Castle: the Little Castle and the north end of the terrace range from the north-west.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WGsFJ2JPqXB6mG_OXP-l2Barv_IFqNigug4FrdyiQy1o9s8FHaFMsts70Fiy4JAPr2ZMmwvaDH-ZOXnfv6In6kawR3N3-2DRCBUFcW_aS1iA6plZJvhUwNO09hftzK869r1UePDu_Sspdp3pwvmoOTbdw_rfQTliWiDOxvv0rWHqSeXBnFbOJOKeCFXp/s2272/IMG_1887.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WGsFJ2JPqXB6mG_OXP-l2Barv_IFqNigug4FrdyiQy1o9s8FHaFMsts70Fiy4JAPr2ZMmwvaDH-ZOXnfv6In6kawR3N3-2DRCBUFcW_aS1iA6plZJvhUwNO09hftzK869r1UePDu_Sspdp3pwvmoOTbdw_rfQTliWiDOxvv0rWHqSeXBnFbOJOKeCFXp/w640-h480/IMG_1887.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bolsover Castle: the Little Castle from the west, 2008. Image: Nicholas Kingsley. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Little Castle was built at the north end of the site, across the line of the curtain wall of the inner ward, a section of which was demolished to accommodate it; old stonework from the site was incorporated into the new building. It is entered from the terrace on the western side of the castle site, through a walled forecourt with arrow-slits in the walls and crenellated lodges that immediately establish the castle theme. The house itself</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> is squarish in plan (70 x 54 feet), and its three full storeys above a high basement are also 70 feet high. It was no doubt conceived as being the keep which the medieval castle lacked, and was intended </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">as a retreat from Sir Charles' great house at Welbeck, about six miles further east, rather than a country house in its own right. It was perhaps intended to stand in the same relation to Welbeck as Wothorpe Hall did to Burghley House: a 'secret house' to which Lord Burghley could retire 'when his great house at Burghley was a-sweeping'. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Only the forecourt and the west-facing entrance front with its porch tower are symmetrical; the other elevations place windows of different sizes and forms where they are needed. The taller stair turret at the north-east angle of the building projects on both the north and east faces, further disrupting the symmetry. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULlVhcgdkni3pBX81_GPRibBzisqQ7RY7NSSCeIUy_4bdznMdVVKU_2O2NYns7LUQjWxSqSJUc0LIxvWy_-8hkUP7_ADwK0Z3EIa7AIuyfDp_bQQLwTOiJyn03bqg83ZY2p4Lr-Bjujj122wZGPh2sQow9SC7sQrI88dSOoVrM6_iBdV4k7jQVZF9cYrL/s1340/Bolsover%20Castle%2024%20plans.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="1340" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULlVhcgdkni3pBX81_GPRibBzisqQ7RY7NSSCeIUy_4bdznMdVVKU_2O2NYns7LUQjWxSqSJUc0LIxvWy_-8hkUP7_ADwK0Z3EIa7AIuyfDp_bQQLwTOiJyn03bqg83ZY2p4Lr-Bjujj122wZGPh2sQow9SC7sQrI88dSOoVrM6_iBdV4k7jQVZF9cYrL/w640-h196/Bolsover%20Castle%2024%20plans.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bolsover Castle: plans of Little Castle, based on an original English Heritage plan.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The plan is a triple-pile layout, with rooms either side of a narrower east-west central spine containing the service stairs and closets, but it is more complicated than it seems, for the rooms on each floor are not all of the same height, and are fitted together with remarkable ingenuity as a kind of three-dimensional jigsaw. The vaulted basement was devoted to service accommodation, with the kitchen on the north side and the 'Great Beer Cellar' - which may have doubled as the servants' hall - on the south-east. The ground floor was also vaulted, and the largest room, in the south-east corner, was the three-bay vaulted hall, which is higher than the Pillar Parlour to its north. On the first floor, over the latter, is the Great Chamber of the house, known as the Star Chamber from the decoration of its ceiling, which is higher than the rooms to its south which constituted Sir William Cavendish's private apartments. These needed lower ceiling heights than the Star Chamber, allowing the top floor, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">occupied by three apartments arranged around the central lantern,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> to be all on the same level again.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMMPfgn6-khDc7QoUtsCbSGibJq2lWV6XEqoaNAM3mlu2kWpVcAXYKjXkVsdyRdUL6z5Dvfs8nddJ-qxuIyBPZAfYespNRIgsdv7Pg-maJpdBVThxc_aAsMBg4GCkJrdJxgqFzR4WfSEre0N9LQi00sRF-iGjRFIgDTzxIQ8t35MVVQvHQVYvhewCijnQ/s960/Bolsover%20Castle%201.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="767" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMMPfgn6-khDc7QoUtsCbSGibJq2lWV6XEqoaNAM3mlu2kWpVcAXYKjXkVsdyRdUL6z5Dvfs8nddJ-qxuIyBPZAfYespNRIgsdv7Pg-maJpdBVThxc_aAsMBg4GCkJrdJxgqFzR4WfSEre0N9LQi00sRF-iGjRFIgDTzxIQ8t35MVVQvHQVYvhewCijnQ/w320-h400/Bolsover%20Castle%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bolsover Castle: anteroom of Little Castle. Copyright unknown. </span></td></tr></tbody></table>The building accounts show that almost all the interior decoration of the Little Castle was undertaken for Sir William Cavendish after he inherited in 1617. Like the exterior it is an echo of the antique, but in this case of the Classical antique, spiced with an overlay of Spenserian fantasy and Jacobean wit. The interiors preserve their original fireplaces, panelling and painted decoration, and allow us to see a rare intact themed sequence. The porch leads into a small inner hall, from which opens, to the north, the Anteroom, where the lunettes on the walls under the vaulting are painted with scenes representing three of the four Humours, after Maarten de Vos, and an architectural scene (it is not clear why this was preferred to the fourth humour, 'Sanguine'). On the other side of the lobby is the three-bay hall, with a rib-vault carried on two Tuscan columns. This was the only interior where the fitting out began in Sir Charles Cavendish's lifetime, and the plain hooded fireplace is dated 1616. The wall paintings and panelling were added after 1617 and here the paintings depict four of the Labours of Hercules after engravings by Antonio Tempesta published in 1608; the pattern of the vaulted ceiling is continued in fictive perspective in the background of the figures. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRZ47AvgVlHRwzpH6Wh-aWh1ZQbk1CrUkFmkCG5D1R86JC2DktVA81-47pWPCfkbdaubaiQQn21CkvHiqlWrT7TNEJldFDxDtdfbawzt-SAZTdyeEFtjSHL6qPoTWorEIZuCF73kjxGvPorffM8Jo6a3iOmrPYs0jXQrehtZsunBMAEYL06cu1Ir-bRUh/s1941/Bolsover%20Castle%2027.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1373" data-original-width="1941" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRZ47AvgVlHRwzpH6Wh-aWh1ZQbk1CrUkFmkCG5D1R86JC2DktVA81-47pWPCfkbdaubaiQQn21CkvHiqlWrT7TNEJldFDxDtdfbawzt-SAZTdyeEFtjSHL6qPoTWorEIZuCF73kjxGvPorffM8Jo6a3iOmrPYs0jXQrehtZsunBMAEYL06cu1Ir-bRUh/w640-h452/Bolsover%20Castle%2027.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bolsover Castle: the hall of the Little Castle. Digitally corrected image. Copyright unknown.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVd6YbY7eThBbfXM6a1oruVwMOd0GL7bZsvlV5ZgtY5z08mOZI5w2qB60d5Hg8oZY-pwffi4JL8u7lyS4vVb6MNVsv0vs6IjQV5Ei0U9iCjJZoaobS9R1CRd4R0kLPNDsipz3x2CjLrEyrBCAIFgSOjWHjxyn0sDnjJ8ZR9RjwqhVk5CVVUdIaRj5mBU9/s1080/Bolsover%20Castle%206%20pillar%20rm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVd6YbY7eThBbfXM6a1oruVwMOd0GL7bZsvlV5ZgtY5z08mOZI5w2qB60d5Hg8oZY-pwffi4JL8u7lyS4vVb6MNVsv0vs6IjQV5Ei0U9iCjJZoaobS9R1CRd4R0kLPNDsipz3x2CjLrEyrBCAIFgSOjWHjxyn0sDnjJ8ZR9RjwqhVk5CVVUdIaRj5mBU9/w640-h640/Bolsover%20Castle%206%20pillar%20rm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bolsover Castle: Pillar Parlour in Little Castle. Image: English Heritage.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">A door at the upper (east) end of the hall leads into another lobby in the central spine of the house from which can be entered both the main staircase in the north-east corner and the richly-decorated Pillar Parlour. The latter is a vaulted chamber with a ribbed vault carried on a single cental column. The room was probably intended as a Winter Parlour, since it stands directly above the kitchen and has, in the centre of the north wall, a magnificent hooded fireplace (loosely based on designs in Serlio) of pale limestone, with columns, panels and cabochons of Ashford Black Marble, alabaster, and other local contrasting stones. The panelling is copied from wainscoting at the king's palace of Theobalds (Herts) which John Smythson visited and sketched in 1618. The lunette paintings show allegories of the Senses from engravings by Cornelius Cort after Frans Floris. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpkoxV1Kc1yj9OGiutkYsx8e-mXsC07L7R1XY_U0oS8ha4q_6m9c3h8ZyOQJ6AXpgCvk1kGtaFMqP-jBaIW9T4Dt1Ew661OPVOGT5xtJXnnjsjjqKWRYVSmbi2hkL5SJLAYtJSszlpwLKlS95mo-bjAkETwYjBcik-_9Xk6fyjSuFMgAk9FiVdlTMQkya/s1191/Bolsover%20Castle%2031%20Glyn%20Riles.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1191" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpkoxV1Kc1yj9OGiutkYsx8e-mXsC07L7R1XY_U0oS8ha4q_6m9c3h8ZyOQJ6AXpgCvk1kGtaFMqP-jBaIW9T4Dt1Ew661OPVOGT5xtJXnnjsjjqKWRYVSmbi2hkL5SJLAYtJSszlpwLKlS95mo-bjAkETwYjBcik-_9Xk6fyjSuFMgAk9FiVdlTMQkya/w640-h420/Bolsover%20Castle%2031%20Glyn%20Riles.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bolsover Castle: Star Chamber in Little Castle. Image: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/glyn_ryles/15390774500/">Glyn Ryles</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The wide stone staircase leads up to the first floor, and gives access through a lobby into the great chamber of the house, known as the Star Chamber from the applique stars of gilded lead on the geometric plaster ceiling. The very rich arcaded panelling is decorated with figures of Old Testament prophets and saints, one of which is dated 1621. The fireplace is the most elaborate in the house, and has the arms of the 7th Earl of Shrewsbury, who sold the estate to Sir Charles Cavendish in 1608. Opening off the Star Chamber is the Marble Closet, which extends into the space above the porch. It has a monochrome theme, with a black and white marble vaulted ceiling, a chequerwork marble floor, and a black and white fireplace, but colour is introduced by the lunette paintings of the Virtues, here represented as langorous maidens after engravings of c.1582 by Hendrick Goltzius. A French window provides access to the balcony over the porch. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqfELbX9COPh_q5P5h9Lv0zyfabDgdOLbIxfdbPt-xdpT2cCAev7qA6wUxiKOQQGUd6bnweJ5OjsWIBfTFdz5kiX-izPZgAe-dCfcPTrbPYtuFiiir0grVQccyvwWzu0nfWYEXEXLUrUheCEbsy0BsBCaGXEuiyLy4gVDepFNzBiVdKHq2mOijmUWIaaY/s2272/IMG_1915.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqfELbX9COPh_q5P5h9Lv0zyfabDgdOLbIxfdbPt-xdpT2cCAev7qA6wUxiKOQQGUd6bnweJ5OjsWIBfTFdz5kiX-izPZgAe-dCfcPTrbPYtuFiiir0grVQccyvwWzu0nfWYEXEXLUrUheCEbsy0BsBCaGXEuiyLy4gVDepFNzBiVdKHq2mOijmUWIaaY/w640-h480/IMG_1915.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bolsover Castle: vault of the Marble Closet in Little Castle. Image: Nicholas Kingsley. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">On the south side of the first floor is Sir William's private apartment, which has another elaborate Smythson chimneypiece and partially gilded panelling, but is nonetheless something of a respite between the sequence of grand public rooms and the richness of the two adjoining closets, known as the Heaven Closet and the Elysium Closet, which both have painted ceilings and friezes and richly decorated panelling. The decoration of the closets appears to offer Sir William </span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)" style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.1125px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">two versions of his immortality: he can choose to rise either into a Christian heaven or into a classical Elysium, but it is fairly clear that Sir William, who had a reputation for his amours, will choose the earthier delights of Elysium, from which a balcony opens with a view of the Fountain Garden, with its </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">statue of a naked Venus standing in her fountain. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9E1Cnl0mA3XqTZ2Du7dGxPmT4yWMFW5GcYcVKBMbaOfJ4zcGAPydghB5tCo9y-dwU_tcHghxXc8kwaGLxVX9Eby6FBh2TFapHXX0zHGcI67J_bkOEsWrEwCe0LtErktF5Ie4LV_Mg2Uhp1kDhuHGHeawi-AdtIrCEbVHbsM0asaNiP20oUdlKxrRRkooi/s908/Bolsover%20Castle%2013%20Heaven%20Closet%20ceiling%20%20RIBA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="908" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9E1Cnl0mA3XqTZ2Du7dGxPmT4yWMFW5GcYcVKBMbaOfJ4zcGAPydghB5tCo9y-dwU_tcHghxXc8kwaGLxVX9Eby6FBh2TFapHXX0zHGcI67J_bkOEsWrEwCe0LtErktF5Ie4LV_Mg2Uhp1kDhuHGHeawi-AdtIrCEbVHbsM0asaNiP20oUdlKxrRRkooi/w640-h560/Bolsover%20Castle%2013%20Heaven%20Closet%20ceiling%20%20RIBA.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bolsover Castle: ceiling of the Heaven Closet in the Little Castle.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5qmuKkquF5GKhR62X0oNqTT0RWehVWGjgD8ZsddNKHIc2yiSjGxXw1VlJIEtR5m9l4VkjJOMG38fzXy1I3_WMsGITevgsi3ztGb9HL8Z2g9VEcqUdEz-j4AtOdy_MzoGFmoPKccQqYZcpwZFQZtKe8v4MPLp_p1lGtKxf2kbaeDq7eDCxUL6Dw3g0gOr/s2272/IMG_1921.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5qmuKkquF5GKhR62X0oNqTT0RWehVWGjgD8ZsddNKHIc2yiSjGxXw1VlJIEtR5m9l4VkjJOMG38fzXy1I3_WMsGITevgsi3ztGb9HL8Z2g9VEcqUdEz-j4AtOdy_MzoGFmoPKccQqYZcpwZFQZtKe8v4MPLp_p1lGtKxf2kbaeDq7eDCxUL6Dw3g0gOr/w640-h480/IMG_1921.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bolsover Castle: ceiling of the Elysium Closet in the Little Castle. Image: Nicholas Kingsley. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The two closets are the climax of the decoration, but t</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">he main stair continues to the second floor, where three apartments surround a charming octagonal lobby below the central lantern, which may have been used as a banqueting area, like the rooftop pavilions at Longleat House (Wilts).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoUmAUwmTAhRV6i_QKodrnYbM9ARy9NaslgLjMIlcYahWPoHjL0hE5VSK7tFlCZvsrWEyMpkgQ1iXZyvKlO-2M0tP7zpub-8Xy44pjPB4KOlEHsE5IOoPE6zmgIoXlQAs-HnskJ2wnDF0M-JceWRd2e3OxRv6Yg1bXF1aOvEgSsCQ839duSlCF8mAMnXW/s2048/Bolsover%20Castle%2034%20Mark%20Bush%20CC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="2048" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoUmAUwmTAhRV6i_QKodrnYbM9ARy9NaslgLjMIlcYahWPoHjL0hE5VSK7tFlCZvsrWEyMpkgQ1iXZyvKlO-2M0tP7zpub-8Xy44pjPB4KOlEHsE5IOoPE6zmgIoXlQAs-HnskJ2wnDF0M-JceWRd2e3OxRv6Yg1bXF1aOvEgSsCQ839duSlCF8mAMnXW/w640-h248/Bolsover%20Castle%2034%20Mark%20Bush%20CC.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bolsover Castle: the Fountain Garden. Image: Mark Bush. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In conjunction with the building and decoration of the Little Castle, the remaining walls of the inner ward were retained and reconstructed to contain a pleasure ground known as the Fountain Garden. Apart from the features which survive, it is not known how this was laid out, but it seems possible that it was the intended setting for Ben Jonson's masque on the theme of courtly love which was performed during Charles I's visit in 1634. A walkway, accessed from the main stair of the Little Castle, ran round the top of the walls, and the parapets, which had been lost by the late 18th century, were reinstated in 2013 by English Heritage. Three garden rooms - perhaps marking the sites of medieval towers and a gateway - were created in the thickness of the walls, and the most elaborate of them has a groin vault with a pendant boss and hooded fireplaces like those in the Little Castle. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUS0sCKz6Hzbq7FSxlVeX_fUxe2_RauePyo7vCgzeBPttd18GRlcICeU_FG8FM-fytzySennZFOhKo_eeLa5ArVEaN_k8TUwuPGQ-DHZJdjHZS68OKMjv0WR-FnsYLNY_ldTDb2aJeHxwxyICz48bTqbRD5vpiZpBFCTn8ojfBPGOqtDD3VG1HLX8QZdIx/s2272/IMG_1896.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUS0sCKz6Hzbq7FSxlVeX_fUxe2_RauePyo7vCgzeBPttd18GRlcICeU_FG8FM-fytzySennZFOhKo_eeLa5ArVEaN_k8TUwuPGQ-DHZJdjHZS68OKMjv0WR-FnsYLNY_ldTDb2aJeHxwxyICz48bTqbRD5vpiZpBFCTn8ojfBPGOqtDD3VG1HLX8QZdIx/w640-h480/IMG_1896.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bolsover Castle: Venus Fountain. Image: Nicholas Kingsley. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Near the centre of the court is the famous Venus Fountain, built to a design by John Smythson in the late 1620s. It consists of a sunken basin with niches in each face carrying busts of Roman emperors, priapic beasts and Satyrs. The extraordinary central plinth, covered in vermiculation, supports lead figures of urinating cherubs, and the fountain bowl, on top of which stands a statue of a naked Venus emerging from her bath, after Giambologna. The concept of the design seems to be the contrast of animal lusts with pure love, as symbolised by Venus.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMIa2cSrAbnt4czX0O-ikaeKbnRCamZbUVL4g05fRc5saNMKaybLG_4KDs1FJOpz66Hd8GXxN4wLbIhBU6tO6WoDsbOK_XGSKU_K7z6S6kmX0pNxGCgcwaZkwY9guxxQxaM_eJuejADe7lZg5qyxdh4WhGSb7p3MfWktw0RhXxxJGGaIcf9IYZ4G7MMCH/s2272/IMG_1888.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMIa2cSrAbnt4czX0O-ikaeKbnRCamZbUVL4g05fRc5saNMKaybLG_4KDs1FJOpz66Hd8GXxN4wLbIhBU6tO6WoDsbOK_XGSKU_K7z6S6kmX0pNxGCgcwaZkwY9guxxQxaM_eJuejADe7lZg5qyxdh4WhGSb7p3MfWktw0RhXxxJGGaIcf9IYZ4G7MMCH/w640-h480/IMG_1888.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bolsover Castle: terrace range, looking south. The steps up to the Little Castle are on the left. Image: Nicholas Kingsley. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Having completed the Little Castle and Fountain Garden by the late 1620s, Sir William Cavendish (later the Earl, Marquess and eventually Duke of Newcastle), went on to built the Terrace Range along the western edge of the former inner bailey, in two main campaigns of c.1627-30 and c.1630-34, once more under the direction of John Smythson, who had become a full-time employee and bailiff of some of the Cavendish estates. Although physically detached from the Little Castle (a link being provided by a bridge from the upper level to the wall walk around the Fountain Garden), the Terrace Range provided the accommodation needed to make Bolsover Castle an independent mansion. The earliest part is the north end of the range, which stands at a strange skewed angle to everything else, and the four bays of the west front to its south, which have an elevation of two storeys above a basement. The Dutch gables here were completed in 1633. This part of the building provided additional domestic accommodation. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnn5kRAb3Q9gBLnktNNWQ3PqyNHYwr_jExXG-3h4erkNzqiO1BDr-Doc0Ki4JpQr8-Sh5_qk4DWVdnWqjWCOjISoI_KdvYbpAXc_wWh5_x1clRg2UmjkNjVsZmgSy9W4Yt4HirRvkZjPODLTaCMJSIomfGO7LXzACfcZHwr_LoMJV2vOcJanNpHmOD2msm/s957/Bolsover%20Castle%2028.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="957" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnn5kRAb3Q9gBLnktNNWQ3PqyNHYwr_jExXG-3h4erkNzqiO1BDr-Doc0Ki4JpQr8-Sh5_qk4DWVdnWqjWCOjISoI_KdvYbpAXc_wWh5_x1clRg2UmjkNjVsZmgSy9W4Yt4HirRvkZjPODLTaCMJSIomfGO7LXzACfcZHwr_LoMJV2vOcJanNpHmOD2msm/w640-h514/Bolsover%20Castle%2028.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bolsover Castle: a view of the west side of the terrace range and the Little Castle from an engraving published in 1657 in <i>La Nouvelle Methode.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">From about 1630, by which time Sir William had become Earl of Newcastle, a grander scheme was entertained, and Smythson provided designs for a Long Gallery facing the prospect to the west, backed by a state apartment facing east onto the inner bailey, which was probably completed in time for a visit by King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria in 1634. Smythson also proposed a chapel, which was never built, the upper floor of the north end of the terrace range being fitted up as a chapel instead. The Long Gallery has a single storey over a high basement, with a main entrance from the terrace approached by a long flight of steps set against the basement wall on either side. The windows have skied and rather ungrammatical pediments, and between them are attached shafts, loosely suggesting the barrels of cannons, which are set like columns against the wall. They have neither bases nor capitals and die into the stonework at top and bottom, and no architectural source has been found for them. This facade seems originally to have had straight-sided gables, replaced by a crenellated parapet when the building was restored after the Civil War.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEUnki_N4JOgWFocfrKlrqOfCnRjtE6S1mWDkpEoddWfurDkJaesCpdyHPcr27uu5JBoX2zbp6smfqvsndpBZTXMCJLSWLbjO7jNOYyQSE9NgaZiAYYJa79XHGPfb1UHW1kROa4BAht0UULeNSKdPxsTZylsO1hytu4nWt0PFxnlkQ_E8ogfPemmpe_-A/s2272/IMG_1884.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEUnki_N4JOgWFocfrKlrqOfCnRjtE6S1mWDkpEoddWfurDkJaesCpdyHPcr27uu5JBoX2zbp6smfqvsndpBZTXMCJLSWLbjO7jNOYyQSE9NgaZiAYYJa79XHGPfb1UHW1kROa4BAht0UULeNSKdPxsTZylsO1hytu4nWt0PFxnlkQ_E8ogfPemmpe_-A/w640-h480/IMG_1884.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bolsover Castle: the new facade of the state apartment to the inner bailey, as rebuilt in the 1660s. It has been a ruin since at least 1785. <br />Image: Nicholas Kingsley. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Newcastle was a prominent Royalist, and he was eventually obliged to flee to the Continent, where he lived at Rubens' house in Antwerp. In the years when he was abroad, he developed his long-standing interest in horsemanship into the serious study of the art of manège, and he evidently acquainted himself with current continental architectural fashions. Serious damage was done to his buildings at Bolsover during the Civil War, and after Newcastle recovered the property at the Restoration, he restored and re-roofed the Terrace Range. His architectural adviser this time was Samuel Marsh, who later built Nottingham Castle for him, to a very Italianate design. It is thought likely that the Duke of Newcastle played an important part in the design of these buildings, which seem to owe a lot to the illustrations in Rubens' </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Palazzi di Genova</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> (1622), which he almost certainly encountered while in exile. The state apartment on the east side of the terrace range was widened and its internal layout was altered. The decoration here was more conventional than Smythson's earlier 'cannon columns'; the leathery strapwork (now very worn) around the upper windows of the state apartment being typical of mid-century Artisan Mannerism. The state apartment was given a central entrance, aligned with the doorway into the Long Gallery and that in turn with the grand doorway from the gallery to the terrace. This (no doubt very draughty) feature was known as 'the Bellavista'.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm2SYD_YVB3FbNxTYDHBenREZ9jLxyZNljkI0fd7rEmyglWJ9oFMPPAC5ZSYk3uB14X1BF_zTemJnayyTDReDJtQ-vxPie-uKM0S2OU3pcPuiyiBwOtLZrTXUAxgLackA9EOcBJwU1lE3aPNl88EiJYHztrTFlfgPnY1C_0SxaMYpXyXTvUpc8i8WzOva/s2560/Bolsover%20Castle%2033.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm2SYD_YVB3FbNxTYDHBenREZ9jLxyZNljkI0fd7rEmyglWJ9oFMPPAC5ZSYk3uB14X1BF_zTemJnayyTDReDJtQ-vxPie-uKM0S2OU3pcPuiyiBwOtLZrTXUAxgLackA9EOcBJwU1lE3aPNl88EiJYHztrTFlfgPnY1C_0SxaMYpXyXTvUpc8i8WzOva/w640-h360/Bolsover%20Castle%2033.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bolsover Castle: the stables and riding school built in the 1660s. Image: John Chapman. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIIg2_QBfUIrUyzLnJe5pLd2BkIPA8fE48BEes2gUq51zVvItKG6ltm2fPa01CnxO7O2ciQ3BIcC3QHJgVyieW6n7exX3k_0bOgaRv4VvQlnSDW2JvgUCEdKL_HQmZvwQy_U0ymvzYyOP7rcrYhjLwihPbibcLhLYVI9i0F96A_m1H-xn8YRsFdJe-ovm/s2272/IMG_1882.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIIg2_QBfUIrUyzLnJe5pLd2BkIPA8fE48BEes2gUq51zVvItKG6ltm2fPa01CnxO7O2ciQ3BIcC3QHJgVyieW6n7exX3k_0bOgaRv4VvQlnSDW2JvgUCEdKL_HQmZvwQy_U0ymvzYyOP7rcrYhjLwihPbibcLhLYVI9i0F96A_m1H-xn8YRsFdJe-ovm/w640-h480/IMG_1882.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bolsover Castle: interior of the riding school, looking east towards the viewing gallery. Image: Nicholas Kingsley. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">At the same time as the terrace range was being restored and altered in the 1660s, Lord Newcastle</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> built the Riding House and Stables as a long block running east from the south end of the Terrace Range. The riding house, occupying five slightly projecting bays in the middle of the range, was intended a setting for the display of horsemanship, and was provided with a viewing gallery at the east end. It comprises a single grand space with an elaborate open timber roof, and is entered in the centre through a massive rusticated doorway. To the west were the stables, converted into chambers in the 1680s, while to the east was a smithy, and beyond that a massive gateway with rusticated columns from the outer bailey. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">After the Duke's death in 1676, and more particularly after the death of his son in 1691, Bolsover fell out of regular use and was tenanted and partially dismantled. The whole of the terrace range had been unroofed by 1785, but the riding house range and the Little Castle were kept in repair. The castle descended with the Welbeck estate until 1946, when the castle was given to the nation by the 7th Duke of Portland. It is now in the care of English Heritage, which has undertaken several phases of meticulous conservation and repair.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: Crown granted 1553 to </i></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>George Talbot, later 6th Earl of Shrewsbury; to son, </i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Gilbert Talbot, 7th Earl of Shrewsbury; who sold 1608 to his half-brother, Sir Charles Cavendish (d. 1617); to son, Sir William Cavendish (1593-1676), later created Viscount Mansfield (1620), Earl of Newcastle on Tyne (1628), Marquess of Newcastle on Tyne (1643) and Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne (1665); to son, Henry Cavendish (1630-91), 2nd Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne; to daughter, Lady Margaret Cavendish (1661-1716), wife of John Holles (1662-1711), 4th Earl of Clare and later Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne; to daughter, Lady Henrietta Cavendish-Holles (1694-1755), wife of Edward Harley (d. 1741), 2nd Earl of Oxford and Mortimer; to daughter Lady Margaret (d. 1785), wife of William Bentinck (1709-62), 2nd Duke of Portland; to son, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (1738-1809), 3rd Duke of Portland; to son, William Henry Cavendish Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (1768-1854), 4th Duke of Portland; to son, William John Cavendish Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (1800-79), 5th Duke of Portland; to first cousin once removed, William John Arthur Charles James Cavendish-Bentinck (1857-1943), 6th Duke of Portland; to son, William Arthur Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (1893-1977), 7th Duke of Portland; who gave it 1946 to HM Government.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">To continue to part 2 of this post, click <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2024/02/568-cavendish-bentinck-of-welbeck-abbey_5.html">here</a>.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Principal sources</span></b></h4><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Peerage and Baronetage</i>, 2003, pp. 3181-87; H. Repton, <i>Observations on the theory and practice of landscape gardening</i>, 1803, pp. 65-72; T. Besterman, <i>The Druce-Portland Case</i>, 1935; A. Hamilton Thompson, <i>The Premonstratensian Abbey of Welbeck</i>, 1938; A.S. Turberville, <i>A history of Welbeck and its owners</i>, 1938-39 (2 vols); J. Harris, <i>William Talman: maverick architect</i>, 1982, pp. 19, 46; M.C. Davis, <i>The castles and mansions of Ayrshire</i>, 1991, pp. 261-63; Sir N. Pevsner, I. Richmond, J. Grundy, G. McCombie, P. Ryder & H. Welfare, <i>The buildings of England: Northumberland</i>, 2nd edn., 1992, p.199; S. Daniels, <i>Humphry Repton</i>, 1999, pp. 166-70; P. Smith, 'Welbeck Abbey and the 5th Duke of Portland', in M. Airs (ed.), <i>The Victorian Great House</i>, 2000, pp. 147-64; P. Smith, ‘Lady Oxford’s alterations at Welbeck Abbey, 1741-55’, <i>Georgian Group Journal</i>, 2001, pp. 133-68; P. Smith, 'Welbeck Abbey and the 6th Duke of Portland', in M. Airs (ed.), <i>The Edwardian Great House</i>, 2001, pp. 77-92; L. Worsley & T. Addyman, ‘Riding houses and horses: William Cavendish’s architecture for the art of horsemanship’, <i>Architectural History</i>, 2002, pp. 194-229; P. Smith, 'The survival of the fittest: Welbeck Abbey and the great houses of Nottinghamshire in the 20th century' in M. Airs (ed.), <i>The Twentieth-Century Great House</i>, 2002, pp. 35-56; D.M.L. Onnekink, <a href="https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/1572">The Anglo-Dutch Favourite.The career of Hans Willem Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland (1649-1709)</a>, PhD thesis, Univ. of Utrecht, 2004; L. Worsley, ‘Female architectural patronage in the 18th century and the case of Henrietta Cavendish Holles Harley’, <i>Architectural History</i>, 2005, pp. 139-162; A. Gomme & A. Maguire, <i>Design and plan in the country house</i>, 2008, pp. 70-72; H.J. Grainger, <i>The architecture of Sir Ernest George</i>, 2011, pp. 315-22; R. Close & A. Riches, <i>The buildings of Scotland: Ayrshire and Arran</i>, 2012, pp. 326-27; C. Hartwell, Sir N. Pevsner and E. Williamson, <i>The buildings of England: Derbyshire</i>, 3rd edn., 2016, pp. 167-79; C. Hartwell, Sir N. Pevsner and E. Williamson, <i>The buildings of England: Nottinghamshire</i>, 3rd edn., 2020, pp. 678-90; <i>Oxford Dictionary of National Biography</i> entries for 1st Earl, 2nd Duchess, and 3rd and 5th Dukes of Portland, and for Lord William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck;</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://her.highland.gov.uk/Monument/MHG24066">https://her.highland.gov.uk/Monument/MHG24066</a>;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vols33-4/pp37-41">https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vols33-4/pp37-41</a>;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEXf1RgM1E">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEXf1RgM1E</a>;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/member/cavendish-bentinck-lord-william-1802-1848">https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/member/cavendish-bentinck-lord-william-1802-1848</a>.<br /></span><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Revision and acknowledgements</span></b></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 5 February 2024 and was updated 7 February 2024. I am grateful for the assistance of Pete Smith, Alex Bond and Gregor Matheson Pierrepont with preparing the articles on this family, and to Dart Montgomery for suggesting improvements.</span></div><br /></div></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-57558892836643372242024-02-05T16:01:00.007+00:002024-02-07T06:31:23.857+00:00(568) Cavendish-Bentinck of Welbeck Abbey, Dukes of Portland - part 2<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">This post has been divided into three parts. <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2024/02/568-cavendish-bentinck-of-welbeck-abbey.html">Part 1</a> consists of my introduction to the family and its property, and an account of Welbeck Abbey and Bolsover Castle. This part contains histories of the other houses built or acquired by the family. <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2024/02/568-cavendish-bentinck-of-welbeck-abbey_76.html">Part 3</a> gives the biographical and genealogical details of the family. </span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Bulstrode Park, Buckinghamshire</span></b></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Temple Bulstrode estate was a property of Bisham Abbey (Berks) for two centures before the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and afterwards was quickly granted by the Crown to Sir Robert Drury (d. 1577) of Hedgerley Park. It seems likely that the Drurys or their succeessors built a house at Bulstrode, but the first building on the site of which anything is known is that depicted on a wonderfully detailed estate map of 1686 by John Fisher in the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies, which appears to show a modest mid 17th century house with a hipped roof, dormers and cupola, flanked by wings, one of which may be lower, older and semi-timbered. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfL9jd6AKTzeW5UeL-v-zq_huKQHpq2ArEAAlwb7W5Iw10FNuNFebDTuufxYS-vTBDV_UUQPwBTT8_cQROX6o0KpDnxJ0B2WBuyvOsdfvBXBIw36yA43UjYFtwoGwq4wrzBMMxnJnYk7rfWd4p3FlROYBO8HRvZuCXFdc_OyigC10zfKXS4AnrZ6WMuV7z/s760/Bulstrode%20Park%2026c%201686%20plan%20Old%20Hall.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="747" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfL9jd6AKTzeW5UeL-v-zq_huKQHpq2ArEAAlwb7W5Iw10FNuNFebDTuufxYS-vTBDV_UUQPwBTT8_cQROX6o0KpDnxJ0B2WBuyvOsdfvBXBIw36yA43UjYFtwoGwq4wrzBMMxnJnYk7rfWd4p3FlROYBO8HRvZuCXFdc_OyigC10zfKXS4AnrZ6WMuV7z/s320/Bulstrode%20Park%2026c%201686%20plan%20Old%20Hall.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bulstrode Park: detail of 1686 estate map showing the north front<br />of the Old Hall. Image: Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies D-RA/3/71. </span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The estate map was made at the time the property was acquired by the infamous 'hanging judge', Sir George Jeffreys (1648-89), 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem, and Fisher's map also incorporates a plan and two elevations for a much larger new house, which was intended to envelop the old manor house. It has been suggested that Fisher was the designer of this house, but it seems more likely that he simply incorporated a plan and elevations produced by the architect on his map. Fisher seems not to have been noted as an architect elsewhere, and since Lord Jeffreys would have had access to the best available designers, it seems improbable that he would have commissioned his plans from a mere surveyor. Although the judge died in 1689 - while awaiting the new king's pleasure in the Tower of London - it would seem from later evidence that these designs were in fact executed, perhaps being finished by the judge's son John, who came of age in 1694 and died in 1702.</span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5YoXX06HkzKOcVbK7uPIYYb2ZyDnwBTSaPEn-QHs2ax9GS2qXYRfBBzKuK5m6HHHuihI1pdZ1cA1BaemF9Y7-iNQHQNf2Pupod2YBuiRdkHbtTjdJefcjIIGkkU1WcmRluFnlrdyybBOXHGrYYT6XDkL2wK08D3DMrcUP8iM_xv7VmjADJNwXuzRN6TA/s1082/Bulstrode%20Park%2026b%201686%20plan%20&%20elevations.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1082" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5YoXX06HkzKOcVbK7uPIYYb2ZyDnwBTSaPEn-QHs2ax9GS2qXYRfBBzKuK5m6HHHuihI1pdZ1cA1BaemF9Y7-iNQHQNf2Pupod2YBuiRdkHbtTjdJefcjIIGkkU1WcmRluFnlrdyybBOXHGrYYT6XDkL2wK08D3DMrcUP8iM_xv7VmjADJNwXuzRN6TA/w640-h438/Bulstrode%20Park%2026b%201686%20plan%20&%20elevations.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bulstrode Park: plan and elevation for new house from a detail on John Fisher's estate map of 1686. The image has been rotated so that north is at the top. The elevation relates to the east front, on the right hand side of the image as presented. Image: Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies D-RA/3/71.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The plan and elevations on the estate map show that the new house was to have long low elevations. The fifteen-bay east front was to be single storey, with a two-storey pedimented centre of five bays, while the seventeen bay south front was to have a tall piano nobile over a lower basement storey, and six bays either side of its five-bay pedimented centre. Later views confirm that the south front at least was built to these plans, and as far as can be determined from the available evidence, so was the east front. The old hall stood parallel to the south front and to its north, with its central porch tower clearly visible on the plan above. A narrow light well separated the original house from the back of the new south range.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_Z28phLLhgzQIR1XnyHvPWcRMYCfKGIZBJd-MQPjm9qjNqKgqwvJysIDCJdZVAOBDZfgQ6gr_TZ7qjs4Kx62LKA9bG37YhdNKFH5JBX4M7xQL5f-195KH6m9gF5xhYX1qlts-cDWJtuWxUfphIVuRLdOl7_lrZseX9tsvSzXWjGXOFaIml0_EDshvRop/s2000/Bulstrode%20Park%209%201739.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1456" data-original-width="2000" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_Z28phLLhgzQIR1XnyHvPWcRMYCfKGIZBJd-MQPjm9qjNqKgqwvJysIDCJdZVAOBDZfgQ6gr_TZ7qjs4Kx62LKA9bG37YhdNKFH5JBX4M7xQL5f-195KH6m9gF5xhYX1qlts-cDWJtuWxUfphIVuRLdOl7_lrZseX9tsvSzXWjGXOFaIml0_EDshvRop/w640-h466/Bulstrode%20Park%209%201739.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bulstrode Park: the south front of the house built c.1686 and the adjacent gardens, probably of c.1710, from <i>Vitruvius Britannicus</i>, vol. 4, 1734. The depth of the house is exaggerated, but the view shows the south side of the old hall in the centre of the picture.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The estate was purchased in 1706 by William Bentinck (1649-1709), 1st Earl of Portland, who amassed an extensive portfolio of property in England after 1689. He had been Superintendent of the Royal Gardens in the 1690s and was responsible for bringing the French parterre designer, Claude Desgots, to England to work at Hampton Court. He may have consulted Thomas Hewett (1656-1726) about improvements to the house (a 'Mr Hewett' was paid £30 in 1706) and certainly undertook extensive improvements to the gardens at Bulstrode, with his erstwhile deputy, George London, being employed as the designer. It seems unlikely that work was finished before his death in 1709, when the estate passed to his son Henry, made 1st Duke of Portland in 1716. He was evidently still undertaking improvements in 1715, when bricks were made at Bulstrode by the order of the architect, William Talman, who probably designed some of the more architectural components, such as the staircases at either end of the south front or the orangery north-east of the house. The gardens were depicted in two views in the fourth volume of <i>Vitruvius Britannicus</i> in 1734, and other map and documentary evidence allows us to confirm that most of the features shown were actually carried out: the long canal shown on the western edge of the gardens is still there, and some of the boundaries and avenues are identifiable as relict features by the way they have constrained later developments. </span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WzFS4EGcJMfw3K6UMZTwtoH8VMH4h17r-oz_0R9iqOh_pVICv2fcNwY6JsnQJBqMlM_42rSx_2D18HGwQED_M8i32U8dFDVT_BjZNLoXk7PNBKRAeAdwXX-VvFUSaBs1Ed-Ez6Apd7K4WMARbMtPCCYbOolOFD5sCSxe9b_btqf5M5GAS_D1vrN-UZJB/s2000/Bulstrode%20Park%2010%20c1715-20.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="2000" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WzFS4EGcJMfw3K6UMZTwtoH8VMH4h17r-oz_0R9iqOh_pVICv2fcNwY6JsnQJBqMlM_42rSx_2D18HGwQED_M8i32U8dFDVT_BjZNLoXk7PNBKRAeAdwXX-VvFUSaBs1Ed-Ez6Apd7K4WMARbMtPCCYbOolOFD5sCSxe9b_btqf5M5GAS_D1vrN-UZJB/w640-h372/Bulstrode%20Park%2010%20c1715-20.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bulstrode Park: the wider landscape created for the 1st Earl and 1st Duke of Portland, between 1706 and 1720, from <i>Vitruvius Britannicus</i>, vol. 4, 1734.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1745-49, the 2nd Duke of Portland employed Stiff Leadbetter of Eton (Bucks) to make repairs and alterations to the house. Leadbetter, who was trained as a carpenter, was by then also a builder and surveyor, and was on his way to developing a significant architectural practice. His activities at Bulstrode were probably largely confined to new interiors in the house, but he evidently impressed as a few years later he was involved in similar works at Portland House in Whitehall. Work seems to have continued in the 1750s, but whether under Leadbetter's direction or not is unclear. Mary Delany, who stayed at Bulstrode as a guest of the Duchess of Portland many times, recorded in 1756 that 'Bulstrode is greatly improved; the old apartments below new floored and furnished, and many alterations in hand within and without doors'. As this implies, in the 1750s attention turned back to the gardens. The formal landscape shown in <i>Vitruvius Britannicus</i> was by then very old fashioned, and much of it was swept away or altered to a more informal appearance. In 1756, the great horseshoe-shaped gravel walk 'with great slopes and a place in the the bottom for water (which fronted the house), that could never be made to answer its purpose, is all thrown down, and a lawn is to be substituted in its place, that will fall with a hanging level towards the park, and open a very fine and agreeable view to the house'. The 2nd Duke died in 1762, and Bulstrode passed to his son, the 3rd Duke. However, the 3rd Duke preferred Welbeck to Bulstrode, and effected an exchange with his mother, who had been left Welbeck (her family seat) for life. This explains why, until her death in 1785, Bulstrode remained in the possession of the 2nd Duchess, who created a menagery on the southern border of the park for her collection of exotic animals and birds. In the 1770s a grotto was built, which Mrs Delany and the Duchess decorated with snail shells. The Duchess, whose chief and abiding interest was botany, also created an American garden in the newly informalised landscape, with specimens of many exotic trees and plants from North America. </span><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrxbQF3Mq5w0aGeh73U4NczguwVYEZ6ylmHbsuKbWpxb3OBhKTTTZCTwQUZPJ5bFtOfHfKCHOXwczfs1bqWJmoBR8uV4DZEy0hl7QHYXyikG4iOxE5hB9LAbYCkdylIrV9VabacR5o9PsPe-fyiXbrOVbNpgogBDrmyprrQrkzU5mUtg7hEkb0_rsD8IF/s1169/Bulstrode%20Park%2027%201784.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="1169" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrxbQF3Mq5w0aGeh73U4NczguwVYEZ6ylmHbsuKbWpxb3OBhKTTTZCTwQUZPJ5bFtOfHfKCHOXwczfs1bqWJmoBR8uV4DZEy0hl7QHYXyikG4iOxE5hB9LAbYCkdylIrV9VabacR5o9PsPe-fyiXbrOVbNpgogBDrmyprrQrkzU5mUtg7hEkb0_rsD8IF/w640-h488/Bulstrode%20Park%2027%201784.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bulstrode Park: plan of the landscape in 1784. Although many of the formal elements of the landscape depicted in <i>Vitruvius Britannicus</i> have been removed, the overall shape of that design remains recognisable. Image: Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies D-RA/3/76.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1IvWs3DTTPwLwbPGSc191wB1QBByWDVZjHq1541Ciky4G6wtyTALpOppfGETr82jXMMRvb0y4wHk9kSBkEXzZGl8_VAZCdCa4HKFQui2fZAnG6EdrPITQkQltvoify6lLx8i3-6km0Lpa17OkeX_EBRisnM8le5KweD7hsrg-Y-NRSQACWvRFsWk6PinE/s976/Bulstrode%20Park%208%20grotto.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="976" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1IvWs3DTTPwLwbPGSc191wB1QBByWDVZjHq1541Ciky4G6wtyTALpOppfGETr82jXMMRvb0y4wHk9kSBkEXzZGl8_VAZCdCa4HKFQui2fZAnG6EdrPITQkQltvoify6lLx8i3-6km0Lpa17OkeX_EBRisnM8le5KweD7hsrg-Y-NRSQACWvRFsWk6PinE/w640-h458/Bulstrode%20Park%208%20grotto.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bulstrode Park: drawing of the grotto by S.H. Grimm, 1781. Image: British Library.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-LxU8mZF8Xlg2Q5-aUQETHVvX7pSvQyNLwJC-5fWQCSdW2n3CKhNj517pvAkuFFbtMf2DD1TwlawMClOzr7JA4YOIOfBQ3f2_pQZ4klDkGPficfUjmDSusPwyE4MLm8YBhp6cX6bL68sPEmRv95h0N_WUKAo0KaS-ifLCTDWtdqj54a289lQZ-PaTa47/s791/Bulstrode%20Park%2035.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="791" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-LxU8mZF8Xlg2Q5-aUQETHVvX7pSvQyNLwJC-5fWQCSdW2n3CKhNj517pvAkuFFbtMf2DD1TwlawMClOzr7JA4YOIOfBQ3f2_pQZ4klDkGPficfUjmDSusPwyE4MLm8YBhp6cX6bL68sPEmRv95h0N_WUKAo0KaS-ifLCTDWtdqj54a289lQZ-PaTa47/w640-h420/Bulstrode%20Park%2035.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bulstrode Park: drawing of the house from the south-east by S.H. Grimm, 1781. Image: British Library.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">After the Duchess' death, the property returned to her son, and the 3rd Duke seems to have undertaken further major landscaping work in the park to the designs of Samuel Lapidge, successor to Capability Brown, whose team were at work in the park until the mid 1790s. From 1789 onwards he also consulted Humphry Repton - then making proposals for Welbeck - about further improvements. Repton criticised the tendency of Lapidge's workmen to smooth away hills and hollows in the interest of a level greensward, and produced a Red Book in 1790, but he continued to visit Bulstrode and provide advice until the duke's death. Many of his suggestions appear to have been carried out, including the creation of a new drive and the design of a flower garden, which he engraved for <i>Peacock's Polite Repository</i> in 1802, and it seems to have been one of the commissions of which he was most proud. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitM-8yx9tus98hUpwT5d9ukra3tl-symPwEKBknB4gL_0WO_QQQo5zCbF9yYIyPp8y0BGQQFmlZwyhf2qJUuv1biDAHlRNyHXV0w6kmrancyRLXb__QU1jLroY4o0fgB0w6Te3z7dNItP0uEWtjXVd0MFFSAHcfptkXnU4X0guddCxU-TJ5nvn2RyNaPtP/s1490/Bulstrode%20Park%206a%20BM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1490" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitM-8yx9tus98hUpwT5d9ukra3tl-symPwEKBknB4gL_0WO_QQQo5zCbF9yYIyPp8y0BGQQFmlZwyhf2qJUuv1biDAHlRNyHXV0w6kmrancyRLXb__QU1jLroY4o0fgB0w6Te3z7dNItP0uEWtjXVd0MFFSAHcfptkXnU4X0guddCxU-TJ5nvn2RyNaPtP/w640-h324/Bulstrode%20Park%206a%20BM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bulstrode Park: detail of a watercolour of the park showing the east front of the house, 1794. Image: British Museum.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklIVCRMbgguhgEE1v2DT4qzxVNehxGGuSmwzXW8Sud2yr-O7roW6e5SgajZPM8F1XXn7WfKpeM2q4ox0tYRXNPIhf-pGoHjqg9Nbww1HnEbBjWHrSJeXNEdq06DXKemCNTDeU-lhAsa7bxeKNul5cXeOZerK0fRebhzgMNiUTS-IjOJ-6D6vPevgG8Sae/s3437/Bulstrode%20Park%2038.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3437" data-original-width="2644" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklIVCRMbgguhgEE1v2DT4qzxVNehxGGuSmwzXW8Sud2yr-O7roW6e5SgajZPM8F1XXn7WfKpeM2q4ox0tYRXNPIhf-pGoHjqg9Nbww1HnEbBjWHrSJeXNEdq06DXKemCNTDeU-lhAsa7bxeKNul5cXeOZerK0fRebhzgMNiUTS-IjOJ-6D6vPevgG8Sae/w492-h640/Bulstrode%20Park%2038.jpg" width="492" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bulstrode Park: plan of the park from Repton's <i>Observations on the theory and practice of landscape gardening</i>, 1803.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div>In the 1790s, the 3rd Duke handed over Welbeck to his son (later the 4th Duke) and moved to Bulstrode, where he commissioned the overworked and often inattentive James Wyatt to conduct a rebuilding of the much altered 17th century house. Work seems to have begun about 1806 with the construction of a new west wing and a rebuilding of the south-west corner of the old house in a castellated style. At the same time, parts of the old house were unroofed and partially demolished, so that the house was very much a building site when the 3rd Duke died in 1809 and work at Bulstrode was abandoned, for the 4th Duke had determined to sell the estate and concentrate his resources on Welbeck and his London property.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxIDvUci449DBCKRVHwMZOcONvuFYAf_bJDlK1KH9meBu7wM-3qhhsmGZLRy4gr1wevxdPP703Nw5VPX9oLqyuUJusoYEk5mBJ4YqQ_lH_bK2Lk11RKrrDBJl3aBKZjAua68nOKp-Viaxht6CffDUe_dQEEiKVtfvZW6zXNEeo_ROYA7pVYSY3bPad2jf/s923/Bulstrode%20Park%2013%20c1810.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="923" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxIDvUci449DBCKRVHwMZOcONvuFYAf_bJDlK1KH9meBu7wM-3qhhsmGZLRy4gr1wevxdPP703Nw5VPX9oLqyuUJusoYEk5mBJ4YqQ_lH_bK2Lk11RKrrDBJl3aBKZjAua68nOKp-Viaxht6CffDUe_dQEEiKVtfvZW6zXNEeo_ROYA7pVYSY3bPad2jf/w640-h458/Bulstrode%20Park%2013%20c1810.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bulstrode Park: this drawing may show the house Wyatt intended to build as the west wing (left) and west end of the south wing (centre) closely correspond to what was built. Image: Historic England BB90/4047.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyj55hKOdIeF5fF86Y9zRXNSqomlc-N_ytoEA55uqJQWx268w7aIZQpdMR6P6JwDEsNXxmqwLR0yTSY06c1s8YG0FHUxqnoDkH62ll1L3oKfNZUBYz56oDN_qTQ0OrDCmP_03aXn_niLKcsJWB2EseS0ajfJnR6nqBcolwgApwq6stjYtphSX7pS1Oceo/s1435/Bulstrode%20Park%2030%20c1802.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="1435" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyj55hKOdIeF5fF86Y9zRXNSqomlc-N_ytoEA55uqJQWx268w7aIZQpdMR6P6JwDEsNXxmqwLR0yTSY06c1s8YG0FHUxqnoDkH62ll1L3oKfNZUBYz56oDN_qTQ0OrDCmP_03aXn_niLKcsJWB2EseS0ajfJnR6nqBcolwgApwq6stjYtphSX7pS1Oceo/w640-h294/Bulstrode%20Park%2030%20c1802.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bulstrode Park: sketch of the house by John Buckler, 1818, showing the partially-rebuilt south range (left) and the partially unroofed east range.<br />Image: British Library.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIJzY883lMu0EGjEvajxwiL4oVHrCWpDBvKGK-0C2uaz8pfe3aDVNUxYrXR0IEVudJpzrXRsT8YZC-4k07A_9f201koPuTsuhlG7jYWUmeUp2JEpK2c9EP8y2VJs9Bd4zUNQtRWwd5xNxKicXHFjwZE-GGXaLDEZdrb5b6MP5RcK5c2hvcVLq-TGUyuYj/s433/Bulstrode%20Park%2020%201812.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="433" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIJzY883lMu0EGjEvajxwiL4oVHrCWpDBvKGK-0C2uaz8pfe3aDVNUxYrXR0IEVudJpzrXRsT8YZC-4k07A_9f201koPuTsuhlG7jYWUmeUp2JEpK2c9EP8y2VJs9Bd4zUNQtRWwd5xNxKicXHFjwZE-GGXaLDEZdrb5b6MP5RcK5c2hvcVLq-TGUyuYj/w400-h230/Bulstrode%20Park%2020%201812.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bulstrode Park: perspective view of Wyatville's proposal for completing the house, c.1812.<br />Image: Sotheby & Co, where the drawing was sold 10 April 1997.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The estate was sold in 1810 to the 11th Duke of Somerset, who in about 1812 commissioned designs from Jeffry Wyatville for completing the mansion begun by Wyatt for the Duke of Portland. Wyatville's designs, now in the <a href="https://www.ribapix.com/search?adv=false&cid=0&mid=0&vid=0&q=Bulstrode&sid=false&isc=true&orderBy=0">RIBA Drawings Collection</a>, show that he intended to retain and remodel the surviving fabric of the old house, giving it a castellated character and a few decorative features, but only in completing the remodelling of the south range, begun by his uncle, did he intend much new work. Even this modest scheme was, however, not proceeded with, and in 1814 the fittings of the chapel (which seems to have lain on the west side of the house, between the two parts rebuilt by Wyatt) were sold. A great deal of timber was sold from the park during the Napoleonic Wars, when timber prices were high, and for much of the early 19th century the estate seems to have been unoccupied and neglected, with the Duke living at Maiden Bradley (Wilts) and later Stover House (Devon).</div><div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA56xtK6D3dct90DZ8Qt62-Ws6D2WeUe3ucyDead4HMMLHy0beh__pwNZhfkKZ6f0WKS4GjoJUZUiQtZOSRrEtDX06jwxZ4uaSMy87a86rly5U_oSdHUuO22G3IBFLY4JDRILzAkJ6qRV9C547YY9wXs9FCWyqo1N-BBt_HfutO5BMcaviuHKUMz0S8Hty/s640/Bulstrode%20Park%201.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA56xtK6D3dct90DZ8Qt62-Ws6D2WeUe3ucyDead4HMMLHy0beh__pwNZhfkKZ6f0WKS4GjoJUZUiQtZOSRrEtDX06jwxZ4uaSMy87a86rly5U_oSdHUuO22G3IBFLY4JDRILzAkJ6qRV9C547YY9wXs9FCWyqo1N-BBt_HfutO5BMcaviuHKUMz0S8Hty/w349-h214/Bulstrode%20Park%201.jpg" width="349" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span>Bulstrode Park: the perspective drawing of Benjamin Ferrey's</span><br /><span>design proposal, showing the house from the north-west.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9hls-2hYtyLnRWAfV3SuyIZpU72sbhPY2Y5PqulFV8VcbTSavAbwlVyiEXe5p6hAwI_-bUK7-n0giAkqi9fhvMenX7K_jrOn-NVTTaDoau5uWoCuAYXuT90YcCMxTZDBND8NvsqQoSCaEytB_bwfyY6hEQTDJVg9l7txxUn5JZymgxIy10EmpkNm7kYJ/s770/Bulstrode%20Park%2022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="770" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9hls-2hYtyLnRWAfV3SuyIZpU72sbhPY2Y5PqulFV8VcbTSavAbwlVyiEXe5p6hAwI_-bUK7-n0giAkqi9fhvMenX7K_jrOn-NVTTaDoau5uWoCuAYXuT90YcCMxTZDBND8NvsqQoSCaEytB_bwfyY6hEQTDJVg9l7txxUn5JZymgxIy10EmpkNm7kYJ/w259-h227/Bulstrode%20Park%2022.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span>Bulstrode Park: the west porch tower of the<br />Wyatt wing was </span><span>the only part of the old house<br />not demolished in 1861. It is now known<br />as the Pigeon House.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Matters changed when the 11th Duke of Somerset died in 1855 and was succeeded by his son, Edward Seymour, 12th Duke of Somerset, a Whig politician who clearly had an interest in architectural matters since he had (briefly) been First Commissioner of Works. He decided to make Bulstrode Park his principal seat, and selected as his architect the Gothic Revivalist Benjamin Ferrey, who between 1861 and 1870 almost completely cleared the site and rebuilt a new house of harsh red brick and stone. The only part of the old house suffered to remain was a brick porch tower from the west end of the Wyatt wing, which was made into a garden feature. The architect's perspective drawing makes the house look attractive in a spreading, picturesque way, but the reality is disappointing, partly because the materials have not aged gracefully. The house is of two and three storeys with a big square north tower as the entrance porch and a jumble of gables, spired towers and clustered chimneystacks. The entrance front is rather dwarfed by the adjoining service courts and the garden front is largely symmetrical and recessed behind a wilfully detailed colonnade. The best feature is the unexpectedly jolly and inventive turret at the south-west corner. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEj8ot_BEhMAnvVLSfGxg4LHbuSvFvDxnMB8ZoTEC7dsHfnY2z4pd4OA7zMJVsaZewinQNqsFErWAw026ReyFLcWctswCmJYGFFxvtBpLGXT-mWI98To7Mw-vjkakNWyunshb19OvTetQtlYDPrCsvxmMSX0yh_ITcAsnzFynkBLbUHRu4T4tQuAZAHSXB/s862/Bulstrode%20Park%2037.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="862" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEj8ot_BEhMAnvVLSfGxg4LHbuSvFvDxnMB8ZoTEC7dsHfnY2z4pd4OA7zMJVsaZewinQNqsFErWAw026ReyFLcWctswCmJYGFFxvtBpLGXT-mWI98To7Mw-vjkakNWyunshb19OvTetQtlYDPrCsvxmMSX0yh_ITcAsnzFynkBLbUHRu4T4tQuAZAHSXB/w640-h494/Bulstrode%20Park%2037.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bulstrode Park: the entrance front.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5168YQ8bIY9LTWWkxUGLON5S0W6es2wwYeR4LsQlpJe5qGdCawtGjKQR04lKuDNxaJWSXewFDcjH3e9JDlmP-D0wqdXP1uBtV0sBLFBg7TYlnvKgUwavrKfUehoXp3F5Nto6HURAkjND1NG2PaCIHRWc6UkHr_IJnWZ-GcGViUxYYp6-XmjylcTp1W19v/s1200/Bulstrode%20Park%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1200" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5168YQ8bIY9LTWWkxUGLON5S0W6es2wwYeR4LsQlpJe5qGdCawtGjKQR04lKuDNxaJWSXewFDcjH3e9JDlmP-D0wqdXP1uBtV0sBLFBg7TYlnvKgUwavrKfUehoXp3F5Nto6HURAkjND1NG2PaCIHRWc6UkHr_IJnWZ-GcGViUxYYp6-XmjylcTp1W19v/w640-h438/Bulstrode%20Park%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bulstrode Park: the present house from the south-west, showing the side elevation and garden front.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOCj-kysFKK6HRlMON7oeR-Vq8ZbbzOX0dDekQ-fSJsmYq2JFSJhbO5rBzioOaHr1n3T9wB0K2Z9ts3fAbu68eP8Jw_MAcFZ5DGyZW-8sme6xnlquOWgNrrae4Y0-b9wl6MeraZJsJg199Oyf7tMVKKuIlYSh2rbEEwUlmQy-ZenW7aPB4hOAYiXmnDwA/s1335/Bulstrode%20Park%2031%20The%20Builder%201861.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1335" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOCj-kysFKK6HRlMON7oeR-Vq8ZbbzOX0dDekQ-fSJsmYq2JFSJhbO5rBzioOaHr1n3T9wB0K2Z9ts3fAbu68eP8Jw_MAcFZ5DGyZW-8sme6xnlquOWgNrrae4Y0-b9wl6MeraZJsJg199Oyf7tMVKKuIlYSh2rbEEwUlmQy-ZenW7aPB4hOAYiXmnDwA/w640-h400/Bulstrode%20Park%2031%20The%20Builder%201861.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bulstrode Park: plan of the Benjamin Ferrey house from <i>The Builder</i>, 1861.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="background-color: white;">Little survives of the original Benjamin Ferrey interiors except for the staircase which stands in a top-lit vaulted hall surrounded by a gallery with iron railings and clusters of four twisted columns. The remaining rooms were remodelled c.1900 by F.C. Eden in neo-Georgian style, and have been further altered since during the period when the house was in institutional use by Christian organisations between 1958 and 2016</span><span style="background-color: white;">. In the latter year it was sold and planning permission was obtained for its conversion to an hotel, but the house was sold again in 2023 and its future is currently uncertain.</span></div></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZTsw97Nc-IzCSmza8tB6SEZ8dZc0P_upqbbk5z_b-p_1Gl7AJNyK9-yIO2SxHwvNYfTfuTMCLQ03RLjv08FFFPXeCTxdswzBYA3pmjoGO2VWgQVdF0H9tO-HULNeM2dv4F8AI7UG-ZwouXTbhSMdTTiVJz_M6T7C2XIhyphenhyphenAeZtwvv7VGQHQWgXUDh8Gw-/s1024/Bulstrode%20Park%2021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1024" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZTsw97Nc-IzCSmza8tB6SEZ8dZc0P_upqbbk5z_b-p_1Gl7AJNyK9-yIO2SxHwvNYfTfuTMCLQ03RLjv08FFFPXeCTxdswzBYA3pmjoGO2VWgQVdF0H9tO-HULNeM2dv4F8AI7UG-ZwouXTbhSMdTTiVJz_M6T7C2XIhyphenhyphenAeZtwvv7VGQHQWgXUDh8Gw-/w640-h456/Bulstrode%20Park%2021.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bulstrode Park: staircase hall, 2017. Image: Landwood Group.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: Crown granted 1538 to Sir Robert Drury (d. 1577); to son, Robert Drury, who sold 1591 to his son, Sir Henry Drury (d. 1617), kt.; to widow, Susan, Lady Drury (fl. 1635) for life, and then to Marmaduke Darrell (b. c.1621); sold 1670 to trustees of Sir William Bowyer (1612-79), 1st bt., who sold also in 1670 to Sir Roger Hill, kt.; sold 1686 to Sir George Jeffreys (1648-89), 1st bt. and 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem; to son, John Jeffreys (1673-1702), 2nd Baron Jeffreys of Wem; to sister Mary, wife of Charles Dive; sold 1706 to William Bentinck (1649-1709), 1st Earl of Portland; to son, William Henry Bentinck (1682-1726), 2nd Earl and 1st Duke of Portland; to son, William Bentinck (1709-62), 2nd Duke of Portland; to son, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (1738-1809), 3rd Duke of Portland; to son, William Henry Cavendish Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (1768-1854), 4th Duke of Portland, who sold 1810 to Edward Adolphus Seymour (1775-1855), 11th Duke of Somerset; to son, Edward Adolphus Seymour (1804-85), 12th Duke of Somerset; to daughter, Lady Helen Guendolen (1846-1910), wife of Sir John William Ramsden (1831-1914), 5th bt.; to son, Sir John Frecheville Ramsden (1877-1958), 6th bt.; sold 1958 to Bruderhof Community; sold 1966 to Worldwide Evangelisation Crusade Ltd.; sold 2016 to </i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141414;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Dr Ahmed Elfituri, who obtained permission for conversion to an hotel</i></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>; sold 2023.</i></span></div><div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Bothal Castle, Northumberland</span></b></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">In origin, Bothal is a medieval castle, built on a naturally defensible site on the north bank of the River Wansbeck, east of Morpeth. The site is believed to have been occupied for several centuries before licence to crenellate was granted to Robert Bertram in 1343, after which the stone castle of which parts survive was built. The castle consisted of a gatehouse tower separating an inner bailey with a number of square towers (of which little survives) around it from an outer bailey (the Yethouse Court), which had a further square tower (the Ogle Tower) at its north-west corner. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wYh1oIZsyq6cByaOxD9PXcpwoAMkA7JOP9vv8e4Uyi2s1fmDvycskUc_X53hNUVQukLaUkB9gJfSOGZUYQMhfzXDoF0cPjHmj1PWvFx36eIpMq6Bd56CRA5jmN2v4lHzS2oOsk4qU_-rrJJvZ_WRUEWLPa98xxi20u5ZACtrcLjCSMCCwqmZuiJRYU3l/s1117/Bothal%20Castle%2017%20Buck.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="1117" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wYh1oIZsyq6cByaOxD9PXcpwoAMkA7JOP9vv8e4Uyi2s1fmDvycskUc_X53hNUVQukLaUkB9gJfSOGZUYQMhfzXDoF0cPjHmj1PWvFx36eIpMq6Bd56CRA5jmN2v4lHzS2oOsk4qU_-rrJJvZ_WRUEWLPa98xxi20u5ZACtrcLjCSMCCwqmZuiJRYU3l/w640-h334/Bothal%20Castle%2017%20Buck.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bothal Castle: engraving of the castle by Samuel & Nathaniel Buck, 1728.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-1t7wksoNnNywtjaxSILIUCzqEEU1hEUZN5ydbzxUxX1eu1dGDgfTTnrl6pGcNPTOTbbw-wicjnxIUST9O8jozlD9yE7svapD_GcRkSRMJG34k59Fr3b8BzRzPLDhZKo2kswL4ZFIzo3yOSuoQ08Glrppf3zxEr3tV99iRfh0l2cTQM7MF32dnxvVLbI/s899/Bothal%20Castle%2018%20SHGrimm%20BL.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="629" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-1t7wksoNnNywtjaxSILIUCzqEEU1hEUZN5ydbzxUxX1eu1dGDgfTTnrl6pGcNPTOTbbw-wicjnxIUST9O8jozlD9yE7svapD_GcRkSRMJG34k59Fr3b8BzRzPLDhZKo2kswL4ZFIzo3yOSuoQ08Glrppf3zxEr3tV99iRfh0l2cTQM7MF32dnxvVLbI/w273-h390/Bothal%20Castle%2018%20SHGrimm%20BL.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bothal Castle: north side of the gatehouse tower<br />by S.H. Grimm, c.1790. Image: British Library.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgll4JPJuvJ9RRcIgnopS5Dufarr9brV12G7SfA0MP484K0VDwS1MgOM4eg74C_evGQEFiurKonkVVKDXMNDc8pD2rz3qVc8jw-q6XwR2cRnkbYrbUwGT4yvfbGmw399lDLz_f8yiRFBrpKC4_Yf1jtZ3W0LVNtt9F0-Dd0U9I2bYp76yl8jWQVEHaY8Rk5/s1036/Bothal%20Castle%2019%20Jas%20Moore%201792.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1036" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgll4JPJuvJ9RRcIgnopS5Dufarr9brV12G7SfA0MP484K0VDwS1MgOM4eg74C_evGQEFiurKonkVVKDXMNDc8pD2rz3qVc8jw-q6XwR2cRnkbYrbUwGT4yvfbGmw399lDLz_f8yiRFBrpKC4_Yf1jtZ3W0LVNtt9F0-Dd0U9I2bYp76yl8jWQVEHaY8Rk5/w350-h270/Bothal%20Castle%2019%20Jas%20Moore%201792.jpg" width="350" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bothal Castle: drawing from the north-west by James Moore, 1792.<br />Image: Yale Center for British Art<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The four-storey gatehouse tower may stand on the site of an earlier keep, and was always the dominant feature of the building. Its outer face to the north has a pair of crenellated polygonal turrets flanking the gate passage, and two of the merlons support carved stone figures, presumably intended to suggest to approaching enemies a discouraging level of vigilance. Similar figures are found at other castles in the north-east (Alnwick, Raby, Hylton), and they are sometimes called apotropaic, but here their function was to ward off earthly rather than supernatural evil. At the south-west angle of the gatehouse is a taller stone turret containing a newel stair under a pretty umbrella vault. At ground level, the long passageway through the gatehouse has a pointed vault with chamfered ribs, and is flanked by vaulted guard rooms; three 'murder holes' allowed defenders in the room above another means of repelling intruders.</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aM3Nqo7hgpYHcCqNLWH-LLQXMHMAsepXxFlS_SjvmO3Bs2t4-mMWYMh0HdXtS-4U5srgCLsNH6FK0QQpKG5UUqVJmEvi92AfnxLQeDp3Pr1zahHhpkktYPj5karZ0kLSXxi6fhJ9GG51KeZszWQnUtufq_qwy6KX-FOmK4mITItVctQ3h448XfIb1uAw/s1211/Bothal%20Castle%2012%201896.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1211" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aM3Nqo7hgpYHcCqNLWH-LLQXMHMAsepXxFlS_SjvmO3Bs2t4-mMWYMh0HdXtS-4U5srgCLsNH6FK0QQpKG5UUqVJmEvi92AfnxLQeDp3Pr1zahHhpkktYPj5karZ0kLSXxi6fhJ9GG51KeZszWQnUtufq_qwy6KX-FOmK4mITItVctQ3h448XfIb1uAw/w316-h190/Bothal%20Castle%2012%201896.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bothal Castle: the site as shown on the 1st edn OS 25" map, 1896</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_xF5S2-B-k8EBDu3csikRyEhxFLrwZVhiDbvXOuqgaQYzjFQPEOXW27ZopR2J6a1WpfIEIh9CK3rDI_JbqDryB3ayWbUsvrsCmgDmFjF75mOM00bIPQluq2DSrg6Nx2Yla3hxqCQCeZDVNYQDegPGRjoqwI56_LCuoEGy2OMz-qv5ZiHAxEct85Kzpm7/s943/Bothal%20Castle%2011%201859.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="943" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_xF5S2-B-k8EBDu3csikRyEhxFLrwZVhiDbvXOuqgaQYzjFQPEOXW27ZopR2J6a1WpfIEIh9CK3rDI_JbqDryB3ayWbUsvrsCmgDmFjF75mOM00bIPQluq2DSrg6Nx2Yla3hxqCQCeZDVNYQDegPGRjoqwI56_LCuoEGy2OMz-qv5ZiHAxEct85Kzpm7/w310-h246/Bothal%20Castle%2011%201859.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bothal Castle: the site as shown on the 1st edn OS 6" map, 1859. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">By the early 18th century Bothal Castle had been abandoned and stood in ruins. The engraving of 1728 by Samuel and Nathaniel Buck suggests the gatehouse itself was then largely still intact, and the bailey walls survived to a much greater height than is suggested by later drawings and engravings. By the early 19th century, the picturesque qualities of the site were appreciated, and it was regularly depicted in collections of engravings from Francis Grose onwards. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5fuukvdapSQ4dJycJFqrAI9q7iidYukhohloUuECe9MnXtOHpxwEhJQUcIo0Xj2792D20LQMEG14GmBGmuL_lQwFsVrW7FCkpu2tA-PIhyphenhyphen2FY4_6-7vXzCaFJDQYcEzzpuce0QB9qHVHgyNGF-Xl8FahyphenhyphendfMK3k3SE7SqFPQ3x_jhtrNNzF9DCA3Bndl/s1608/Bothal%20Castle%209a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="1608" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5fuukvdapSQ4dJycJFqrAI9q7iidYukhohloUuECe9MnXtOHpxwEhJQUcIo0Xj2792D20LQMEG14GmBGmuL_lQwFsVrW7FCkpu2tA-PIhyphenhyphen2FY4_6-7vXzCaFJDQYcEzzpuce0QB9qHVHgyNGF-Xl8FahyphenhyphendfMK3k3SE7SqFPQ3x_jhtrNNzF9DCA3Bndl/w640-h372/Bothal%20Castle%209a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bothal Castle: the house from the inner bailey, as enlarged in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Copyright unknown.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteFifADTLxQmsXo9G7VJwIO8HMPgO_kdUPYgzb1QqyT3yZDlQK8ElfsaDkcaTH6Dqh2Juo_pQBYitOIxdT3mxOc-fXLg9dEx6_qtmZNlV_DLVoJP0pAqwYoztqqvaPMzdok8gJc0p-XWt3aW41b183xQTLV2nABbC1OSUmc_HH5wfv1zrfzrkBCYWo_IT/s800/Bothal%20Castle%2022%20CC%20PookieFugglestein.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="800" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteFifADTLxQmsXo9G7VJwIO8HMPgO_kdUPYgzb1QqyT3yZDlQK8ElfsaDkcaTH6Dqh2Juo_pQBYitOIxdT3mxOc-fXLg9dEx6_qtmZNlV_DLVoJP0pAqwYoztqqvaPMzdok8gJc0p-XWt3aW41b183xQTLV2nABbC1OSUmc_HH5wfv1zrfzrkBCYWo_IT/w640-h324/Bothal%20Castle%2022%20CC%20PookieFugglestein.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bothal Castle: the house from the west in 2007. Image: PookieFugglestein. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en">No rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The 4th Duke of Portland, who was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, funded the restoration of the gatehouse tower in 1830-31, as an estate office for his northern properties and a home for his agent, William Sample. As part of the work, the transomed 16th century window on the south side of the tower and the present drawing room fireplace were brought to Bothal from Cockle Park Tower, which had partially collapsed in 1828. The Sample family remained the tenants of the castle, and extended it to the west in the 1850s and again in 1909. A range of stables had also been built along the west side of the outer court by 1859.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: [The medieval section of this descent is partly speculative.] Robert Bertram (d. 1363); to daughter, Helen, wife of Robert Ogle (d. 1355); to son, Sir Robert Ogle (1353-1410); to younger son, Sir John Ogle (later Bertram) (d. 1450); to son, Sir William Bertram (d. 1466); to son, William Bertram alias Ogle (fl. 1458); to brother, Robert Ogle alias Bertram; perhaps to son, Robert Ogle alias Bertram, who died young, and on his death to Ralph Ogle (1468-1512), 3rd Baron Ogle; to son, Robert Ogle (c.1490-1540), 4th Baron Ogle; to son, Robert Ogle (d. 1545), 5th Baron Ogle; to son, Robert Ogle (c.1526-62), 6th Baron Ogle; to half-brother, Cuthbert Ogle (c.1540-97), 7th Baron Ogle; to daughter, Catherine (d. 1629), 8th Baroness Ogle, wife of Sir Charles Cavendish </i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">(d. 1617); to son, Sir William Cavendish (1593-1676), later created Viscount Mansfield (1620), Earl of Newcastle on Tyne (1628), Marquess of Newcastle on Tyne (1643) and Earl of Ogle and Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne (1665); to son, Henry Cavendish (1630-91), 2nd Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne; to daughter, Lady Margaret Cavendish (1661-1716), wife of John Holles (1662-1711), 4th Earl of Clare and later Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne; to daughter, Lady Henrietta Cavendish-Holles (1694-1755), wife of Edward Harley (d. 1741), 2nd Earl of Oxford and Mortimer; to daughter Lady Margaret (d. 1785), wife of William Bentinck (1709-62), 2nd Duke of Portland; to son, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (1738-1809), 3rd Duke of Portland; to son, William Henry Cavendish Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (1768-1854), 4th Duke of Portland; to son, William John Cavendish Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (1800-79), 5th Duke of Portland; to first cousin once removed, William John Arthur Charles James Cavendish-Bentinck (1857-1943), 6th Duke of Portland; to son, William Arthur Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (1893-1977), 7th Duke of Portland; to daughter, Lady Anne Cavendish-Bentinck (1916-2008); to nephew, William Henry Marcello Parente (b. 1951), Prince of Castel Viscardo.</i></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Fullarton House, Troon, Ayrshire</span></b></h3><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgGfrC60hzS2CCLoBU5d-yigP0jJwWCa601pvBLqVrjD6IJmjfM-v1bmL-nyW9yf0s6kFKqMI-kV4gD5VBdtNjXMpHKxLcTGabCevR66w77G0dzYrnqR2yMHAEfFPmZtyUSwTv8ipDy7WxrqQszZ7kJHgyyDQvT97tbSPJaZOPtBsCqYj1We5UWjC1tpj/s1119/Fullarton%20House,%20Troon%207.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1119" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgGfrC60hzS2CCLoBU5d-yigP0jJwWCa601pvBLqVrjD6IJmjfM-v1bmL-nyW9yf0s6kFKqMI-kV4gD5VBdtNjXMpHKxLcTGabCevR66w77G0dzYrnqR2yMHAEfFPmZtyUSwTv8ipDy7WxrqQszZ7kJHgyyDQvT97tbSPJaZOPtBsCqYj1We5UWjC1tpj/w640-h412/Fullarton%20House,%20Troon%207.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Fullarton House, Troon: an early 20th century postcard view, showing the three-storey centre of 1745 and the lower wings and pavilions of c.1790. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-family: georgia;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsh7DTLPeDUl3vkrga0fCRUTGREopWOytNZCKXzUNl391TYC2rMKs_RK4P02apZ3UT39h2P__g3WQZoVT4-i-f8UQl-SBgGAd6ecxfZG1XHbHRF5IWvuYGtSXENfbmCHwtrx5kaumzd72cCTNfVy_zueR7i0pDc5NkHJhb1L-NOFNP7ys5qmJsWKjQZZ-/s1375/Fullarton%20House,%20Troon%20020.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1375" data-original-width="932" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsh7DTLPeDUl3vkrga0fCRUTGREopWOytNZCKXzUNl391TYC2rMKs_RK4P02apZ3UT39h2P__g3WQZoVT4-i-f8UQl-SBgGAd6ecxfZG1XHbHRF5IWvuYGtSXENfbmCHwtrx5kaumzd72cCTNfVy_zueR7i0pDc5NkHJhb1L-NOFNP7ys5qmJsWKjQZZ-/w271-h400/Fullarton%20House,%20Troon%20020.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Fullarton House: second and first floor plans, as first built.<br />Image: RCAHMS.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house was built in 1745 for William Fullarton, whose family had owned the estate since the 13th century, but was on a different site to its predecessors. As first built, it was a rather Gibbsian three-storey, seven-bay house with a three-bay breakfront on both the entrance and rear elevations, supporting steep-sided pediments decorated with mighty urns. The house was entered on the ground floor of the west front, but the principal reception rooms were placed on the upper floors. As originally built, a staircase lay behind the entrance hall and extended into the breakfront on the east elevation. The dining room and two other reception rooms were on the first floor, and the drawing room, with a coved ceiling and fine plasterwork, was on the second floor. The east front had a row of three oculi surmounted by a curiously Mannerist pedimental swag on the first floor, probably to disguise the fact that the staircase rose against this wall.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcF0n7xRJFlgnvP4CWMCmrzG3EXdD9f5PS0VY2tKJ_ebqT0MKUX-JWWuU7PFPUyd59z9NIPPr5cVCLYupzRlFDJ0W_ri032Sqh5nb95WSIzc6fbi88BLOA2n65v3EUR448JDaSNXm4vWzIh0DnfAsvuwgbi8p4wNmUIYWPYGsKzoANrVb3FncpZdi5jTHv/s1532/Fullarton%20House,%20Troon%2015%20RCAHMS.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1532" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcF0n7xRJFlgnvP4CWMCmrzG3EXdD9f5PS0VY2tKJ_ebqT0MKUX-JWWuU7PFPUyd59z9NIPPr5cVCLYupzRlFDJ0W_ri032Sqh5nb95WSIzc6fbi88BLOA2n65v3EUR448JDaSNXm4vWzIh0DnfAsvuwgbi8p4wNmUIYWPYGsKzoANrVb3FncpZdi5jTHv/w640-h446/Fullarton%20House,%20Troon%2015%20RCAHMS.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Fullarton House, Troon: the grand saloon of c.1745 (the north room on the second floor) shortly before demolition. Image: RCAHMS.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1790, the Adam brothers were called in by Col. William Fullarton, and made designs for a larger new mansion in the castle style, a castellated stable block, and a classical mausoleum. Only the stables were built, with the two more visible fronts decorated in the castle style and the rest more plainly treated. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BNdwAuAH38rYllsQh6RDI3y26whSbL4WllOdj3oufYZD4vptSP5IFpH2V5FE4q-touGJXt38PyGla8eutntdsTRlWoTO1Kb-kXOlHOC4KYeLLMiO7Yo86u_s04cs7jKmC9moV7lTCl2yBMrf8IKV-7QEcs4uhj3bLKgT13GTP09TIWT4LHq_K4okp7XC/s2288/Fullarton%20House,%20Troon%201%20RAdam%20stables%201790.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1369" data-original-width="2288" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BNdwAuAH38rYllsQh6RDI3y26whSbL4WllOdj3oufYZD4vptSP5IFpH2V5FE4q-touGJXt38PyGla8eutntdsTRlWoTO1Kb-kXOlHOC4KYeLLMiO7Yo86u_s04cs7jKmC9moV7lTCl2yBMrf8IKV-7QEcs4uhj3bLKgT13GTP09TIWT4LHq_K4okp7XC/w640-h382/Fullarton%20House,%20Troon%201%20RAdam%20stables%201790.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Fullarton House, Troon: the castle-style stable block designed by Robert & James Adam, 1790. Image: Roger Griffiths. No rights reserved.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Although the <a href="https://collections.soane.org/THES90610">castle-style house</a> was never built, work did begin in 1791 on adding two-storey wings to the original house, and probably also on constructing the charming pavilions and strongly architectural piers which framed the west front. The pavilions and piers are very probably the work of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Robert and James Adam</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, but it is hard to accept that the wings were designed by them, even allowing for a sudden reduction in the budget. On the entrance front, the wings were merely stepped forward from the older house and had Venetian windows on the ground and first floors. At the rear, the wings were much longer, cramping the appearance of the main block, although the fenestration was the same as on the entrance side. The interior was significantly replanned with the addition of the wings, which included two new main staircases, allowing that behind the entrance hall to be taken out. A new single-storey curved and glazed corridor, linking the two staircase halls, was added in front of the east elevation, probably around 1820, in order to assist the circulation.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4OtzSnyQanVPVo4NNLsvnCC6gxvd4TEYm0aQrBgM7_EuRSqtLi0ySvpFd1dSKt69oOJshUVSCbIBLZjAXv7BpVniYONeCSQjWJoh2LYRP02JuO6p9THaVfOuvGiu8faLw2Z6AtTDp6BhvDT0prHum9HvakcD2mfhP1dOpBVF0wKuVYAZ2UqprigU4Zfx/s1528/Fullarton%20House,%20Troon%2012%20RCAHMS.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="989" data-original-width="1528" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4OtzSnyQanVPVo4NNLsvnCC6gxvd4TEYm0aQrBgM7_EuRSqtLi0ySvpFd1dSKt69oOJshUVSCbIBLZjAXv7BpVniYONeCSQjWJoh2LYRP02JuO6p9THaVfOuvGiu8faLw2Z6AtTDp6BhvDT0prHum9HvakcD2mfhP1dOpBVF0wKuVYAZ2UqprigU4Zfx/w640-h414/Fullarton%20House,%20Troon%2012%20RCAHMS.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Fullarton House: east (rear) elevation, showing the far-projecting wings and the glazed passageway linking them. Image: RCAHMS.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the late 19th and 20th centuries, the house was let to Lord and Lady Glenarthur, but after they moved to London, the house was sold in 1928 to the local council, and parts of it were converted into flats. As is so often the case, the Town Council failed to undertake adequate maintenance, and the condition of the property quickly deteriorated. It was pulled down in 1966, but the stable block survived and was converted into housing by Hay, Steel & Macfarlane in 1974.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: built for William Fullarton (d. 1759); to son, Col. William Fullarton (1754-1808); sold 1805 to William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (1738-1809), 3rd Duke of Portland; to son, William Henry Cavendish Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (1768-1854), 4th Duke of Portland; to son, William John Cavendish Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (1800-79), 5th Duke of Portland; to sisters, Charlotte (1806-89), Viscountess Ossington, and Lucy Joan (1807-99), Baroness Howard de Walden, who seem to have bequeathed it to William John Arthur Charles James Cavendish-Bentinck (1857-1943), 6th Duke of Portland; sold 1928 to Troon Town Council, which demolished it in 1966.</i></span><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Langwell House, Berriedale, Caithness</span></b></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The core of the present house is a crowstep-gabled farmhouse, said to have been built after 1813 for James Horne, but possibly including some 18th century work. This modest house was purchased by the 5th Duke of Portland in 1857 and somewhat enlarged, creating a rambling house. Much of it was apparently built of ashlar stone, but it was harled in the 20th century and remains so today.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAG4Zx_uFX4ACcPlOHJZGzCiKT7aaXaAWDoSEqNvZF13blF5s16Xwqhtcvnveafb3BBQVZFOTux8v3bb_tXlgO-J08lOtsToqMrpYG2RTCFXFpZT9G7oubipyvPDxSPr5_Io9E9XyAO6bojSWuFMDx4WVHtUG9B422DEqml3aMiCYChSnMG-P59awFXDRu/s1568/Langwell%20House,%20Caithness.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="1568" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAG4Zx_uFX4ACcPlOHJZGzCiKT7aaXaAWDoSEqNvZF13blF5s16Xwqhtcvnveafb3BBQVZFOTux8v3bb_tXlgO-J08lOtsToqMrpYG2RTCFXFpZT9G7oubipyvPDxSPr5_Io9E9XyAO6bojSWuFMDx4WVHtUG9B422DEqml3aMiCYChSnMG-P59awFXDRu/w640-h402/Langwell%20House,%20Caithness.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Langwell House: postcard view of the house c.1930.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2tjR90IRvZl1cLZHTqWzQAOeBhCo6ACD-MCwYvAS3H51O5Z3wEtlyPIWTcRl7bxe5pvn2s1D-gv6mh87IkwCrYInpYgd0XUsS3OF0uOC2TAEapjb51HD7bIE2tCMrb-b3VnvXeV3r6S1BIim8d8fNjDz5VgeSJAffwEQ87vK9Q4tXgKrtRFwtrhGBnAG/s737/Langwell%20House,%20Caithness%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="737" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2tjR90IRvZl1cLZHTqWzQAOeBhCo6ACD-MCwYvAS3H51O5Z3wEtlyPIWTcRl7bxe5pvn2s1D-gv6mh87IkwCrYInpYgd0XUsS3OF0uOC2TAEapjb51HD7bIE2tCMrb-b3VnvXeV3r6S1BIim8d8fNjDz5VgeSJAffwEQ87vK9Q4tXgKrtRFwtrhGBnAG/w640-h468/Langwell%20House,%20Caithness%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Langwell House: the house today. Image: Robert Richmond.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The estate, later of more than 81,000 acres, was purchased for £90,000, presumably to replace Fullarton, which the Duke knew would pass on his death to his sisters. He never lived at Langwell, although he did visit it occasionally, but he caused most of the estate to be converted in a deer forest, and the 6th and 7th Dukes used it as a shooting lodge. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge63dRPD3K4S1rHhyphenhyphenVM-rRfGo-aRhqYgHxqqS_d0FtKN2dQNd4RxJjw_0OGmxdUS8ERIylze2ztRDoNjSEzsH6JYZm_s-yqj2RuL4bSQ94uC_VKqmovYFjQOg-NJ2AgKpdqXGko9r9mafJiZUswvborU9jslBjx-Txt3BIu-gPF0UT_6KKFpsZg3Oqj_y6/s711/Langwell%20House,%20Caithness%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="711" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge63dRPD3K4S1rHhyphenhyphenVM-rRfGo-aRhqYgHxqqS_d0FtKN2dQNd4RxJjw_0OGmxdUS8ERIylze2ztRDoNjSEzsH6JYZm_s-yqj2RuL4bSQ94uC_VKqmovYFjQOg-NJ2AgKpdqXGko9r9mafJiZUswvborU9jslBjx-Txt3BIu-gPF0UT_6KKFpsZg3Oqj_y6/w640-h386/Langwell%20House,%20Caithness%202.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Langwell Lodge: the walled garden c.1930, from an old postcard.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The large walled garden at the west end of the policies was created in the early 19th century for the original farmhouse, but the present layout was devised by the head gardener, John Murray, for the 6th Duke in 1916. After falling into disrepair, was restored by Lady Anne Cavendish-Bentinck, and it is now open to the public on an occasional basis through Scotland's National Gardens Scheme.</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: sold 1788 to Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster (Caithness); sold 1813 to James Horne (1754-1831); to nephew, Donald Horne (1787-1870); sold 1857 to </i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">William John Cavendish Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (1800-79), 5th Duke of Portland; to first cousin once removed, William John Arthur Charles James Cavendish-Bentinck (1857-1943), 6th Duke of Portland; to son, William Arthur Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (1893-1977), 7th Duke of Portland; to daughter, Lady Anne Cavendish-Bentinck (1916-2008); to nephew, William Henry Marcello Parente (b. 1951), Prince of Castel Viscardo.</i></div></div></div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">To continue to part 3 of this post, click <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2024/02/568-cavendish-bentinck-of-welbeck-abbey_76.html">here</a>.</span></div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;"><h4 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Principal sources</span></b></h4><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: normal;"><i>Burke's Peerage and Baronetage</i>, 2003, pp. 3181-87; H. Repton, <i>Observations on the theory and practice of landscape gardening</i>, 1803, pp. 65-72; T. Besterman, <i>The Druce-Portland Case</i>, 1935; A. Hamilton Thompson, <i>The Premonstratensian Abbey of Welbeck</i>, 1938; A.S. Turberville, <i>A history of Welbeck and its owners</i>, 1938-39 (2 vols); J. Harris, <i>William Talman: maverick architect</i>, 1982, pp. 19, 46; M.C. Davis, <i>The castles and mansions of Ayrshire</i>, 1991, pp. 261-63; Sir N. Pevsner, I. Richmond, J. Grundy, G. McCombie, P. Ryder & H. Welfare, <i>The buildings of England: Northumberland</i>, 2nd edn., 1992, p.199; S. Daniels, <i>Humphry Repton</i>, 1999, pp. 166-70; P. Smith, 'Welbeck Abbey and the 5th Duke of Portland', in M. Airs (ed.), <i>The Victorian Great House</i>, 2000, pp. 147-64; P. Smith, ‘Lady Oxford’s alterations at Welbeck Abbey, 1741-55’, <i>Georgian Group Journal</i>, 2001, pp. 133-68; P. Smith, 'Welbeck Abbey and the 6th Duke of Portland', in M. Airs (ed.), <i>The Edwardian Great House</i>, 2001, pp. 77-92; L. Worsley & T. Addyman, ‘Riding houses and horses: William Cavendish’s architecture for the art of horsemanship’, <i>Architectural History</i>, 2002, pp. 194-229; P. Smith, 'The survival of the fittest: Welbeck Abbey and the great houses of Nottinghamshire in the 20th century' in M. Airs (ed.), <i>The Twentieth-Century Great House</i>, 2002, pp. 35-56; D.M.L. Onnekink, <a href="https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/1572">The Anglo-Dutch Favourite.The career of Hans Willem Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland (1649-1709)</a>, PhD thesis, Univ. of Utrecht, 2004; L. Worsley, ‘Female architectural patronage in the 18th century and the case of Henrietta Cavendish Holles Harley’, <i>Architectural History</i>, 2005, pp. 139-162; A. Gomme & A. Maguire, <i>Design and plan in the country house</i>, 2008, pp. 70-72; H.J. Grainger, <i>The architecture of Sir Ernest George</i>, 2011, pp. 315-22; R. Close & A. Riches, <i>The buildings of Scotland: Ayrshire and Arran</i>, 2012, pp. 326-27; C. Hartwell, Sir N. Pevsner and E. Williamson, <i>The buildings of England: Derbyshire</i>, 3rd edn., 2016, pp. 167-79; C. Hartwell, Sir N. Pevsner and E. Williamson, <i>The buildings of England: Nottinghamshire</i>, 3rd edn., 2020, pp. 678-90; <i>Oxford Dictionary of National Biography</i> entries for 1st Earl, 2nd Duchess, and 3rd and 5th Dukes of Portland, and for Lord William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck;</span><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://her.highland.gov.uk/Monument/MHG24066">https://her.highland.gov.uk/Monument/MHG24066</a>;</span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vols33-4/pp37-41">https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vols33-4/pp37-41</a>;</span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEXf1RgM1E">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEXf1RgM1E</a>;</span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/member/cavendish-bentinck-lord-william-1802-1848">https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/member/cavendish-bentinck-lord-william-1802-1848</a>.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><h4 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Revision and acknowledgements</span></b></h4><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 5 February and updated 7 February 2024. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">I am grateful for the assistance of Pete Smith, Alex Bond and Gregor Matheson Pierrepont with preparing the articles on this family, and to Dart Montgomery for suggesting improvements.</span></div></span></div></i></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-87653001003396502642024-01-28T18:39:00.000+00:002024-01-29T06:26:17.466+00:00(567) Bentinck of Indio House<span style="font-family: georgia;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDenaPypsDQ9PlN4zB9Pxtz5j3Ruwtk-nhjBbkLPHxLEfvi6lYCU9DWwEu0wwU4JBoAuAgUlcTHcbxptxo86J1PRPjpsmpSg40BBfLQchxxvC7VilweMYaE6rPNBoj0zbkGzUCtcSrm9cqgYjWe3Lnwm9XmqHSLuOHb_OZdpa5xbFwh01pvZ6SYMl4DBqK/s397/Bentinck%20of%20Indio%20House.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="330" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDenaPypsDQ9PlN4zB9Pxtz5j3Ruwtk-nhjBbkLPHxLEfvi6lYCU9DWwEu0wwU4JBoAuAgUlcTHcbxptxo86J1PRPjpsmpSg40BBfLQchxxvC7VilweMYaE6rPNBoj0zbkGzUCtcSrm9cqgYjWe3Lnwm9XmqHSLuOHb_OZdpa5xbFwh01pvZ6SYMl4DBqK/w166-h200/Bentinck%20of%20Indio%20House.png" width="166" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;">Bentinck of Indio House</span></td></tr></tbody></table>This family was a junior branch of the Bentinck (later Cavendish-Bentinck) family, Dukes of Portland, who will be the subject of my next post. The fortunes of the family were founded by Gen. Hans Willem Bentinck (1649-1709), 1st Earl of Portland, who was one of the closest friends and companions of the Dutch stadtholder, William of Orange, later King William III of England. The Earl had two marriages, from the first of which came the heir to his peerage and the majority of his extensive English estates. The second marriage produced two sons, the elder of whom, Willem Bentinck (1704-74) - with whom the genealogy below begins - inherited most of the Earl's Dutch property, but also an estate at Terrington St Clement in Norfolk which gave him a position in English society, although it never came to have a country house. Willem was brought up in England but was sent to the Netherlands to complete his education, and subsequently resided chiefly on the continent. In 1733 he made an arranged marriage with the daughter of a German count, and to eliminate the disparity in their social status, Willem purchased the title of Count from the Holy Roman Emperor for himself and all his descendants. The marriage was unhappy, and after a few years his wife began having affairs, leading to a separation in 1738 and a formal divorce in 1743. Before the collapse in their relationship, the couple produced two sons, the elder of whom became their heir to their continental property, while the younger received the Norfolk estate. This was Capt. Johann Albrecht Bentinck (1737-75), who anglicised his forenames to John Albert, probably on joining the Royal Navy in 1752. His family connections and his part in a successful naval action in 1758 won him accelerated promotion to Captain, but his career was more notable for his technological innovations in sails, rigging and naval pumps. He also had a parallel career in politics, becoming MP for Rye, 1761-68, but this seems to have been at his father's instigation, and he showed no real aptitude or interest in politics. After his marriage in 1763 he rented a house (Ongar Hill otherwise Hunger Hill) at Chertsey (Surrey) and later lived in London. He was never resident on his estate at Terrington St Clement, but he took sufficient interest in it to undertake major land reclamation works there in the 1770s which almost doubled the size of his holding. </span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Capt. Bentinck died aged just thirty-eight in 1775, leaving as heir his eldest son, Vice-Adm. William Bentinck (1764-1813), who like his father joined the Royal Navy at an early age and benefited from accelerated promotion, achieving Captain's rank in 1783 at the age of nineteen. In the late 1780s he took a break from active service to travel in the Netherlands and the Baltic, where his continental connections gave him an entrée into both the Swedish and Russian courts, before visiting France at a dangerous time during the revolutionary years. He then returned to active service but retired in 1795, taking up the Governorship of St Vincent and the Grenadines, 1798-1802. On his return to England he married the daughter of the 1st Earl Manvers, and the couple seemed to have lived with his wife's parents at Thoresby Hall (Notts), although he probably spent some time on his estate in Norfolk as he was commander of the Norfolk sea fencibles from 1805. On the Continent, Napoleon's victories over Russia and Sweden had resulted in treaties under which those countries closed to British trade, leading to the Anglo-Russian and Anglo-Swedish wars. In 1812, Bentinck's knowledge of the Baltic and his connections to the Russian and Swedish courts saw him selected as an emissary to engage in 'shuttle diplomacy' between Stockholm and St Petersburg to end these wars and bring the Russians and Swedes back into a united front against Napoleonic France, a mission which he accomplished, although he died of typhus in St Petersburg before he could return to England, leaving a young widow with three sons and a daughter. His wife married again and had a further daughter, moving the family to Devon. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Admiral Bentinck's property seems to have been divided between his children. His eldest son, George William Pierrepont Bentinck (1803-86), inherited the Terrington St Clement estate, while Doorwerth Castle in the Netherlands may have been held in trust for them jointly until it was sold in 1837. The second son, Henry Paget Aldenburgh Bentinck (1805-40) died soon afterwards, and the proceeds of the sale seem to have chiefly benefited the youngest son, Charles Aldenburgh Bentinck (1810-91), who was in a position to buy the Indio House estate in the 1840s, and to rebuild the house there in 1850-52. G.W.P. Bentinck became a long-serving MP for West Norfolk, and held old-fashioned Tory views that gave him hardly more sympathy with his own front bench than with his Liberal opponents. He was unmarried, and so when he died, aged eighty-three, his Norfolk estate passed to his surviving younger brother Charles, and was bequeathed with Indio House to the latter's only surviving son, Henry Aldenburgh Bentinck (1852-1938), who trained as a barrister but led the life of a country gentleman in Devon. He was married but had no children, and left all his property to his widow, who sold it in 1939, on the eve of the Second World War.<br /><br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b> Indio House, Bovey Tracey, Devon</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The estate was reputedly the site of a nunnery from the 12th century, but at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530s it was a grange belonging to St John's Hospital, Bridgwater (Som.), and there seems to be no real evidence of monastic occupation. In 1544 it was granted jointly to John Southcott (1481-1556) - a steward of monastic property and the tenant since 1531 - and his relation, Sir John Tregonwell (d. 1565) - who as one of the commissioners to visit monasteries ahead of the dissolution process had assessed the wealth of St. John's Hospital. The latter was presumably involved in the purchase as a middle man to assist Southcott, who went on to adapt the existing buildings into a 'fayre house', which his descendants occupied for several generations. By the mid 18th century the house had slipped down the social ladder somewhat, and the then owner, George Tufnell, established a pottery in the grounds, which Josiah Wedgwood visited a decade later and described as "</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">a poor trifling concern & conducted in a wretched slovenly manner". It was said to be insolvent in 1785 but matters evidently improved, as in 1836, when the estate was for sale, it was described as 'a valuable delft or porcelain manufactory which has been advantageously conducted during the last century'.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbnFddIe-_Q9uHaI4qGsoKOi4Tr5J6OmZ5mlRMcqblM0RR1yhN24qFxDcepaTmPLWLf-LzOkBkBoYhnvbQSTBsAnmfGgKJX5wxmejewpFvrExY_EOJ98XOnst1DmY19HRak3JtfhTbhkeUGx2tvHdy8GzxFvCyo7PmjI9gzsbK_GYIcBn7kyOV5F1JgfE/s2723/Indio%20House,%20Bovey%20Tracey%203%201844.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1759" data-original-width="2723" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbnFddIe-_Q9uHaI4qGsoKOi4Tr5J6OmZ5mlRMcqblM0RR1yhN24qFxDcepaTmPLWLf-LzOkBkBoYhnvbQSTBsAnmfGgKJX5wxmejewpFvrExY_EOJ98XOnst1DmY19HRak3JtfhTbhkeUGx2tvHdy8GzxFvCyo7PmjI9gzsbK_GYIcBn7kyOV5F1JgfE/w640-h414/Indio%20House,%20Bovey%20Tracey%203%201844.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Indio House: drawing by Elizabeth Croker, 1844. Image: Devon Archives & Local Studies 2160A add 7PZ4.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house was 'a capital manor house... comprising a comfortable and spacious dwelling house and all convenient outbuildings and offices, productive gardens, and 93 acres of rich orchard and pasture land', but it was evidently not fit for gentry occupation, since it 'might... easily resume its original character as a first-rate Gentleman's residence'. In 1843 it was said to be built of granite, and was approached by three avenues, and the interior preserved 'some specimens of antique carving'. The earliest visual record seems to be the drawing of 1844 by Elizabeth Croker which shows a Tudor house with a two-storey porch with a hall and cross-wing to the left, while the bay to the right of the porch is labelled 'supposed chapel'; a chapel is also mention in the sale particulars of the previous year. At the rear of the building, a pyramid-roofed tower can be seen, perhaps the top of a staircase tower.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3yB5ZSmXAHkTlG0FhYlu0ErLpso2ZxB6Ddik9m-kiK24ocOeMkk_hhG0D5PAbjy19l_Yszf73PL7H3wBY29Zk3wt2S0D4pr1hgWRwQJ_uiDcr-DkT6JWAGiQDM80q-Ef1PmwdwewKdioFptvjMb-oHcJvP_61j2KWFsbVCl7tO1MIpNh0Tz0g_CXMPej/s800/Indio%20House,%20Bovey%20Tracey%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3yB5ZSmXAHkTlG0FhYlu0ErLpso2ZxB6Ddik9m-kiK24ocOeMkk_hhG0D5PAbjy19l_Yszf73PL7H3wBY29Zk3wt2S0D4pr1hgWRwQJ_uiDcr-DkT6JWAGiQDM80q-Ef1PmwdwewKdioFptvjMb-oHcJvP_61j2KWFsbVCl7tO1MIpNh0Tz0g_CXMPej/w640-h360/Indio%20House,%20Bovey%20Tracey%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Indio House: entrance front as rebuilt, 1850-51. Image: Andrew Charles</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">There is a story, recorded by Hugh Meller, that the Tudor house at Indio burned down soon after it was acquired by C.A. Bentinck in the mid 1840s, but the sale particulars of 1843 already refer to the '</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">opportunity for a gentleman of taste, aided by his Architect, [to] expend very advantageously a few hundred pounds' on improving the house, and there are no press reports of a fire at this time. It seems likely that Bentinck simply decided to pull down the old house and build a new one, keeping to the Tudor style of its predecessor, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">which was said to be 'nearly completed' in November 1851</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. His architect was the Exeter church specialist, David Mackintosh, whose plans remain in the house. It is built of limestone rubble with granite quoins and window openings in Bath stone. The main front faces south-west and is an irregular E-shape, with a central porch, a bay window to its left, and a cross-wing to the right. The service accommodation lay to the left of the porch, while the three reception rooms were in the cross-wing and faced south-east. Between the family rooms and the service end stood the main stair hall, with a ribbed and coved ceiling, under which rises an open-well staircase. The hall and upper landing have two old beams, said to have been reused from the previous house. On the first floor, there were eight bedrooms as well as four staff rooms. In the early 20th century, a notable garden was created around the house, with extensive orchid and peach houses, a vinery, stove house and carnation house, as well as the walled garden, rose garden and a water feature, but none of this survives today. The estate was sold with 400 acres in 1939 after the death of H.A. Bentinck, and during the war it was occupied first by refugees and later by American troops. It subsequently changed hands several times before being divided into flats. The estate buildings and walled garden were sold off in the 1950s and repurposed for housing. A planning application was submitted in the 1990s for the development of the main house as a tourist attraction, but this was refused and the house is now once more in private occupation.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: Crown sold 1544 to John Southcott (1481-1556); to son, Thomas Southcote (1528-1600); to son, George Southcot (b. 1560); to son, Thomas Southcote; to son, Sir Popham Southcote (1603-43); to daughters, as co-heirs...Sir John Stawell (d. 1669); to son, William Stawell; to son, William Stawell; sold to Christopher Bale; sold to George Tufnell (fl. 1766); sold to Mr. Steer... Joseph Steer sold c.1844 to Charles Aldenburg Bentinck (1810-91); to son, Henry Aldenburg Bentinck (1852-1938); sold 1939... R.W. Hewstone (fl. 1951).. sold to R. Henderson (fl. 1962)...sold 1964 to Alfred Edward Whybrow; to daughter, wife of [forename unknown] Nakorn; sold 1999; sold 2007.</i><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bentinck family of Indio House</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIU8VKao6Y98LBrTuReJTRYumYVPUdmg4moqdvmczWIbDWyPs7W8Ab4BOjIc3g9y6CSUCN9jhIiNWcY7C7O9b-VqZESHWINrz_vzUa1fJNs4vyhmz5RktFuet_2b_YRkfIR1Wwk3WMOZh6ClDwj7VwkGN4FlUpLIkqqGmaqvm4F9xx7y_AyIX_40mwORNn/s406/Bentinck,%20Willem%20(1704-74).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="350" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIU8VKao6Y98LBrTuReJTRYumYVPUdmg4moqdvmczWIbDWyPs7W8Ab4BOjIc3g9y6CSUCN9jhIiNWcY7C7O9b-VqZESHWINrz_vzUa1fJNs4vyhmz5RktFuet_2b_YRkfIR1Wwk3WMOZh6ClDwj7VwkGN4FlUpLIkqqGmaqvm4F9xx7y_AyIX_40mwORNn/w173-h200/Bentinck,%20Willem%20(1704-74).jpg" width="173" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Willem Bentinck (1704-74), <br />1st Count Bentinck </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bentinck, Hon. Willem (1704-74), 1st Count Bentinck. </b>Elder son of Gen. Hans Willem Bentinck (1649-1709), 1st Earl of Portland, and his second wife, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Jane Martha (1672-1751), Maid of Honour and later Governess to the daughters of King George II, sixth daughter of Sir John Temple, kt. of East Sheen (Surrey) and widow of John Berkeley (c.1663-97), 3rd Baron Berkeley of Stratton,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">born 6 November and baptised at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster (Middx), 9 November 1704. Although born and spending his early years in England, he was sent to the Netherlands in 1719 to complete his education at the Universities of Leiden and The Hague, before undertaking a Grand Tour, 1725-28. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He purchased the title of Count Bentinck of the </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Holy Roman Empire by the Emperor Charles VI in 1732 to facilitate his intended marriage. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">A politician and diplomat in the service of Prince William IV of Orange (1711-51), he was one of the leading delegates of the Dutch Republic at the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, but his influenced waned after Prince William's death. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He married, 1 June 1733 (sep. 1738; div. 1743), Countess Charlotte Sophie (1715-1800), only daughter and heiress of Anthony II, Count of Aldenburg, Sovereign Lord of Kniphausen, Varel etc., and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Christian Frederick Anthony Bentinck, Count Bentinck de Varel (1734-68), born 15 August 1734; succeeded his mother as lord of Kniphausen and Varel under a family arrangement of 1754; married, 5 October 1760, Baroness Maria Catherine (1743-93), eldest daughter of John, Baron de Tuyll de Serooskerken, and had issue two sons (the elder of whom became 2nd Count Bentinck on his grandfather's death in 1774); died 1 April 1768;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Capt. John Albert Bentinck (1737-75) (<i>q.v.</i>); </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited some of his father's Dutch estates (Rhoon and Pendrecht) and his property at Terrington St Clement (Norfk), but lived largely in the Netherlands. His wife brought him further property at Kniphausen and Varel (Germany) which she attempted to recover after their divorce, resulting in expensive legal actions which eventually secured his elder son's title to the property.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 13 October 1774 and was buried in the family vault at Rhoon (Netherlands). His widow died 5 February 1800 and was buried at Schlosskirche Cemetery, Hamburg (Germany).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tOjMiDT1grphyphenhyphenqzhWvaLZzBSRws-RFOGYn_dTQ-xHFbGuzkU2QHQkNZgmTHj7R5FEq9h8GKmkXCfUD6Mzlp9OSwVPiqjQogy0YQZKc_pO6Ypn-G1T-JoOL86GTXKK8Hvw4hRqL11liDw_8q7tQHZzQGPTirKDW6nlr7fPagNBdbqaMf5Gy7JLeS0UqjL/s522/Bentinck,%20John%20Albert%201.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="430" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tOjMiDT1grphyphenhyphenqzhWvaLZzBSRws-RFOGYn_dTQ-xHFbGuzkU2QHQkNZgmTHj7R5FEq9h8GKmkXCfUD6Mzlp9OSwVPiqjQogy0YQZKc_pO6Ypn-G1T-JoOL86GTXKK8Hvw4hRqL11liDw_8q7tQHZzQGPTirKDW6nlr7fPagNBdbqaMf5Gy7JLeS0UqjL/w165-h200/Bentinck,%20John%20Albert%201.jpg" width="165" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Capt. John Albert Bentinck (1737-75) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bentinck, Capt. John Albert (1737-75). </b>Younger son of Hon. William Bentinck (1704-74), 1st Count Bendinck, and his wife </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Countess Charlotte Sophie (1715-1800), only daughter and heiress of Anthony II, Count of Aldenburg, Sovereign Lord of Kniphausen, Varel etc.,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> born at The Hague (Netherlands), 29 December 1737. He joined the Royal Navy in 1752 (Midshipman, 1753; Lt., 1757; Cdr., 1758; Capt., 1758; retired 1773), and was 'esteemed an active and vigilant officer'. He was also a man of considerable mechanical abilities, who invented several improvements to sails and rigging, and an improved chain pump which was widely adopted in the Navy. His father induced the Duke of Newcastle to secure his election as Whig MP for Rye, 1761-68, but he was inattentive to the needs of his constituents who made it clear that they did not wish him to stand again; he stood instead for Callington (Cornw), but was defeated and did not trouble the electors again. In the 1770s he instigated an extensive programme of land reclamation at Terrington St. Clement, where the resulting new farms were given names reflective of the family's history (Bentinck Farm, Welbeck Farm, Rhoon Farm, Pierrepont Farm). He married, 17 July 1763, Renira (1744-92), second daughter of </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">John, Baron van Tuyll de Serooskerken, Baron de Tuyll, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Vice-Adm. William Bentinck (1764-1813) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Sophia Henrietta Bentinck (1765-1852), born 21 June and baptised at St Marylebone (Middx), 20 July 1765; married, 11 December 1791, Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Hawkins-Whitshed (1762-1849), 1st bt., GCB, son of Rt. Rev. Dr. James Hawkins, Bishop of Raphoe, and had issue two sons and four daughters; died in London, 20 January, and was buried at Terrington St. Clement, 27 January 1852;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Margaret Mary Bentinck (1767-69?), born 9 April and baptised at Chertsey (Surrey), 6 May 1767; said to have died in infancy, 1769;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Charlotte Frances Bentinck (1768-1850), born 28 May and baptised at Chertsey (Surrey), 22 June 1768; married, 12 November 1785 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), Sir Robert Shore Milnes (1754-1837), 1st bt., Governor of Martinique, 1795-97 and Lieutenant Governor of Lower Canada, 1797-1807, son of John Milnes of Wakefield (Yorks WR), and had issue four sons and two daughters; died at Tunbridge Wells (Kent), 22 July 1850; administration of goods granted in the PCC, September 1850;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) <i>twin, </i>Harriet Elizabeth Bentinck (1770-1806), born 9 January and baptised at Chertsey, 10 January 1770; married, 3 April 1804 at St Marylebone (Middx), Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Martin GCB (1764-1847) (who m2, 2 June 1815, Ann Locke (d. 1842)), son of William Martin, but died without issue, 15 October 1806;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) <i>twin, </i>Elizabeth Bentinck (b. & d. 1770), born 9 January and baptised at Chertsey, 10 January 1770, but died the same day and was buried at Chertsey, 10 January 1770;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Rev. John Bentinck (1771-1804), born 9 September and baptised at St Margaret, Westminster (Middx), 1 October 1771; educated at Trinity Hall (admitted 1788), Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1790) and Worcester College, Oxford (matriculated 1793; BA 1795; MA 1797); ordained deacon and priest, 1795; curate of Eynsham (Oxon), 1795; vicar of Sutton-upon-Lound and Scrooby (Notts), 1802-04; died unmarried of dysentry at Paris (France), 16 June 1804;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Charles John Bentinck (1773-80), born 5 December 1773 and baptised at St Margaret, Westminster, 20 January 1774; died young and was buried at Terrington St. Clement, 13 May 1780;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Henry Savile Bentinck (1775-76), born 10 June and baptised at St Margaret, Westminster, 20 July 1775; died in infancy and was buried at Terrington St. Clement, 14 March 1776.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>In the 1760s he lived at Ongar Hill, Chertsey (Surrey), which he seems to have rented. He inherited his father's estate at Terrington St. Clement in 1774, but was involved in land reclamation there in his father's lifetime.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 23 September 1775 and was buried at Terrington St. Clement; his will was proved 28 September 1775. His widow was buried at Terrington St. Clement, 13 June 1792; her will was proved in the PCC, 26 July 1792.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmwt8HW0bjzK4Ba3KF09q4GZ775_t8vNXN-hAomxCLougNYhUmbfoyuUup8IDUSIyhHxU1zwz0qpv_XvdbqBhkRG20LjPtTzJHDD1uj6Ainw8C-DcuCa235LTekRMczqVTfIeGTjHqOje1_dOVSqkZId1XwACckZ59kLpRZJtt6POkliB2DurZZ_UR9ZH/s1200/Bentinck,%20V-Adm%20Wm%20d1813.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="961" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmwt8HW0bjzK4Ba3KF09q4GZ775_t8vNXN-hAomxCLougNYhUmbfoyuUup8IDUSIyhHxU1zwz0qpv_XvdbqBhkRG20LjPtTzJHDD1uj6Ainw8C-DcuCa235LTekRMczqVTfIeGTjHqOje1_dOVSqkZId1XwACckZ59kLpRZJtt6POkliB2DurZZ_UR9ZH/w160-h200/Bentinck,%20V-Adm%20Wm%20d1813.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Vice-Adm. William Bentinck (1764-1813)<br />by George Romney <br />(Image: Royal Museums Greenwich) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bentinck, Vice-Adm. William (1764-1813). </b>Elder son of Capt. John Albert Bentinck (1737-75) and his wife Renira, second daughter of John, Baron de Tuyll de Serooskerken, born 17 June and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), 29 June 1764. An officer in the Royal Navy (Lt., 1782; Capt., 1783; Rear-Adm, 1805; Vice-Adm., 1810), whose accelerated promotion was no doubt due to his kinship with the Dukes of Portland. Having joined the Navy at an early age, he spent several years in the late 1780s, while on half-pay, travelling for his education in the Netherlands, Denmark and Russia, and later in France, then in the grip of revolution. His travels gave him a knowledge of the Baltic in particular which was later called on by the Royal Navy. He was back on active service, 1793-95, but then retired. Governor of St Vincent & the Grenadines, 1798-1802; Commander of the Norfolk Sea Fencibles, 1803-05. In 1812 he seems to have been employed by </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">Vice-Admiral Sir James Saumarez, the commander-in-chief in the Baltic, as an emissary </span>to</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> negotiate an end to the Anglo-Swedish and Anglo-Russian wars. This he was in a position to do because of his </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">connections with the Russian and Swedish courts</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, and it enabled a united front to the formed against Napoleon's advance into Russia. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1797. He married, 20 October 1802 at Perlethorpe (Notts), Lady Frances Augusta Eliza (1781-1847), only daughter of Charles Pierrepont (1737-1816), 1st Earl Manvers, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) George William Pierrepont Bentinck (1803-86) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) William Newark Banks Aldenburgh Bentinck (1804-07), born 16 November and baptised at Edwinstowe (Notts), 18 December 1804; died young and was buried at Terrington St. Clement, 10 August 1807;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Henry Paget Aldenburgh Bentinck (1805-40), born 2 November and baptised at Perlethorpe (Notts), 9 December 1805; educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1824; BA 1828); visited New York (USA) with his brother Charles, 1833; died 26 January and was buried at Terrington St Clement, 6 February 1840; will proved in the PCC, 19 February 1840;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) William Aldenburgh Bentinck (1807-08?), born 29 October and baptised at Thoresby in Edwinstowe (Notts), 25 November 1807; said to have died in infancy, 27 March 1808;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) <i>twin, </i>John Aldenburgh Bentinck (b. & d. 1808), born 29/31 October 1808; died in infancy, 17 November 1808;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) <i>twin, </i></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">William Aldenburgh Bentinck (b. 1808), born 29/31 October 1808; died in infancy;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Charles Aldenburgh Bentinck (1810-91) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Renira Henrietta Aldenburgh Bentinck (1811-68), born 18 March 1811 and baptised at Thoresby in Edwinstowe (Notts), 21 January 1812; married, 21 July 1842 at St Marylebone (Middx), as his second wife, Rev. George Martin (1791-1860), rector of Harberton (Devon) and canon residentiary of Exeter Cathedral, and had issue two sons and three daughters; lived latterly at Severn Grange, Claines (Worcs); died 16 January and was buried at Harberton, 21 January 1868; will proved 14 March 1868 (effects under £40,000).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited his father's estate at Terrington St. Clement in 1775, and came of age in 1785. In 1800 he inherited the Doorwerth estate in the Netherlands from his grandmother, Charlotte Sophie, Countess Bentinck. After his marriage he seems to have lived with his in-laws at Thoresby Park (Notts).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died of typhus in St Petersburg (Russia), 21 February 1813, but his body was returned to England and buried at Terrington St. Clement, 18 July 1813; his will was proved in the PCC, 15 May 1813. His widow married 2nd, 30 July 1821 at Hitcham (Bucks), Capt. Henry William Stephens (c.1781-1857), and had further issue one daughter, and died 10 February 1847.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bentinck, George William Pierrepont (1803-86). </b>Eldest son of Vice-Adm. William Bentinck (1764-1813) and his wife Lady Frances Augusta Eliza, only daughter of Charles Pierrepont, 1st Earl Manvers, born 17 July 1803. An old-fashioned protectionist Tory in politics, he stood for Parliament unsuccessfully in the Kendal constituency, 1843, but was elected MP for West Norfolk, 1852-65, 1871-84. He was rather affectionately caricatured as '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Bentinck_(Norfolk_MP)#/media/File:George_Bentinck_Vanity_Fair_5_August_1871.jpg">Big Ben</a>' in <i>Vanity Fair</i>, 1871, which noted that 'his political principles are so obsolete in the present day that no party can be found ready to give effect to them', and his trenchant excoriation of both front benches was 'too well-founded in truth to be easily disposed of'; he is said to have been personally one of the most popular members of the House. JP and DL for Norfolk. He was an ardent supporter of field sports and a noted yachtsman. He was unmarried and without issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited his father's estate at Terrington St. Clement in 1813 and came of age in 1824.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died in London, 20 February 1886 and was buried at Terrington St. Clement; his will was proved 3 February 1887 (effects £72,926).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bentinck, Charles Aldenburgh (1810-91). </b>Seventh, but third surviving, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">son of Vice-Adm. William Bentinck (1764-1813) and his wife Lady Frances Augusta Eliza, only daughter of Charles Pierrepont, 1st Earl Manvers, born 22 March and baptised at St Marylebone, 1 May 1810. Educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1829). In 1833 he visited New York (USA) with his elder brother Henry. JP for Devon. He was 'of commanding presence and marked personality' and was a Tory in politics, being '</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">averse to all novelties in matters of Church or State, [and] holding conscientiously and somewhat stiffly to his own opinions', but with a courtesy and respect for the sincerity of other views that prevented any bitterness in his disagreements. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He married 1st, 10 May 1849, Harriet (1818-53), third daughter of Baldwin Fulford of Great Fulford (Devon), and 2nd, 20 January 1858 at Llangerniew (Denbighs.), Frances (1816-1904), second daughter of Capt. Martin Williams of Bryngwyn Hall (Montgomerys.), and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) William Fulford Aldenburgh Bentinck (1850-62), born 13 May and baptised at Harberton (Devon), 18 June 1850; died young, 9 March, and was buried at Bovey Tracey, 13 March 1862;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Henry Aldenburgh Bentinck (1852-1938) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He seems to have inherited a share in the Doorwerth estate in the Netherlands from his father, and came of age in 1831. The family sold Doorwerth in 1837 and he bought Indio House, Bovey Tracey (Devon) in the 1840s and rebuilt the house in 1850-52. He inherited the Terrington St Clement estate from his elder brother in 1886.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 7 February and was buried at Bovey Tracey, 12 February 1891; his will was proved 9 June 1891 (effects £32,832). His first wife died 15 March 1853 and was buried at Bovey Tracey, where she is commemorated by a mural tablet. His widow died 25 January 1904; her will was proved 14 April 1904 (estate £11,345).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bentinck, Henry Aldenburgh (1852-1938). </b>Second, but only surviving, son of Charles Aldenburgh Bentinck (1810-91) and his first wife, Harriet, third daughter of Baldwin Fulford of Great Fulford (Devon), born 7 January and baptised at Highweek (Devon), 11 February 1852. Educated at Exeter College, Oxford (matriculated 1871; BA 1874) and Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1873; called 1877). Barrister-at-law. High Sheriff of Devon, 1918-19; JP and DL for Devon and DL for Norfolk (from 1891). He married, 9 July 1890 at Holy Trinity, Brompton (Middx), Alma Martha (1854-1947), eldest daughter of Adm. Lord Clarence Edward Paget GCB (1811-95), but had no issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Indio House and the Terrington St Clement estate from his father in 1891, but they were sold by his widow after his death. His widow lived latterly in Cadogan Square, Knightsbridge (Middx).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 28 April 1938 and was buried at Dunsford (Devon); his will was proved 26 July and 2 September 1938 (estate £209,654). His widow died aged 92 on 7 March 1947; her will was proved 3 July 1947 (estate £290,249).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Peerage & Baronetage</i>, 2003, pp. 3185-87; H. Meller, <i>The country houses of Devon</i>, 2015, pp. 551-52; <i>History of Parliament</i> biography of <a href="https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1754-1790/member/bentinck-john-albert-1737-75">John Albert Bentinck (1737-75)</a>;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.greetsgenealogie.nl/gezinskaart-van-john-albert-bentinck-1737-1775/">https://www.greetsgenealogie.nl/gezinskaart-van-john-albert-bentinck-1737-1775/</a>;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://morethannelson.com/officer/william-bentinck/">https://morethannelson.com/officer/william-bentinck/</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">No significant archive is known to survive, although there are some letters and papers of the earlier generations of the family among the archives of the Dukes of Portland at Nottingham University [Pl, Pw]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Azure, a cross moline argent.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide fuller information about the ownership history of Indio House since 1939?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide photographs or portraits of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 28 January 2024.<br /></span><br /></div></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-63463493590432214242023-12-11T12:24:00.006+00:002023-12-12T15:37:27.405+00:00(566) Benthall of Benthall Hall<span style="font-family: georgia;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4XQ8Us7ggf52uDrVCDUnnMN2hMP6JwRzwnrgji70rr_k59sjXnEIfwMaHBVY-jP7SO_WVvI1N4RaWzwqDeDeoGZ6hrxKgZ1FzU_m0FcmQh_lMriSTcQOD26jyQImGHRF2Ix1vnHDMnU_pggngwbQYYIlRkfLYNd5kM8lJbisofx7s76sTaB4GCbCf-CM/s1200/Benthall%20of%20Benthall.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4XQ8Us7ggf52uDrVCDUnnMN2hMP6JwRzwnrgji70rr_k59sjXnEIfwMaHBVY-jP7SO_WVvI1N4RaWzwqDeDeoGZ6hrxKgZ1FzU_m0FcmQh_lMriSTcQOD26jyQImGHRF2Ix1vnHDMnU_pggngwbQYYIlRkfLYNd5kM8lJbisofx7s76sTaB4GCbCf-CM/w167-h200/Benthall%20of%20Benthall.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;">Benthall of Benthall</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The Benthalls trace their descent from Anfred of Benthall, who was probably lord of the manor in the early 12th century. Their ownership was hardly continuous, however, for in the late 12th century the property was in the hands of Wenlock Priory for a time, and around 1383 it passed to a kinsman, Hugh, Lord Burnell of Acton Burnell (Shrops.), whose descendants held it until 1562. Nevertheless, the Benthalls seem to have remained in possession of the estate as tenants, and in 1562 Richard Benthall (d. 1575) bought most of the estate from the Burnells. Richard survived his father, William Benthall (d. 1573) - with whom the genealogy below begins - by only a couple of years, and it was left to his son, Lawrence Benthall (d. 1603), to build the present Benthall Hall on the site of its predecessor in the 1580s. All three of Lawrence's sons predeceased him, with the last of them being killed by his brother-in-law in 1602. As a result, when Lawrence died the estate passed to his younger brother, John Benthall (d. 1633), who appears to have been a Roman Catholic recusant. He in turn was succeeded by his eldest son, Col. Lawrence Benthall (1590-1652), who remodelled the interior of the house in the 1630s and probably added the porch, with its Catholic symbolism. He was a firm supporter of the Royalist cause in the Civil War, and between 1642 and 1645 Benthall Hall was garrisoned for the king, but it was captured after the fall of Shrewsbury, and damaged in an abortive attempt to retake it later in 1645, when the church adjoining the house was also destroyed. The following year, one of Lawrence's sons was killed fighting for the king at the Battle of Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire, and the Benthall estate was sequestrated by Parliament, although Lawrence was able to recover possession on payment of a surprisingly modest fine of £230.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lawrence left two surviving sons, Philip Benthall (c.1632-1713) and his younger brother, Edward Benthall (d. 1679). Philip inherited the estate and was responsible for rebuilding the church in 1667-68. When he died in 1713 it passed to his only son, Richard Benthall (c.1673-1720), who never married. At the time of his death, however, he is said to have been engaged to his first cousin once removed, Elizabeth Browne (1686-1738), who was a granddaughter of Edward Benthall (d. 1679), and he bequeathed her the estate. Not surprisingly, his sisters did not appreciate this romantic gesture, and kept the lawyers busy for more than twenty years pursuing a claim to the estate all the way to the House of Lords. By the time they finally lost their case, Elizabeth was dead, having left Benthall to her brother, John Browne (c.1692-1746). He in turn died unmarried and left the estate to another brother, Ralph Browne (1696-1763), who died without issue. His widow died in 1767 and left the estate to her brother, Francis Turner Blithe (1709-70), and thus it passed out of the hands of the Benthalls and their descendants.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">That might well have been the end of the story, but the descendants of a younger son of William Benthall (d. 1573), who had settled in Essex, preserved an awareness of their kinship to the Benthalls of Benthall. They spelled their name as Bentall and seem to have conformed to the established religion. For several generations they were farmers and brewers at Halstead, sometimes aspiring to be called gentlemen but at other times content to be regarded as prosperous yeomen and tradesmen. John Bentall (1690-1750), who was a younger son, moved to Colchester (Essex) and became a wine merchant. He died while on a buying trip to Portugal, leaving a much younger second wife, and a son and daughter by her. The son, William Bentall (1736-1811) was apprenticed to his maternal uncle, John Thornton of Kingsbridge (Devon), and became a prosperous merchant trading in grain, cider, wool and wine. He married into a local gentry family, moving to Totnes (Devon), where he acquired a large house near to his warehouses by the town wharf. In 1792 he went into partnership with some other local merchants and founded the Totnes Bank, which further increased his wealth. He was twice mayor of Totnes, and when he died in 1811 he left four sons and two daughters, who all had interesting lives. His eldest son, William Searle Bentall (1778-1854) inherited his property in Totnes, and his partnership in the Totnes Bank, and joined another partnership which opened a similar bank in Newton Abbot (Devon). Unfortunately, two of the partners in the latter concern borrowed large sums from the bank without security, invested heavily in the Newfoundland cod fishery, and lost everything. The partners in the bank, including Bentall, were all bankrupted in 1841, and as far as I can establish, Bentall was still undischarged at the time of his death in 1854.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">By the time of the collapse of the Newton Bank, almost all of William Searle Bentall's fifteen children were grown up and pursuing careers (many of them fascinating, if not always distinguished!). His eldest son, William Bentall (1803-77) was able to buy the family house in Totnes and take over his father's business interests as a wine merchant. A younger son, Francis Bentall (1816-1903) was a solicitor in London, and acted for his father in the bankruptcy proceedings. He had antiquarian interests, and seems to have been obsessed with the gentry status of his Shropshire forbears, obtaining royal licence to change the spelling of his name to Benthall (something his father had done informally). His father and uncle had acquired Buckfast Abbey (Devon) in 1813, although they never occupied it, and he bought their interests in the estate and persuaded the College of Arms to register his pedigree as 'Benthall of Buckfast' before later selling the estate again. His interest in the family seems to have communicated itself to his brother Edward Benthall (1807-89), who was a judge in India. When Benthall Hall came on the market in 1844, he tried to buy it, but was outbid at auction, and on retirement he settled at Sherborne (Dorset). His eldest surviving son, Ernest Benthall (1843-1928) had an unremarkable career in the India Office, but married well, and in 1889 he retired to the small estate in Wales which his wife had inherited. After her death, he sold it and moved to Countess Wear House in Devon, with his only surviving daughter, Mary Clementina Benthall (1879-1960). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">After her father's death, when she was in her fifties, Mary married a cousin, James Floyer Dale (1883-1942), and in 1934 they were finally able to realise her grandfather's ambition, and buy Benthall Hall. Unfortunately, only a few years later, her husband became mentally ill, and after attempting suicide he was confined in a mental hospital for the rest of his life. Benthall Hall was leased to a preparatory school for the duration of the Second World War, but afterwards Mary moved back, and lived there for the rest of her life. Having no children to inherit it, she consulted with her wealthy cousins, Sir 'Tom' Benthall (1893-1961) and Sir Paul Benthall (1902-92), and together they made over Benthall Hall to The National Trust, with the cousins providing an endowment to support the property in perpetuity. Mary remained as the Trust's tenant until her death in 1962, after which she was succeeded by Sir Paul. He handed over the tenancy in 1985 and it has since been held by his twin sons, James and Richard (b. 1933) and now by Richard's son, Edward (b. 1963). So there are still Benthalls at Benthall Hall, even though once again they no longer own the freehold. The National Trust opens the house to the public regularly in the summer months.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benthall Hall, Broseley, Shropshire</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">A fine and well-preserved Elizabethan and Jacobean house, said to have been built on the site of its predecessor in 1583 for Lawrence Benthall (d. 1603), but refitted internally in the 1630s for Col. Lawrence Benthall, whose initials appear on a tablet on the porch. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9_9Epq63fSM2S4QnpA2BNAepju_nUVHNJSZG7ehExZIdqIjSvyGCQ5WhyphenhyphenybSPA0AouOuG8nDAjM5P7lWGm6aORIovmHqThv5_EATg4LqK0OgAoca3Pub-1rhN8kes4REYfceDqPe9djmhXaXUXcOpayIzaktRWbTDRE-7ihiD-gCIS-Vw8mlF3UA5pCf/s1280/Benthall%20Hall%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="1280" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9_9Epq63fSM2S4QnpA2BNAepju_nUVHNJSZG7ehExZIdqIjSvyGCQ5WhyphenhyphenybSPA0AouOuG8nDAjM5P7lWGm6aORIovmHqThv5_EATg4LqK0OgAoca3Pub-1rhN8kes4REYfceDqPe9djmhXaXUXcOpayIzaktRWbTDRE-7ihiD-gCIS-Vw8mlF3UA5pCf/w640-h430/Benthall%20Hall%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Benthall Hall: the entrance front in 2012. Image: Gammock. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The exterior seems to date entirely from the late 16th century, with the probable exception of the porch. The house is built of pale sandstone, and consists of two storeys plus gabled attics. The main south front is well balanced and pleasing to the eye, but almost entirely asymmetrical in detail. A broad and projecting gabled bay on the left represents the parlour cross-wing and there are three equal gables on the hall range, but the service cross-wing on the right does not project although it has an asymmetrical gable mirroring that on the parlour range. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeA7R88n-ofZ-kGO25lYyciWj5n2IcFCJ2wLKHIj62zeB6Oj-N0SForYOCtzJPZfTdttmxEEMmdsRfKv2zuARFJ9ZX2zrtiP0siQ2oQa4zLw8zrbUq2KReshvczZI4gumLmLvMg8-ZIbWn9uHmhCsheuqfWWfEMSerAP3S02gVs1H4LAK8mMgcQRRrtqOK/s2140/Benthall%20Hall%2011%20HE.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1506" data-original-width="2140" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeA7R88n-ofZ-kGO25lYyciWj5n2IcFCJ2wLKHIj62zeB6Oj-N0SForYOCtzJPZfTdttmxEEMmdsRfKv2zuARFJ9ZX2zrtiP0siQ2oQa4zLw8zrbUq2KReshvczZI4gumLmLvMg8-ZIbWn9uHmhCsheuqfWWfEMSerAP3S02gVs1H4LAK8mMgcQRRrtqOK/w400-h281/Benthall%20Hall%2011%20HE.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Benthall Hall: early 20th century photograph, showing the porch entered from the front.<br />Image: Historic England.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The fenestration of the floors below bears no relation to the spacing of the windows in the attics, and includes two deep canted bays and the square porch as well as three- and four-light mullioned and transomed windows. The porch is now entered from the side, although early photographs show it being entered from the front, and both entrances may have been used at different times in the past. Above both entrances four patterned discs are set into the walling in a pattern believed to represent Christ's stigmata, and intended as a sign to contemporaries that this was a Catholic household.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjWhper95vm-jaQJi1HOxg2nacD4JtwrN-OaqKQEfjp1LQKRi1mmY9dbSvWh-N1r6ZP2OvYcPZe3wazAzZexQuGq1BDA3bl89Ru16iBXjZAYdrrthQCwrNAlV8xLlPeRXlMo2l1EB8w4lQdiHGCBesmPfSQy7_uIiVPbk0B8tq804YGFNbrb16Qns9EOc/s2529/Benthall%20Hall%2026.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2529" data-original-width="2109" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjWhper95vm-jaQJi1HOxg2nacD4JtwrN-OaqKQEfjp1LQKRi1mmY9dbSvWh-N1r6ZP2OvYcPZe3wazAzZexQuGq1BDA3bl89Ru16iBXjZAYdrrthQCwrNAlV8xLlPeRXlMo2l1EB8w4lQdiHGCBesmPfSQy7_uIiVPbk0B8tq804YGFNbrb16Qns9EOc/w334-h400/Benthall%20Hall%2026.jpg" width="334" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Benthall Hall: plans of ground and first floors. Image: The National Trust. </span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house has a fairly conventional Elizabethan plan, with the porch giving access to the lower end of a central hall. There was probably originally a screens passage here, which may have been removed when the interior was refitted in the 17th century, or more probably later, when minor alterations were made in the 18th century. The bay window to the left of the porch lights the dais end of the hall, and the fireplace overmantel, with the arms of the Benthall and Cassy families, dates from the 17th century refitting. A 19th century tenant, the tilemaker George Maw, laid down a spectacular but inappropriate encaustic tiled floor in the hall in 1859, but this was floored over in 1918 and forgotten about until restoration work in the 1980s; a small area of it has been left exposed. To the right of the hall is the dining room, which has early 17th century panelling with fluted pilasters supporting a timber frieze, although its plaster ceiling was lost in the 19th century. A timber overmantel rising the full height of the room, again with the Benthall and Cassy arms, incorporates a fireplace surrround of the 1760s, no doubt to the designs of T.F. Pritchard. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZZiLZToaYfA67ilAX6x1UHxvYQQdyKvARMEe9PaPxHbZg1AL5HvNO7fMysKh2VldqLJp4mu7a2xz1e3QIC95GtMeZaPtxgFj9NrDY7kYhdxDzcTU2B4M07_2J7FZihzZiHlLB0rVf4Kd0ey6RDpHGeUIQHZs2tdfAOyz1VHZMOfuHlstB4rPfpr-000k/s3000/Benthall%20Hall%2022%20HE%20Selwyn%20Ray.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZZiLZToaYfA67ilAX6x1UHxvYQQdyKvARMEe9PaPxHbZg1AL5HvNO7fMysKh2VldqLJp4mu7a2xz1e3QIC95GtMeZaPtxgFj9NrDY7kYhdxDzcTU2B4M07_2J7FZihzZiHlLB0rVf4Kd0ey6RDpHGeUIQHZs2tdfAOyz1VHZMOfuHlstB4rPfpr-000k/w640-h426/Benthall%20Hall%2022%20HE%20Selwyn%20Ray.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Benthall Hall: dining room. Image: Selwyn Ray.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRC4zngH7Ev8L3WgL8r-TSKhnu9ztMy0JMaAZJrHLyFssXGc00tWj6QBlX2cRT4Olvq9EU5HwA0ZQf3_5CwR_acrEaM-4TyeXKGbJnQyAvxjAwOVNqGqHlF0fXB4SMG-JvzdnL_pj6qcGAXpYPTkyNvPWD_UkVx2mVy62dbYiNTlL_agO7p1Pn5rhyFFg/s800/Benthall%20Hall%205.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="796" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRC4zngH7Ev8L3WgL8r-TSKhnu9ztMy0JMaAZJrHLyFssXGc00tWj6QBlX2cRT4Olvq9EU5HwA0ZQf3_5CwR_acrEaM-4TyeXKGbJnQyAvxjAwOVNqGqHlF0fXB4SMG-JvzdnL_pj6qcGAXpYPTkyNvPWD_UkVx2mVy62dbYiNTlL_agO7p1Pn5rhyFFg/w636-h640/Benthall%20Hall%205.jpg" width="636" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Benthall Hall: staircase. Image: ©National Trust Images/Tim Imrie</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">On the other side of the hall, the main staircase separates the hall from the drawing room. The original stair was no doubt in the projection at the rear of the house, but it was replaced as part of the general refitting of the house in the 1630s with the present richly-carved open well staircase. It rises through two full storeys, and has big square baluster-shaped newel posts and bold finials, and flat openwork panels that incorporate </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">the Cassy wyvern among the decorative details</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTzshp4cQPQhHM-i16ZNDhnsPy0S85IfTwYft54l1Smh_VPqpoGwDJ1UU8TTZF9i7xNFonyr-KquNS4OnfN6OV3YMvpIIyZrvHsVTrBVTzAKzoKU45NgTpoWia1gneJv7cfVpDWwRUslHgoeSSOwjVRq6VEpUrtNFMd8VZjQpGMzuqwgPt0aliL7UbN7y/s3000/Benthall%20Hall%2024%20HE%20Selwyn%20Ray.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTzshp4cQPQhHM-i16ZNDhnsPy0S85IfTwYft54l1Smh_VPqpoGwDJ1UU8TTZF9i7xNFonyr-KquNS4OnfN6OV3YMvpIIyZrvHsVTrBVTzAKzoKU45NgTpoWia1gneJv7cfVpDWwRUslHgoeSSOwjVRq6VEpUrtNFMd8VZjQpGMzuqwgPt0aliL7UbN7y/w640-h426/Benthall%20Hall%2024%20HE%20Selwyn%20Ray.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Benthall Hall: drawing room. Image: Selwyn Ray</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The ground-floor drawing room in the south-west corner is the most richly decorated interior in the house, and was probably the Great Chamber in the 17th century. Like the dining room, it has a full-height overmantel incorporating a Pritchard fireplace surround (for which his design survives). The walls have panelling with tapering pilasters framing enriched fields, above which is a deep plaster frieze with grotesques derived from a Mannerist pattern book enclosing roundels with a variety of beasts; the frieze is nearly identical to one at Abcott Manor, Clungunford (Shrops.). The ceiling has beams dividing it into six fields, all decorated with bold strapwork. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The woodwork and plasterwork is now painted cream, making this a delightfully light room, but Victorian photographs show the panelling unpainted, which would be a more authentic period effect. On the first floor, above the hall is a large room, now the library, which was probably the original Elizabethan great chamber. It has a heavily beamed ceiling and relatively simple panelling, although some decoration may have been lost when it was divided into two rooms in the 19th century. Like the drawing room it is now all painted cream.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9i7u5xA3VE3ZUV2DNRTQhEPuhx9-4oYiyX3v73gzeb7CETwUzsAOMxl0YUZGKFwqXJK5LqYOqOOkWdWsk7SNJzraLAvuQuXzA_Ha7USJo7zLXaUKz-6aR2WQGUKIWEnTzB-ow_B44FmVQReQyyjL7jvYasD7XqomrlxQISU3ywhtx-sAkpmYtwzV6fpy/s3000/Benthall%20Hall%2025%20Selwyn%20Ray.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9i7u5xA3VE3ZUV2DNRTQhEPuhx9-4oYiyX3v73gzeb7CETwUzsAOMxl0YUZGKFwqXJK5LqYOqOOkWdWsk7SNJzraLAvuQuXzA_Ha7USJo7zLXaUKz-6aR2WQGUKIWEnTzB-ow_B44FmVQReQyyjL7jvYasD7XqomrlxQISU3ywhtx-sAkpmYtwzV6fpy/w640-h426/Benthall%20Hall%2025%20Selwyn%20Ray.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Benthall Hall: the first-floor library. Image: Selwyn Ray</span></td></tr></tbody></table><i style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">Descent: Thomas Crompton sold 1562 to Richard Benthall (d. 1575); to son, Lawrence Benthall (d. 1603); to brother, John Benthall (d. 1633); to son, Col. Lawrence Benthall (1590- 1652); to son, Philip Benthall (1634-1713); to son, Richard Benthall (c.1673-1720); to cousin and fiancée, <span style="background-color: white;">Elizabeth Browne (1686-1738); to brother, John Browne (c.1692-1746); to brother, Ralph Browne (1696-1763); to widow Anne (1705-67); t</span>o brother, Francis Turner Blithe (1709-70); to daughter, Lucia, wife of Francis Turner and later of Rev. Edward Harries (d. 1812); to son, Thomas Harries, who sold 1844 to John George Weld Weld-Forester (1801-74), 2nd Baron Forester; to brother, George Cecil Weld Weld-Forester (1807-86), 3rd Baron Forester; to brother, Orlando Watkin Weld Weld-Forester (1813-94), 4th Baron Forester; to son, Cecil Theodore Weld-Forester (1842-1917), 5th Baron Forester; to son, George Cecil Beaumont Weld-Forester (1867-1932), 6th Baron Forester; to son, George Cecil Wilfrid West-Forester (1899-1977), 7th Baron Forester, who sold 1934 to James Floyer Dale (later Benthall) (d. 1942) and his wife Mary Clementina Benthall (1879-1960), who joined with her cousins, Sir 'Tom' and Sir Paul Benthall in giving the house in 1958 to The National Trust. The Benthall family have continued as tenants, with the lease granted in 1962 to Sir (Arthur) Paul Benthall (1902-92) passing before 1985 to his son, James Holme Benthall (b. 1933) and then to his twin brother, Richard Pringle Benthall (b. 1933) and to the latter's son, Edward Anfrid Pringle Benthall (b. 1963). The house was also let while owned by the Weld-Foresters, with tenants including George and Arthur Maw (who divided the house between them) and <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2021/02/445-bateman-of-tolson-hall-knypersley.html">Robert Bateman (1842-1922)</a>, who was here between 1890 and 1906.</i></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Benthall family of Benthall Hall</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benthall, William (d. 1573). </b>Son of Robert Benthall and his wife Katherine, daughter of Robert Willaston. He married Agnes alias Anne (d. 1559), daughter of [forename unknown] Caswell of Lilleshall (Shrops.), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Richard Benthall (d. 1575) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) John Benthall [for whom see below, under Bentall family of Halstead and Totnes];</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Jane or Joan Benthall; married Henry Wall;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) William Benthall; </span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Francis Benthall;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Anne Benthall;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Mary Benthall;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Margery Benthall.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He was the tenant of Benthall Hall.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Much Wenlock (Shrops.), 7 March 1572/3. His wife was buried at Much Wenlock, 9 May 1559.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benthall, Richard (d. 1575). </b>Eldest son of William Benthall (d. 1573) and his wife Agnes Caswell of Lilleshall (Shrops.). He married Johanna alias Jane (d. 1597), daughter of Lawrence Ludlow of Morehouse (Shrops.) and had issue including:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Lawrence Benthall (d. 1603) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Maria Benthall; married Richard Buck and had issue three sons;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Elizabeth Benthall; married Richard or William Fowler of Bricton and had issue one son and one daughter;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Dorothy Benthall; married 1st, 28 June 1582 at Benthall, George Willaston of Prees and had issue; married 2nd, 9 June 1590 at Much Wenlock, Thomas Mason of Church Stretton, and had issue one son and one daughter;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Ellena Benthall; married, 12 February 1592 at Benthall, Richard Hawkins of Penkridge (Staffs) and had issue one daughter;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Michael Benthall; </span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) William Benthall; </span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) George Benthall; </span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Francis Benthall; </span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) Roland Benthall; </span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(11) John Benthall (d. 1633) (</span><i style="font-family: georgia;">q.v.</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(12) Edward Benthall;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(13) Maurice Benthall (d. 1609); buried at Much Wenlock, 7 October 1609;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(14) Richard Benthall; married Katherine, daughter of Richard Cotterell, and had issue two sons;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(15) Alice Benthall (d. 1559); buried at Much Wenlock, 13 March 1558/9.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He </i><i>purchased the freehold of</i><i> Benthall Hall in 1562.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Much Wenlock, 6 July 1575; an inquisition post mortem was held in 1576/7. His widow was buried at Much Wenlock, 26 October 1597.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benthall, Lawrence (d. 1603). </b>Eldest son of Richard Benthall (d. 1575) and his wife Johanna alias Jane, daughter of Lawrence Ludlow of Morehouse (Shrops.). Bailiff of Wenlock, 1593-94. He married Cecily (d. 1616), probably a daughter of George Forster of Evelith, Shifnal (Shrops.), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Jane Benthall (b. & d. 1575), baptised at Much Wenlock (Shrops.), 24 July 1575; died in infancy and was buried at Much Wenlock, 24 September 1575;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Ellen Benthall (b. 1577), baptised at Much Wenlock, 24 February 1576/7; married Brian Badger;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Richard Benthall (b. & d. 1578), baptised at Much Wenlock, 19 February 1577/8; died in infancy and was buried at Much Wenlock, 1 September 1578;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Rowland Benthall (1579-90?), baptised at Much Wenlock, 14 June 1579; died young; possibly the Rowland [no surname given] who was 'killed upon Benthall Marsh by one Philip Fletcher', who was buried at Much Wenlock, 8 January 1590;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Edward Benthall (1580-1602), baptised at Much Wenlock, 23 March 1580; married Ann (d. 1602), daughter of Thomas Astley of Patshull and had issue one son (who died in infancy); slain by Henry Dawes on Benthall Marsh in the lifetime of his father, and was buried at Much Wenlock, 23 September 1602;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Jane Benthall (b. 1582), baptised at Benthall, 14 August 1582; married Henry Dawes of Caughley Hall, Barrow (Shrops.), and had issue;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Cecily Benthall (b. 1584), baptised at Benthall, 23 December 1584; married 1st, William Harwood and 2nd, Thomas Bromhall;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Margery Benthall (1586-87), baptised at Benthall, 15 April 1586; died in infancy and was buried at Much Wenlock, 3 November 1587;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Anne Benthall (b. 1588), baptised at Much Wenlock, 21 September 1588; married, 20 November 1619 at St Julian, Shrewsbury (Shrops.), Thomas Harries, and had issue one son;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) Elizabeth Benthall (b. 1590), baptised at Much Wenlock (Shrops.), 19 November 1590; married Edward Penn;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(11) Mary Benthall (b. 1592; fl. 1652), baptised at Benthall, 30 October 1595; married John Nechell;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(12) Frances Benthall; married Edward Adams, and had issue.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Benthall Hall from his father in 1575 and rebuilt it, reputedly in 1583.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Much Wenlock, 8 November 1603; his will was proved in the PCC, 29 February 1604. His widow was buried at Much Wenlock, 12 November 1616.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benthall, John (d. 1633). </b>Younger son of R</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">ichard Benthall (d. 1575) and his wife Johanna alias Jane, daughter of Lawrence Ludlow of Morehouse (Shrops.). He married Joyce (d. 1643?), daughter of George Forster of Evelith in Shifnal (Shrops.), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Jane Benthall (b. 1589), baptised at Much Wenlock, 14 March 1588/9;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Col. Lawrence Benthall (1590-1652) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) John Benthall (1591-1658?), baptised at Much Wenlock, 16 June 1591; apprenticed to a silk merchant in London; a representative of the East India Company at Gombroon (Persia) [now Bandar Abbas (Iran)], 1618-28, who returned with a personal fortune in silk; living in 1653 and was probably the man of this name who married, 28 September 1653 at St Andrew Undershaft, London, Anne, widow of Isaac Gould, and had issue, and whose will was proved 9 November 1658;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Elizabeth Benthall (b. c.1592; fl. 1652), born about 1592; married Roger Mohun alias Mone of Posenhall (Shropshire) and had issue at least one daughter;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Richard Benthall (fl. 1623);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Sampson Benthall (1603?-67), of Upton-on-Severn (Worcs), said to have been born in 1603; married 1st, 10 March 1636 at Ludlow (Shrops.), Mary Floyd (d. 1654), and had issue; married 2nd, Katherine [surname unknown]; will proved in the PCC, 26 November 1667;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Cecilia Benthall; married, 1633, John Archer.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Benthall Hall from his elder brother in 1603.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Much Wenlock, 7 September 1633. His widow is said to have died in 1643.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benthall, Col. Lawrence (1590-1652). </b>Eldest son of John Benthall (d. 1633) and his wife Joyce, daughter of George Forster of Evelith (Shrops.), baptised at Broseley (Shrops.), 3 June 1590. Educated at Oriel College, Oxford (matriculated 1610) and the Inner Temple (admitted 1611). He was a staunch supporter of the Royalist cause and was appointed Commissioner to raise funds to support Prince Rupert's forces. From 1642-45 he garrisoned Benthall Hall for the king, but after the fall of Shrewsbury it was captured by the Parliamentarians, who garrisoned it in their turn. The Royalists tried unsuccessfully to recapture it later in 1645, when the church was destroyed, but the damage to the house was relatively minor. The estate was sequestrated and Col. Benthall paid a fine of £230 for a pardon and its recovery. He was suspected of being a Roman Catholic (as his wife certainly was), and the absence of most of his children from the parish registers would seem to support this. He married Catherine (1594-1663), daughter of Thomas Cassy (d. 1634) of Wightfield, Deerhurst and Cassey Compton (Glos), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Col. Cassey Benthall (d. 1646), an officer in the Royalist army; educated at Shrewsbury School (admitted 1641); he was taken prisoner at the capture of Shrewsbury, 1645, but escaped from custody, only to be killed at the Battle of Stow on the Wold (Glos), 21 March 1646;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Katherine Benthall (1619-24), baptised at Deerhurst (Glos), 16 January 1618/9; died young and was buried at Much Wenlock (Shrops.), 30 July 1624;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Cassandra Benthall (1620-37), baptised at Deerhurst (Glos), 31 January 1619/20; died unmarried and was buried at Much Wenlock (Shrops.), 7 April 1637;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Frances Benthall (b. c.1621)*, born about 1621;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Joyce Benthall (b. c.1622)*, born about 1622;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Penelope Benthall (b. c.1623)*, born about 1623;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dorothy Benthall (b. 1629), baptised at Deerhurst (Glos), 26 July 1629; living in 1652;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Mary Benthall (fl. 1652); living in 1652;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Philip Benthall (c.1632-1713) (</span><i style="font-family: georgia;">q.v.</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) Edward Benthall (d. 1679) (</span><i style="font-family: georgia;">q.v.</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">)</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(11) Abigail Benthall (d. 1667); died unmarried and was buried at Much Wenlock, 8 March 1666/7;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(12) Lucy Benthall (fl. 1652); living and unmarried in 1652;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(13) John Benthall (d. 1638); buried at Much Wenlock, 30 September 1638.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Benthall Hall from his father in 1633 and remodelled the interior before 1642.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 13 November and was buried at Much Wenlock, 16 November 1652; his will was proved in the Commonwealth probate court, 6 June 1653. His widow was buried at Benthall, 2 April 1663.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* One of these daughters married Thomas Wells (fl. 1653) and another Sir [forename unknown] Anderson, kt.; the latter died shortly before 1652.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benthall, Philip (c.1632-1713). </b>Son of Col. Lawrence Benthall (1590-1652) and his wife Katherine, daughter of Thomas Cassy of Wightfield, Deerhurst and Cassey Compton (Glos), born about 1632. He married Joyce Evans, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Anne Benthall (c.1669-1751); married, 20 July 1699 at Darfield (Yorks WR), John Rotherham (1669-1706) of Dronfield (Derbys), and had issue one son and one daughter; buried at Dronfield (Derbys), 30 October 1751;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Elizabeth Benthall (c.1670-1741), born about 1670; married, 6 May 1692 at Carlton-in-Lindrick (Notts), William Langley (d. 1706) of Rotherham (Yorks WR), mercer, son of Arthur Langley of Rathorpe Hall, Walton (Yorks WR), and had issue four sons and four daughters; died 5 November 1741;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Richard Benthall (c.1673-1720) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Benthall Hall from his father in 1652 and came of age in 1655.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 26 July and was buried at Benthall, 1 August 1713. His wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benthall, Richard (c.1673-1720). </b>Only son of Philip Benthall (1634-1713) and his wife Joyce Evans, born about 1673. At the time of his death he was engaged to his first cousin once removed, Elizabeth Browne (1686-1738) (<i>q.v.</i>), but he died unmarried and without issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Benthall Hall from his father in 1713, and bequeathed it, together with lands in Posenhall, Wyke, Atterley and Broseley, to his fiancée. The will was contested by his sisters in a case which went all the way to the House of Lords, where it was decided in 1746 in favour of John Browne, the brother of Elizabeth Browne (who had died by then).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Benthall, 9 May 1720.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benthall, Edward (d. 1679). </b></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Son of Col. Lawrence Benthall (1590-1652) and his wife Katherine, daughter of Thomas Cassy of Wightfield, Deerhurst and Cassey Compton (Glos), said to have been born 6 December 1623, but in reality probably the youngest son. He married Fortune (d. 1695), a recusant in 1682, said to be the daughter of Humphrey Hyde of Hopton Wafers (Shrops.), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Katherine Benthall (1663-1709) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Elizabeth Benthall (1664-71), baptised at Benthall, 7 December 1664; died young and was buried at Benthall, 5 June 1671;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Charles Benthall (b. & d. 1666), baptised at Benthall, 16 January 1665/6; died in infancy and was buried at Benthall, 17 December 1666;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Abigail Benthall (b. & d. 1667), baptised at Benthall, 7 February 1666/7; died in infancy and was buried at Benthall, 8 March 1666/7.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Benthall or Much Wenlock.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Much Wenlock, 25 June 1679. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His widow died 30 September and was buried at Benthall, 1 October 1695.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benthall, Katherine (1663-1709). </b>Only surviving child of Edward Benthall (d. 1679) and his wife Fortune, daughter of Humphrey Hyde of Hopton Wafers (Shrops.), baptised at Broseley (Shrops.), 18 July 1663. She married, 4 May 1681 at Benthall, Ralph Browne (1658-1707) of Caughley Hall, Barrow (Shrops.), high sheriff of Shropshire, 1687-88, and had issue*:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Margaret Browne (b. & d. 1682), baptised at Benthall, 28 March 1682; died in infancy and was buried at Benthall, 3 October 1682;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Katherine Browne (b. & d. 1684), baptised at Benthall, 14 April 1684; died in infancy and was buried at Benthall, 16 June 1684;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Ralph Browne (b. & d. 1685), baptised at Barrow, 16 July 1685; died in infancy and was buried at Benthall, 10 June 1685;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) <b>Elizabeth Browne (1686-1738)</b>, baptised at Barrow (Shrops.), 14 October 1686; engaged to Richard Benthall (d. 1720) (<i>q.v.</i>) of Benthall at the time of his death and inherited his property; died unmarried, 28 April 1738;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Edward Browne (1688-1740), baptised at Barrow, 5 April 1688; lived at Caughley Hall, Barrow; buried at Benthall, 31 May 1740;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Mary Browne (b. 1690), baptised at Barrow, 16 March 1689/90; probably the woman of this name who married, 20 May 1719 at Benthall, William Churchman? of Much Wenlock (Shrops.);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) <b>John Browne (c.1692-1746)</b>, born about 1692; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">inherited the Benthall Hall estate from his sister, 1738; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">died unmarried? and was buried at Benthall, 17 June 1746; will proved in the PCC, 1 July 1747;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Charles Browne (1695-1717), baptised at Barrow, 11 July 1695; died unmarried and was buried at Benthall, 28 June 1717;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Ralph Browne (1696-1763) (<i>q.v.</i>)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">She died 16 August and was buried at Benthall, 21 August 1709, where she and her husband are commemorated by a monument. Her husband died 23 August 1707 and was buried at Barrow; his will was proved 18 April 1709.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* According to her monument at Benthall, she and her husband had ten children, of whom six survived, but I have traced only nine.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Browne, Ralph (1696-1763). </b>Fifth and youngest son of Ralph Browne (1658-1707) and his wife Katherine, only surviving child of Edward Benthall of Much Wenlock (Shrops.)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, baptised at Barrow, 12 October 1696. He </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">married, 20 February 1734, Ann (1705-67), daughter of William Turner of Shrewsbury, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Ralph Browne (1736-38), born 13 November and baptised at St Chad, Shrewsbury, 14 November 1736; died in infancy and was buried at St Chad, Shrewsbury, 25 October 1738. </span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Benthall estate from his brother in 1746. At his death it passed to his widow and then to her brother, Francis Turner (later Turner Blithe) (1709-70).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 9 May 1763 and was buried at Benthall; will proved in the PCC, 31 December 1763. His widow was buried at Benthall, 23 March 1767.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bentall family of Halstead and Totnes</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benthall, John*. </b>Second </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">son of William Benthall (d. 1573) and his wife Agnes Caswell of Lilleshall (Shrops.). He married Agnes Barbar, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Thomas Bentall (b. 1564), baptised at Halstead, 27 March 1564;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) William Bentall (b. 1567), baptised at Halstead, 9 November 1567;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Anthony Bentall (b. 1569) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived in Essex.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">His date of death is unknown. His wife might be the 'Widow Benthall' buried at Halstead, 30 April 1601.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* Some sources give his name as Thomas.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bentall, Anthony (b. 1569; fl. 1615).</b> Third son of John Bentall and his wife Agnes Barbar, baptised at Halstead, 8 October 1569. He married, 1588 at St Gregory, Sudbury (Suffk), Christian Hurn or Hum, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Ann Bentall (b. 1590), baptised at Earls Colne, 5 March 1590; probably died young;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Anthony Bentall (1593-1662) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Elizabeth Bentall (b. 1596), baptised at Earls Colne, 19 February 1595/6;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) George Bentall (b. 1598), baptised at Earls Colne, 18 April 1598; probably died young;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Anne Bentall (b. 1600), baptised at Halstead, 4 January 1600/1;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) John Bentall (b. 1603), baptised at Halstead, 5 May 1603;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) William Bentall (b. 1606), baptised at Halstead, 5 May 1606;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Thomas Bentall (b. 1609), baptised at Halstead, 9 November 1609;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) George Bentall (b. 1615), baptised at Halstead, 20 February 1614/5.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived in Essex.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">His date of death is unknown. His wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bentall, Anthony (1593-1662). </b>Eldest son of Anthony Bentall (b. 1569) and his wife Christian Hurn or Hum, baptised at Earls Colne (Essex), 1 April 1593. High Constable of Hinckford Hundred (Essex), 1649-52. He married, 10 September 1620 at Ridgewell (Essex), Ann Manners (1596-1677) of Langham and Halstead (Essex), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Anne Bentall (1621-24), baptised at Halstead (Essex), 12 June 1621; died young and was buried at Halstead, 26 October 1624;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Margaret Bentall (b. 1622), baptised at Halstead, 5 November 1622;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Anthony Bentall (b. 1624; fl. 1665), baptised at Halstead, 5 February 1623/4; married, 1653 at Halstead, Catherine Sweeting (fl. 1665), and had issue at least one son and one daughter;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) William Bentall (1625-27), baptised at Halstead, 25 September 1625; died in infancy and was buried at Halstead, 20 January 1626/7;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) John Bentall (1627-79) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Thomas Bentall (b. 1628), baptised at Halstead, 14 September 1628;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Amy Bentall (b. 1629), baptised at Halstead, 25 October 1629;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Mary Bentall (b. 1630), baptised at Halstead, 24 October 1630;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Charles Bentall (d. 1661); will proved 18 February 1661/2.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived in Essex.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Halstead, 17 January 1661/2; his will was proved 18 February 1661/2. His widow was probably the 'Old Mistris Bentall' buried at Halstead, 3 August 1677.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bentall, John (1627-79). </b>Third son of Anthony Benthall of Essex and his wife Anne Manners of Langham and Halstead (Essex), baptised at Little Dunmow (Essex), 27 March 1627. Brewer in Halstead. He married, 1652 at Bury St. Edmunds (Suffk), Mary (d. 1669), daughter of William Carter of Gestingthorpe (Essex), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) William Bentall (d. 1726) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) John Bentall (1653-1700), born 26 February 1653; married Katherine [surname unknown] (who m2, 1715, John Tweed) and had issue at least one daughter; will proved 17 August 1700;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Elizabeth Bentall (1662-63), baptised at Halstead, 19 May 1662; died in infancy and was buried at Halstead, 26 January 1662/3;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Charles Bentall (b. 1662), baptised at Halstead, 19 May 1662;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Anna Bentall (b. 1663), baptised at Halstead, 2 January 1663; died in infancy and was buried at Halstead, 8 January 1663;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Laurence Bentall (b. 1664), baptised at Halstead, 20 January 1664; married Mary [surname unknown] and had issue; living in 1696;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Anne Bentall (b. 1666), baptised at Halstead, 4/14 August 1666; died in infancy and was buried at Halstead, 7 August 1666;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Anne Bentall (b. 1668), baptised at Halstead, 22 December 1668; possibly the woman of this name who married, 19 November 1696 at Halstead, Robert Sage.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Halstead (Essex).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">His will was proved 26 February 1678/9. His wife was buried at Halstead, 30 October 1669.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bentall, William (d. 1726). </b>Eldest son of John Bentall of Halstead (Essex) and his wife Mary, daughter of William Carter of Gestingthorpe (Essex). Clothier at Halstead. He married Mary [surname unknown] and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Anthony Bentall (fl. 1726) of Plaistow House (Essex), inherited the family property at Halstead from his father, but sold it; died without issue; </span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) William Bentall (d. 1761); probably buried at Halstead, 2 May 1761;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Hannah Bentall (b. 1688; d. by 1724), baptised at Halste</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">ad, 1 August 1688; married John Shaw;</span></span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> John Bentall (1690-1750) (</span><i style="font-family: georgia;">q.v.</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Arthur Bentall (1692-1778?), baptised at Halstead, 1 January 1693; farmer at Felsted (Essex); married 1st, 28 April 1725 at Bocking (Essex), Sarah Bentall of South Halstead (Essex), and 2nd, 30 September 1731 at Sible Hedingham, Elizabeth Allen of Steeple Bumpstead (Essex), and had issue; possibly the man of this name buried at Halstead, 1778; will proved in the PCC, 23 January 1779;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Mary Bentall (d. 1741?); married, 5 September 1710 at Sible Hedingham (Essex), as his second wife, Francis Turner, and had issue; probably buried at Halstead, 29 August 1741;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Katherine Bentall (fl. 1724); married, 8 December 1708 at Sible Hedingham (Essex), John Wilkin of Halstead;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Susan Bentall (1696-1726?), baptised at Halstead, 26 March 1696; married John Dennis; possibly buried at All Saints, Colchester, 26 February 1726;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Anne Bentall (b. 1699; fl. 1725), baptised at Halstead, 28</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">May 1699; married, 7 July 1725 at Sible Hedingham, John Wing of Fulbourn (Cambs).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Halstead (Essex).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">His burial has not been traced; his will was proved 13 June 1726. His wife was living in 1724; her date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bentall, John (1690-1750). </b>Third son of William Benthall of Halstead (Essex) and his wife, said to have been born 27 December 1690. Wine merchant in Colchester. He married 1st, 13 November 1717 at Sible Hedingham (Essex), Ann Sparrow of Halstead, and 2nd, 2 July 1734 at St Martin, Colchester, Elizabeth (1709-83), daughter of Rev. William Thornton of Birkin (Yorks WR), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) John Benthall (b. & d. 1735), said to have been born in 1735 and died in infancy; </span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.2) William Benthall (1736-1811) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.3) John Bentall (1738-42), born 6 June and baptised at St Mary-le-Walls, Colchester, 6 July 1738; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">died young when he was drowned at Middle Mill, Colchester (Essex); buried at St Mary-le-Walls, Colchester, 7 May 1742;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.4) Elizabeth Bentall (1744-1810), born 24 February and baptised at St Mary-le-Walls, 22 March 1743/4; married, 24 February 1764 at All Saints, Colchester, Thomas Mendham (1732-1812) of Islington (Middx), secretary to the Master of the Rolls, and had issue seven children (of whom five died young); buried at St Mary, Islington, 14 May 1810.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Colchester (Essex).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died suddenly while on a business trip to Portugal, 1750, and was buried there. His widow was buried at Totnes, 1 October 1783.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllWcIjgZ2opP6Z9JJaqECJpklReJe93nEqA2JCh4IRJtwM1VbEGp3kWfFWCGIMVz4wPTISA9wHz-T6MutQ1wMan4Fot7Y_qPO4yewemNV58YcS4g-3ULmjYbuCcXIpuY2PVYBAVYVz3GDd0Jr8oSze59ro7VsAq2oDTv5cs4DBuTxZOALxtPn49htiyZ_/s1184/Bentall,%20William%201736-1811.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="932" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllWcIjgZ2opP6Z9JJaqECJpklReJe93nEqA2JCh4IRJtwM1VbEGp3kWfFWCGIMVz4wPTISA9wHz-T6MutQ1wMan4Fot7Y_qPO4yewemNV58YcS4g-3ULmjYbuCcXIpuY2PVYBAVYVz3GDd0Jr8oSze59ro7VsAq2oDTv5cs4DBuTxZOALxtPn49htiyZ_/w158-h200/Bentall,%20William%201736-1811.jpg" width="158" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">William Bentall (1736-1811) <br />Image: National Trust</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bentall, William (1736-1811). </b>Second but only surviving son of John Benthall (1690-1750) of Colchester (Essex) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. William Thornton of Birkin (Yorks WR), born 20 December 1736 and baptised at Colchester, 11 January 1736/7. Following the death of his father he was apprenticed to his uncle, John Thornton of Kingsbridge (Devon). He began his independent commercial life as a grain merchant in Kingsbridge, who also traded in cider, wool and wine, but after his sister was married in 1764 his mother moved to live with him and he relocated to a large house in Totnes which remained in the family for nearly a century. In 1792 he became the managing partner of the Totnes Bank, which he founded with his cousin Henry Thornton, Ayshford Wise and Christopher Farwell. Mayor of Totnes, 1799-1800, 1808-09. He married, 12 August 1777 at Dartington (Devon), Grace (1743-1802), daughter of William Searle of Allerton (Devon), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) William Searle Benthall (1778-1854) (</span><i style="font-family: georgia;">q.v.</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Elizabeth Bentall (1779-1848), baptised at Totnes, 9 October 1779; married, 27 January 1800 at Totnes, Samuel Adams (1769-1842), son of </span><a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2013/04/30-adams-of-bowden-house-totnes-and-old.html" style="font-family: georgia;">William Adams (1723-89)</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> of Totnes, and had issue six sons and four daughters; buried at Mitcham (Surrey), 10 January 1848; will proved in the PCC, 24 May 1848;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Thornton Bentall (1781-1844), born February and baptised at Totnes, 17 May 1781; trained as a banker with Down & Co. in London and then took a year out to travel as purser on an East Indiaman to Madras and Calcutta, 1801-02; partner in the Totnes General Bank (a different concern to his father's Totnes Bank) with Walter Prideaux; an officer in the Totnes Voluntary Infantry (Lt.); twice mayor of Totnes; by 1841 he was renting <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2013/04/30-adams-of-bowden-house-totnes-and-old.html">Bowden House</a> from Sir George Pownall Adams; after his death his widow lived with her nephew, the Rev. John Benthall, at Willen (Bucks); married, 31 July 1805 at Totnes, Margaret Eleanora Admonition (1787-1860), youngest daughter of Dr William Marshall, but had no legitimate issue*; buried at St James, St Pancras (Middx), 5 August 1844; will proved in the PCC, 14 August 1844;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) John Bentall (1782-1852), baptised at Totnes, 27 October 1782; wine and tea merchant and stockbroker in London; a clerk of the Petty Bag, 1812-42, when the office was abolished and he received a pension of £411 a year in compensation; freeman and patternmaker of London from 1803; became guardian of his younger sister's children after they were orphaned and is said to have been an aetheist in religion at one time; married, 6 January 1838 at St Michael, Stamford (Lincs), Frances Rooe (1805-63) and had issue two sons and one daughter; buried at Torquay (Devon), 12 June 1852; will proved in the PCC, 19 August 1852;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Louisa Bentall (1783-1823), born 25 December 1783 and baptised at Totnes, 28 January 1785; married, 16 February 1810 at Totnes, William Marshall (1780-1828) of Exeter (Devon), an officer in the East India Company's merchant marine, 1795-1810 and later an army paymaster in Cape Town (South Africa) and Mauritius and a merchant at Leith (Midl.), youngest son of Rev. John Marshall, and had issue seven sons and two daughters; died, possibly of cholera, 24 March 1823;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Henry Bentall (1785-1827), baptised at Totnes, 30 December 1785; collector of customs at Bridgetown (Barbados); married, 23 August 1812 at St Olave, Southwark (Surrey), Elizabeth (1775-1845), daughter of William Hawes and widow of Alexander Stewart (d. 1801), naval surgeon, but had no issue; died at Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, and was buried in Jamaica, 1827.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Totnes (Devon).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 10 March, and was buried at Dartington (Devon), 15 March 1811; his will was proved at Exeter, 1811. His wife was buried at Dartington, 28 December 1802.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* However it seems probable that he was the father of an illegitimate son, John Thornton Bentall, baptised at St Bride, Fleet St., London in 1801, whose parents were named as Thornton Bentall and Susanna Cutmore.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benthall, William Searle (1778-1854). </b>Eldest son of William Benthall (1736-1811) and his wife Grace Searle of Allerton (Devon), born 9 July and baptised at Totnes, 30 September 1778. Probably educated at Totnes Grammar School. Merchant at Totnes who was involved in several short-lived ventures. He was also a partner in the Totnes Bank in succession to his father, and in the Newton Bank at Newton Abbot, but the debts of two of his partners in the Newton Bank forced him into bankruptcy in 1841. He informally resumed the spelling of the family name as Benthall. He married, 5 December 1801, Mary Anne (1780-1866), daughter of William Marshall of Totnes (Devon), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) William Bentall (1803-77), born 21 January and baptised at Totnes, 16 February 1803; educated at Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1821); wine merchant and cider maker (as Bentall Lloyd & Co.), whose business suffered a severe reverse when his wine warehouse burned down in 1860, with the loss of his stock of bottled wines; bought his father's property in Totnes at the bankruptcy sale in 1843; mayor of Totnes, 1864; a schoolmate and friend of the inventor, Charles Babbage; married, 8 September 1831 at Totnes, Elizabeth (1809-71), daughter of Hubert Cornish, a judge in Bengal (India); died without issue, 16 June, and was buried at Dartington (Devon), 22 June 1877; will proved 13 August 1877 (effects under £10,000);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Elizabeth Bentall (1804-86), born 19 November 1804 and baptised at Totnes, 4 January 1805; married, 17 June 1826 at Totnes, Thomas Nelson Waterfield (1799-1862), a senior civil servant with the Board of Control for India, 1818-61, son of William Waterfield, and had issue seven sons and four daughters; died 4 October 1886 and was buried at Exeter Higher Cemetery; will proved 29 November 1886 (effects £331);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Rev. John Bentall (1806-87), born 8 February and baptised at Totnes, 6 March 1806; educated at Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1824; BA 1828); usher at Westminster School, 1828-46, when he was dismissed for his failure to control the boys; ordained deacon, 1829 and priest, 1830; chaplain at Hounslow Barracks, 1846-52; vicar of Willen (Bucks), 1852-87; chaplain to Marquess of Ailsa, 1846-73; married 1st, 27 May 1835 at Berry Pomeroy (Devon), Harriet, daughter of Joseph Everett of Salisbury (Wilts), and had issue two sons; married 2nd, 7 May 1861 at Wroughton-on-the-Green (Bucks), Frances (1813-1908), daughter of William Levi of Moulsoe (Bucks); died 1 September 1887; will proved 6 October 1887 (effects £7,512);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Edward Benthall (1807-89) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Anna Bentall (1809-74), born 25 September and baptised at Totnes, 1 October 1809; married, 5 May 1827 at Totnes, James Gay (1791-1858) of London, solicitor, son of James Gay of Southwark (Surrey) and Gimingham (Norfk), and had issue two sons and two daughters; died 20 January and was buried at Orcheston St Mary (Wilts), 24 January 1874; will proved 23 March 1874 (effects under £800);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Henry Bentall (1811-79), born 29 June and baptised at Totnes, 2 August 1811; trained for business in Duckett & Morland's Bank, London and became a coal merchant and later a wine merchant and general merchant in partnership with two brothers called Hill, who are said to have ruined him; he was imprisoned for debt for several months in 1840; later he was involved in many different businesses and was made bankrupt again in 1866 and 1872; after which he retired to Hampton (Middx); he married 1st, 13 July 1840 at St Alfege, Greenwich (Kent), Mary (c.1806-42), daughter of Thomas Walker, watchmaker, and widow of William Newham (d. 1826) and James Archer (c.1791-1838); married 2nd, 20 May 1843 at St Clement Danes, London, Sarah Ellen (1819-1913), daughter of William Harkness, surgeon, and had issue one son; died 25 October and was buried at St James, New Hampton (Middx), 30 October 1879; will proved 5 January 1882 (effects £5);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Alfred Bentall (1813-39), born 19 January and baptised at Totnes, 30 January 1813; joined the Royal Navy, 1826 (Midshipman, 1828; discharged 1834), and was later a captain in the merchant marine; married, 1 October 1839 at St Botolph, Aldgate, London, Elizabeth Ann Ackland (1818-40) who had already borne him an illegitimate daughter in 1837 and bore him a posthumous son; he was drowned while attempting to salvage the brig <i>Permie</i> which had been wrecked on a sand bar in the Adriatic Sea, December 1839; will proved 26 February 1840 and a grant of administration made to his brother, May 1842;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Thornton Bentall (1814-98), born 7 October and baptised at Totnes, 9 November 1814; educated at Totnes Grammar School and Westminster School; apprenticed to his uncle, John Bentall, patternmaker, 1829; stockbroker, scrivener and dealer in railway shares in London and Croydon (Surrey) who decamped to France in 1845 leaving debts of £50,000 and being declared bankrupt, but no serious attempt seems to have been made to trace him; he made a new life under the assumed name 'Thomas Bennett' in Denmark and later Norway, where he became a teacher of languages and one of the first travel agents and founded a business which survived him for nearly a century; he travelled freely to England by 1860 at the latest, and was an acquaintance of George Bradshaw (who died of cholera while visiting him in 1853) and the novelist Jules Verne, and also a correspondent of Charles Darwin; he married, 18 May 1864 at Christiania (Oslo, Norway), his housekeeper, Inger Marie (1831-1903), daughter of Eric Sann, farmer, and had issue three sons; died in Oslo, 7 March 1898;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Francis (k/a Frank) Bentall (later Benthall) (1816-1903), born 31 March and baptised at Totnes, 10 April 1816; educated at Totnes Grammar School and Westminster School; articled clerk to John Cole, solicitor; admitted a solicitor, 1839; an antiquarian (FSA, 1841) who acquired property in the neighbourhood of Benthall (Shrops.) and 'was generally obsessive about the genealogy of the Benthall family'; he bought the interest of his father and uncle in Buckfast Abbey, and obtained royal licence to spell his name Benthall; he decided in 1861 to change career and read for the bar at Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1861; called 1864) and became a conveyancer; after the death of his wife he moved to Boteler Lodge, Silsoe (Beds), where his antiquarian collections and pictures were opened to the public; he married, 17 December 1859 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), Susanna (1807-71), daughter of John Aylward and widow of David Nicholas Bates (1791-1858) of Sudbury (Suffk), surgeon; died 6 May 1903 and was buried at Highgate Cemetery; will proved 18 July 1903 (estate £17,561);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) Octavius Bentall (1818-46), born 6 April and baptised at Totnes, 20 April 1818; an officer in the Royal Navy (Midshipman, 1837; Lt. 1845); drowned </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">while attempting to cross the bar of Hokianga Bay (New Zealand) in the pinnace of HMS Osprey</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, 21 April 1846; will proved at Exeter, 1847;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(11) Louisa Bentall (1820-59), born 3 February and baptised at Totnes, 16 February 1820; acted for some time as housekeeper to her brother, Rev. John Bentall; died unmarried, 24 September 1859; will proved 17 February 1860 (effects under £1,500);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(12) Ellen Blayds Bentall (1822-65), born 27 May and baptised at Totnes, 14 August 1822; married, 6 November 1849 at Stanwell (Middx), Lt-Gen. Robert Romer Younghusband (1819-1905), Indian army officer (who m2, 10 August 1869 at Swainswick (Som.), Anna (1830-1905), daughter of Robert Grant Shaw of Hackney (Middx), merchant, and had further issue two sons), son of Maj-Gen. Charles Younghusband, and had issue six sons and three daughters; died at Nusseerabad, Bombay (India), 29 October 1865, and was buried there the following day;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(13) Mary Bentall (1823-1907), born 10 December 1823 and baptised at Totnes, 29 January 1824; married, 23 September 1843 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, her first cousin, William Marshall (1807-85), a clerk in the War Office, son of Dr. Richard Marshall MD, and had issue five sons and three daughters; died 27 April and was buried at Willen (Bucks), 1 May 1907; will proved 25 June 1907 (estate £5,115);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(14) Arthur Bentall (1825-82), born 5 April and baptised at Totnes, 19 May 1825; educated at Westminster, Clare Hall, Cambridge (matriculated 1843; BA 1848; MA 1851) and Lincoln's Inn (admitted, 1843; called 1848); barrister-at-law, but did not practice and joined the General Post Office (Clerk, 1850; Under-Secretary, 1873; Inspector-General of Mails, 1877; Third Secretary, 1881); married, 1 September 1855 at Higham Gobion (Beds.), Alice Margaret Wardale (1826-86), but had no issue; died 16 February 1882; will proved 9 March 1882 (effects £10,258);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(15) Laura Bentall (1827-1912), born 1 October and baptised at Totnes, 21 October 1827; a competent artist; after her mother's death in 1866 she became financially independent and this was enhanced when she inherited the property of her elder brother, William Bentall, in 1877; she settled at Dawlish (Devon), where she lived in a large villa called Rockstone which an old family servant ran for her as a lodging house, chiefly for members of the family, until a few years before her death; she also travelled extensively in Europe; died unmarried, 11 December, and was buried at Dawlish, 16 December 1912; will proved 10 February 1913 (estate £10,301).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He and his brother Thornton bought the Buckfast Abbey (Devon) estate in 1813, but never seem to have lived there and it was leased for a time to his sister Elizabeth and her husband Samuel Adams, and later to Capt. Thomas White RN. His moiety was sold after his bankruptcy and both moieties were acquired by his son Frank but later sold. He then lived in London for some years, before returning to Totnes, where he was living in 1851. In 1852 he moved with his wife and unmarried daughters to live with his second son at Willen (Bucks). His widow remained at Willen until 1859 and then lived with Edward Benthall at Sherborne (Dorset) until her death.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Willen (Bucks), 3 June 1854. His widow died in Sherborne, 15 December 1866; her will was proved 18 January 1867 (effects under £1,500).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benthall, Edward (1807-89). </b>Third son of William Searle Benthall (1778-1854) and his wife Mary Anne, daughter of William Marshall of Totnes (Devon), born 24 April and baptised at Totnes, 9 May 1807. Educated at Buckfastleigh Grammar School and East India College, Haileybury. He joined the East India Co. in 1827, eventually becoming a judge in the Indian Courts at Jessore (Bangladesh) and later at Alipore near Calcutta (India), retiring on health grounds in 1855. JP for Dorset, 1863-78, when he was obliged to resign as his landed income had fallen below the qualifying level; a Governor of Sherborne School, 1863-89, and also of other local charities. He married, 24 March 1840 at Totnes (Devon), his first cousin, Clementina (1818-1905), eldest daughter of Rev. William Marshall (1774-1864), rector of West Chickerell (Dorset), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Clement Benthall (1841-73), born at sea on the voyage to India, 28 August and was baptised at Calcutta (India), 21 November 1841; an officer in the 17th Bengal Lancers (2nd Lt., 1858; Lt., 1859; Capt. 1867); a freemason from 1871; died unmarried of gastritis at Allahabad (India), 3 September 1873 and was buried there the following day;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Ernest Benthall (1843-1928) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Edith Mary Benthall (1845-1932), born 14 April and baptised at Jessore, 5 July 1845; married, 5 April 1866 at Sherborne Abbey (Dorset), her first cousin, William Henry Bentall (1837-1909), a clerk in the India Office, son of Rev. John Bentall, rector of Willen (Bucks), and had issue three sons; died 16 November 1932; will proved 7 January 1933 (estate £1,047);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Madeleine Anna Benthall (1847-92), born at Alipore, 22 September and baptised at Kidderpore, Bengal, 18 October 1847; married, 19 April 1881 at Sherborne Abbey, Edward Robert Dale (1853-1903) of Glanvilles Wootton Manor (Dorset), and had issue one son (who married his cousin, Mary Clementina Benthall (1879-1960) (<i>q.v.</i>)) and one daughter; died 29 August and was buried at Sherborne, 1 September 1892; will proved 27 October 1892 (effects £2,358);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Bertha Margaret Benthall (1850-1944), born at Alipore, 9 November, and baptised at Agra, Bengal, 11 December 1850; died unmarried, 11 September, and was buried at Sherborne, 14 September 1940; will proved 22 December 1940 (estate £3,378);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Winfred Benthall (1853-1912), born at sea between India and Wynberg, Cape of Good Hope (South Africa), September 1853; educated at Sherborne School, Pembroke College, Cambridge (matriculated 1872; BA 1876; MA 1898; MB 1881) and St Thomas' Hospital, London; qualified as a physician (MRCS, 1879; LSA, 1880) and was in practice near Derby and as a consultant physician at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary; retired to Shiplake, Starcross (Devon) about 1908; married, 1892, Phoebe Mary Christina (1849-1921), daughter of Henry </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Harrison</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> of Maple Lodge, Surbiton (Surrey) and widow of Matthew Turner Shaw of Wimbledon (Surrey), but had no issue</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">; died 3 August 1912; will proved 14 October 1912 (estate £15,702);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Alfred Elliott Benthall (1856-86), baptised at Sherborne, 7 January 1857; educated at Sherborne School and University College, London; physician and surgeon (MRCS 1879; FRCPEd, 1883); house surgeon at Hartlepool Hospital (Co. Durham), 1880-82 and later in practice at Sherborne; died unmarried, 14 June, and was buried at Sherborne, 19 June 1886; will proved 31 July 1886 (effects £1,407);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Rev. Octavius Arthur (k/a Octo) Benthall (1859-1900), baptised at Sherborne, 26 August 1859; educated at Hertford College, Oxford (matriculated 1877; BA 1880; MA 1883); ordained deacon, 1882, and priest, 1883; curate of Willen (Bucks), 1882-88; rector of Oborne (Dorset), 1888-94 and vicar of Haydon and rector of Goathill (Dorset), 1898-1900; married, 5 July 1888 at St Mark, Surbiton (Surrey), Annie Brassey (1847-1926), daughter of Henry Harrison of Maple Lodge, Surbiton, but had no issue; died 10 August and was buried at Haydon, 13 August 1900; will proved 20 October 1900 (estate £3,734);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Rev. Charles Francis Benthall (1861-1936) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">After retiring, he lived at Sherborne (Dorset). He tried to buy Benthall Hall in 1844 but was outbid at auction.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 9 June and was buried at Sherborne, 13 June 1889; his will was proved 12 July 1889 (effects £3,126). His widow died 30 January and was buried at Sherborne, 2 February 1905; her will was proved 29 March 1905 (estate £7,599).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benthall, Ernest (1843-1928). </b>Second son of Edward Benthall (1807-89) and his wife Clementina, eldest daughter of Rev. W. Marshall, rector of West Chickerell (Dorset), born at Jessore (Bangladesh) (in the house there built by Lord Clive), 14 April and baptised 30 May 1843. Educated at Sherborne School. A clerk in the India Office (Junior Clerk, 1862; Senior Clerk, 1877; retired 1889). Commissioner of Taxes, 1897-1917; JP for Breconshire. He taught himself the Welsh language but never became a fluent Welsh speaker. He was a Life Governor of the Welsh Girls School at Ashford (Kent) and a Life Member of the Bible Society. He married, 28 December 1876 at Ystradgynlais (Brecons.), Jane Rogers (1848-1906), only surviving child of William Price MRCS of Glantwrch, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Dorothy Benthall (1878-1904), born 16 May and baptised at St Mary, West Brompton (Middx), 18 June 1878; died unmarried, 12 April 1904; administration of goods granted to her father, 4 May 1904 (estate £1,029);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Mary Clementina Benthall (1879-1960) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Kensington (Middx) while working at the India Office but about 1891 moved to Glantwrch House, Ystradgynlais (Brecons.), which his wife had inherited from her father. He seems to have left Glantwrch and moved to Ystalyfera House (Glam.), but in 1917 bought Countess Wear House (Devon).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 22 January, and was buried at Ystradgynlais (Brecons), 26 January 1928. His wife died 6 April 1906; administration of her goods was granted 16 July 1906 (estate £1,913).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benthall, Mary Clementina (1879-1960). </b>Second but only surviving daughter of Ernest Benthall (1843-1928) and his wife Jane Rogers, only surviving child of William Price MRCS, born 6 July and baptised at St Andrew, Kensington (Middx), 10 August 1879. She and her husband took the surname Benthall in 1935. Her husband became mentally ill in 1937 and attempted suicide by throwing himself down a well at Benthall Hall, but survived, although after he recovered he was cared for in mental hospitals for the rest of his life. She married, 17 October 1933, her cousin, James Floyer Dale (1883-1942), electrical engineer, only son of </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Edward Robert Dale of Glanvilles Wootton Manor (Dorset), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">but had no issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>She and her husband bought Benthall Hall for £6,000 in 1934, and she gave the house to the National Trust in 1958, with her cousins, Sir Edward and Sir Paul Benthall providing an endowment. From 1941-45 the house was leased to Langley Place preparatory school near Slough, which needed to move to a safer area.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">She died 24 September 1960; her will was proved 11 May 1961 (estate £53,316). Her husband died 17 January 1942; his will was proved 12 October 1942 (estate £2,789).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtbesnto_1RUxItWshsPzbDC5HBSrwSR9DweBW5p-3UjyMULyn0DdruLPD6pminK5qHnjwuht5_KRh7NNhspw2qebkHXYsx28PfqvxdsXqq5D1_1S_gD-770sgLjnGleQ0-acfLOHzTdJsZr7_ywnti2hcpc8-abLykQUA85iJVpR6gfIHOB9RxLkiO5B/s1200/Benthall,%20George%20Francis.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="959" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtbesnto_1RUxItWshsPzbDC5HBSrwSR9DweBW5p-3UjyMULyn0DdruLPD6pminK5qHnjwuht5_KRh7NNhspw2qebkHXYsx28PfqvxdsXqq5D1_1S_gD-770sgLjnGleQ0-acfLOHzTdJsZr7_ywnti2hcpc8-abLykQUA85iJVpR6gfIHOB9RxLkiO5B/w160-h200/Benthall,%20George%20Francis.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Rev. C.F. Benthall on holiday in Morocco, 1925, <br />by Alethea Garstin. Image: National Trust.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Benthall, Rev. Charles Francis (1861-1936). </b>S</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">ixth son of </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Edward Benthall (1807-89) and his wife Clementina, eldest daughter of Rev. W. Marshall, rector of West Chickerell (Dorset)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, born 9 August and baptised at Sherborne, 11 September 1861. Educated at Sherborne, Pembroke College, Cambridge (matriculated 1880; BA 1883; MA 1887) and Salisbury Theological College. Briefly a schoolmaster a Godalming (Surrey) before being ordained deacon, 1888 and priest, 1890. Curate of St Martin, Salisbury, 1888-91; vicar of Cofton (Devon), 1891-1918; rural dean of Kenn, 1909-12. Chaplain at Tangier (Morocco), 1923-24. He married, 19 July 1888 at Wimbledon (Surrey), Annie Theodosia (1867-1950), artist, daughter of James Leonard Wilson of Wimbledon, book cloth manufacturer, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) <span style="background-color: white;">Clementine</span> Margaret Enid (k/a Crow) Benthall (1890-1931), born 20 April and baptised at Wimbledon (Surrey), 15 May 1890; educated at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford (matriculated before 1911; BA 1920); worked briefly as a domestic cook in Highgate and later as a social worker in Poplar (Middx) and Sheffield (Yorks WR); died suddenly and unmarried, while on holiday with her parents, 19 August 1931; will proved 5 November 1931 (estate £3,973);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Monica Clare (k/a Mick) Benthall (1891-1969), born 2 June and baptised at Cofton, 12 July 1891; married, 1 January 1917 at Holy Trinity, Meiktila (Burma), Arthur Henry Armstrong (1893-1972) of The Old Vicarage, Queen Camel (Som.), barrister-at-law and later a judge of county courts and Chairman of Somerset Quarter Sessions, son of Rev. William David Henry Armstrong of Ilchester (Som.) and had issue one son and two daughters; died 15 July 1969 and was buried at Queen Camel; will proved 1 April 1970 (estate £70,349);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Sir Edward Charles (k/a Tom) Benthall (1893-1961), kt., born 26 November 1893 and baptised at Cofton, 22 January 1894; educated at Eton (where he was distinguished academically and in sports) and King's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1912; Rugby blue); an officer in the army (2nd Lt., 1914; Lt. 1916; Capt. 1918) who served in India and Mesopotamia, 1914-18 (wounded) and on staff of War Office, 1918-19; businessman in Calcutta (India); chairman of Bird & Co. Ltd. and F.W. Hedges & Co. Ltd.; a director of the Imperial Bank of India, 1926-34 and Reserve Bank of India, 1935-36; President of Bengal Chamber of Commerce, 1932 and 1936; a delegate to the Indian Round Table Conference, 1931-32 and Council of State, 1932-33; official at Ministry of Economic Warfare and Board of Trade, 1940-42 and served with Home Guard, 1940-42; member of the Governor-General's Executive Council, 1942-46; Leader of the House, Indian Assembly, 1946; Crown representative on Governors of SOAS, University of London, 1948; Leader of UK mission to Middle East, 1953; lived in retirement at Lindridge, Bishopsteignton (Devon); Vice-Chairman, Devon River Board, 1950-55; High Sheriff of Devon, 1951; knighted, 1933 and appointed KCSI, 1945; married, 11 March 1918 at Bishopsteignton, Hon. Ruth McCarthy (1895-1973), second daughter of Sir Ernest Cable (1859-1927), 1st Baron Cable of Ideford, and had issue one son (the theatre director, Michael Benthall (1919-94)); died 5 March 1961 and was buried at Cofton; will proved 11 August 1965 (estate £125,334);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Anne Beryl (k/a Doit) Benthall (1895-1949), born 1 November 1895; married, 3 April 1920 at Benthall, Maj. Geoffrey Theodore Garrett (1889-1942) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">of Bishopsteignton House (Devon)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, an Indian civil servant and army officer and later a farmer and journalist, who was killed on active service in World War II, son of Rev. Charles Foster Garrett, vicar of Little Tew (Oxon), and had no issue but adopted two children; died 12 September 1949 and was buried at Cofton; will proved 26 November 1949 (estate £74,888);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Sir (Arthur) Paul Benthall (1902-92) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>In 1918 he retired and took up the tenancy of Benthall Hall, but from 1921 sub-let it and divided his time between Devon and Tangier.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Lindridge (Devon), 15 December 1936 and was buried at Cofton (Devon); his will was proved 19 April 1937 (estate £8,533). His widow died 17 July 1950 and was also buried at Cofton; her will was proved 30 October 1950 (estate £30,142).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benthall, Sir (Arthur) Paul (1902-92), kt. </b>Second son of Rev. Charles Francis Benthall (1861-1936) and his wife Annie Theodosia, daughter of James Leonard Wilson of Wimbledon (Surrey), born 25 January and baptised at Cofton Chapel (Devon), 6 April 1902. Educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. Businessman in India with Bird & Co. (Director) and F.W. Heilgers & Co. (Director) of Calcutta, 1924-53; President of Association of Chambers of Commerce in India, 1948, 1950. Chairman of Amalgamated Metal Corporation, 1959-72 and of Bird & Co. (London), 1953; Board member of Imperial Bank of India, 1948, 1950-53; Director of Chartered Bank, 1953-72 and of Royal Insurance Ltd and associated companies 1962-72. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Knighted, 1950. President Royal Agri-Horticultural Society of India, 1945-47; Chairman of All India Board of Technical Studies in Commerce and Business Administration, 1950-53; President, UK Citizens' Association (India), 1952; Trustee of Victoria Memorial, Calcutta, 1950-53 and Gandhi Memorial Fund, India, 1948-63; Vice-Chairman of Indo-British Historical Society of Madras, 1985. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Author of <i>The trees of Calcutta and its neighbourhood </i>(1946); Fellow of the Linnean Society, 1948. He was certified blind in 1985. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He married, 31 December 1932 in Bombay (India), Mary Lucy (k/a Mollie) (1905-88), daughter of John Archibald Pringle of Horam (Sussex), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) <i>twin, </i>Richard Pringle Benthall (b. 1933) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) <i>twin, </i>James Holme Benthall (b. 1933), born 8 November 1933; educated at Eton and Magdalen College, Cambridge (BA 1957; MA 1964); did his National Service as an officer in the Scots Guards (2nd Lt., 1952); tenant of Benthall Hall 1985-96; married, 27 January 1959, Jill, elder daughter of James Rea Hechle of Merstham (Surrey), and had issue one son and one daughter; </span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Jonathan Charles Mackenzie Benthall (b. 1941), born in Calcutta (India), 12 September 1941; educated at Eton and Kings College, Cambridge (BA 1962; MA 1968); secretary of Institute of Contemporary Arts, 1971-74; director of Royal Anthropological Institute, 1974-2000 and of International NGO Training and Research Centre, 1998-2006; editor of <i>Anthropology Today</i>, 1985-2000 and author or editor of many works in the field of social research and anthropology; married, 23 October 1975, Zamira (b. 1939), daughter of Yehudi Menuhin (1916-99), Baron Menuhin, the celebrated international violinist, and formerly wife of Fou Ts'ong, concert pianist, and had issue two sons;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Timothy Paul Rodney Benthall (b. 1944), born 21 August 1944 and baptised in Calcutta (India); educated at Eton and Kings College, Cambridge (BA 1965; MA 1968); emigrated to USA; corporate consultant with McKinsey & Co., 1970-81 and Information Builders, 1981-2021; author of <i>Portraits of a Merchant Family </i>(2020); married, 1981 in New York (USA), Susan A. Kirsch, and had issue one son and one daughter.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He joined with his cousin, Mary Clementina Benthall (1879-1960) in presenting Benthall Hall to the National Trust in 1958, and became the Trust's tenant in the house from 1962-85.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 7 January 1992; his will was proved 24 April 1992 (estate £268,627). His wife died 4 December 1988; her will was proved 27 February 1989 (estate £108,077).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benthall, Richard Pringle (b. 1933). </b>Elder twin son of Sir (Arthur) Paul Benthall (1902-92) and his wife Mary Lucy, daughter of John Archibald Pringle of Horam (Sussex), born 8 November 1933 and baptised at St Paul, Calcutta, 1941. Educated at Eton and Magdalen College, Cambridge (matriculated 1954; BA 1957; MA 1961). Did his National Service as an officer in the Scots Guards (2nd Lt., 1952). Businessman in India, 1957-66. A Fellow of the Geological Society and of the Gemmological Association. Treasurer of Christ Church College and the Dean & Chapter of Oxford Cathedral from at least 1990-98. He married, 1 July 1961 at Christ Church, Kensington (Middx), Stella Margaret Lascelles (b. 1936), daughter of Hutton Swinglehurst of Easterton, Devizes (Wilts), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Edward Anfrid Pringle Benthall (b. 1963), born 11 February 1963; investment banker; tenant of Benthall Hall since 2004; married, 12 June 1987, Sally Katherine (b. 1967), daughter of Bryan Michael Ranger (d. 1998) of Cobham (Surrey), builder's merchant, and had issue one son and two daughters;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Rebecca Lucy Margaret Benthall (b. 1964), born in Calcutta (India), 25 August 1964; married, 1990, Timothy L. Willson, and had issue one son;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Jamie Richard Lascelles Benthall (b. 1970), born 25 December 1970.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He succeeded his twin brother as tenant at Benthall Hall, 1996-2004.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Now living. His wife is now living.</span></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Landed Gentry</i>, 1972, pp. 61-63; J. Ionides, <i>Thomas Farnolls Pritchard of Shrewsbury</i>, 1999, pp. 172-73; J. Newman & Sir N. Pevsner, <i>The buildings of England: Shropshire</i>, 2006, pp. 141-42; J. Roethe, <i><a href="https://docplayer.net/192036314-The-gatehouse-caynton-manor-edgmond-shropshire-building-investigation.html">The gatehouse, Caynton Manor, Edgmond, Shropshire: building investigation</a></i>, Historic England, 2018; T.P. Benthall, <i>Portraits of a merchant family</i>, 2020; G. Williams, <i>The country houses of Shropshire</i>, 2021, pp. 91-93;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://trustchallenge.wordpress.com/2019/10/13/166-benthall-hall-9-10-2019/">https://trustchallenge.wordpress.com/2019/10/13/166-benthall-hall-9-10-2019/</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Benthall family of Benthall Hall: </i>deeds, family and estate papers, 17th-20th cents [Shropshire Archives]; Devon estate deeds and papers, 17th-20th cents [Devon Archives and Local Studies Service 1503M add]; Devon deeds and papers, 1755-1946 [Plymouth Archives 1048]; Dorset estate deeds and papers, 1611-1853 [Dorset History Centre D/FFO]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Sir Edward Charles Benthall (1893-1961):</b> correspondence and papers, 1926-61 [Cambridge University Centre of South Asian Studies]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Benthall of Benthall: </i></b></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Or a lion rampant queue forché Azure crowned Gules.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide photographs or portraits of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 11 December 2023.</span></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-45817956838502351022023-11-22T11:34:00.000+00:002023-11-22T11:35:56.800+00:00(565) Benson of Lutwyche Hall<span style="font-family: georgia;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNMfBounT2qOR7KopP2pncGA1Whv0p4DMBv9zMLAUZEHZyyv-q6ZBA6wER54KGgEVwM4QMoLoVrz1_wUi9ISPchO9HGQU8eCaapRv8ZwZhp4KIWb-Hw3WNhc7qHYE3GxJMIvRq_Ht9LxpvrJNOW_6-gHPgNEvEpMKI9bUUmKuO89fu3NVXWEwOwZflxDg/s350/Benson%20of%20Lutwyche.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="337" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNMfBounT2qOR7KopP2pncGA1Whv0p4DMBv9zMLAUZEHZyyv-q6ZBA6wER54KGgEVwM4QMoLoVrz1_wUi9ISPchO9HGQU8eCaapRv8ZwZhp4KIWb-Hw3WNhc7qHYE3GxJMIvRq_Ht9LxpvrJNOW_6-gHPgNEvEpMKI9bUUmKuO89fu3NVXWEwOwZflxDg/w193-h200/Benson%20of%20Lutwyche.jpg" width="193" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;">Benson of Lutwyche Hall</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The story of this family begins with Moses Benson (1738-1806), who came from a yeoman farming family in the Furness district of Lancashire. He found employment as the captain of a vessel belonging to Abraham Rawlinson, a Lancaster merchant who was engaged in the 'triangular trade' between England, West Africa and the Caribbean. He later settled in Jamaica as Rawlinson's local representative, and became a senior figure in the English community there. Although he cannot be identified as a plantation owner himself, he certainly owned slaves, and continued to make money from the importation and trading of slaves. While in Jamaica he formed a relationship with a woman (described as 'a Mustee' or octaroon) called Judith Powell, and they produced four sons and two daughters in ten years. They never married, but at some point after 1781 they moved to Liverpool, where Moses established his own merchant house, which was responsible for at least eighty slaving voyages over the next twenty-five years. His surviving sons, Ralph Benson (1772-1845) and Moses Benson (1780-1837) were also associated with the business, which was continued by Moses junior alone after his father's death. Moses senior left an estate worth some £265,000 at his death in 1806, and his immensely complex will appointed five trustees to administer it. In 1807 they purchased the Lutwyche Hall estate in Shropshire for Ralph Benson, who left the mercantile house at this time and set himself up as a landed gentleman, openly devoted to hunting, racing and gambling and more covertly to dalliance. In 1808 he was convicted in the civil courts of adultery and paid damages of £1,000, but both his reputation and his marriage seem to have survived. As early as 1807 he stood for Parliament, and he was twice elected for Stafford, serving as MP for the town in 1812-18 and 1826-30. A combination of gambling and election expenses meant that he quickly ran through the substantial fortune his father left him, and after leaving parliament in 1830 he went abroad to avoid his creditors, though he returned to England at the end of his life. Lutwyche Hall was let, and seems later to have been handed over to his son, presumably to avoid it being sold to pay his debts, which amounted to more than £76,000 by 1841.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ralph and his wife Barbara produced two sons, Moses George Benson (1798-1871), who succeeded to the Lutwyche estate, and the Rev. Ralph Lewen Benson (1799-1849), who became rector of Easthope, one of two livings in the gift of his brother. In 1826, M.G. Benson married Charlotte Riou Browne, whose father had been killed in rioting in Dublin in 1803. The unusual name Riou was a family surname which was adopted by subsequent generations of the Benson family. During the 1830s and early 1840s, Moses and Charlotte lived at Malvern Wells (Worcs.) and most of their children were baptised at Hanley Castle, in which parish their house actually stood, but they moved back to Lutwyche after 1845 and during the 1850s remodelled the house so as to re-establish and emphasize its Elizabethan character. Their eldest son, Ralph Augustus Benson (1828-86) was educated at Oxford and the Inner Temple, and became a barrister and later a judge, serving as both Recorder of Shrewsbury and a Metropolitan Police magistrate. He evidently had a strong desire to enter Parliament, and stood for election three times, in each case unsuccessfully. He married a daughter of the architect, C.R. Cockerell (1788-1863), and her brother, Frederick Pepys Cockerell, was responsible for completing the alterations to Lutwyche around 1860. Ralph and his wife had three sons and two daughters. The younger sons pursued careers in the armed forces, while the eldest son, Ralph Beaumont Benson (1862-1911) attended Oxford and the Inner Temple. Unfortunately, he did not show the same appetite for his studies as his father had done, and he neither took a degree nor was called to the bar. His wife, Caroline Cholmondeley, came, however, from a notably literary family, and their delicate and troubled daughter, Stella Benson (1892-1933) became a writer whose novels were admired by Virginia Woolf, while their younger son was a barrister and judge like his grandfather.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">When Ralph Beaumont Benson died in 1911 he left an estate valued at nearly £70,000, but the financial pressures on landed estates in the early 20th century were already making themselves felt. His elder son and heir, George Reginald Benson (1888-1961) pursued a career in the army which was cut short by ill-health at the end of the First World War. He progressively dispersed the estate through a series of sales, and the contents of the house were sold in 1928. After the Second World War the house was let to a school, and in 1952 the freehold of the house and the last part of the estate was sold, bringing to an end the family's status as landed gentry after around 150 years.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Lutwyche Hall, Rushbury, Shropshire</b></span></h3><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house stands on Wenlock Edge at the northern end of Rushbury parish, but much closer to Easthope, where many of the Bensons are buried. The Lutwyche family, who took their name from the manor, were established here by the 14th century, and by the early 16th century the manor house was evidently a gabled structure of coursed limestone rubble. Two gable-ends on the rear (north-west) elevation and the cellars may be survivals from this time. Edward Lutwyche, a Chancery cursitor, who had inherited by 1586, largely rebuilt it as an H-plan manor house, and a datestone of 1587 (though not thought to be original) may provide the approximate date of construction. The new work was in fashionable red brick, decorated with a diaper pattern in blue bricks. As first built, the house was very similar to nearby Shipton Hall, built for Edward's brother John a few years later: it had a short central hall range with symmetrical gabled cross-wings and tall thin towers in the re-entrant angles on the entrance side. The base of the northern tower formed a porch leading into a screens passage with a stair turret at its far end. The house was taxed on fourteen hearths in 1672. Little is known about the original interiors of the house, but in 1735 the Rev. William Mytton visited Lutwyche and described and made sketches of heraldic glass in the windows which survive among his papers at Birmingham University.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvzmTiQJv06GLf3kf6G8SUoSbTK8-hhYcT9Sc0ODnvL4Oj2sgKLOWyHobGpj6b4-_WsZ7CrneAhMNABDkBz0L7lC2lsFb0Q9F_MVZUgpcjzPt_QSirRcflUjCpmkSlh4YqUe_3fLvIuJ2XdvCjLB7Q9auDAw93Mgd0SIKhstm2GYeYvReXUfDVjGTVA2I/s2859/Lutwyche%20Hall%2023a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2028" data-original-width="2859" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvzmTiQJv06GLf3kf6G8SUoSbTK8-hhYcT9Sc0ODnvL4Oj2sgKLOWyHobGpj6b4-_WsZ7CrneAhMNABDkBz0L7lC2lsFb0Q9F_MVZUgpcjzPt_QSirRcflUjCpmkSlh4YqUe_3fLvIuJ2XdvCjLB7Q9auDAw93Mgd0SIKhstm2GYeYvReXUfDVjGTVA2I/w640-h454/Lutwyche%20Hall%2023a.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Lutwyche Hall: watercolour by Moses Griffiths, 1793, showing the 18th century alterations. Image: Miles Wynn Cato.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>In the mid 18th century, the house was remodelled and modernized for William Lutwyche (d. 1773), apparently in a series of campaigns spread over a considerable period. A new two-storey brick block was added behind the hall range, with a fine new staircase at its west end, and the principal rooms were given new panelling in a contemporary style. The south-west side elevation became the entrance front and was given a new sash windowed facade of five bays, with a three-bay breakfront rising to a pediment enclosing a Diocletian window. The hall and screens passage were merged and redecorated in a fashionable Rococo taste, with a fine plaster overmantel and overdoors of unusually fanciful form. In the grounds, a new </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">stable block of red brick was built north-east of the house, with a central carriage arch beneath a large pediment, and the grounds were landscaped, with a stone temple built south-west of the house. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbpWA4pRB8JAaDBm-4qMHtO6MR81Ag1HpjTlr1E3giXiXeZwSzgh0zqB-UHpgfcsJORR_AWtFYIiO33VqL9xMX3uMVL_cns6W5dw0C6PzQ46wHbyzxqez38qPfRXCPiNf9w5C5plj3gq4JY5sxDY4DT9L_JsdFqPSl0f-CdcinZayJgS6PvUgi5OGa6Vn/s1556/Lutwyche%20Hall%2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="1556" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbpWA4pRB8JAaDBm-4qMHtO6MR81Ag1HpjTlr1E3giXiXeZwSzgh0zqB-UHpgfcsJORR_AWtFYIiO33VqL9xMX3uMVL_cns6W5dw0C6PzQ46wHbyzxqez38qPfRXCPiNf9w5C5plj3gq4JY5sxDY4DT9L_JsdFqPSl0f-CdcinZayJgS6PvUgi5OGa6Vn/w640-h460/Lutwyche%20Hall%2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Lutwyche Hall: the entrance hall in 1974. Image: Historic England.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Although differences in style proclaim that the work was not the result of a single coherent campaign, there is sadly no documentation to show conclusively who was involved. However it does seem likely that Lutwyche sought design and craftsmen from the major Midlands building concern, based in Warwick, that was run successively by Francis Smith (d. 1738), his son, William Smith (d. 1747) and their former employees, William (d. 1776) and David (d. 1758) Hiorn. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The late Andor Gomme suggested there were three phases of work on the interior: firstly the building of the rear block, the construction of the staircase, and the refitting of the library in the south-west corner of the house; secondly, the refitting of the drawing room in a plainer, neo-Jonesian style; and finally, the plasterwork decoration of the hall. The library panelling and staircase he attributed confidently to the joiner, Thomas Eborall, who worked closely with Francis and William Smith, and the richer, more elaborate style of these rooms than the other interiors does suggest they are earlier. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwmzOTF9BXDJVO4bhi7CZqKM1FIhjXCwqyS2q36plLDed8Co7GJb8vQEh1xKjkD7QNecZl_JJJV4hGzR-cgApRdln6uVAz3n49hg1ymEeahf2wra9aM02zW6IzZYzI6d2krBOtOa9TjvkwfE9y-Atdll4TRW83QWSypkgOXlsgNfbtcoqUibaz-_mpcXi/s1540/Lutwyche%20Hall%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="1110" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwmzOTF9BXDJVO4bhi7CZqKM1FIhjXCwqyS2q36plLDed8Co7GJb8vQEh1xKjkD7QNecZl_JJJV4hGzR-cgApRdln6uVAz3n49hg1ymEeahf2wra9aM02zW6IzZYzI6d2krBOtOa9TjvkwfE9y-Atdll4TRW83QWSypkgOXlsgNfbtcoqUibaz-_mpcXi/w289-h400/Lutwyche%20Hall%203.jpg" width="289" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lutwyche Hall: staircase in 1974. Image: Historic England </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Gareth Williams has pointed out that the Diocletian window on the new south-west front at Lutwyche was a feature particularly favoured by the Hiorn brothers, who built nearby Delbury Hall in 1752-56. The staircase at Delbury was constructed by Benjamin King and employs balusters that are nearly identical to those at Lutwyche, but the general form of the staircase seems very different and distinctly later in feel. Nonetheless, the Hiorn Brothers seem very likely candidates for Gomme's second phase of work, including the refitting of the drawing room at Lutwyche. The elaborate plasterwork decoration of the hall feels later again, and has some similarities to the Rococo overmantel in the hall at Shipton Hall. Although </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">T.F. Pritchard (d. 1777) was working at Shipton in 1757-59, there is no mention of Lutwyche in his surviving album of drawings. An alternative suggestion, made first by Andor Gomme, is that the very free plasterwork at Lutwyche and in the overmantel at Shipton might be the work of Thomas Roberts of Oxford. That feels plausible but not totally convincing, but whoever was responsible, it seems likely that the work was amongst the last to be completed, in the late 1750s or even the 1760s.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">William Lutwyche died, deeply in debt, in 1773 and legal disputes between his illegitimate son and one of his sisters and co-heirs led to the sale of the estate in 1785. Before 1793 a long, two-storey service wing had been built on to the northern end of the house. A little later, the gables on the entrance front were removed and the house was stuccoed. Thus the house stood in 1807 when it was acquired by the trustees of Moses Benson (1738-1806) for the latter's son, Capt. Ralph Benson (1773-1845), who is not known to have made any changes to the house. However, his son, Moses George Benson (1797-1871) brought in Samuel Pountney Smith (1812-86) of Shrewsbury in about 1851 to begin returning the house to its Elizabethan form. The 18th century stucco was removed, the classical south-west elevation was replaced by mullioned and transomed windows and a new bay window was built; at the rear, the 18th century block was extended in a crude and heavy manner. Inside, less was done, but the dining room was repanelled, and stained glass was restored to the windows of the hall, and it is possible that the ceiling of the hall - remarkably keeping in keeping with the Rococo plasterwork below - was created at this time. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">A fuller restoration of the entrance front took place in 1860, when Frederick Pepys Cockerell, who was related by marriage to the Bensons, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">added two-storey bay windows and gables to the wings, and created a three-storey porch between the towers with a first-floor oriel window. The result is a rather crowded and heavily ornamented, but undeniably effective, design.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_s_lPIRjB561OqIyzsEWDKNPZLJcjSLbg5Lir1tXk27oGi3_omWJAjsUrtM1wTfcSEBsGi4WE9AWHBDikSGKoPhk5z2CBQjzcnxqG-UL1Tznll8aEDB9RDvY59PuPnQyBkv84N6KiLsivBPOza7y4XMMK4VIsO4SIns4iPHJkpIZuoy9fIRp4R0sOhuX7/s1342/Lutwyche%20Hall%2021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="1342" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_s_lPIRjB561OqIyzsEWDKNPZLJcjSLbg5Lir1tXk27oGi3_omWJAjsUrtM1wTfcSEBsGi4WE9AWHBDikSGKoPhk5z2CBQjzcnxqG-UL1Tznll8aEDB9RDvY59PuPnQyBkv84N6KiLsivBPOza7y4XMMK4VIsO4SIns4iPHJkpIZuoy9fIRp4R0sOhuX7/w640-h418/Lutwyche%20Hall%2021.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Lutwyche Hall: the entrance front as remodelled in the mid 19th century by F.P. Cockerell. Image: Historic England</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the early 20th century, the usual taxation and other pressures on landed estates led to the sale of over 1,000 acres of the estate in 1921. The contents of the house were sold in 1928, and further sections of the estate were sold in 1937-38. After the Second World War the remainder of the estate was sold and the house was leased as Wenlock Edge School from 1948. In 1966 the school closed and it became an hotel. Institutional use was accompanied by progressive physical decline, and by the 1970s it was in poor shape. In the 1980s a major restoration was undertaken for a new American owner, Dr. Roger Pearson, but a major fire in 1989 all but gutted the north-east wing of the house, which was subsequently re-roofed as a shell. The stable block, which had long since lost its cupola, was given a new one designed by the owners' son.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3eCUO-884oFHJd45s_7yIrc8TwNDGYKFMl_jVFUp2tFLLqRzx963ec17N-bc_1zhY4HN1Bn43SXVw-a27Q3lZfXjeH25-27ejJIZuTHXhcRxoYVJBLLxtjb25ZZk-qRrz9q_ckbgM9KRjmeP6zlOtcpj0B0NYsNXUefp6T5l_PWwzChL2DAqBEQn1tWGQ/s640/Lutwyche%20Hall%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3eCUO-884oFHJd45s_7yIrc8TwNDGYKFMl_jVFUp2tFLLqRzx963ec17N-bc_1zhY4HN1Bn43SXVw-a27Q3lZfXjeH25-27ejJIZuTHXhcRxoYVJBLLxtjb25ZZk-qRrz9q_ckbgM9KRjmeP6zlOtcpj0B0NYsNXUefp6T5l_PWwzChL2DAqBEQn1tWGQ/w640-h480/Lutwyche%20Hall%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lutwyche Hall: the house today</span></td></tr></tbody></table></i></span></div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">Descent: Richard Lutwyche (d. by 1586); to son, Edward Lutwyche (d. 1614); to son, Edward Lutwyche (d. 1639); to daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah Lutwyche, with remainder to grandson, Sir Edward Lutwyche (d. 1709), kt.; to son, Thomas Lutwyche (d. 1734); to son, William Lutwyche (d. 1773); to sisters, Elizabeth Lutwyche (d. 1776), Anne Fazakerley (d. 1776) and Sarah Winford (d. 1793), of whom the first two left their shares to William's illegitimate son, William Lane (later Lutwyche), who sold 1785 to Bartlet Goodrich; sold 1794 to Thomas Langton (d. 1805); sold after his death to trustees of Moses Benson (1738-1806) for his son, Ralph Benson (1772-1845); to son, Moses George Benson (1798-1871); to son, Ralph Augustus Benson (1828-86); to son, Ralph Beaumont Benson (1862-1911); to son, Maj. George Reginald Benson (1888-1961), who sold most of the estate by 1947 and the house in 1952 to Wenlock Edge School; sold 1966 to Lutwyche Hall Hotel...Mr & Mrs M.F. Jones sold 1975... sold 1979 to Dr. & Mrs. Roger Pearson; sold 2000... Simon Vincent Lloyd-Jones (b. 1968).</i></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Benson family of Lutwyche Hall</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benson, Moses (1738-1806). </b>Son of John Benson (1684-1766) of Ulverston (Lancs), yeoman, born 1738. H</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">e became a captain in the West Indies trade for Abraham Rawlinson of Lancaster, merchant, and the latter's representative in Jamaica (where he held office as a Lt-Col. of the militia and was first treasurer of the Kingston Chamber of Commerce) before returning to Liverpool to establish his own trading house, becoming one of the most successful Liverpool merchants in the 'triangular trade' and amassing a substantial fortune.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Although he is not known to have owned any plantations in the Caribbean himself, he did own slaves, advertising a reward for information leading to the capture of a slave sailor who had absconded in 1780. He is said to have been </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">a liberal patron of the fine arts, and of educational and religious objectives in Liverpool. </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He had illegitimate issue by Judith Powell 'a free </span><a href="https://www.dictionary.com/browse/mustee" style="font-family: georgia;">Mustee</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> woman':</span></div></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(X1) Ralph Benson (1772-1845) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(X2) James Benson (b. 1773), born 23 October and baptised at Kingston (Jamaica), 30 October 1773; probably died young in the lifetime of his father as he is not mentioned in the latter's will;</span><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(X3) John Benson (b. 1775), baptised at Kingston (Jamaica), 2 December 1775; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">probably died young in the lifetime of his father as he is not mentioned in the latter's will;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(X4) Mary Benson (1777-1858), born 10 February 1777 and baptised at Kingston (Jamaica), 3 February 1779; married, 4 November 1817 at St Mark, Liverpool, Rev. Charles Thomas Gladwin (c.1786-1846), vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Liverpool; died 7 August 1858; will proved 24 August 1858 (effects under £25,000 but later resworn as under £450!);</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(X5) <i>twin, </i>Moses Benson (1780-1837), born 13 February 1780 and baptised at Kingston (Jamaica), 3 April 1781; merchant in Liverpool, who succeeded to his father's business and was bankrupted, 1828; an officer in Royal Liverpool Volunteers (Capt. 1803); married, 23 September 1803 at Christ Church, Liverpool, Margaret (c.1778-1854), daughter of Capt. John Kendall, and had issue; died 1 March, and was buried at St James, Toxteth, Liverpool (Lancs), 7 March 1837;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(X6) <i>twin, </i>Jane Dorothy Benson (1780-1861), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">born 13 February 1780 and baptised at Kingston (Jamaica), 3 April 1781; married at St Peter, Liverpool, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, 29 April 1800 and again 15 February 1801, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Richard Elmhirst (1771-1847) of West Ashby Grove (Lincs), and had issue five sons and six daughters; died 11 August 1861; will proved 13 September 1801 (effects under £800)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived in a mansion house with extensive gardens in Duke St., Liverpool. After his death, his trustees bought the Lutwyche Hall estate in 1807.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 5 June and was buried at Liverpool, 11 June 1806; his immensely long will was proved in the PCC, 29 November 1806 (estate under £265,000), but eventually required an Act of Parliament in 1830 to resolve its complexities. His partner, Judith Powell, is said to have accompanied him to Liverpool, but her death has not been traced. Since she was not mentioned in his will, she may have died before 1806.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benson, Ralph (1772-1845). </b>Elder illegitimate son of Moses Benson (1738-1806) and Judith Powell, 'a free Mustee woman', born 21 July 1772 and baptised </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">in Kingston (Jamaica),</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">8 March 1773. Educated at Manchester Grammar School. An officer in the 85th Foot (Capt. 1793; ret. 1795 as a result of a fever caught at Walcheren in 1794) and in the West Shropshire militia (Capt., 1808). </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">After leaving the army he joined his father's business as a merchant in Liverpool, but after his father's death his brother took over the management of the business (which became bankrupt in 1828), although he maintained some links with the Liverpool merchant elite, serving </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">on the committees of the Ship Owners’ Association, the Royal Institution for Literature, Science and the Arts and the Mechanics’ Institute.</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Bailiff of the Borough of Sefton, 1804 and Mayor of Sefton, 1806. DL and JP for Shropshire and Staffordshire. In politics he was a Conservative and a supporter of Canning; he stood unsuccessfully for Parliament in Stafford, 1807 and Bridgnorth, 1820, but was elected MP for Stafford, 1812-18, 1826-30. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His wife was said to host 'delightful parties' but Benson was addicted to horse-racing and gambling and was considered 'too much of a Lothario'; and in 1808 he was convicted of 'criminal conversation' (adultery) with the wife of a fellow Liverpool merchant, and had to pay damages of £1,000. As time went by, he suffered from increasing financial difficulties. His election expenses went unpaid for long periods and in 1826 and 1829 he lost civil actions for debts incurred in the elections of 1820 and 1826. After leaving Parliament he moved to France to avoid his creditors, and probably transferred the Lutwyche estate to his son. He is said to have been outlawed for non-payment of taxes, 1835, but returned to England in 1840, where he appeared in the insolvent debtors court in 1841 and admitted to debts over £76,000 and was discharged. He married, 22 July 1794 in Limerick (Ireland), Barbara (c.1777-1852), third daughter and co-heiress of Thomas Lewin (d. 1797) of Cloghans (Co. Mayo), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Moses George Benson (1798-1871) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Rev. Ralph Lewen Benson (1799-1849), born 6 May and baptised at St Stephen, Byrom St., Liverpool, 5 June 1799; educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1819; BA 1823; MA 1825); rector of Easthope; married, 28 August 1827 at St Mary, Bryanston Sq., St Marylebone (Middx), Amelia St. George Browne (1807-73), daughter of John Dyer, surgeon with the East India Co., and had issue two sons; died 23 August 1849.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>His father's trustees bought Lutwyche Hall for him, but he let it from 1830, when he went to live in France, and he seems later to have handed it over to his son. His widow lived latterly in Cheltenham (Glos).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 23 October and was buried at St James, Toxteth, Liverpool, 31 October 1845; his will was proved at Chester, 15 May 1851. His widow died in Cheltenham, and was buried at Toxteth, 19 January 1852.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benson, Moses George (1798-1871). </b>Elder son of Ralph Benson (1772-1845) and his wife Barbara, third daughter and co-heiress of Thomas Lewin of Cloghans (Co. Mayo), born 20 January and baptised at St James, Toxteth, Liverpool (Lancs), 26 January 1798. Educated privately and at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1819). JP for Shropshire from 1834 (Chairman of Church Stretton Petty Sessions and for some years of the County Police Committee) and for Worcestershire; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">DL</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> for Shropshire from 1835. A Conservative in politics</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. He married, 11 April 1826 at Great Malvern (Worcs), Charlotte Riou (1800-75), only daughter and heiress of Col. Lyde Browne (d. 1803), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Dora Georgina Harrington Benson (1827-80), born 27 May and baptised at Hanley Castle (Worcs), 1 June 1827; married, 22 November 1853 at Easthope, Rev. Frederick Jonathan Richards (1824-96), vicar of Boxley (Kent), 1853-96, second son of William Parry Richards, and had issue one son and three daughters; died 3 June and was buried at Boxley, 9 June 1880; administration of her goods granted to her husband, 9 September 1880 (effects under £200);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Ralph Augustus Benson (1828-86) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Charlotte Julia Mary Benson (1830-94), baptised at Cheltenham, 26 July 1830; lived latterly at Llanfyllin (Montgomerys.); died unmarried, 13 October, and was buried at Easthope, 18 October 1894; will proved 15 November 1894 (effects £7,960);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">twin, </i><span style="font-family: georgia;">Mary Elizabeth Benson (1832-93), baptised at Hanley Castle (Worcs), 7 March 1832; lived latterly with her twin sister at Leamington Spa (Warks); died unmarried and was buried at Easthope, 20 April 1893; administration of goods granted to her sister, 15 June 1893 (effects £3,326);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) <i>twin, </i>Fanny Mary Benson (1832-1901), baptised at Hanley Castle, 7 March 1832; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">lived latterly with her twin sister at Leamington Spa (Warks);</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">died unmarried, 11 February 1901; will proved 2 May 1901 (estate £9,872);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Rev. Riou George Benson (1834-96), born 1 December 1834 and baptised at Hanley Castle (Worcs), 26 January 1835; educated at Durham University (L.Th, 1859); ordained deacon and priest, 1860; rector of Hope Bowdler (Shrops.), 1860-96; JP for Shropshire; married, 11 April 1861 at Honley (Yorks WR), Mary (1840-1913), daughter of Thomas Brooke of Northgate House, Honley, merchant, and had issue seven sons and six daughters; died 18 January and was buried at Hope Bowdler, 21 January 1896; administration of goods granted 8 May 1896 (estate £10,254);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Madeline Barbara Benson (1837-1909), born at Brussels (Belgium), 28 July 1837; married, 31 January 1882 at Easthope, Rev. Louis Arthur Cockerell (1836-1929), rector of North Weald (Essex), son of Rev. Henry Cockerell, but had no issue; died 12 March 1909; will proved 11 May 1909 (estate £4,063);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Philip Riou Henry Benson (1842-66), born 4 June and baptised at Hanley Castle, 28 July 1842; farmer at Stoneburn Station, Dunedin (New Zealand); drowned in the sinking of the steamship <i>London</i> in the Bay of Biscay, 11 January 1866; administration of goods granted to his father, 4 July 1866 (effects under £1,500);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) <span style="background-color: white;">Lyde Ernest George Benson</span> (1845-1924), born 27 May and baptised at Hanley Castle, 19 July 1845; educated at St John's College, Oxford (matriculated 1864) and the Inner Temple (admitted 1868; called 1872); barrister-at-law; JP for Shropshire; lived at Larden Cottage (Shrops.); married, 5 May 1885 at Rushbury (Shrops.), Emily Harriet (1858-1932), daughter of Rev. Frederick Harry Hotham, rector of Rushbury, and had issue one son; died 12 September 1924 and was buried at Easthope; will proved 8 December 1924 (estate £14,892).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He inherited Lutwyche Hall from his father in 1845 and also maintained a house at Malvern Wells (Worcs).</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 11 April, and was buried at Easthope, 18 April 1871; his will was proved 3 May 1875 (effects under £25,000). His widow died at Malvern Wells, 8 July 1875; her will was proved 27 July 1875 (effects under £4,000).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benson, Ralph Augustus (1828-86). </b>Eldest son of Moses George Benson (1798-1871) and his wife Charlotte Riou, only daughter and heiress of Col. Lyde Browne, born at Malvern Wells (Worcs), 11 August and baptised at Hanley Castle (Worcs), 16 August 1828. Educated at Winchester, Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1846; BA 1850; MA 1864) and Inner Temple (called 1854). Barrister-at-law. A Metropolitan Police magistrate in Southwark, 1867-79 and Recorder of Shrewsbury, 1866-79. A freemason from 1848. An officer in the South Shropshire Yeomanry Cavalry (Cornet, 1850; Lt., 1871; retired 1879). A Conservative in politics, he stood unsuccessfully for parliament in the Reading (Berks) constituency in 1859 and 1860 and at Wenlock (Shrops.), 1880. He married, 7 August 1860 at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster (Middx), Henrietta Selina (1836-82), daughter of Charles Robert Cockerell (1788-1863), architect, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Ralph Beaumont Benson (1862-1911) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Frederica Mary Benson (1863-1928), baptised at St Paul, Knightsbridge (Middx), 19 June 1863; married, 14 January 1891 at St Margaret, Westminster (Middx), Francis Edward Prescott-Decie (1861-1927) of Bockleton Court (Worcs), barrister-at-law, son of Col. Richard Prescott-Decie, and had issue one son and three daughters; died 5 September 1928 and was buried at Bockleton (Worcs); will proved 20 December 1928 (estate £3,407);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) <span style="background-color: white;">Vice-Adm. Robert Edmund Ross Benson</span> (1864-1927), born 23 April and baptised at St James, Dover, 5 June 1864; joined the Royal Navy, 1877 (Midshipman, 1879; Sub-Lt., 1883; Lt., 1887; Cdr., 1900; Capt., 1906; retired as Rear-Adm., 1918; Vice-Adm., 1923); appointed CB, 1916; married 1st, 25 May 1897 at Kingswear (Devon), Williama Margaret (1871-1924), eldest daughter of Lt-Col. St. John Edward Daubeny of The Beacon, Kingswear (Devon) and had issue one son (who died young); married 2nd, 5 August 1926 at Pyrford (Surrey), Alice Helen (1882-1980), only daughter of Charles Echlin Gerahty of The Yews, Whitchurch (Hants); died 3 February 1927; will proved 12 April 1927 (estate £6,422);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Philippa Jessie Benson (1866-1930), baptised at St Paul, Knightsbridge, 10 March 1866; died unmarried, 19 September 1930; will proved 2 December 1930 and 21 April 1931 (estate £10,774);</span></span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) George Conolly Benson (1867-1900), born 12 March and baptised at St James, Dover, 5 May 1867; educated at Eton and Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst; an officer in the army (2nd Lt., 1887; Lt. 1890; Capt., 1898) who was seconded to the Colonial Service in the Gold Coast; died unmarried when he was killed near Kumasi (Ghana), 29 August 1900; will proved 2 November 1900 (estate £3,228).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Lutwyche Hall from his father in 1871 and had a town house in Montagu Sq., London.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at his house in London, 11 March, and was buried at Easthope, 18 March 1886; his will was proved 16 April 1886 (effects £5,975). His wife died 23 August, and was buried at Easthope, 30 August 1882; administration of her goods was granted 18 April 1883 (effects £203).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benson, Ralph Beaumont (1862-1911). </b>Eldest son of Ralph Augustus Benson (1828-86) and his wife Henrietta Selina, only daughter of Charles Robert Cockerell RA, born 10 March and baptised at St Paul, Knightsbridge (Middx), 24 April 1862. Educated at Harrow, Balliol College, Oxford (matriculated 1880) and Inner Temple (admitted 1882). An officer in the Shropshire Volunteer Rifles (Lt., 1884) and Shropshire Yeomanry (Lt., 1885; Capt. 1891; ret. 1897); JP for Shropshire. A freemason from 1892. He married, 22 June 1886 at Hodnet (Shrops.), Caroline Essex (1861-1934), second daughter of Rev. Richard Cholmondeley of Condover Hall (Shrops.), rector of Hodnet, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) George Reginald Benson (1888-1961) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Catherine Maia Benson (1890-99); baptised at Easthope (Shrops.), 10 May 1890; died young, 22 May and was buried at Easthope, 26 May 1899;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Stella Benson (1892-1933), baptised at Easthope, 6 March 1892; a sickly and nervous child who received little formal education; she worked for suffragist organisations and charities in London before travelling to America and then China, where she met her husband; between 1915 and 1931 she produced eight novels of which <i>Tobit transformed</i> (1931) is the best-known today, as well as short stories and travel writing; she married, 27 September 1921, James Carew O'Gorman Anderson (1893-1946), a commissioner in the Chinese customs service (who m2, 1935, Veronica Beatrice (1905-88), daughter of Hon. Sir Frank Trevor Roger Bigham, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">a deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">and had issue two sons and one daughter), only son of Brig-Gen. Sir Francis Anderson KBE CB of Ballydavid (Co. Waterford), but had no issue; died of pneumonia at Hongay (Vietnam), 6 December, and was buried there, 7 December 1933; administration of her goods granted 16 April 1934 (effects in England, £5,939);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Stephen Riou Benson (1896-1961), born 11 October 1896; educated at Charterhouse and Inner Temple (admitted 1920; called 1923); barrister-at-law; Recorder of Abingdon, 1929; deputy chairman of Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions, 1958-61; a Conservative in politics, he stood unsuccessfully for Parliament in the West Ham South constituency in 1935 and was a member of London County Council (for Wandsworth, Balham and Tooting), 1937-42; married, 28 February 1935 at St Mary, West Kensington (Middx), Phyllis Mary (1900-78), daughter of Henry Charles Hawkins of Addington (Surrey), rope manufacturer, and widow of Edwin Cawston (d. 1928) of Frinton-on-Sea (Essex), and had issue two sons; died 29 November and was buried at St Mary, Addington (Surrey), 4 December 1961; will proved 7 January 1963 (estate £500).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Lutwyche Hall from his father in 1886.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Folkestone (Kent), 16 October 1911; his will was proved 14 November 1911 (estate £69,648). His widow died 19 December 1934; her will was proved 8 February 1935 (estate £1,330).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benson, George Reginald (1888-1961). </b>Elder son of Ralph Beaumont Benson (1862-1911) and his wife Caroline Essex, second daughter of Rev. Richard Cholmondeley of Condover Hall (Shrops.), rector of Hodnet (Shrops.), born 25 April and baptised at St Mary, Bryanston Sq., Westminster (Middx), 29 May 1888. Educated at Eton and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. An officer in the army (2nd Lt., 1908; Lt. 1911; Capt., 1914; Maj., 1916; retired on health grounds, 1919). He married 1st, 24 November 1917 at St Philip, Kensington (Middx), (div. 1938), Violet Martha Helena (1897-1990), daughter of William H. Estorffe of New Zealand, and 2nd, 17 November 1938, Jane Frances (1904-93), daughter of Thomas Hood Henderson Walker of Monifieth (Angus) and widow of Capt. William Morrice, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Ralph Benson (1919-94), born 17 March 1919; educated at Eton and Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst; an officer in the Coldstream Guards (2nd Lt., 1939; Lt., 1941; Capt., 1946; ret. 1951); private secretary to Governor of Northern Ireland, 1952-55; married 1st, 19 November 1947, Helen Mary (d. 1951), younger daughter of Lt-Col. Charles Walter Villiers CBE DSO and formerly wife of Capt. Nicholas Richard Michael Eliot (1914-88), Lord Eliot (later 9th Earl of St Germans), and had issue one son and one daughter; married 2nd, 18 September 1952, Wanda (1924-74), only daughter of Lt-Col. Francis Leger Christian Livingstone-Learmonth CMG; died 28 November 1994; will proved 3 April 1995 (estate under £125,000);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Georgina Benson (1921-97), born 31 August 1921; married 2 February 1947 (div. 1954), as his second wife, Claude Mowbray Berkeley (1906-78), only son of Sir Ernest James Lennox Berkeley KCMG CB (1857-1932), and had issue one son and one daughter; died August 1997;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.3) <span style="background-color: white;">John</span> Benson (1922-55), born 19 September 1922; died unmarried at Harts Hospital, Woodford Green (Essex), a tuberculosis sanatorium, 10 May 1955; will proved 24 June 1955 (estate £213);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.4) Riou Benson (1923-2014), born 27 November 1923; educated at Stowe; solicitor in London; married, 11 February 1950 at St Nicholas, Arundel (Sussex), Elizabeth Mary (1922-2010), youngest daughter of Ven. John Godber of West Tarring (Sussex), and had issue two sons and one daughter; died 17 January 2014; will proved 22 May 2014;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.5) Barbara Benson (1930-2020), born 11 September 1930; married, 21 April 1958 at Berne (Switzerland), Robert Charles Frederick Eden (1916-2014), son of Frederick Morton Eden of Allmendingen, Berne (Switzerland), and had issue one son and one daughter; died 7 January 2020.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Lutwyche Hall from his father in 1911, but progressively dispersed the estate through sales of land, culminating in the sale of the house in 1947/1952. The house was let to a school from 1948.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 23 March 1961; will proved 29 June 1961 (estate £17,349). His first wife married 2nd, Michael Richard Lavie Robinson (1908-92) and died 18 January 1990; administration of her goods was granted 21 May 1990 (estate under £100,000). His widow married 3rd, 12 July 1962, Cdr. Robert Martin Dominic Ponsonby RN (1911-95), only surviving son of Sir George Arthur Ponsonby KCVO, and died 30 May 1993; her will was proved 29 June 1993 (estate £688,843).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Landed Gentry</i>, 1969, pp. 40-42; <i>VCH Shropshire</i>, vol. x, 1998, pp. 52-72; A. Gomme, <i>Smith of Warwick</i>, 2000, pp. 243-45; J. Newman & Sir N. Pevsner, <i>The buildings of England: Shropshire</i>, 2nd edn., 2006, p. 388; G. Williams, <i>The country houses of Shropshire</i>, 2021, pp. 405-09; </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Benson family of Lutwyche Hall: </i>deeds and papers, 18th-20th cents. [Shropshire Archives]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Argent, a ship under sail at sea, the colours flying proper; out of a chief wavy azure, a cubit arm, vested gules, cuff or, in the hand a sword erect of the first pommel and hilt or, sustaining on the point a balance of the last, and between two pineapples of the second.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide photographs or portraits of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 22 November 2023.</span></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-41231452210127563122023-11-15T15:23:00.003+00:002024-01-01T06:31:57.169+00:00(564) Bennett and Leigh-Bennett of Thorpe Place<span style="font-family: georgia;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCY2cdr8M2It4_bPYK4nrFV_c9oq4yFXL2tY8fu-YRWe7Gy5m47KRhEvAGY5PecTw8-y0rsR-sCypK0jz_iLNZYBjhKah6PCLVKXVQpeLwfSvKWIpFx7IGr4vLxsc5FeqrOzoFN9aTtEecWIfgdwHgRDBdbshNXL9NVFg-HtS27PA-3J0e1UzpHJWvR6E/s1200/Leigh-Bennet%20of%20Thorpe%20Place.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCY2cdr8M2It4_bPYK4nrFV_c9oq4yFXL2tY8fu-YRWe7Gy5m47KRhEvAGY5PecTw8-y0rsR-sCypK0jz_iLNZYBjhKah6PCLVKXVQpeLwfSvKWIpFx7IGr4vLxsc5FeqrOzoFN9aTtEecWIfgdwHgRDBdbshNXL9NVFg-HtS27PA-3J0e1UzpHJWvR6E/w167-h200/Leigh-Bennet%20of%20Thorpe%20Place.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;">Leigh-Bennet of Thorpe Place </span></td></tr></tbody></table>The story of this family begins with John Bennett (1698-1765), a solicitor in Aylsham (Norfk). He married Mary (c.1708-46), the daughter of a gentleman called Wolley Leigh of Hevingham (Norfk). In 1740, the courts decided that she and her sister, Anne Spencer, were the rightful heirs to the extensive estates in Surrey and elsewhere of Sir John Leigh (d. 1737), kt. of Addington (Surrey). In 1767 the Bennetts and the Spencers obtained an Act of Parliament to partition these estates between them, with the result that the Spencers acquired Addington and the Bennetts the Thorpe Place estate in Surrey, as well as other lands in Norfolk and Middlesex. The principal Bennett beneficiary was Mary's second son, the Rev. Wolley Leigh Bennett (1733-90), who was rector of Hevingham but also the chaplain to successive owners of Stowe (Bucks), where he probably actually lived in his later years. His younger brother, Thomas Leigh Bennett (1736-97) was articled clerk to his father in 1753 but there is no evidence that he ever practised law, and by 1771 he was living in London, where he seems to have become an entrepreneur, or least an investor, in the entertainment industry, with interests in Ranelagh Gardens, the Theatre Royal, and the Pantheon. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YQ4MOi_zBmHgR5YSnIB_zNIRMAH4w9SEyJIIY4VYeBiK6ha8_B7WP9zWo35QcLRxWDpeKSmoEA6CpJgOtkkegEOchHMiZr3QxhGY3563E4Ms_UNBYs2ZsQsoWiQ2J_32qFdreD_DOs59nWM__Toc-LH-W-TwIWrbrB75k-lHDLPo_8Wh7ArOtjOGtSJP/s1024/Seagate%20Hall,%20Long%20Sutton.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YQ4MOi_zBmHgR5YSnIB_zNIRMAH4w9SEyJIIY4VYeBiK6ha8_B7WP9zWo35QcLRxWDpeKSmoEA6CpJgOtkkegEOchHMiZr3QxhGY3563E4Ms_UNBYs2ZsQsoWiQ2J_32qFdreD_DOs59nWM__Toc-LH-W-TwIWrbrB75k-lHDLPo_8Wh7ArOtjOGtSJP/w400-h300/Seagate%20Hall,%20Long%20Sutton.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Seagate Hall, Long Sutton, the vicarage rebuilt in the 1780s for <br />Rev. Thomas Leigh Bennett (1736-97). Image: Richard Humphrey. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">Some rights reserved</a>.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>He seems also to have bought the advowson of Long Sutton (Lincs), and although he retained his other investments until his death, he took holy orders in the early 1780s, and after serving a brief curacy at Thorpe he presented himself to Long Sutton on the vicarage becoming vacant in 1784. Although the clerical tradition was to be unusually strong among the descendants of John Bennett, it was unusual at this time for a middle-aged man to take orders, and it would be interesting to know why he did so, especially as a sudden religious enthusiasm would have been more likely to lead him into one of the rapidly growing Methodist splinter groups of the time. Long Sutton was a wealthy living, and Thomas seems to have committed to the parish, building a new vicarage (now Seagate Hall) as his place of residence and working there in person and not employing curates. The patronage of Long Sutton remained with his family for four generations, and his son, great-nephew and great-great-nephew all served as vicars there, albeit not continuously.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRFqZMWtkWmi-LeMmlAVRPLfAu3htEkIsMONdM7NVXO5FWdk7dA0IM-JicgVraCcvwz_DkkU5HwiUGnG7tS8t29fojo1oZx2A-AM2muDNnVDFaU2dAvxvaciizvm3BRgwDlyGIsgaZHJX2JzCpdXasOUxSWtOoOv9-wZnQBS5gROlrhUXV40ukUTWWn1j/s534/Lechlade%20Rectory%201804-05%20from%20Pace%20trade%20card.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="534" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRFqZMWtkWmi-LeMmlAVRPLfAu3htEkIsMONdM7NVXO5FWdk7dA0IM-JicgVraCcvwz_DkkU5HwiUGnG7tS8t29fojo1oZx2A-AM2muDNnVDFaU2dAvxvaciizvm3BRgwDlyGIsgaZHJX2JzCpdXasOUxSWtOoOv9-wZnQBS5gROlrhUXV40ukUTWWn1j/s320/Lechlade%20Rectory%201804-05%20from%20Pace%20trade%20card.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lechlade Rectory, as altered by Richard Pace <br />for the Rev. John Leigh Bennett in 1804-05, from Pace's tradecard.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>When the Rev. Wolley Leigh-Bennett died in 1790, his property at Thorpe Place and elsewhere descended to his eldest son, John Leigh Bennett (1767-1835), who took his degree at Oxford in 1790 and was ordained in 1792. He married his first cousin, Harriet, one of the daughters of the Rev. Thomas Leigh Bennett, in the same year, and after serving a curacy at Newton Purcell (Oxon), he was appointed vicar of Lechlade (Glos) in 1795. He evidently served at Lechlade in person, occupying the vicarage house on the east side of the market place and remodelling it in 1804-05 to the designs of the local mason-architect, Richard Pace (c.1760-1838). In 1805, the rectory at Thorpe became vacant, on the death of the Rev. James Liptrott, and John, who owned the advowson of the parish, presented himself as Liptrott's successor. His resigned the living at Lechlade in order to take up his new appointment, but almost immediately changed his mind and was re-installed at Lechlade, where he remained until 1809. It seems very probable that this was occasioned by his deciding to pull down the old Hall Place at Thorpe and built a more up-to-date house to replace it. It is tempting to wonder whether, having so recently employed Richard Pace to remodel the rectory at Lechlade, he might have used him again for the new house at Thorpe, but stylistically this seems unlikely, and the designer of the new house at Thorpe remains anonymous.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Rev. John Leigh Bennett's eldest son predeceased him, so at his death in 1835 he was succeeded by his second son, the Rev. Henry Leigh Bennett (1795-1880), who was then rector of Croughton (Northants), but who presented himself to the living at Thorpe in 1849 and remained the incumbent until he retired in 1874. He was survived by two sons and a daughter, with the eldest son, Henry Currie Leigh Bennett (1852-1903) inheriting Thorpe Place, while his daughter, Mary Leigh Bennett (1851-1926) married Marmaduke Head Best (1847-1912) of <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2014/09/142-andrews-of-shaw-place-and.html">Donnington Grove</a> (Berks). Henry Currie Leigh Bennett became a barrister and was very active in local administration in Surrey. He adopted the hyphenated name Leigh-Bennett, and was generally so called, although he seems to have taken no steps to make the change officially. In 1897 he was elected as MP for Chertsey and he was still in the House when he succumbed to an attack of appendicitis in 1903, aged just fifty. His heir was his son, Henry Wolley Leigh-Bennett (1880-1951), who formalised the change of name in 1913. Like his father, he trained as a barrister, but he appears not to have practised, and by 1908 he was acting as resident land agent for Lord St. Levan in Devonport (Devon), while his mother continued to live at Thorpe Place. After the First World War, however, he began to disperse the estate, selling land in 1919 and 1921. The house was offered for sale in 1921 and 1927 but remained unsold until 1930, when it became a centre for the treatment of female inebriates run by the Community of St Mary the Virgin at Wantage. By then, Leigh-Bennett had inherited Donnington Grove from his aunt, and he and his wife lived there for some years before that house too was sold in 1936.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Thorpe Place, Surrey</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The manor of Thorpe belonged from the 7th to the 16th century to Chertsey Abbey, but a part of the property was granted away in 1303 and became a separate manor of Graveney alias Thorpe Hall Place. After the Dissolution of Chertsey Abbey in 1537 the main manor passed into the hands of the Crown, which leased it out but retained ownership until 1627, when it was granted to William Minterne, who had already acquired the smaller Hall Place manor from a cousin in 1609, and the two manors were reunited. The manor of Hall Place had a manor house of the same name described as 'a capital messuage' in 1548, and it was probably rebuilt or improved in the early 17th century, when the prominent red brick walls that are still such a distinctive feature of the village centre were constructed: one is dated 1613. Although nothing is known of the appearance of this house, it is known to have stood on the same site, close to the parish church, as the present Thorpe Place.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkquxpNCx3KKMbUHf30AVj2OFKe5lvDYXpcwC7K-HJ4yrWFMGc-9oyyJqfQBhruTUSkgoCkseIjjByz6BT8GlDZSoqZij8ovWWzPQlPCBJpEF1CQiCm5HSvMd4e6Me5pfxx-oCJCEgakEDRn7W7oRhV3vQAmvhkvOwtS-DFdT-F91iRO8xncUvwifVxZCl/s846/Thorpe%20Place%20Surrey%205%201927.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="846" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkquxpNCx3KKMbUHf30AVj2OFKe5lvDYXpcwC7K-HJ4yrWFMGc-9oyyJqfQBhruTUSkgoCkseIjjByz6BT8GlDZSoqZij8ovWWzPQlPCBJpEF1CQiCm5HSvMd4e6Me5pfxx-oCJCEgakEDRn7W7oRhV3vQAmvhkvOwtS-DFdT-F91iRO8xncUvwifVxZCl/w640-h264/Thorpe%20Place%20Surrey%205%201927.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Thorpe Place: the south front in 1927, from a sale notice of that year.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The present Thorpe Place is a big seven-by-five-bay three-storey stock brick house, built for John Leigh Bennett (1767-1835), probably in 1806-09, when he settled at Thorpe. The house has a pediment and two canted bays on the south front and a big 19th century porch on the entrance side. In the 1930s, when the house was acquired by the Community of St Mary the Virgin, Wantage (which relocated its sanatorium for female inebriates here from Bedfont (Middx)), a good set of early 18th century gates and a chapel were imported from the previous site. The chapel (now used as a library) was designed by Sir Ninian Comper and had been built at Bedfont in 1907, but when it was moved to the forecourt of Thorpe Place in 1931 it was slightly extended. It has roughcast walls and a beautiful interior with lightly traceried screens between the nave and aisles, gilded Tudor Gothic cornice and crestings, painted ceilings, and a complex kingpost roof. In 1974 the sanatorium was again relocated, to Harpenden (Herts), and site was acquired by The American School in England (TASIS), which has doubled the size of the house by adding a large wing to its east that keeps to the style of the original building. The school has also acquired Thorpe House on the other side of the village street.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGH9Muy5dFDgLEXKAeesLaxPV9oHVeJDGSaQ96xgyP97cVcFVPNoh-snkyzSJ6EzyYOTZ6L-jEpV0Fcyh5B4grX15_i060bpk4xRa1VfnckF3b-DwO4TqA8DiIr4NwlbIzE6tVpu5q_k1DgX6PYs2kD_zx90SldEeqOBiH0LZSZvIPurIHn6NieP2e8s4y/s2464/Thorpe%20Place%20Surrey%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="2464" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGH9Muy5dFDgLEXKAeesLaxPV9oHVeJDGSaQ96xgyP97cVcFVPNoh-snkyzSJ6EzyYOTZ6L-jEpV0Fcyh5B4grX15_i060bpk4xRa1VfnckF3b-DwO4TqA8DiIr4NwlbIzE6tVpu5q_k1DgX6PYs2kD_zx90SldEeqOBiH0LZSZvIPurIHn6NieP2e8s4y/w640-h424/Thorpe%20Place%20Surrey%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Thorpe Place: the garden and side elevations of the house, today. The late 20th century additions can be seen in the distance. Image: TASIS.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">South of the house is an 18th century lake, and near the church there are an ice house and a walled garden that probably dates from the early 17th century, as it uses the same red bricks as the walls in Coldharbour Lane.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: Sir Francis Wolley (d. 1609); to cousin, William Minterne (d. 1627); to grandson, Wolley Leigh (d. 1644); to son, Sir Thomas Leigh (1639-77), kt.; to son, Sir John Leigh (1660-91), kt.; to son, Sir John Leigh (1681-1737), kt.; to cousins, Mary Bennett (d. 1746) and Anne Spencer (d. 1786); by an Act of Parliament in 1767 that divided the estates, Thorpe was allotted to the heirs of Mary, and came into the possession of her son, Rev. Wolley Leigh Bennett (1733-90); to son, Rev. John Leigh Bennett (1767-1835); to son, Rev. Henry Leigh Bennett (1795-1880); to son, Henry Currie Leigh-Bennett (1852-1903); to son, Henry Wolley Leigh-Bennett (1880-1951), who sold 1930 to Community of St Mary the Virgin, Wantage; sold 1974 to The American School in England.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: red;">Bennett (later Leigh-Bennett) family of Thorpe Place</span></b></h3><div><b style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia;">Bennett, John (1698-1765). </b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Son of John Bennett of Norwich and his wife Susan, baptised at St John, Maddermarket, Norwich, 7 August 1698. Solicitor in Aylsham (Norfk) and at Furnivall's Inn, London. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He married, 24 September 1731, Mary (c.1708-46), daughter of Wolley Leigh (1664-1715) of Hevingham (Norfk), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) John Leigh Bennett (1732-72), baptised at Aylsham, 7 August 1732; probably suffered from physical or mental incapacity as he was passed over in his father's will and left only an allowance of £2 a week to be paid in cash; died unmarried and was buried at Hevingham, 11 October 1772;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Rev. Wolley Leigh Bennett (1733-90) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Mary Bennett (1735-1802), baptised at Aylsham, 5 May 1735; married, 5 October 1756 at Wroxham (Norfk), John Wace (c.1720-95) of Wroxham and the Middle Temple, but had no surviving issue; died at Bath (Som.) and was buried at Charlcombe (Som.), 12 April 1802; will proved 28 April 1802;</span> </div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Rev. Thomas Leigh Bennett (1736-97) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span> </div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) William Bennett (1738-39), baptised at Aylsham, 26 June 1738; died in infancy and was buried at Hevingham, 31 October? 1739;</span></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Elizabeth Bennett (b. 1744), baptised at Aylsham, 2 September 1744; married, 12 December 1768 at Wroxham (Norfk), Silvester Richmond (c.1753-93) of Acomb (Yorks); living in 1795 but death not traced</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Aylsham (Norfk) at the time of his marriage. His wife was found to be the co-heir (with her sister, Anne Spencer (d. 1786)) of Sir John Leigh (d. 1737), kt., and in her right he inherited a moiety of the Leigh estates in Addington and Thorpe (Surrey), East Wickham (Kent) and Stanwell (Middx).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 12 June 1765 and was buried at Hevingham, 22 June 1765; his will was proved in the PCC, 15 June 1765. His wife died 1 October 1746 and was buried at Hevingham, 6 October 1746.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, Rev. Thomas Leigh (1736-97). </b>Third son of John Bennett (1698-1765) of Aylsham (Norfk) and his wife Mary, daughter of Wolley Leigh of Hevingham (Norfk), baptised at Aylsham, 2 November 1736. Articled clerk to his father, 1753, but there seems to be no evidence that he practised law. He seems instead to have become an entrepreneur or investor in the London entertainment industry, being a shareholder in Ranelagh Gardens from 1771, the Pantheon in Oxford St., London from 1781 and the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, from 1775. In later life he took holy orders and was </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">curate at Thorpe, 1783 and vicar of Long Sutton, 1784-97, where he rebuilt the vicarage (now Seagate Hall) in the 1780s.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He married, 11 April 1764 at St Clement Dane, Westminster (Middx), Grace (1746-97), daughter of Thomas Horne of Enfield (Middx), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Martha Leigh Bennett (1765-1808), born 17 October and baptised at Aylsham, 22 October 1765; married, 2 December 1783 at Thorpe, Rev. Morton Rockcliff (1752-85) of Woodford (Essex) and later of Littleton-on-Thames (Middx), son of Moreton Rockcliff, and had issue one daughter; died at Woodford, 6 April and was buried at Thorpe, 13 April 1808;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Mary Barbara Bennett (1767-1849), born 22 February and baptised at St Giles-in-the-Fields, Holborn (Middx), 21 March 1767; died unmarried and was buried at Thorpe, 23 January 1849; will proved in the PCC, 17 February 1849;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Harriet Eliza Bennett (1770-1846), born 26 February 1770 and baptised at Thorpe, 21 June 1772; married </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">31 March 1792 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), her first cousin,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Rev. John Leigh Bennett [for whom see below] and had issue four sons and one daughter; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">died 11 December and was buried at Thorpe, 18 December 1846</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">; </span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Caroline Bennett (1774-1858), born 31 March and baptised at St Anne, Soho, Westminster, 12 May 1774; died unmarried, 11 January 1858; will proved 2 February 1858 (effects under £12,000);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Rev. Thomas Leigh Bennett (1775-1844), born 14 July 1775; educated at Eton and Christ's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1794; BA 1797; MA 1802); ordained deacon, 1800 and priest, 1801; rector of Allexton (Leics), 1802-14 and Skeffington (Leics), 1802-16; vicar of Nettlebed and Pishill (Oxon), 1814-43; vicar of Long Sutton, 1816-43; married, 21 August 1816 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, Frances (d. 1850), daughter of Francis Willock; died at Highmoor Hall, Nettlebed (Oxon), 12 December 1844 and was buried at Thorpe, where he is commemorated by a monument; will proved in the PCC, 25 February 1845.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived in London, initially in Soho Square and later in Mayfair until in the 1780s he moved to the new vicarage at Long Sutton.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 30 May and was buried at Thorpe, 6 June 1797; his will was proved in the PCC, 13 June 1797. His wife was buried at Thorpe, 16 May 1797.</span></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia;">Bennett, Rev. Wolley Leigh (1733-90). </b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Second </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">son but principal heir</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> of John Bennett (1698-1765) of Aylsham (Norfk) and his wife Mary, daughter of Wolley Leigh of Hevingham (Norfk), baptised at Aylsham, 31 July 1733. Educated at Hertford College, Oxford (matriculated 1752; BA 1756). Ordained deacon, 1757 and priest, 1758. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rector of Hevingham, 1758-87 and of Finmere (Oxon), 1788-90; domestic chaplain to Richard Grenville-Temple (1711-79), 2nd Earl Temple and George Nugent-Temple-Grenville (1753-1813), 1st Marquess of Buckingham, 1779-84. He married, 6 December 1765 at Stratton Audley (Oxon), Rachel (1744-1813), daughter of Richard Capps of Cawston (Norfk), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Rev. John Leigh Bennett (1767-1835) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Mary Leigh Bennett (1769-1841), baptised at Broadwell (Glos), 7 July 1769; married, 18 July 1792 at Buckingham (Bucks), Rev. William Dickins (c.1765-1801) of Cherington (Warks), vicar of Long Sutton, 1797-1801, son of Anthony Dickins of Westminster, and had issue one son and three daughters; died at Elwick Hall (Co. Durham), 21 April 1841 and was buried at Elwick;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Eliza Leigh Bennett (1772-1851), baptised at Broadwell, 2 April 1772; died unmarried and was buried at Brompton Cemetery (Middx), 15 March 1851; will proved in the PCC, 7 July 1851;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Rev. Wolley Leigh Bennett (1774-1839), baptised at Finmere (Oxon), 8 September 1774; educated at Merton College, Oxford (matriculated 1794; BA 1797; MA 1808); ordained deacon and priest, 1798; rector of Foscote (Bucks), 1802-19 and Water Stratford (Bucks), 1818-39; married, 1810 at Cork (Co. Cork), Margaret (1778-1866), daughter of Rev. William S. King, and had issue at least two sons and five daughters; died 21 February 1839 and was buried at Water Stratford; will proved in the PCC, 6 May 1839.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>By the Act of Parliament (7 Geo III c. 57) of 1767 which partitioned the estates of Mary and Anne Leigh, he came into possession of the Thorpe Place estate in 1768.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Finmere, 22 July 1790. His widow died at Buckingham, 25 June, and was buried at Finmere, 2 July 1813.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, Rev. John Leigh (1767-1835). </b>Elder son of Rev. Wolley Leigh Bennett (1733-90) and his wife Rachel Capps, baptised at Stow-on-the-Wold (Glos), 12 June 1767. Educated at Brasenose College, Oxford (matriculated 1787; BA 1790; MA 1796). Ordained deacon, 1791 and priest, 1792. Vicar of Lechlade (Glos), 1795-1809 and Thorpe, 1806-35. He married, 31 March 1792 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), his first cousin, Harriet Eliza (1770-1846), third daughter of Rev. Thomas Leigh Bennett of London, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) John Leigh Bennett (1794-1832), baptised at Finmere (Oxon), 15 March 1794; educated at Exeter College, Oxford (matriculated 1812); an officer in the Royal Eastern Middlesex Regiment of Militia (Capt., 1814); died without issue at Orleans (France), 25 January 1832;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Rev. Henry Leigh Bennett (1795-1880) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Mary Anne Bennett (1797-1864), baptised at St Marylebone (Middx), 10 February 1797; married, 17 August 1824 at Thorpe, Rt. Hon. Sir Richard Torin Kindersley (1792-1879), kt., barrister-at-law and later a master in chancery and one of the vice-chancellors, 1851-66, eldest son of Nathaniel Edward Kindersley of Sunninghill (Berks), and had issue three sons and three daughters; buried at Thorpe, 2 February 1864; administration of goods granted to her husband, 30 July 1864 (effects under £4,000);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Rev. Edward Leigh Bennett (1799-1886), born 8 November and baptised at Thorpe, 18 December 1799; educated at Merton College, Oxford (matriculated 1817; BA 1821); ordained deacon, 1823 and priest, 1824; curate at Lechlade, 1823-32; vicar of Lechlade, 1832-43 and of Long Sutton (Lincs), 1843-86; JP for Lincolnshire; married 1st, 11 May 1826 at Wroughton (Wilts), Ellinor (1799-1842), daughter of William Codrington (1753-1802) of Wroughton, and had issue two sons; married 2nd, 19 September 1843 at Kempsford (Glos), Anne Hudson (1812-96), daughter of Rev. Thomas Huntingford (c.1783-1855) of Kempsford, and had further issue three sons and one daughter; died 9 November and was buried at Long Sutton, 13 November 1886; will proved 12 January 1887 (effects £8,763);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Frederick Leigh Bennett (1801-35), born 2 July and baptised at Thorpe, 12 September 1801; probably the man of this name who was a flax merchant at Kingston-upon-Hull, initially in partnership with John Berthelot until 1828; died unmarried, 1 June, and was buried at Thorpe, 8 June 1835.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He inherited the Thorpe Place estate in 1790 and probably rebuilt the house in 1806-09.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 27 April and was buried at Thorpe, 4 May 1835; his will was proved in the PCC, 26 May 1835. His widow died 11 December and was buried at Thorpe, 18 December 1846.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, Rev. Henry Leigh (1795-1880). </b>Second, but eldest surviving, son of Rev. John Leigh Bennett (1767-1835) and his wife Harriet Eliza, daughter of Rev. Thomas Leigh Bennett, born 17 May? and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), 16 June 1795. Educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1812; BA 1817; MA 1819). Ordained deacon, 1818 and priest, 1819. Rector of Croughton (Northants), 1823-49 and vicar of Thorpe, 1849-74. JP for Northamptonshire. He married, 11 September 1845 at Sunninghill (Berks), Caroline (c.1816-98), second daughter of George Henry Crutchley of Sunninghill Park, and had issue (with another daughter, stillborn in 1846):</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Grace Leigh Bennett (1848-52), born 3 May and baptised at Thorpe, 25 June 1848; died young and was buried at Thorpe, 4 August 1852;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Julia Leigh Bennett (b. & d. 1849), born 23 July and baptised at Thorpe, 26 August 1849; died in infancy at Brighton, 8 September, and was buried at Thorpe, 13 September 1849;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Mary Leigh Bennett (1851-1926), born 12 February and baptised at Thorpe, 28 March 1851; married, 1 August 1877 at Thorpe, Marmaduke Head Best (1847-1912) of <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2014/09/142-andrews-of-shaw-place-and.html">Donnington Grove</a> (Berks), son of Head Pottinger Best (1808-87), but died without issue, 11 April 1926; will proved 6 July 1926 (estate £157,508);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Henry Currie Leigh Bennett (1852-1903) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Herbert James Leigh Bennett (1854-1928), born 25 July and baptised at Thorpe, 24 August 1854; educated at Jesus College, Cambridge (admitted 1872); married 1st, 19 July 1877 at Christ Church, Paddington (Middx), Charlotte Maxwell (1858-81), daughter of Thomas Miller Mackay, and 2nd, 20 July 1882 at St Patrick, Hove (Sussex), Beatrice Honora (1857-1947), eldest daughter of Col. Sir George Francis Coventry Pocock (1830-1915), 3rd bt. and had issue four sons and three daughters; died 30 November 1928; will proved 27 February 1929 (estate £5,604).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He inherited the Thorpe Place estate from his father in 1835. His widow lived latterly with her daughter at Donnington Grove.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 31 August and was buried at Thorpe, 4 September 1880; his will was proved 3 November 1880 (effects under £12,000). His widow died 4 June and was buried at Thorpe, 8 June 1898; her will was proved 16 August 1898 (estate £8,196).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGA9Ao5EEXgSIfwYRDOeNJYm1O1AJ_RIQ0WGRhKdnAnbftrwWR0rsPtP7Afgj-AtSmmGPlm87IihoUKme2E0_ez02B9-pa2_k4NG0ZG4lTVwcH8oLSJgx1v7v47tZd0ZQOC8R-7rlJ-1p9oUJQat4piXXz7-eXZG3LVbZAGdubPejlXCy-z4YtVKxoBMs/s388/Leigh-Bennett,%20Henry%20Currie%20(1852-1903).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="287" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGA9Ao5EEXgSIfwYRDOeNJYm1O1AJ_RIQ0WGRhKdnAnbftrwWR0rsPtP7Afgj-AtSmmGPlm87IihoUKme2E0_ez02B9-pa2_k4NG0ZG4lTVwcH8oLSJgx1v7v47tZd0ZQOC8R-7rlJ-1p9oUJQat4piXXz7-eXZG3LVbZAGdubPejlXCy-z4YtVKxoBMs/w148-h200/Leigh-Bennett,%20Henry%20Currie%20(1852-1903).jpg" width="148" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Henry Currie Leigh-Bennett (1852-1903) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Leigh-Bennett, Henry Currie (1852-1903). </b>Elder son of Rev. Henry Leigh Bennett (1795-1880) and his wife Caroline, second daughter of George Henry Crutchley of Sunninghill Park (Berks), born 25 July and baptised at Thorpe, 5 September 1852. Educated at Winchester, New College, Oxford (matriculated 1871; BA 1875) and the Inner Temple (admitted 1874; called 1878). Barrister-at-law on the Oxford circuit. DL and JP for Surrey (Deputy Chairman of Quarter Sessions); a member of Surrey County Council, 1889-1903; Chairman of Chertsey Rural District Council. Conservative MP for Chertsey, 1897-1903. A director of the London & South-Western Railway. Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He took the name Leigh-Bennett in lieu of Bennett. He married, 23 July 1878 at St Peter, Cranley Gardens, Kensington (Middx), Florence Nightingale (1856-1933), third daughter of Thomas Miller Mackay of South Kensington, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Thomas Leigh-Bennett (1879-81), born 24 April 1879; died in infancy, 16 February 1881;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Henry Wolley Leigh-Bennett (1880-1951) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Margaret Leigh-Bennett (1883-1967), born 20 September and baptised at Thorpe, 18 October 1883; married, 9 March 1911 at Thorpe, Maj. Edward Philip Carter (1882-1965), only son of Lt-Col. Edward Medley Carter, and had issue one son; lived latterly in Roehampton (Surrey); died 3 December 1967; will proved 27 March 1968 (estate £25,428);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Arthur Leigh-Bennett (1885-1915), born 25 November 1885 and baptised at Thorpe, 31 January 1886; educated at Winchester and Royal Military College, Sandhurst; an officer in the Coldstream Guards (2nd Lt., 1905; Lt., 1907; Capt., 1914) who served in the First World War and was awarded the DSO and MC, and was mentioned in despatches twice; played polo, cricket and golf for his regiment; died unmarried when he was killed in action near Hulluch, 3 October 1915; will proved 25 November 1915 (estate £1,110).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Thorpe Place estate from his father in 1880.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died of appendicitis, 7 March, and was buried at Thorpe, 11 March 1903; will proved 3 July 1903 (estate £30,494). His widow died 11 April and was buried at Thorpe, 15 April 1933; will proved 23 June 1933 (estate £988).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Leigh-Bennett, Henry Wolley (1880-1951). </b>Second, but eldest surviving, son of Henry Currie Leigh-Bennett (1852-1903) and his wife Florence Nightingale, third daughter of </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thomas Miller Mackay of South Kensington (Middx),</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> born 30 August and baptised at Thorpe, 3 October 1880. Educated at Winchester, New College, Oxford (matriculated 1899; BA 1902) and the Inner Temple (admitted 1902; called 1906). Barrister-at-law. He served as an officer in the Coldstream Guards (Lt., 1916) in the First World War. Employed as a land agent by Lord St. Levan at Devonport (Devon). He was a freemason from 1899. In 1913 he had royal licence to continue the use of the name Leigh-Bennett in lieu of Bennett which his father had adopted. He married, 29 October 1907 at St Peter, Eaton Sq., Westminster (Middx), Elma Rose (1886-1969), youngest daughter of Cdr. George Edward Price RN, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Barbara Leigh-Bennett (1908-99), born 14 November and baptised at Devonport, 15 December 1908; married, 22 November 1937 at St Paul, Knightsbridge (Middx), Lt-Cdr. Hon. Peter Cuthbert Carew RN (1908-80) of Croft House, Gt. Bealings (Suffk), youngest son of Gerald Shapland Carew (1860-1927), 5th Baron Carew, and had issue two sons and one daughter; died 18 January 1999 and was buried at Great Bealings; will proved 11 August 1999;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Diana Mary Leigh-Bennett (1911-84), born 15 February 1911; married, 10 July 1935, as his second wife, Ernest Augustus Ingram (1892-1954), son of Ernest John Ingram, and had issue one daughter; died 7 October 1984; will proved 21 Feburary 1985 (estate £349,817);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Julia Leigh-Bennett (1912-2003), born 2 November and baptised at Devonport (Devon), 18 December 1912; married 1st, 19 July 1947, Patrick Guy Gathorne-Hardy (1911-66) of Greys End, Rotherfield Greys (Oxon), banker, son of Lt-Col. Hon. Nigel Charles Gathorne-Hardy DSO, and 2nd, 29 May 1974, Col. Edward C. Croft (1910-99); died 19 June 2003; will proved 29 March 2004;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Arthur John Leigh-Bennett (1919-23), born 28 November 1919; died young at Devonport, 25 February 1923;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Elizabeth Anne Leigh-Bennett (1925-2009), born 7 August 1925; married, 26 June 1948, Vice-Adm. Sir Stephen Ferrier Berthon RN (1922-2007) of Deddington (Oxon), only son of Rear-Adm. E.C.P. Berthon CB of Crapstone House, Buckland Monarchorum (Devon) and had issue two sons and two daughters; died 19 April 2009; will proved 27 August 2009.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Thorpe Place estate from his father in 1903 and Donnington Grove (Berks) from his aunt, Mary Leigh Best, in 1926. He dispersed the estate at Thorpe Place through sales in 1919 and 1921, sold the house in 1930, and gave the advowson to Keble College, Oxford in 1932. He sold Donnington Grove in 1936, and lived latterly at addresses near Newbury (Berks).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 17 June 1951; his will was proved 30 October 1951 (estate £126,116). His widow died 31 July 1969.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Landed Gentry</i>, 1952, pp. 157-58; G. Leveson-Gower, <i>Notices of the family of Leigh of Addington</i>, 1878; <i>VCH Surrey</i>, vol. 3, 1911, pp. 437-40; C. O'Brien, I. Nairn & B. Cherry, <i>The buildings of England: Surrey</i>, 3rd edn., 2022, p. 679.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Leigh-Bennett family of Thorpe Place: </i>deeds, manorial, estate and family papers, genealogical records and photograph albums, 12th cent.-1950 [Surrey History Centre 2609, 2675, 7624, 10204]; Norfolk estate deeds and papers, 1659-1799 [Norfolk Record Office, MC 2495]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Quarterly, 1st and 4th, azure, three demi-lions rampant, argent, on a chief argent three hurts; 2nd and 3rd, or, on a chevron sable, three lions rampant, argent.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide photographs or portraits of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 15 November 2023 and updated 29 November 2023 and 1 January 2024. I am grateful to Sophie Waterhouse for a correction.</span></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-74481064760371719932023-11-11T12:07:00.004+00:002023-11-11T14:35:25.278+00:00(563) Bennett of Thomastown Park<span style="font-family: georgia;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiS_VYESQT69yB_vCpzI532DXgBca099YubJhCt6dS9fjZ0zEuvpHqtO6bTT5mkf1sJiMr42m2nOn1h4aL7iULDZ4O2fiWoO2H6UNSsXVDWCAKI6YKhyphenhyphenIZx19QwWdZmPPE_KcE4XmOHH-NBcBj9oZITEQhmbelxXdsJeLMwqoPkULEKTIj_Wy3sJ4UhI9/s1200/Bennet%20of%20Babraham.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiS_VYESQT69yB_vCpzI532DXgBca099YubJhCt6dS9fjZ0zEuvpHqtO6bTT5mkf1sJiMr42m2nOn1h4aL7iULDZ4O2fiWoO2H6UNSsXVDWCAKI6YKhyphenhyphenIZx19QwWdZmPPE_KcE4XmOHH-NBcBj9oZITEQhmbelxXdsJeLMwqoPkULEKTIj_Wy3sJ4UhI9/w167-h200/Bennet%20of%20Babraham.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bennett of Thomastown Park </span></td></tr></tbody></table>The Bennetts of Thomastown were yet another family using the same coat of arms as the Earls of Tankerville and other English Bennet or Bennett families. It seems possible that they were closely connected with the <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2023/11/562-bennett-of-north-cadbury-court-and.html">Bennetts of North Cadbury Court</a>, since both families were in the wine trade in the 18th century, but this is far from certain, and the fact that the Bennetts of Thomastown were Roman Catholics may be evidence to the contrary. The story of the family really begins with Thomas Bennett (d. 1795), who seems to have been a wine merchant in Dublin, and who purchased the Ballyvonine estate in King's County (now Co. Offaly) before 1784, changing its name to Thomastown. Thomas died without issue and his estate passed to his younger brother, Francis Bennett (d. 1800), who was also a Dublin merchant. Francis did not marry until 1787, and at his death left a young widow, who survived to 1845, one son, and two daughters, several other sons having died in infancy. The surviving son, Valentine Bennett (d. 1839), was educated at Stonyhurst, but by 1813 he was back in Ireland and had joined the King's County militia. In 1820 he spent several weeks touring south-west France, but his diary of his travels does not explain the purpose of his journey. Since he is not known to have had any mercantile occupation, it seems unlikely that he was there on business, and since he was constantly on the move it is unlikely to have been motivated by financial retrenchment; it was probably a simple holiday. He married in 1824 and he and his wife produced seven sons and one daughter (who died in infancy). Three of his younger sons became Roman Catholic priests in the Liverpool area, and two more joined the army. Of these, Col. George Henry Bennett (1827-67) enjoyed very rapid promotion during the Crimean War, rising from Ensign to Lieutenant-Colonel in less than eight years. His brother, Valentine Francis Bennett (1828-55) was less fortunate, being killed at Sebastopol. The heir to the Thomastown estate was the eldest son, Francis Valentine Bennett (1826-90), who was educated at Oscott College in Birmingham, and then studied estate management with his late father's agent, George Garvey. Garvey, who was agent for the Birr Castle estate and several nearby properties, was known for his harsh dealing with estate tenants, and Francis and his brother Frederick Philip Bennett (1830-1905), who also studied under Garvey and became his brother's agent, seem to have adopted a similar approach. When Francis died in 1890 Frederick succeeded him, but since none of the seven brothers ever married, on his death in 1905 he bequeathed the estate to his cousin, Valentine John Eustace Ryan (1882-1947), desiring him to take the name Bennett in lieu of Ryan. Ryan declined to change his name but accepted the estate, which he in turn passed on his son, Group Capt. Richard S. Ryan, who sold it in 1951, when he was about to take up an overseas posting.</span><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thomastown Park, Co. Offaly</span></b></h3><span style="font-family: georgia;">For what was once quite a significant landed estate, remarkably little can be said with any confidence about the history of Thomastown Park. Burke's Visitation of Seats and Arms gives the fullest account of the house, saying <br /><br /></span><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">"There is an old castle upon this estate: this was besieged and reduced to ruins by Cromwell's army, which seems to have swept over the land with all the destructive violence of lava from a volcano. Many curious reliques have been, from time to time, picked up amongst the mouldering and disjointed fragments. The present mansion was built in the year 1730, by Mr. Leggat, and stands in the centre of a well-wooded park, commanding a fineview of some distant mountains. The grounds are much celebrated for the beauty of their walks and drives."</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />Unfortunately, the site of the castle is not recorded on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, so its very existence cannot be confirmed. </span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Jh361rkR_M3IlV8DahGYoHMbBRewa3yaUs07x7DmbhCZ98ouLdO_d7cGxiaD9mLWK1nKiFJDzN7YcDoZD-z2XYMQm3wRjsCVd4CAt_VuWK7b6TvbipPRjRwTQxm30A6XrelaIl2pXavXMZKPh2y_uM37-gxeNFrPpsuTiNE2bCCzz6pzvW5ojbRiiWVD/s420/Thomastown%20Park,%20Offaly%201a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="420" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Jh361rkR_M3IlV8DahGYoHMbBRewa3yaUs07x7DmbhCZ98ouLdO_d7cGxiaD9mLWK1nKiFJDzN7YcDoZD-z2XYMQm3wRjsCVd4CAt_VuWK7b6TvbipPRjRwTQxm30A6XrelaIl2pXavXMZKPh2y_uM37-gxeNFrPpsuTiNE2bCCzz6pzvW5ojbRiiWVD/w640-h420/Thomastown%20Park,%20Offaly%201a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Thomastown Park, Co. Offaly: the entrance front in 1951. Image: <i>Country Life.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">A photograph of the Georgian house published when it was for sale in 1951, which appears to be the only known visual record of the building, shows that the it was a five-bay, two-storey block with the wider central bay having a projecting single-storey porch with narrow niches to either side and similar features flanking the first-floor window. A single dormer window in the centre of the roof enhanced the emphasis on the centre. To the left of the house and recessed by almost its entire depth was a two-bay block labelled on the Ordnance Survey map as a private chapel. The elegant and carefully planted walks and drives referred to by Burke can also be identified on the Ordnance Survey map, which shows the surviving, minimally Gothic, lodge at the main entrance, and another, now lost, on the western approach. Also surviving today are the dilapidated remains of a gatescreen of c.1800, comprised of shallow quadrant walls, flanking a pair of tall ashlar gatepiers with simple iron gates.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: [forename unknown] Leggat (fl. c.1730)...sold before 1784 to Thomas Bennett (d. 1795); to brother, Francis Bennett (d. 1800); to son, Valentine Bennett (d. 1839); to son, Francis Valentine Bennett (1826-90); to brother, Frederick Philip Bennett (1830-1905); to kinsman, Valentine John Eustace Ryan (1882-1947); to son, Group Capt. Richard S. Ryan (fl. 1951), who sold 1951...</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: red;">Bennett family of Thomastown Park</span></b></span></h3><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, Nicholas. </b>Parentage unknown. He married Mabel O'Kelly from Co. Roscommon, and had issue:</span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) <b>Thomas Bennett (d. 1795)</b>; probably the man of this name who was a wine merchant in Dublin; acquired the Thomastown Park estate before 1784 and gave it his name; died unmarried; will proved, 1795;</span></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Francis Bennett (d. 1800) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Mabel Clare Bennett; married, 1776, as his second wife, John Ball (1728-1804), of Dublin, silk manufacturer, and had issue one son (Rt. Hon. Nicholas Ball, justice of common pleas) and four daughters; living in 1821 but death not traced;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Anne Bennett; living in 1804; died unmarried.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">His date of death is unknown. His wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, Francis (d. 1800). </b>Second son of Nicholas Bennett and his wife Mabel O'Kelly, of Co. Roscommon. He was evidently the merchant in Dublin of this name whose shop and warehouse were looted by rioters in 1779. He married, April 1787 in Dublin, Elizabeth Laffin (c.1758-1845) of Co. Kilkenny, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Thomas Bennett; died young;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Nicholas Bennett; died young;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Francis Bennett; died young;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) James Bennett; died young;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Valentine Bennett (d. 1839) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Mary Catherine Bennett (c.1796-1893), born about 1796; married, 1817, Lt-Col. Henry Peisley L'Estrange (1793-1847) of Moystown (Co. Offaly), and had issue at least nine sons and three daughters; died in Norwich (Norfk), 20 December 1893; will proved 6 January 1894 (effects £142);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Elizabeth Emily Bennett (c.1800-85); married, January 1820, John Farrell (1784-1870) of Moynalty (Co. Meath) and had issue three sons and one daughter; died 22 September 1885; will proved 21 October 1885 (effects £9,199).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Usher's Quay in Dublin until he inherited the Thomastown estate from his elder brother in 1795.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died in 1800; his will was proved 8 March 1800. His widow died in Dublin, 23 September 1845.</span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, Valentine (d. 1839). </b>Fifth?, but only surviving, son of Francis Bennett (d. 1800) and his wife Elizabeth Laffin. Educated at Stonyhurst. Adjutant of the Kings County Militia, 1813. JP and DL for King's County; High Sheriff of King's County, 1830. In 1820 he spent two months travelling in south-west France, but the purpose of his journey is uncertain. He married, 7 January 1824, Elizabeth Helen (d. 1863), daughter of George Ryan of Inch House (Co. Tipperary), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Francis Valentine Bennett (1826-90) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) George Henry Bennett (1827-67), baptised at Eglish (Co. Offaly), 1 April 1827; an officer in 20th Foot (Ensign, 1846; Lt., 1852; Capt., 1854; Maj., 1858; Lt-Col., 1859; Col., 1864); died at Little Crosby, Liverpool (Lancs), 7 November 1867; administration of goods granted 10 December 1867 (effects under £4,000);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Valentine Francis Bennett (1828-55), baptised at Eglish, 3 April 1828; an officer in the 33rd Foot (Ensign, 1848; Lt., 1852); killed on the attack on the Redan at Sebastopol in the Crimea, 18 June 1855;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Fr. Thomas Joseph Bennett (1829-67), baptised at Eglish, 27 May 1829; a Roman Catholic priest; canon of Liverpool RC Cathedral; died 'of a malignant fever', 10 January 1867; administration of goods granted 21 February 1867 (effects under £300);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Frederick Philip Bennett (1830-1905) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Fr. Henry Grey Bennett (1832-87), born 31 January 1832; a Roman Catholic priest at Little Crosby (Lancs), 1863-87 and canon of Liverpool RC Cathedral, 1878-87; died 11 May 1887; will proved 20 August 1887 (effects £2,097);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Elizabeth Marian Bennett (d. 1833); died young, 1833;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Fr. Albert Augustus Bennett (c.1839-1902), born posthumously and baptised at Eglish, 11 August 1839; a Roman Catholic priest; founder and rector of St Thomas of Canterbury, Waterloo R.C. parish near Liverpool, c.1869-1902; died 27 June 1902; will proved 25 July 1902 (estate £4,227).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He inherited Thomastown Park from his father in 1800. At his death the estate encompassed some 5,322 acres.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Thomastown, 23/25 May 1839; his will was proved in the Prerogative Court of Dublin, 18 July 1839. His widow died in Dublin, 1 March, and was buried at Meelick (Co. Galway), 5 March 1863; administration of her goods was granted 23 April 1863 (effects under £1,000).</span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, Francis Valentine (1826-90). </b>Eldest son of Valentine Bennett (d. 1839) and his wife Elizabeth Helen, daughter of George Ryan of Inch House (Co. Tipperary), born 28 January/4 February 1826. Educated at Oscott College and trained in estate management by George Garvey, agent to his father and other estates. <i>Walford's County Families</i>, (1871), says he was 'formerly an officer in the army', but I have found no evidence to support this. JP and DL for Co. Offaly; High Sheriff of Co. Offaly, 1854. He was a Conservative in politics, and served as Vice-President of the King's County Unionist Association. He seems to have been a rather prickly customer, exemplified by the comment of one of the Guardians of the Poor for the Parsonstown Union that he had 'made a generous offer in an ungraceful manner'. He was unmarried and without issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Thomastown Park from his father in 1839 and came of age in 1847.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 27 September 1890; his will was proved 12 November 1890 (effects £2,797).</span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, Frederick Philip (1830-1905). </b>Fifth son of Valentine </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Bennett (d. 1839) and his wife Elizabeth Helen, daughter of George Ryan of Inch House (Co. Tipperary), born 25 July 1830. Trained in estate management by George Garvey and acted as land agent to his brother at Thomastown before he inherited the estate. JP and DL for Co. Offaly; High Sheriff of Co. Offaly, 1895. He was unmarried and had no issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Thomastown Park from his elder brother in 1890. At his death he bequeathed it to his cousin, Valentine John Eustace Ryan (1882-1947).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died in Monaco, 4 April 1905; his will was proved 18 August 1905 (estate £4,699). </span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Principal sources</span></b></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland</i>, 1904, pp. 33-34; Sir B. Burke, <i>Visitation of Seats and Arms</i>, series II, vol. 2, 1855, p.7; C.J. Reilly, 'Land agents and estate management in King's County during the Great Famine, 1838-53' PhD thesis, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, 2010; J.A.K. Dean, <i>The gate lodges of Leinster</i>, 2016, p. 324.</span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Location of archives</span></b></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Bennett of Thomastown Park: </i>misc. family papers, 1795-1905 [<a href="https://libguides.ucc.ie/ld.php?content_id=31778405">University College, Cork, Boole Library </a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://libguides.ucc.ie/ld.php?content_id=31778405">BL/EP/R/3/1</a>]</span></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Coat of arms</span></b></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Gules, a bezant between three demi-lions rampant argent.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can you help?</span></b></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Does anyone know more about the ownership history of Thomastown before 1784 or after 1951, or exactly when the house was pulled down? Any further photographs or paintings of the house would also be of great interest.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide photographs or portraits of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Revision and acknowledgements</span></b></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 11 November 2023.</span></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-77175663131953266982023-11-08T11:57:00.003+00:002023-11-11T12:09:22.295+00:00(562) Bennett of North Cadbury Court and Sparkford Hall<span style="font-family: georgia;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMielwgrudUwFGiKFbCaamwzf_9OW4y1tAruJ0r0b08P7TKXmq6EuQnvVyypjBxNRKM4O7a8pSPzoJLpMy29CEFdSVXVKNalDPZb-E29XPDZehHtLSJYRN9pUnuWZ9zpO8R_3Im29PqIGksg-g1k4WACfjaSREDJuQ-PUReaOWw8rceVAHlsPv8_jJkBY/s1200/Bennett%20of%20Cadbury%20and%20Sparkford.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMielwgrudUwFGiKFbCaamwzf_9OW4y1tAruJ0r0b08P7TKXmq6EuQnvVyypjBxNRKM4O7a8pSPzoJLpMy29CEFdSVXVKNalDPZb-E29XPDZehHtLSJYRN9pUnuWZ9zpO8R_3Im29PqIGksg-g1k4WACfjaSREDJuQ-PUReaOWw8rceVAHlsPv8_jJkBY/w167-h200/Bennett%20of%20Cadbury%20and%20Sparkford.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Bennett of Cadbury and Sparkford</span> </span></td></tr></tbody></table>The first of this family to achieve landed gentry status was James Bennett (1746-1815), a London wine merchant and grocer, who in 1792 invested some of his capital in the purchase of the reversion of the Cadbury House estate in Somerset. This meant that on the death of the current owner, which occurred in 1796, he came into possession of the estate, which consisted of most of the parishes of North and South Cadbury and Sparkford. It is a little surprising that James, who remained a partner in his London business until his death, chose to purchase an estate so far from the capital, but his use of the same coat of arms as the <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2023/10/559-bennet-of-widcombe-manor-and.html">Bennetts of Widcombe Manor</a> (with a crescent for difference) suggests that he may have wished to purchase a property in the area from which his forebears had come: the Widcombe family had long owned property at Maperton and around Wincanton, only a few miles from North Cadbury. Having acquired the estate, James invested in the improvement of Cadbury House, which was given a new garden front with a two-storey semi-circular bow. Very little is known about James' business, which was continued after his death by his partners, Henry Coape and Joseph Jellicoe, but it had obviously generated serious wealth, for the probate valuation of James' estate was £125,000. £50,000 of this was capital still invested in the partnership, and James' will gave his partners several years to release this to his executors.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">James left two sons and four daughters, two of whom were married and had been provided for under their marriage settlements. His younger daughters were left portions payable from his personal estate, and his real estate was divided between the two sons. The elder, James Bennett (1792-1872), was left Cadbury House and the portion of the estate in North and South Cadbury, while the younger, Henry Bennett (1795-1874) was left the part of the estate in Sparkford, which did not have a house of any consequence but provided a useful income. At the time of his inheritance the younger James was an officer in the army, but he retired on half-pay in 1816 (when the army was being slimmed down after the defeat of Napoleon), and returned to Somerset to manage his estates. He and his wife produced five sons and two daughters, but his eldest son died in India while serving with the army, so the Cadbury estate descended to his second son, Frederick Wentworth Bennett (1827-81). He had a short career in the army too, but retired in 1850. Little is known about his career in the next twenty years, but after he inherited the Cadbury estate he indulged a taste for amateur dramatics and put on performances at Cadbury House for the entertainment of his tenants and neighbours, in which his two sons also took part. His elder son, Frederick James Wentworth Bennett (1856-1908) was noted more for his prowess as a composer and musician than as an actor, but he continued the tradition of entertainments at Cadbury, building a concert hall on the estate in the 1880s for these performances, and involving professional musicians as well as musically-talented neighbours. All went well until about 1890 when - perhaps as a result of the agricultural depression - he found that he could no longer afford to live at Cadbury House or to sustain the lifestyle of a gentleman. He resigned his commission in the Somerset Yeomanry Cavalry and leased out Cadbury House, and went to study at the Royal Academy of Music, presumably with a view to becoming a professional composer. By 1901 he was living with his wife and children in a suburban house in Bedford, but soon afterwards his wife left him on the grounds of his cruelty and adultery, and in 1906 they were divorced and she was granted custody of their children. F.J.W. Bennett then moved to Bournemouth with a mistress whom he passed off as his wife, but she too left him after many rows in 1908, taking most of their household furniture with her. By then he is said to have been an habitual drug user, and he died a couple of months later of an overdose. Press reports of the inquest into his death give the strong impression that the coroner who conducted it found the sordid descent of a gentleman of property into such circumstances unspeakably embarrassing, and prevented the full story being told in court; but happily the press had no such scruples and sought out the witnesses whom the court did not admit, and published the full story. The Cadbury estate was sold as soon as possible after his death, in 1910.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Henry Bennett (1795-1874), who inherited Sparkford at the tender age of 20, went to Cambridge and then travelled extensively on the continent with his mother. While they were in St Petersburg (Russia) he fell in love with Emily Moberly, the daughter of the British consul there, and they were married in 1821, before he returned to England and (reputedly at his father-in-law's request) took his degree and entered the church. For about ten years, he and his wife travelled around Europe to cities where he acted as Anglican chaplain to the British ex-pat community and visitors. This agreeable lifestyle took them to St Petersburg, Dresden, Genoa and Naples, and probably other places as well, but in 1836 the opportunity arose for Henry to appoint himself rector of South Cadbury and Sparkford, where the family owned the right of presentation. They lived in the rectory at South Cadbury and presumably employed a curate at Sparkford. In 1853, however, Henry built a new manor house at Sparkford and moved there. In 1866 he relinquished the living at South Cadbury and appointed one of his younger sons, the Rev. James Arthur Bennett (1835-90) in his place, but he remained rector of Sparkford until his death.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Henry and Emily had a remarkable total of fifteen children between 1822 and 1845 </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">(who in turn gave him at least seventy grandchildren!)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, only one of whom died in infancy - a considerable achievement when infant mortality was so high. Of the seven sons who survived to maturity, two (James and Charles) followed their father into the church and became the rectors of South Cadbury and Sparkford. James, at South Cadbury, became a noted antiquarian, and was one of the founders of the Somerset Record Society. Several of the daughters also married clergymen, one of whom rose to be Dean of St Paul's Cathedral. Of the other sons, William became a solicitor; Edward and George were civil servants (in Australia and England respectively) and Francis became a merchant in St Petersburg, like his maternal grandfather. The eldest son, Henry Edward Bennett (1822-97), who inherited the Sparkford Hall estate, was a barrister-at-law and a company director. In the 1850s he spent several years in Canada, where he met and married his wife Louisa, the daughter of the chief justice in Toronto. When H.E. Bennett died, he left the Sparkford estate to his seven surviving children jointly, and the property was let until the 1930s, when the remaining children agreed to sell it. Of the three sons who lived to maturity, the eldest became a solicitor in Frome (Som.) and Clerk of the Peace for Somerset, before retiring in 1905 and moving to Canada. The two younger sons both became distinguished clergymen. The Very Rev. Frank Selwyn Macaulay Bennett (1866-1947) was dean of Chester Cathedral between the First and Second World Wars and played an important role in ensuring English cathedrals were open to visitors, free of charge.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>North Cadbury Court (aka Cadbury House), Somerset</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The manor house, now known as North Cadbury Court but formerly as Cadbury House and The Manor House, is essentially a late 16th century U-plan Elizabethan stone mansion of two and a half storeys, although its west wing incorporates the roof (dated by dendrochronology to the years around 1300) and no doubt some of the fabric of its medieval predecessor. The house was evidently rebuilt </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">between 1586 and 1592 </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">for Sir Francis Hastings MP, a puritan pamphleteer and the brother of the 3rd Earl of Huntingdon, although Collinson's <i>History of Somerset</i> mentions a date of 1581 (perhaps a misreading of 1587) over one of the doors in the great hall. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HQrFD2J3_RynczUiXj3-Yf7t4HyY56y1RHGSTUr9Y-a3tgSLKYLNZQOuHQZlDlBMJwGrhteP79_tOHvlWk2riUQfGN-vZAhHZzPpuLbV8XDXI3z_oGa1NaVt5upqX2-LDZvtD6ATP4kKEi0Cn-xYXPEXJRFx6T6l9X89tcv-4Yw9zFPUUtV93vv_DDRj/s1860/North%20Cadbury%20Court%2021a%20Matt%20Bristow%20UoL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="1860" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HQrFD2J3_RynczUiXj3-Yf7t4HyY56y1RHGSTUr9Y-a3tgSLKYLNZQOuHQZlDlBMJwGrhteP79_tOHvlWk2riUQfGN-vZAhHZzPpuLbV8XDXI3z_oGa1NaVt5upqX2-LDZvtD6ATP4kKEi0Cn-xYXPEXJRFx6T6l9X89tcv-4Yw9zFPUUtV93vv_DDRj/w640-h382/North%20Cadbury%20Court%2021a%20Matt%20Bristow%20UoL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">North Cadbury Court: late 17th century painting of the entrance front and church, showing the gatehouse demolished c.1715. <br />Image: Matt Bristow © University of London.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vjpnhC9CzvitAxMrTWYvBy2IDAaRelPuaeJD7lg7HZ8473zxb2TpUYz4JCQ697NNHvZP_1NH7ZuoYPvB1mnAdDiBzBfyjOr9A0JPfzNRs0oVy7BHU1yoV5RX-SF03G6ZOYOzqSg49Sr7SUrPBwXr_ssQ2iLIklhLe8I0M0rSlrZv6VhhBrL7b8vSyXMg/s1615/North%20Cadbury%20Court%2020%20Matt%20Bristow%20UoL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="1615" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vjpnhC9CzvitAxMrTWYvBy2IDAaRelPuaeJD7lg7HZ8473zxb2TpUYz4JCQ697NNHvZP_1NH7ZuoYPvB1mnAdDiBzBfyjOr9A0JPfzNRs0oVy7BHU1yoV5RX-SF03G6ZOYOzqSg49Sr7SUrPBwXr_ssQ2iLIklhLe8I0M0rSlrZv6VhhBrL7b8vSyXMg/w640-h364/North%20Cadbury%20Court%2020%20Matt%20Bristow%20UoL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">North Cadbury Court: late 17th century painting of the garden front, showing the Tudor stair tower and gabled projecting wings. <br />Image: Matt Bristow © University of London</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Two paintings, probably late 17th century overmantel panels in origin, that were returned to the house in the late 20th century, show the two main facades as they stood before later alterations. One shows the north front with the forecourt and two-storey gatehouse demolished in t</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">he first changes, made c.1715 for Francis Newman. The second painting shows the less regular south front overlooking an elaborate walled garden; this side was greatly altered in a radical, remodelling that was probably carried out by James Bennett (d. 1815) after he gained possession of the house in 1797. There was a careful restoration by Melville Seth-Ward in 1912-16 for Sir Archibald Langman, who also carried out alterations in the 1930s. The house was used as an evacuee nursery during the Second World War, and was a YMCA training centre between 1948 and 1966, before being returned to private occupation.</span></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzRNR5kZR4NbL1xZcT1dfGh9wzR-OZ1AWMRZ-kWamPXIk8swlHQT0nwX2mg3okdlD2BYkiVdBoYRcxIjOYeT7U1dskd-j_UIhgeON-eVRuJLrcEzsuIJWRYmgIIl-7Evt8zr3pvEsIQC5ExaBIHg1enrkfkrqgfoEQFFnJOt2Wts8D0YoVWy5Xo5ZUV6q/s2340/North%20Cadbury%20Court%2017%20HE.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="2340" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzRNR5kZR4NbL1xZcT1dfGh9wzR-OZ1AWMRZ-kWamPXIk8swlHQT0nwX2mg3okdlD2BYkiVdBoYRcxIjOYeT7U1dskd-j_UIhgeON-eVRuJLrcEzsuIJWRYmgIIl-7Evt8zr3pvEsIQC5ExaBIHg1enrkfkrqgfoEQFFnJOt2Wts8D0YoVWy5Xo5ZUV6q/w640-h326/North%20Cadbury%20Court%2017%20HE.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">North Cadbury Court: entrance front in the early 20th century. Image: Historic England BB55/2934</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The entirely Elizabethan north (entrance) front is of six bays and two storeys and attics, under four gables which do not align exactly with the bays below. The house is very similar in design to the five-bay Newton Surmaville House (Som.), built some twenty years later, which must have been modelled on North Cadbury but which is a slightly more sophisticated design. It is fenestrated with eight-light double-transomed windows to the outer bays and four-light transomed windows to the two central bays which contain the great hall. The second bay contains a porch projection, the fifth a balancing bay window lighting the dais end of the hall, both with classical cresting. Two shallow wings project to the south, and are unusual in being L-plan, making the south front two bays wider at either end than the entrance front. Any Elizabethan fabric in the south front is masked by the remodelling of c.1800, when the gap between the wings was infilled with a bow-fronted saloon and the </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">facade</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> was given</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> plain sash windows and parapets concealing tiled roofs and dormers. The form of the roofs was further altered in 1914 to create a more unified, Georgian effect.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZ8Tf-9mNknXL8UddxMiX5inq3XBTw4uWKI0oroJ7knFWqtidrPgxJlgZ93jKqp4qAugj56SkSjj9Xt3Yj3hNrvVzZ37EQ-aJAlM9NpTv9LTZBoVz5ozarVH_rhJ8MUYThS1jAvDHV9tf_aXQO3-wwJ9wfypfojMscZuKjPho9B1yVPqQ2vlgLEYT4YqK/s600/North%20Cadbury%20Court%2012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="600" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZ8Tf-9mNknXL8UddxMiX5inq3XBTw4uWKI0oroJ7knFWqtidrPgxJlgZ93jKqp4qAugj56SkSjj9Xt3Yj3hNrvVzZ37EQ-aJAlM9NpTv9LTZBoVz5ozarVH_rhJ8MUYThS1jAvDHV9tf_aXQO3-wwJ9wfypfojMscZuKjPho9B1yVPqQ2vlgLEYT4YqK/w640-h396/North%20Cadbury%20Court%2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">North Cadbury Court: garden front in the mid 20th century.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Elizabethan plan was conventional in having a central two-storey great hall, perhaps reflecting the footprint of the medieval hall range, but the present hall is a neo-Elizabethan re-creation of 1912-16. At its high end, the windows of the two-storey bay contain original armorial glass showing the Hastings family connections. A substantial polygonal stair turret, which projected south from the hall at the high end and was lit by a window from the hall, was removed when the saloon was constructed c.1800. The service rooms lay to the east of the hall, the parlours and great chamber to the west. The great chamber has a 16th century fireplace, but the ribbed plaster ceiling looks like a 20th century re-creation. A long gallery (now subdivided), ran along the north front above the hall and great chamber, necessitating some resetting of the medieval roof timbers. A generously planned new staircase was inserted into the north end of the west wing in the 20th century, destroying any evidence of previous arrangements in this area. The ceiling above it has a huge plaster pendant copied from that at Chelvey Court (Som.). West of the staircase hall is an apsidal late 18th century cantilevered stone staircase, which was the main stair until 1914. The saloon in the centre of the south front, which was opened up through a screen of columns to the corridor behind in the early 20th century restoration, has an Adamish triglyph frieze with paterae and a yellow marble chimneypiece. Two early Georgian rooms have fielded panelling and bolection-moulded doorways. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXsl4ieI0j5u8-aMns2fdqBYtBfskuPHWI2WM05pUPbPSSIEkZmcOpIkVObpCneU10aihZGMfV1uPOZslSMEa0v6uBNVzbrxrAqtZoPsB0DOToxuErMJZV5gNTo_1jxKhuQTstVxRpB2BEehkvYCjlttIjBYDHBzyBbBIx3AW48aekEglOIhquAU0DtoH/s1295/North%20Cadbury%20Court%2018%201885.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="1295" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXsl4ieI0j5u8-aMns2fdqBYtBfskuPHWI2WM05pUPbPSSIEkZmcOpIkVObpCneU10aihZGMfV1uPOZslSMEa0v6uBNVzbrxrAqtZoPsB0DOToxuErMJZV5gNTo_1jxKhuQTstVxRpB2BEehkvYCjlttIjBYDHBzyBbBIx3AW48aekEglOIhquAU0DtoH/w640-h384/North%20Cadbury%20Court%2018%201885.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">North Cadbury Court: the house and its setting as depicted on the 1st edn 25" plan of 1886.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1715, Francis Newman demolished the two-storey gatehouse which had faced the north front of the house, and replaced it with a pair of square Doulting stone ashlar gate piers. A late 17th century pair of gatepiers had already been constructed further north, and between the two and adjoining the churchyard to the west, he built an eleven-bay two-storey stable block of ashlar with re-used 17th century door heads. A concert hall was built north-west of the house before 1886, and fishponds were adapted as part of a woodland garden to the south-west, but unusually there seems no evidence of the grounds being landscaped in the 18th or early 19th centuries.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: Mary, Lady Hungerford, Hastings, Botreaux and Moleyns, later wife of Sir Richard Sacheverell (d. 1534); to son, George Hastings (d. 1545), 1st Earl of Huntingdon; to son, Francis Hastings (1514-61), 2nd Earl of Huntingdon; to widow, Katherine (d. 1570) and then to son, Henry Hastings (c.1536-95), 3rd Earl of Huntingdon, who sold 1586 to brother, Sir Francis Hastings, who rebuilt the house; sold 1596 to Matthew Ewans (d. 1598) and his wife Frances (d. c.1611), later wife of Francis Kelway (d. 1602); to son, Alexander Ewans (d. c.1624); to son, Matthew Ewans (d. 1628); to son, Matthew Ewans (d. 1633); sold after his death to Arthur Duck (d. 1648); to daughters, Martha and Mary (d. by 1683), wife of William Harbord; to daughters Mary (d. 1684/5), Margaret and Grace, who all sold their shares by 1689 to Richard Newman, who settled the reunited estate on his son, Francis Holles Newman (d. 1714); to son, Francis Newman (d. 1768); to nephew, Francis Newman (d. 1796), whose heir, Francis Newman (d. 1818) sold the reversion of the manor in 1792 to James Bennett (1746-1815) and his wife Mary (1762-1853); to son, James Bennett (1792-1872); to son, Frederick Wentworth Bennett (1827-81); to son, Frederick Bennett (1856-1908); sold 1910 to Sir Archibald Langman (1872-1949), 2nd bt.; to widow, Eleanor, Lady Langman (1878-1963) and then to daughter Nora Elizabeth Ferrar (1919-2010), wife of John Archibald Montgomery (1912-90); to son, Archibald John Montgomery (b. 1957).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Sparkford Hall, Somerset</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">From the 17th century until 1815, the manor of Sparkford was attached to the North Cadbury Court estate and had no separate manor house. James Bennett (1746-1815), by his will, separated the two properties and bequeathed Sparkford to his younger son, the Rev. Henry Bennett (1795-1874), who after spending many years acting as a Protestant chaplain around Europe, settled back in Somerset. In 1853 he built, on a previously unoccupied site, a new square manor house of pale golden-grey Doulting stone, which has a three-bay entrance front and four-bay side and rear elevations. A large extension of two storeys and attics was added to the north side later in the 19th century as a service wing. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrhS4SL7Q1xxKA8aAni8ng9wyrnBJ6s5RDoAJid694f3X80x11UQYKlNpTZlxvKW3GvvS4YbXjDH4tIU5jASYEK_7UNGFz3QjPIBOolG35BIcuSw7PaWnnNLK7NBFrNb00FRCFF1lpYAaYeJjhz4oSbjrtW82XSPRI9Be9nYaud537U5dweUcUzbyVIJo/s1200/Sparkford%20Hall%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrhS4SL7Q1xxKA8aAni8ng9wyrnBJ6s5RDoAJid694f3X80x11UQYKlNpTZlxvKW3GvvS4YbXjDH4tIU5jASYEK_7UNGFz3QjPIBOolG35BIcuSw7PaWnnNLK7NBFrNb00FRCFF1lpYAaYeJjhz4oSbjrtW82XSPRI9Be9nYaud537U5dweUcUzbyVIJo/w640-h426/Sparkford%20Hall%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Sparkford Hall: entrance front.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82xnpAowqtUUyMcW7iJwpkTmL0Q5pDnyPi0rZtZCtv8djUO9DaPnIAEJPF_axS8xHn0oKvTrC9Gpk57iNi5pVbQf-eN_dajAcExFRAres4PloYdgeS9nSCKaR6q9w8l1xi-hqzQhmsuG8aCr5cPX50-rSuKKNvP7a-YPNsgY5gfhIWmJ7MRS1VC5YKeip/s2000/Sparkford%20Hall%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="2000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82xnpAowqtUUyMcW7iJwpkTmL0Q5pDnyPi0rZtZCtv8djUO9DaPnIAEJPF_axS8xHn0oKvTrC9Gpk57iNi5pVbQf-eN_dajAcExFRAres4PloYdgeS9nSCKaR6q9w8l1xi-hqzQhmsuG8aCr5cPX50-rSuKKNvP7a-YPNsgY5gfhIWmJ7MRS1VC5YKeip/w640-h320/Sparkford%20Hall%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Sparkford Hall: the side and rear elevations.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The plain elevations are enlivened by an unusually deep stone cornice, and have wooden cross-windows on the ground floor and square four-pane sash windows on the first-floor, all set in moulded stone architraves. The window to the right of the front door was blocked up at some point and there is an intrusive asymmetrically-placed chimneystack rising between the porch and the windows to its right. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EWexU6Q0FLqUApgLcWvQL3-lVFMy2EMhOnlm32Nth4xAd7UeIu-zpgFexpPvi7AsakCoXa_-qwHQ80sZSp0QHTypmwrUs_zdjOXc9_B1OckRC2Pb7FaF9rx_Ugryuw4e_cXtwjkB0F37LR4xGdCbk0oCawJpKNflTbuvobL0dIcFJZ2etkJNKFErMs7p/s1944/Sparkford%20Hall%207.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="1294" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EWexU6Q0FLqUApgLcWvQL3-lVFMy2EMhOnlm32Nth4xAd7UeIu-zpgFexpPvi7AsakCoXa_-qwHQ80sZSp0QHTypmwrUs_zdjOXc9_B1OckRC2Pb7FaF9rx_Ugryuw4e_cXtwjkB0F37LR4xGdCbk0oCawJpKNflTbuvobL0dIcFJZ2etkJNKFErMs7p/w426-h640/Sparkford%20Hall%207.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sparkford Hall: staircase hall</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The interiors are correspondingly simple, with decoration concentrated on the staircase hall in the centre of the house, where the staircase has a cast iron balustrade and rises under a coved ceiling with two large skylights in it to a first-floor balcony with a similar balustrade. The drawing room and dining room along the east front have the simplest possible cornices and can be thrown into one room for entertaining purposes. The library, in the north-west corner of the house, has bookcases recessed into the panelling. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The grounds were landscaped at the time the house was built, and were described as having 'a park-like appearance' in the late 19th century, something which remains true today. The house has recently been available for <a href="https://www.sparkfordhall.co.uk/">private rental</a> as a holiday house and for parties, but appears to have ceased trading in 2023.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: built for Rev. Henry Bennett (1795-1874); to son, Henry Edward Bennett (1822-97), who left it jointly to his nine children, who let it and the survivors sold 1936 to Mrs. W.M. Watson; sold to Col. Aylmer (fl. 1947); sold to Brig. Edwyn Sandys Dawes Martin (b. 1895; fl. 1954); sold 1955 to Mr Stead Henry Stead-Ellis (1911-95)...</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett family of North Cadbury Court</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, James (1746-1815). </b>Son of James Bennett of London, citizen and salter, and his wife Elizabeth, baptised at Old Jewry Presbyterian Church, London, 30 September 1746. Apprenticed to his father, 1760. Wine merchant and grocer in London by 1766, latterly trading as Bennett, Coape & Jellicoe; the business was continued after his death as Coape & Jellicoe and he may have been largely a sleeping partner after moving to Somerset, although his will shows that he still had some £50,000 invested in the business at the time of his death. High Sheriff of Somerset, 1799-1800. He married, 14 August 1789 at Truro (Cornw.), Mary (1762-1853), daughter of Thomas Clutterbuck of Marazion (Cornw.), and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Mary Bennett (1790-1867), born 1 November and baptised at St Gabriel, Fenchurch St., London, 24 November 1790; married, 6 July 1808 at Horsington (Som.), Rev. Thomas Wickham (1774-1855), of Horsington (Som.) and had issue four daughters; died at Weston-super-Mare (Som.), 12 December 1867; will proved 10 January 1868 (effects under £1,500);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Eliza Bennett (1791-1873), born 8 November and baptised at St Gabriel, Fenchurch St., London, 1 December 1791; married, 13 September 1812 at North Cadbury, Capt. James Clarke (1788-1845) of Salcombe Regis (Devon), son of James Clarke of Ansford (Som.), and had issue two sons and six daughters; died 28 February and was buried at Bathwick (Som.), 5 March 1873;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) James Bennett (1792-1872) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Rev. Henry Bennett (1795-1874) [for whom see below, Bennett family of Sparkford Hall];</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Juliana Sarah Bennett (1796-1878), born 26 December 1796 and baptised at St George, Bloomsbury, 28? March 1797; married, 8 August 1820 at St Marylebone (Middx), Charles Aaron Moody MP (1792-1867), son of Aaron Moody of Kingsdon (Som.), but had no issue; lived latterly at Chesterfield House, Tunbridge Wells (Kent), where she died 23 December 1878; will proved 12 April 1879 (effects under £45,000);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Frances Anna Bennett (1799-1846), born 17 May and baptised at St George, Bloomsbury, 12 June 1799; married, 3 April 1827 at Bathwick (Som.), Rev. Richard Hill (1799-1880), rector of Timsbury (Som.), 1841-80; died Oct-Dec 1846; administration of goods granted in the PCC, July 1847 and a further grant was made 11 May 1881.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He purchased the reversion of the North Cadbury Court (aka Cadbury House) estate in 1792 and came into possession in 1796.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 8 January 1815 and was buried at North Cadbury, 18 January 1815, where he is commemorated by a funerary monument signed by Thomas Ashton of London; his will was proved in the PCC, 3 March 1815 (effects under £125,000). His widow died 14 June 1853 and was buried at North Cadbury.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, James (1792-1872). </b>Elder son of James Bennett (1746-1815) and his wife Mary, daughter of Thomas Clutterbuck of Marazion (Cornw.), born 7 October 1792. An officer in the 14th Light Dragoons (Cornet, 1812; Lt., 1813; retired on half-pay 1816) and North Somerset Yeomanry Cavalry (Lt-Col.). JP for Somerset; High Sheriff of Somerset, 1836-37. He married, 11 January 1821 at Shepton Mallet (Som.), Annabella (1798-1878), daughter of Rev. William Provis Wickham (1767-1843) of Charlton House (Som.), and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Annabella Mary Bennett (1823-81), baptised at North Cadbury, 16 May 1823; married, 5 August 1852 at West Lydford (Som.), Frederic George Urquhart (1829-81), son of Rev. Frederick Urquhart of Broadmayne (Dorset), and had issue one daughter; died 24 January 1881; will proved 12 March 1881 (effects under £800);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) James Wentworth Bennett (1824-49), baptised at North Cadbury, 11 July 1824; an officer in the army (Cornet, 1846; Lt. 1847); died 27 February 1849 and was buried at St John, Calcutta (India), the following day;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Frederick Wentworth Bennett (1827-81) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Charles Wentworth Bennett (1828-80), baptised at North Cadbury, 3 June 1828; lived at Pluckley (Kent); married, 15 April 1859 at Leith (Midl.), Mary Ann (1832-62), daughter of George Ellerton High of Leith, but had no issue; died 7 November 1880; will proved 9 September 1883 (effects £3,003);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Edward Wentworth Bennett (1832-86), born 18 January and baptised at North Cadbury, 8 February 1832; an officer in the army (Ensign, 1850); then in the 2nd Somerset Militia (Ensign, 1854) and then in the army again (Ensign, 1855; retired 1858); died unmarried in London, 19 January 1886;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Arthur Provis Wentworth Bennett (1834-73), born 11 October and baptised at North Cadbury, 26 October 1834; an officer in the Hertfordshire militia (Ensign, 1855); died unmarried, 27 April and was buried at North Cadbury, 3 May 1873; administration of goods granted 25 July 1873 (effects under £1,000); </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Emma Bennett (1839-1908), baptised at North Cadbury, 11 May 1839; married 1st, 23 April 1861 at St Thomas, Portman Sq., Westminster (Middx) (div. 1882 on grounds of his cruelty and adultery), Capt. Gordon Stonhouse Hughes (1837-1901), son of Gen. Samuel Hughes, and had issue four sons and one daughter; married 2nd, 27 July 1885 at St Luke, Kentish Town (Middx), Reginald William Urquhart (1837-1910), son of Rev. Frederick Urquhart of Broadmayne (Dorset); died 8 December and was buried at Bexhill-on-Sea (Sussex), 11 December 1908; administration of goods granted 15 January 1909 (estate £273).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited North Cadbury Court from his father in 1815.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 29 October 1872; his will was proved 22 January 1873 (effects under £30,000). His widow died 15 October 1878; her will was proved 7 December 1878 (effects under £1,500).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, Frederick Wentworth (1827-81). </b>Second, but eldest surviving, son of James Bennett (1792-1872) and his wife Annabella, baptised at North Cadbury, 26 March 1827. Educated at Sherborne School. An officer in the army (Cornet, 1844; Lt., 1846; Capt., 1850; retired on half-pay, 1850). JP for Somerset (by 1860). He was interested in amateur dramatics, and organised occasional performances at North Cadbury for his tenants and neighbours. He married, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">24 March 1855 at Sherborne (Dorset), Catherine Eliza (1827-75), only surviving child of John Croft of Wick, Brislington (Som.),</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Frederick James Wentworth Bennett (1856-1908) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Croft Charles Wentworth Bennett (1858-82), born 14 November 1858 and baptised at North Cadbury, 30 January 1859; an officer in the 1st Royal Lanarkshire Militia (2nd Lt., 1878); amateur artist and actor; died unmarried of typhoid fever at Lane's Hotel, London, 21 July 1882, and was buried at North Cadbury; administration of goods granted to his brother, 31 August 1882 (effects £1,325).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited North Cadbury Court from his father in 1872, but sold some land in 1877.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 2 August 1881; his will was proved 3 August 1882 (effects £10,597). His wife died 5 July 1875; administration of her goods was granted to her husband, 25 April 1876 (effects under £200).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, Frederick James Wentworth (1856-1908). </b>Son of Frederick Wentworth Bennett (1827-81) and his wife Catherine Eliza, daughter of John Croft of Sherborne (Dorset), born 21 May and baptised at North Cadbury, 22 June 1856. An officer in the army (Lt., 1875; retired 1881) and North Somerset Yeomanry Cavalry (Lt., 1882; Capt., 1886; ret. 1890). JP for Somerset, 1882. A Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He was a noted amateur composer and musician, chiefly performing on the flute and cornet, and in 1882 he built a concert hall at North Cadbury at which he arranged concerts 'with the finest talent he could obtain'. After letting North Cadbury Court, he studied at the Royal Academy of Music. After his divorce in 1906 he set up home in a newly-built suburban villa in Bournemouth, with a lady who was understood to be his wife, but who was in reality a mistress, with whom he quarrelled repeatedly; she left him about two months before his death, taking most of the household furniture with her. In his last weeks he left alone, with no staff and only a few articles of furniture. He married, 12 June 1884 at Compton Pauncefoote (Som.) (sep. 1903; div. 1906 on grounds of his cruelty and adultery), Eleanor Catherine (1862-1944), daughter of Rev. James Senior, rector of Compton Pauncefoote, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Francis Montagu Wentworth Bennett (1885-1957), born 6 January 1885; died unmarried, 12 February 1957; will proved 10 May 1957 (estate £2,565);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Victor Cyril Wentworth Bennett (1887-1918), born 4 June 1887; an officer in the merchant navy (second mate, 1908) and in the army in the First World War (2nd Lt., 1916; Lt., 1917); died of pneumonia, 13 October 1918 and was buried at Faenza Military Cemetery, Ravenna (Italy); administration of goods granted 22 May 1919 (estate £638);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Una Violet Wentworth Bennett (1890-1970), born 18 January and baptised at St Stephen, South Kensington (Middx), 20 February 1890; married 1st, 7 September 1911 at St Stephen, South Kensington (div.), Percy Douglas Saxton (1883-1950), son of George Shadwell Saxton of the Ceylon Civil Service, and 2nd, Apr-Jun 1922, Maj. Frank James; died 27 August 1970; will proved 19 March 1971 (estate £10,014);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Ivan Provis Wentworth Bennett (1891-1916), born 4 February and baptised at Compton Pauncefoote, 29 March 1891; educated at Wellington College; articled clerk to a solicitor; an officer in the army (Capt.); died on active service in France, 13 July 1916; administration of goods granted to his mother, 18 October 1916 (effects £308);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Vere Dorothy Wentworth Bennett (1896-1973), born 1 November 1896; married, 24 February 1926 at All Souls, Langham Place, St Marylebone (Middx), Arthur Loraine Claude Fuller (1890-1958), private secretary, son of Henry Claude Fuller; died 2 December 1973; will proved 27 February 1974 (estate £25,257).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited North Cadbury Court from his father in 1881, but let the house from 1890. Following his death, the estate was sold in 1910.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was reputed to be an habitual drug user, and died of narcotic poisoning at his house in Bournemouth, on or about 21 June 1908 and was buried at North Cadbury; administration of his goods was granted 14 October 1908 (estate £13,080). His ex-wife died 22 May 1944 and was buried at North Cadbury; her will was proved 26 October 1944 (estate £1,056).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett family of Sparkford Hall</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, Rev. Henry (1795-1874). </b>Younger son of James Bennett (1746-1815) and his wife Mary, daughter of Thomas Clutterbuck of Marazion (Cornw.), born in London, 30 October 1795 and baptised at St George, Bloomsbury (Middx), 1 January 1796. Educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1815; LLB 1822). He travelled in Europe with his mother c.1820. Ordained deacon, 1822 and priest, 1823. Rector of South Cadbury (Som.), 1836-66 and Sparkford, 1836-74. He married, 16 July 1821 at the British chaplaincy in St Petersburg (Russia), Emily (1800-82), daughter of Edward Moberly, British consul in St. Petersburg, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Henry Edward Bennett (1822-97) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Emily Sarah Bennett (1823-97), born 22 December 1823; married, 28 April 1846 at Sparkford, Charles Crokat (c.1815-88), of Sydenham (Kent), merchant, and had issue four sons and ten daughters; died 28 February and was buried at Parkstone (Dorset), 4 March 1897; will proved 4 May 1897 (effects £10,094);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Julia Ann Bennett (1825-1901), born at Queen Camel (Som.), 1825; died unmarried at Villa Benedetta, Alassio, Liguria (Italy), 18 April 1901; will proved 1 July 1901 (estate £113);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Helen Frances Bennett (1826-1905), born in St Petersburg, 13 July and baptised at the British chaplaincy there, 8 August 1826; married, 5 July 1853 at Sparkford, Very Rev. Richard William Church (1815-90), rector of Whatley (Som.) and later dean of St Paul's Cathedral, son of John Dearman Church (1781-1828), wine merchant, and had issue one son and three daughters; died 10 May and was buried at Whatley (Som.), 15 May 1905; will proved 12 July 1905 (estate £24,440);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) <span style="background-color: white;">William</span> Henry Bennett (1827-1914), born at Dresden (Germany), 11 January 1827; educated at Winchester College; solicitor; married, 17 November 1860 at Surbiton (Surrey), Helen Charlotte (1834-1923), daughter of Charles John Shebbeare, barrister-at-law, and had issue six sons and three daughters; died 15 June 1914 and was buried at Putney Vale Cemetery (Surrey);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Edward James Bennett (1829-1920), born in Genoa (Italy), 13 March 1829; educated at Winchester College; emigrated to Australia, 1850, and worked in the office of the Surveyor General of Queensland; married, 18 November 1851 at Echunga, South Australia, Anne (1824-96), daughter of Robert Gooding and had issue five sons and five daughters; died at Brisbane, Queensland, 14 August 1920, and was buried at Toowong Cemetery;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Mary Isabel Bennett (1830-64), born in Naples (Italy), 1830; married, 22 September 1857 at Sparkford, Rev. James Baker (1825-97) of Croft (Yorks NR), son of Rev. James Baker, and had issue one son and four daughters; died at Winchester (Hants), 11 January 1864;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) George Bennett (1832-1913), born at Naples (Italy), 2 August and baptised at the British chaplaincy in Naples, 2 September 1832; educated at Winchester and New College, Oxford (matriculated 1851; SCL 1854; BA and MA 1858), where he rowed and played cricket for the University; Fellow of New College, Oxford, 1855-88; civil servant in department of woods and forests; married, 14 October 1882 at St Peter, Bayswater (Middx), Mary Grafton (1849-1916), daughter of Charles Moberly of St Petersburg (Russia), merchant, but had no issue; died 11 March 1913; will proved 19 April 1913 (estate £2,308);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Arthur James Bennett (1833</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">-34), born at Woolstone House near Wincanton (Som.), 27 October 1833 and baptised at South Cadbury, 5 January 1834; died in infancy and was buried at South Cadbury, 7 May 1834;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) Rev. James Arthur Bennett (1835-90), born 12 June and baptised at South Cadbury, 26 July 1835; educated at Winchester College and Durham University (BA 1856); ordained deacon, 1858, and priest, 1859; curate of Ellingham (Northbld), 1858-60 and Alvechurch (Worcs), 1860-66; rector of South Cadbury (Som.), 1866-90; a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, who acted as an inspecting officer for the Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1873-91, was Hon. Sec. of the Somerset Archaeological Society, and one of the founders of the Somerset Record Society; married, 21 June 1864 at Halton in Lonsdale (Lancs), Margaret (b. c.1831), daughter of Cdr. Thomas Benn RN, and had issue one son and one daughter; died 5 December and was buried at South Cadbury, 11 December 1890;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(11) Elizabeth Mary Bennett (1836-1922), baptised at South Cadbury, 23 October 1836; married, 11 July 1861 at Sparkford, Canon Charles Marcus Church (1823-1915), principal of Wells Theological College, sub-dean of Wells Cathedral, and antiquarian, son of John Dearman Church (1781-1828), wine merchant, and had issue three sons and five daughters; died 27 April 1922; will proved 20 May 1922 (estate £4,593);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(12) Susan Fanny Bennett (1838-73), born 26 February and baptised at South Cadbury, 7 May 1838; married, 31 January 1861 at Sparkford, Archibald Hamilton Grahame (1823-89) of Stirling, accountant, son of Thomas Grahame WS, and had issue three sons and five daughters; died in childbirth, 19 June 1873;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(13) Agnes Emily Bennett (1841-99), baptised at South Cadbury, 25 August 1841; died unmarried at Alassio, Liguria (Italy), 29 September 1899; will proved 29 December 1899 (effects £120);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(14) Francis Cayley Bennett (1842-1919), born 21 July 1842; educated at Winchester College; merchant with Messrs. Cattley & Co., St. Petersburg 1858-89 (partner 1867-89, retired 1889); married 1st, 1868, Mary (1845-96), daughter of William Blessig of St Petersburg, and 2nd, 3 August 1898 at All Saints, Maidstone (Kent), Helen Drayton, daughter of Frederic Hailey of Hanwell, and had issue one son; died 25 April 1919; will proved 16 July 1919 (estate £5,099);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(15) Rev. Charles William Bennett (1845-1934), born 26 May 1845; educated at Winchester College; ordained deacon, 1871 and priest, 1872; curate of Chesterton (Staffs), 1871-73 and Beaminster (Dorset), 1873-74; rector of Sparkford, 1874-99 and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">vicar of Pilton (Som.), 1899-1934; rural dean of Shepton Mallet (Som.), 1917-23</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">; married, 26 May 1864 at Earley (Berks), Mary Anne (1840-1903), daughter of Thomas Grahame WS; died 6 March 1934; administration of goods granted 25 May 1934 (estate £2,277).</span></div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He inherited the manor of Sparkford from his father in 1815, and built a new manor house in 1853. He lived at South Cadbury rectory from 1836-53.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 1 September, and was buried at Sparkford, 5 September 1874; his will was proved 6 November 1874 (effects under £7,000). His widow died 12 September and was buried at Sparkford, 16 September 1882.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, Henry Edward (1822-97). </b>Eldest son of Rev. Henry Bennett (1795-1874) and his wife </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Emily, daughter of Edward Moberly, British consul in St. Petersburg (Russia), born 10 September 1822 and baptised at North Cadbury, 3 January 1823. Educated at Winchester, St John's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1840) and the Inner Temple (admitted 1845; called 1848). Barrister-at-law. He was sworn in as a special constable during the Chartist riots, 1848, and was later an officer in the Somerset militia (Lt., 1868; Capt., 1872); JP for Somerset (by 1867). A director of the Albion Life Assurance Society (retired 1875) and other companies. He married, 26 November 1857 at Toronto Cathedral (Canada), Louisa Birchall (1834-92), daughter and co-heiress of Sir James Buchanan Macaulay, chief justice of Toronto, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Emily Louisa Bennett (1858-1937), born in Canada, 19 December 1858; married, 14 June 1900 at Sparkford, Rev. Trevor Griffiths (1871-1947), rector of Sparkford (Som.), but had no issue; died 14 September 1937 and was buried at Sparkford;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Kate Adelaide Bennett (1860-66), born 13 December 1860; died young, 20 April and was buried at Sparkford, 28 April 1866;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) <span style="background-color: white;">Harry </span>Macaulay Bennett (1863-1920), born 7 February 1863; educated at Winchester and St John's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1881; BA 1884); admitted a solicitor, 1888 and practised at Frome (Som.); appointed Clerk of the Peace for Somerset and Clerk of Somerset County Council (retired 1905); emigrated to Canada, 1906; married, 7 November 1901 at Shepton Mallet (Som.), Evelyn (b. c.1866), third daughter of George Mackenzie Mackay of Shepton Mallet, and had issue two sons; died in Vancouver, 27 September 1920 and was buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) James Buchanan Macaulay Bennett (b. & d. 1865), born 4 July and baptised at St Michael & All Angels, Paddington (Middx), 2 August 1865; died in infancy. 10 August 1865;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Very Rev. Frank Selwyn Macaulay Bennett (1866-1947), born 28 October and baptised at Torquay (Devon), 28 December 1866; educated at Sherborne School and Keble College, Oxford (matriculated 1885; BA 1889; MA 1905); ordained deacon, 1892 and priest, 1894; secretary and chaplain to Bishop of Chester, 1892-97; curate of Eccleston (Ches.) and librarian to Duke of Westminster, 1895-97; vicar of Portwood (Ches), 1897-1907 and Christ Church, Chester, 1907-10; rector of Hawarden (Flints), 1910-20 and chaplain to Bishop of Chester, 1913-20; dean of Chester Cathedral, 1920-37, in which capacity he inspired and led a national movement to make cathedrals accessible to the general public 'without fence or fee', that is with long opening hours and free of charge; he was a freemason from 1911; author of <i>M. Coué and his gospel of health </i>(1924), <i>A soul in the making </i>(1925); <i>The nature of a cathedral </i>(1925), <i>Expecto - an essay towards a biology of the world to come</i> (1926) and <i>The resurrection of the dead</i> (1929), among other works; married, 15 November 1900 at Portwood (Ches.), Ida (1873-1951), third daughter of Clegg Livesey of Arden, Bredbury, and had issue four children, of whom one son survived infancy; died 14 November 1947 and was buried at Sparkford; will proved 30 January 1948 (estate £7,486);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Mildred Rachel Bennett (1868-1954), born 11 June 1868; art lecturer and artist; apparently lived latterly with her cousin, Evelyn Mary Bennett (1864-1949) at Holmbury St Mary (Surrey); died unmarried, 22 February 1954; will proved 29 June 1954 (estate £446); </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Edith Mary Bennett (1869-1946), born 13 October 1869; lived with her brother George and probably acted as his housekeeper; died unmarried, 2 February 1946, and was buried at Sparkford;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Beatrice Marian Bennett (1871-1932); lived with her brother George; died unmarried, 30 October 1932, and was buried at Sparkford; will proved 6 December 1932 (estate £944);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Rev. George Edward Macaulay Bennett (1873-1954), born 3 July 1873; ed. at Clifton College, Bristol and Lincoln College, Oxford (matriculated 1892; BA 1897; MA 1907), ordained deacon, 1898 and priest, 1899; vicar of Portwood (Ches.), 1907-11 and of Christ Church, Chester, 1911-34; rural dean of Chester, 1922-34; hon. canon of Chester Cathedral, 1927; vicar of Wilton (Som.), 1934-43; died unmarried, 30 May 1954 and was buried at Sparkford; will proved 29 July 1954 (estate £3,663).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived for some years in the 1850s in Upper Canada. He inherited Sparkford Hall from his father in 1874, but after his wife's death moved to a house in Chester. At his death Sparkford was left to his surviving children jointly.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 22 May and was buried at Sparkford, 26 May 1897; his will was proved 26 July 1897 (effects £2,278). His wife died 12 September and was buried at Sparkford, 17 September 1892.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Landed Gentry</i>, 1925, p. 116; A.J. Jewers, 'Heraldry in the Manor House of North Cadbury, with the heraldry and monuments in the church', <i>Proceedings of Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Soc.</i>, 1890, pp. 137-67; J. Orbach & Sir N. Pevsner, <i>The buildings of England: Somerset - South and West</i>, 2014, pp. 488-89; M. Siraut (ed.), <i>VCH Somerset</i>, vol. xi, 2015, pp. 66-70, 172-73.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Bennett family of North Cadbury Court and Sparkford Hall:</i> deeds and papers, 1799-1878 [Dorset History Centre, </span><span style="background-color: #fdfdfd;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">D 148/12/62-67]</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Gules, a bezant between three demi-lions rampant argent, a crescent for difference.</span></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide fuller information about the 20th and 21st century ownership of Sparkford Hall?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide photographs or portraits of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 8 November 2023.</span></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-63835286042936855992023-10-31T15:40:00.001+00:002023-11-02T06:26:49.279+00:00(561) Bennett of Faringdon House<span style="font-family: georgia;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgO82jr9QOVNXT6gr5OeWE8WF61cx3VJkQiZi-i9kMNT-6jSaq4yFVCNbDmEZZrCAHfFJohLGrRjB6sQhPkenIBXKjProYFHOtNnbcP4RYqbYPSLNZhQnyfVeCrsXqY_X_eEhWkvB2RezC50maNL5N0rhsPOlV1AEoUAQ1zuyKrF2d2Nk7Ya2h5EoEQUiu/s1200/Bennet%20of%20Babraham.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgO82jr9QOVNXT6gr5OeWE8WF61cx3VJkQiZi-i9kMNT-6jSaq4yFVCNbDmEZZrCAHfFJohLGrRjB6sQhPkenIBXKjProYFHOtNnbcP4RYqbYPSLNZhQnyfVeCrsXqY_X_eEhWkvB2RezC50maNL5N0rhsPOlV1AEoUAQ1zuyKrF2d2Nk7Ya2h5EoEQUiu/w167-h200/Bennet%20of%20Babraham.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;">Bennett of Faringdon</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The Bennett family noticed here used the same coat of arms as the <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2023/10/557-bennet-of-dawley-house-chillingham.html">Earls of Tankerville</a>, and the Bennets of <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2023/09/556-bennet-of-beachampton-and-calverton.html">Babraham</a>, <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2023/10/559-bennet-of-widcombe-manor-and.html">Widcombe</a> and <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2023/10/560-bennet-of-tresillian.html">Tresillian</a>, and they were presumably distantly related to them, although this branch of the family seem always to have spelled their name with two ts. The family can first be identified as landowners and farmers at Brokenborough and Westport St Mary near Malmesbury (Wilts) in the 18th century, when Daniel Bennett (c.1695-1779) evidently inherited the property from his wife's family. Their lands there descended to his son Giles Bennett (1721-95) and grandson, Giles Bailey Bennett (c.1768-1815). On the death of the latter they passed to Daniel Bennett (c.1760-1826) of Faringdon House (Berks), with whom the genealogy below begins. This Daniel was a grandson of Daniel (d. 1779) and the son of Thomas Bennett (c.1725-1800), a younger son of Daniel (d. 1779) who had moved to London and established a business as a brazier and ironmonger servicing the maritime industries at Wapping (Middx). After beginning his commercial life in the same trade as his father, Daniel (c.1760-1826) invested in the purchase of a vessel engaged in the <a href="https://www.faringdon.org/uploads/1/4/7/6/14765418/extract_from_owners_in_the_british_southern_whale_fishery.pdf">South Sea whaling industry</a> and built up a substantial business, owning fifteen vessels by 1796 and more than three times as many in the 1820s, when he was in partnership with his son. The firm was based in London, and from 1802 operated from Rotherhithe on the south bank of the Thames. The proceeds of his </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">rather gruesome trade enabled Daniel to buy the Faringdon House estate in Berkshire in 1807, and to expand the property subsequently with additional lands at Faringdon and Eaton Hastings (Berks). He also bought a property called The Cliff at West Cowes (IoW), which he probably used as a holiday home. Daniel married three times, producing a daughter by his first marriage and a son by his second, but no other children. His daughter Sarah, who married young and was widowed in 1810, inherited his house at Cowes and one of the Wiltshire farms. His son and eventual partner, William Bennett (1790-1844), inherited the Faringdon House estate.</span><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcQHmOCBPibYRMXnMqaaVotChAw9NdezHKWCGHZHz8zQybJMrWcmb3Zq78Ye-kZb4KrTCNWTyCLelkNoONOBTMmtayid8i9w2nBXkLehvZvhu-A8V1NV6wvk_mptE4gZTGkUmQohZMnPRTec5P9J_uPCUMaOh6TbBehEPnPkO7k5Q4ldvYZ-1IaGvtB42/s1315/Vanbrugh%20House,%20Greenwich%201%20(Mince%20Pie%20House).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1315" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcQHmOCBPibYRMXnMqaaVotChAw9NdezHKWCGHZHz8zQybJMrWcmb3Zq78Ye-kZb4KrTCNWTyCLelkNoONOBTMmtayid8i9w2nBXkLehvZvhu-A8V1NV6wvk_mptE4gZTGkUmQohZMnPRTec5P9J_uPCUMaOh6TbBehEPnPkO7k5Q4ldvYZ-1IaGvtB42/w640-h410/Vanbrugh%20House,%20Greenwich%201%20(Mince%20Pie%20House).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Vanbrugh House, Greenwich, which was William Bennett's home from 1819-27. The house was demolished in 1902.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>William Bennett married in 1817 and settled soon afterwards at Mince Pie House (otherwise Vanbrugh House) at Greenwich, which had been built by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1722 for his brother Charles. The property was conveniently close to the family business in Rotherhithe, but in a select district, and several of his wife's relations also lived nearby. In 1826, William inherited his father's share of the whaling business and the Faringdon estate. He evidently put in hand some improvement works at Faringdon before moving in in 1827. Thereafter, he seems to have slowly run down the whaling business, replacing only some of the vessels that became unseaworthy. Latterly his younger sons, William (1826-48) and John Dunkin (1830-51) were named alongside him as vessel owners, but they would have been too young to be actively involved in the business. After he died in 1844 the five remaining vessels were sold to other owners. His eldest son, Daniel Bennett (1823-87), is not known to have been involved in the company at all and his career was very much the traditional one of a Victorian landed gentleman, with a short stint in the yeomanry followed by public and voluntary service. He inherited the Faringdon estate a few months before coming of age, and did not at first live in the house, but let it and occupied Sudbury House, Faringdon, which his father had acquired as a dower house. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMD6n-wLjrALb63vCO15GK-yhWgBA2OWW4XoFvPcZecBI4eh0cKMOu8pOTSYZILsovOO5KBwPzI1A2Vb6DI5i4uhylUBoFoRUMflgGeF8eAzQxlfMgmeCWvzYvXH5ynfJxhc_ndpqfEwca33u1WS_mj-aT_t8JxXn0CiLstJq0FmTe6N2I6d1LzKgSM6hB/s598/Sudbury%20House,%20Faringdon%201.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="598" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMD6n-wLjrALb63vCO15GK-yhWgBA2OWW4XoFvPcZecBI4eh0cKMOu8pOTSYZILsovOO5KBwPzI1A2Vb6DI5i4uhylUBoFoRUMflgGeF8eAzQxlfMgmeCWvzYvXH5ynfJxhc_ndpqfEwca33u1WS_mj-aT_t8JxXn0CiLstJq0FmTe6N2I6d1LzKgSM6hB/s320/Sudbury%20House,%20Faringdon%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sudbury House, Faringdon, c.1825. The surviving right-hand part is now<br />part of an hotel. Image: Abingdon County Hall Museum 2007.500.22</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Daniel married in 1847, but he and his wife seem to have struggled to have children, and after at least one stillbirth they produced an only daughter, Marianne Katherine Bennett (c.1858-1918), who suffered from learning difficulties from birth. When Daniel died in 1887 he left the Faringdon estate to his wife (d. 1897) for life and then to trustees for his daughter, who lived with a cousin as companion at Sudbury House. After Marianne died in 1918, both Faringdon House and Sudbury House were sold, but to different purchasers.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Faringdon House, Berkshire</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The manor of Faringdon belonged to Beaulieu Abbey until the dissolution of the monasteries, and changed hands several times in the second half of the 16th century. In 1590, it was bought by Sir Henry Unton (d. 1596), the English Ambassador to France, who built a fine Elizabethan brick house between the site of the present building and the church. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTs0Cwolj_IixdW6Sw5ih07aHlRfraRehOXcvVSz28nTNKclzHeJJ4k__ID4vEPiiH_aG32hg3bJNaEnW4cWIFe4P8Li4ODwJtRJ9A8oqPkXc9i6G-KD0FuUbay3Z89whZEYQ8GaGpHFaLQAuDvPZx0tUHrDzQJJrSpQwHCgDTd-EEFUfBkwYpzYK95NU7/s1393/Faringdon%20House%2012a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1393" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTs0Cwolj_IixdW6Sw5ih07aHlRfraRehOXcvVSz28nTNKclzHeJJ4k__ID4vEPiiH_aG32hg3bJNaEnW4cWIFe4P8Li4ODwJtRJ9A8oqPkXc9i6G-KD0FuUbay3Z89whZEYQ8GaGpHFaLQAuDvPZx0tUHrDzQJJrSpQwHCgDTd-EEFUfBkwYpzYK95NU7/w640-h414/Faringdon%20House%2012a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Faringdon House: the Elizabethan mansion built in the 1590s for Sir Henry Unton.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Only one drawing </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">of this house</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, probably of the mid-to-late 17th century, is known to survive. It shows an irregular many gabled house, apparently consisting of a three-storey hall range with three-storey cross-wings. The windows were mainly plain mullioned windows, although the reception rooms in the right hand wing had larger mullioned and transomed windows. The roofscape was given variety by at least thirteen tall chimneys and ball finials on the gables. Sir Henry, who lived nearby at Wadley House, probably died before the house was finished, but it became the home of his widow, who lived here until her death in 1634. An inventory of 1620 mentions the hall, parlour and a great chamber hung with arras and adorned with pictures, but nothing more is known of the interiors. During the Civil War, the Parliamentarian soldier, Sir Robert Pye (c.1622-1701), who was the son of the then owner, was obliged to lay siege to Faringdon town and to attack his father's own house, which suffered considerable damage as a result.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />On the death in 1766 of Henry Pye, who had been Tory MP for Berkshire for twenty years, the estate was found to be saddled with £50,000 of debt, and in the same year, the old Elizabethan house was badly damaged by fire. Rather than patch it up again, Henry James Pye decided to build a new house on a site slightly further north, on which work was begun about 1770; the architect is unknown. Perhaps because of the burden of debt on the estate, the new house was still not finished in 1785, by which time Pye was noted as a poet and dramatist, although critics have generally agreed that his appointment as poet laureate in 1790 was perhaps the weakest of all time (Sir Walter Scott waspishly remarked that Pye was eminently respectable in everything but his poetry). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidD9i5BBCFirEvZKzm51aDXWwLd_OBqu3GcFZioqwD_5XWiRn9w1Y1O8GYCpYgVcK2M5TYrCFa78FYFL61G_yKxR3M_jVNthaoc8QufOfbAbzMgjBNPkPWoaz2ulhFPOfadZfOhaWF2auksNGHGSqF7KVnhstsJCxJT47GzJG5lr58lkjgW1ky6IHzyIeH/s960/Faringdon%20House%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidD9i5BBCFirEvZKzm51aDXWwLd_OBqu3GcFZioqwD_5XWiRn9w1Y1O8GYCpYgVcK2M5TYrCFa78FYFL61G_yKxR3M_jVNthaoc8QufOfbAbzMgjBNPkPWoaz2ulhFPOfadZfOhaWF2auksNGHGSqF7KVnhstsJCxJT47GzJG5lr58lkjgW1ky6IHzyIeH/w640-h426/Faringdon%20House%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Faringdon House: entrance front</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGSDTB14-22KfRb0KDGNGzYrvzW56RMJPvEd-LIaVEtkMorJ8bcdpst0-Y6dg5hy0t_ffr7x0qHHApvOf7tiT0_Dp9GY83kSl1x5ECwlVLhcX5sp45a8QfAErCHKVgOQ4lKdYYFdVRQIp0m3eBswAkhJ0Wft3eJas8H3GXzjc5wj1pPoJkOC162KzUFNY/s960/Faringdon%20House%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGSDTB14-22KfRb0KDGNGzYrvzW56RMJPvEd-LIaVEtkMorJ8bcdpst0-Y6dg5hy0t_ffr7x0qHHApvOf7tiT0_Dp9GY83kSl1x5ECwlVLhcX5sp45a8QfAErCHKVgOQ4lKdYYFdVRQIp0m3eBswAkhJ0Wft3eJas8H3GXzjc5wj1pPoJkOC162KzUFNY/w640-h426/Faringdon%20House%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Faringdon House: garden front</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The new house begun in 1770 has a south (entrance) front of five bays and two storeys over a basement, but is made memorable by the central bay, which rises to two and a half storeys and is framed by a giant blank arch surmounted by an open pediment - a motif derived from the works of Lord Burlington and his circle. In front of the central bay is a Doric porch with niches in the rusticated stonework to either side. To either side of the entrance front are rusticated stone doorways with open pediments, beyond which quadrant walls curve forward to enclose the courtyard, terminating in rusticated gatepiers. The north (garden) front is plainer, with just the first, third and fifth windows decorated by triangular pediments. On this side, the basement is hidden by a high balustraded terrace carried on five basket arches and reached by staircases at either end. Inside, the entrance hall is filled with a wooden staircase that rises in two flights and returns in one that flies across the hall to a landing carried on a Doric arcade. The main rooms have simple but elegant plasterwork, including a low-relief Rococo ceiling in the drawing room and a neo-classical plaster overmantel with an urn in the dining room. At the same time as the house was built, the setting was landscaped in a Brownian style, so that the south front has a pleasing prospect over the rolling Thamesside meadows.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWh3oHIAQLgTqSmF5VxB4RLJbGSymIDHGSrtz7M2527hrQhMQOANHu47tcJjB4yXsMByXPNCAKCQ6YqjfJFgRBz_6d2RU6Nv-u9Q7MYRMb7hdVGPzuvoOrLapZIM17qt7lf7k-JJyf60hGwz7zkHUiXXkaaHA5z_kKOz0Do38eG3_VWplAuUbRlFvRA2ci/s960/Faringdon%20House%206.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="960" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWh3oHIAQLgTqSmF5VxB4RLJbGSymIDHGSrtz7M2527hrQhMQOANHu47tcJjB4yXsMByXPNCAKCQ6YqjfJFgRBz_6d2RU6Nv-u9Q7MYRMb7hdVGPzuvoOrLapZIM17qt7lf7k-JJyf60hGwz7zkHUiXXkaaHA5z_kKOz0Do38eG3_VWplAuUbRlFvRA2ci/w640-h638/Faringdon%20House%206.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Faringdon House: the entrance hall and staircase.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDczQ7847NQOu2JN5uMsAyq7StUB17kMwakL_93Iz_vTEeONcPvdWzwbDq5-f_aipEYebvOn0lCjrrZSsljTzcqzkaOAkdV4c9TKprzrGZzq8MxwgDO9z8YxF3kWBx8phjtIzpuo6K5mwXNFkW-PrEfloHYkBi6YCC1VSrdyoGohS5HE-dATdzixCu8S_I/s960/Faringdon%20House%207.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDczQ7847NQOu2JN5uMsAyq7StUB17kMwakL_93Iz_vTEeONcPvdWzwbDq5-f_aipEYebvOn0lCjrrZSsljTzcqzkaOAkdV4c9TKprzrGZzq8MxwgDO9z8YxF3kWBx8phjtIzpuo6K5mwXNFkW-PrEfloHYkBi6YCC1VSrdyoGohS5HE-dATdzixCu8S_I/w640-h426/Faringdon%20House%207.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Faringdon House: the drawing room and sitting room along the garden front.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />In 1919, the house was sold to Gerald Tyrwhitt-Wilson (1883-1950), 14th Baron Berners, the eccentric socialite, composer, artist, and bon viveur, who bought it initially for his mother and stepfather, Col. Ward Bennitt, who had been renting it since their marriage in 1908. Two years later he established the Berners Estate Co. to manage the property, since he lived abroad and had at that time no thought over ever living permanently in England. However, when his mother and Col. Ward Bennitt died within three weeks of one another in 1931, he decided to take over the house as his own home, while retaining his other homes in London and Rome. At about the same time, he met Robert Heber-Percy at a country house party at Vaynol (Flintshire). Robert, known with a mixture of affection and exasperation as 'the Mad Boy', was to become Gerald's life partner and heir. His high spirits, elegant appearance and uninhibited behaviour brought a spice to life at Faringdon which Gerald and his constant flow of guests found irresistible. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKLtUbCFYxMk7M-Lx1x9e2AyTKksabsgIXjL7Aod09O8M4Lu4duldKqbwLrl9kWIp7lWjbJVX7KYTD-WeVU2Go7CGGu76ej-O7lESaY-yNJmM9qfKDRZuXLutKvhdWm7uA81PchdVvGcG1g2rEkqQv8DUTWYxDT2AYhirMMD5iR-6HlZm0f6PUPhYIW1V/s473/Faringdon%20House%2022.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="273" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKLtUbCFYxMk7M-Lx1x9e2AyTKksabsgIXjL7Aod09O8M4Lu4duldKqbwLrl9kWIp7lWjbJVX7KYTD-WeVU2Go7CGGu76ej-O7lESaY-yNJmM9qfKDRZuXLutKvhdWm7uA81PchdVvGcG1g2rEkqQv8DUTWYxDT2AYhirMMD5iR-6HlZm0f6PUPhYIW1V/w231-h400/Faringdon%20House%2022.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Faringdon House: dyed doves at a garden party in 1977.<br />Image: Mary Kingsley</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The guests were notable: not just near neighbours like John and Penelope Betjeman from Uffington or Maurice Bowra from Oxford, but Sir Robert and Lady Diana Abdy, Frederick Ashton and Constance Lambert, Noel Coward, Cecil Beaton, the Princesse de Polignac, Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas, Eva Schiaperelli, and the Marchesa Casati, who travelled everywhere with her python. Penelope Betjeman went riding with Robert Heber-Percy and liked to show off the character of her much-loved horse, Moti, by bringing him inside the house: a photograph of the white horse taking tea in the drawing room at Faringdon has become emblematic of the era. There were other jokes too: the pigeons in the dovecote were dyed pink and blue and green with non-toxic dyes (a tradition still maintained, at least until recently). An elderly parrot was trained to walk across the floor entirely covered by a bowler hat, which thus had the appearance of having acquired the power of independent motion. In 1935, a tall but plain folly tower was built on a hill on the far side of Faringdon town, to the designs of Gerald Wellesley. It was approached by a path between trees, to one of which was the memorable sign: "Please do not throw stones at this notice".</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />When Lord Berners died in 1950, the house and its contents were left to 'the Mad Boy', Robert Heber-Percy </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1911-87)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, who maintained the contents and traditions of the house into the 1980s. He left the house to his granddaughter, the novelist Sofka Zinovieff (b. 1961), who never lived here on a permanent basis but let the house on short-term tenancies as a very grand holiday house. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Her book about Faringdon and the family, <i>The Mad Boy, Lord Berners, My Grandmother and Me</i>, is a major source for this account. The house was sold in 2018, and regrettably a sale of many of the period contents followed</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: sold 1590 to Sir Henry Unton (d. 1596); to widow, Lady Unton (d. 1634) and then to his nephew, Sir John Wentworth, who sold his reversionary interest in 1623 to Sir Robert Pye (c.1586-1662); to son, Sir Robert Pye (c.1622-1701); to son, Dr. Edmund Pye MD (c.1640-1705); to son, Henry Pye (1683-1749); to son, Henry Pye MP (1709-66); to son, Henry James Pye (1745-1813); sold before 1791 to William Hallett (1764-1842); sold 1807 to Daniel Bennett (1760-1826); to son, William Bennett (1790-1844); to son, Daniel Bennett (1823-87); to widow, Mary Elizabeth Bennett (d. 1897) and then to trustees for daughter, Marianne Katherine Bennett (1858-1918); sold 1919 to Gerald Tyrwhitt-Wilson (1883-1950), 14th Baron Berners; to partner, Robert Heber-Percy (1911-87); to granddaughter, Sofka Zinovieff (b. 1961); sold 2018 to Charles Kenneth Crossley-Cooke (b. 1967). The house was let in the mid 19th century; and again (to Col. & Mrs. Ward Bennitt) from 1908.</i><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett family of Faringdon House</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaYC__QM1ocT6xHlteABDBZs_gvXoIA6bZo0eGMOJ8QuH7w0lMVQv14ia9WOTAWFaGq8zXdPZge6nCplZfikbZEu0xVsBXnuciG0TZ_BDjL-r8wp6lcyP5hfbz0J91Vexg0j10knoZcdInxkI906ox6up8C3ZOubKA7yivL_fzKVsmFrisBFQViHdtoQp/s800/Bennett,%20Daniel%201760-1826.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="607" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaYC__QM1ocT6xHlteABDBZs_gvXoIA6bZo0eGMOJ8QuH7w0lMVQv14ia9WOTAWFaGq8zXdPZge6nCplZfikbZEu0xVsBXnuciG0TZ_BDjL-r8wp6lcyP5hfbz0J91Vexg0j10knoZcdInxkI906ox6up8C3ZOubKA7yivL_fzKVsmFrisBFQViHdtoQp/w152-h200/Bennett,%20Daniel%201760-1826.jpg" width="152" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Daniel Bennett (1760-1826) <br />Image: Faringdon Library</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bennett, Daniel (c.1760-1826). </b>Son of Thomas Bennett (c.1725-1800) of Wapping (Middx), ironmonger and brazier, and his wife Elizabeth Chambers (b. c.1727), and a grandson of Daniel Bennett of Westport St Mary (Wilts), a gentleman farmer, born about 1760. At the age of 21 he set up his own business as a brazier and ironmonger in Wapping, working chiefly to support the shipping industry of east London. By 1786 he had acquired his first vessel,the <i>Lively</i>, built in America in 1777, which was engaged in the South Sea whaling trade. He gradually expanded his whaling fleet and in 1796 had fifteen vessels with an aggregate tonnage of 1,354 tons. His background in metalworking seems to have allowed him to keep his ships in better condition than his rivals, and he suffered fewer losses and made greater profits as a result. From 1802 he operated from the Oil Wharf at Rotherhithe, and by the 1820s he had a fleet of fifty vessels and was the largest proprietor in the whaling trade, and he had also diversified into general shipping. He married 1st, 1 January 1780 at St John, Wapping (Middx), Mary King of Wapping; 2nd, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">17 May 1786 at High Wycombe (Bucks), Elizabeth (1756-1815), daughter of William Ball of High Wycombe, and 3rd, 2 August 1820 at St Swithin, Walcot, Bath (Som.), Ann Elizabeth Boughton (c.1780-1838), widow, and had issue:</span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Sarah Bennett (1780-1858), born 12 October and baptised Old Gravel Lane Independent Chapel, Stepney (Middx), 25 October 1780; married, 9 December 1801 at St Alfege, Greenwich, John Goodwin (c.1773-1810), and had issue one daughter; buried at Holy Trinity, Cowes (IoW), 15 January 1858;</span></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) William Bennett (1790-1844) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He purchased the Faringdon House estate in 1807, and a property called The Cliff at West Cowes (IoW). He </i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">inherited Boakley Farm at Brokenborough and Backbridge Farm, Westport, both near Malmesbury (Wilts), from his first cousin once removed, Giles Bailey Bennett (c.1768-1815). He sold Backbridge in 1822. Boakley was offered for sale in 1816, but did not sell and was bequeathed to his daughter, who retained it in 1839.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 14 October 1826, and was buried at High Wycombe, where he and his two wives are commemorated </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">by a monument designed by Richard Westmacott; his will was proved in the PCC, 2 November 1826. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His first wife died 24 November 1815 and was buried at High Wycombe. His widow died 26 July 1838 and was buried at High Wycombe.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwG9T3K91HXPn-BuFVJKJfnQPPhdj7sEKIOx77Pxu_uMh2aPFheTBn20B0HhKTWOoh77IH-o0vQW9_mtfC_kTgrDh3MqQEUhtIqylaxFWyoUHepizEqYnInfC29dSXrOAk93T3LxLf7guhbswqZG1Yv2OWCZEglrXV7SDE9423OYJLB2-NzigvY5tq_2nj/s360/Bennett,%20William%20(1790-1844).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="252" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwG9T3K91HXPn-BuFVJKJfnQPPhdj7sEKIOx77Pxu_uMh2aPFheTBn20B0HhKTWOoh77IH-o0vQW9_mtfC_kTgrDh3MqQEUhtIqylaxFWyoUHepizEqYnInfC29dSXrOAk93T3LxLf7guhbswqZG1Yv2OWCZEglrXV7SDE9423OYJLB2-NzigvY5tq_2nj/w140-h200/Bennett,%20William%20(1790-1844).jpg" width="140" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">William Bennett (1790-1844)<br />Image: Faringdon Library </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bennett, William (1790-1844). </b>Son of Daniel Bennett (c.1760-1824) and his wife, born 1790. He was in partnership with his father in the whaling industry, but after his father's death he gradually ran the business down, so that at the time of his death he owned only five vessels. High Sheriff of Berkshire, 1836-37. He was an early patron of the artist, Samuel Palmer, who was related to his wife. He married, 25 September 1817 at Ingatestone (Essex), Marianna (d. 1840), daughter of John Dunkin of Fryerning (Essex), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Elizabeth Emma Bennett (1818-52), baptised at St Alfege, Greenwich (Kent), 29 October 1818; married, 29 July 1845 at Faringdon, Richard Meredyth Richards (1821-73), only son of Richard Richards MP of Caernywch (Merioneths.); died without issue, 10 December, and was buried at Dolgellau (Merioneths), 16 December 1852; will proved in the PCC, 26 February 1853;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Marianne Bennett (1820?-37), said to have been born 5 August 1820 and baptised 6 November 1823; died unmarried, 22 March and was buried at High Wycombe (Bucks), 1 April 1837;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Daniel Bennett (1823-87) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) William Bennett (1826-48), baptised at St Alfege, Greenwich, 28 July 1826; an officer in the 15th Hussars (Ensign, 1847; Lt., 1848); died at Madras (India), 29 September 1848;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) John Dunkin Bennett (1830-51); born 25 January and baptised at Faringdon, 8 July 1830; died unmarried, 6 November, and was buried at Faringdon, 13 November 1851; will proved in the PCC, 22 November 1851;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Horace Hughes Bouverie Hill Bennet (1836-37), born about March 1836; died in infancy and was buried at High Wycombe, 23 January 1837, where he and his sister Marianne are commemorated by a monument.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Vanbrugh House alias Mince Pie House, Maze Hill, Greenwich, from 1819-27, while his wife's aunt, Mary Hays, lived in Vanbrugh Castle nearby. He inherited the Faringdon House and West Cowes properties from his father in 1826, and purchased Sudbury House, Faringdon as a dower house.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 18 January and was buried at High Wycombe (Bucks), 25 January 1844. His wife died 24 February and was buried at High Wycombe, 3 March 1840, where she is commemorated by a monument signed by Broughton of Wycombe.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, Daniel (1823-87). </b>Eldest son of William Bennett (1790-1844) and his wife Marianna, daughter of John Dunkin of Fryerning (Essex), born 29 June and baptised at Faringdon, 6 November 1823. An officer in the Wiltshire Yeomanry Cavalry (Lt.) and the Berkshire Rifle Volunteers (Capt., 1860; retired 1873); JP for Berkshire (Chairman of Faringdon Petty Sessions) and Wiltshire and DL for Berkshire, and he also served as a poor law guardian, highway commissioner and local tax commissioner. A Conservative in politics, he was chairman of the Faringdon & District Conservative Association. He was a major contributor to the restoration of Faringdon church. He married, 28 October 1847 at Shifnal (Shrops.), Mary Elizabeth (c.1826-97), eldest daughter of Uvedale Corbett of Aston Hall (Shrops.), barrister-at-law, and had issue, with a stillborn son:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Marianne Katherine Bennett (1858-1918), born 24 January 1858; the 1911 census stated she had been 'slightly deficient from birth'; died unmarried and without issue, 26 August 1918; her will was proved 13 February 1919 (estate £11,524).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Faringdon House estate from his father in 1844, but at first let it and lived at Sudbury House. At his death the estate passed to his widow for life, and then to trustees for his daughter, who lived at Sudbury House. Both Faringdon House and Sudbury House were sold after her death.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 24 April and was buried at Faringdon, 28 April 1887; his will was proved 8 June 1887 (effects £2,820). His widow died 18 November 1897; her will was proved 2 May 1898 (estate £8,994).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Landed Gentry</i>, 1894, p. 130; D.A. Crowley (ed), <i>VCH Wiltshire</i>, vol. 14, 1991, pp. 29-31; G. Tyack, S. Bradley & Sir N. Pevsner, <i>The buildings of England: Berkshire</i>, 2nd edn., 2010, pp. 300-02; S. Zinovieff, <i>The Mad Boy, Lord Berners, My Grandmother and Me</i>, 2014;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.berkshirehistory.com/castles/faringdon_house.html">https://www.berkshirehistory.com/castles/faringdon_house.html</a>;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.faringdon.org/bennett-family.html">https://www.faringdon.org/bennett-family.html</a>;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.faringdon.org/uploads/1/4/7/6/14765418/extract_from_owners_in_the_british_southern_whale_fishery.pdf">https://www.faringdon.org/uploads/1/4/7/6/14765418/extract_from_owners_in_the_british_southern_whale_fishery.pdf</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Bennett of Faringdon: </i>deeds of manor of Faringdon, 1847-97 [Berkshire Record Office, D/EX 487]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Gules, a bezant between three demi-lions rampant, argent.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide portraits of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 31 October 2023 and updated 2 November 2023. I am grateful to Dart Montgomery for a correction.</span></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-6916068366748579592023-10-28T16:05:00.001+01:002023-10-29T10:33:41.759+00:00(560) Bennet of Tresillian<span style="font-family: georgia;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2QpwcTyoaDEfQPf4em7l6POlMetGmYkpiS8B7AImwdHjLB2f-Ud0KnWW8SFCEI4OciAdEFqpK0xXbQtwtFVbcWZZBjb4LT74WiFopTCk2V5-nqzEZPrfCV9oWmn3V-UTlp03OX0tQQhvAZizVKz35iI8_wrZhGa-9Ipu9fVKL4wOTRPx6AY5l_SvoFYL/s1200/Bennet%20of%20Babraham.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2QpwcTyoaDEfQPf4em7l6POlMetGmYkpiS8B7AImwdHjLB2f-Ud0KnWW8SFCEI4OciAdEFqpK0xXbQtwtFVbcWZZBjb4LT74WiFopTCk2V5-nqzEZPrfCV9oWmn3V-UTlp03OX0tQQhvAZizVKz35iI8_wrZhGa-9Ipu9fVKL4wOTRPx6AY5l_SvoFYL/w167-h200/Bennet%20of%20Babraham.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bennet of Tresillian</span></td></tr></tbody></table>This family used the same coat of arms as the <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2023/10/557-bennet-of-dawley-house-chillingham.html">Earls of Tankerville</a>, and the <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2023/09/556-bennet-of-beachampton-and-calverton.html">Bennets of Babraham</a> and the <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2023/10/559-bennet-of-widcombe-manor-and.html">Bennets of Widcombe House</a>, but the precise connection to these families is unclear. By the mid 18th century, the Rev. Thomas Bennet (d. 1767) was vicar of St. Enoder in Cornwall, and his son John (c.1735-85) followed in his father's footsteps and became vicar of Gwinear (Cornw.) in 1768. It was the Rev. John Bennet who laid the foundations of the family's rise into the landed gentry by his marriage in 1764 to Philippa Gully (1742-84?), the daughter of Samuel Gully of Tresillian, whose family had owned that estate since 1694. When Philippa's brother, Richard Gully, died unmarried in 1791, the Tresillian estate passed to John and Philippa's eldest son, the Rev. John Bennet (1765-1804), who was then just embarking on an ecclesiastical career, and held a curacy at Anthony (Cornw.). John, who had recently married Elizabeth Wallis, the daughter of another minor Cornish squarson, the Rev. Mydhope Wallis, seems to have abandoned the idea of a clerical career and embraced the life of a landed gentleman; he never proceeded to priestly orders. He and Elizabeth produced four children who were all still young when both parents died within the space of eight months in 1804-05. Under John's will, responsibility for the children - two sons and two daughters - passed to John's unmarried brother, Major William Bennet (1780-1817), and his sister Patty (1777-1851) and her husband, Joseph Norway (1774-1825), who was an attorney at St Columb Major (Cornw.). With Major Bennet serving in the army, the bulk of the responsibility for the young family fell on Patty and her husband. Everything seems to have gone well until the children approached adulthood, when the eldest daughter, Elizabeth Bennet (1792-1842), caught the eye of Francis Camborne Paynter (1785-1858). Paynter had set himself up as a solicitor at St Columb Major in competition with Joseph Norway, and there seems to have been a very real dispathy between the two lawyers. Norway naturally discouraged his ward from having anything to do with Paynter, who responded by persuading the heir to the Tresillian estate, Richard Gully Bennet (1793-1836), that his uncles had been quietly milking the estate during his long minority. Rather than raising these concerns directly with his trustees, however, Paynter helped Gully (as he was usually known), who was then an Oxford undergraduate, to launch a legal case in Chancery, seeking the appointment of Paynter as receiver of the estate revenues, and requiring a complete accounting for the estate income and expenditure since 1805. Norway, who seems to have been largely blameless, was absolutely furious at his integrity being publicly impugned in this way, and at the ingratitude exhibited by his nephew, although he seems to have recognised Paynter as the villain of the piece. The case took several years to unfold - as Chancery cases usually did - but in the end Joseph Norway's stewardship was vindicated and his relationship with Gully Bennet seems to have been repaired. Paynter may have failed to get his hands on the estate revenues, but in 1815 he did marry Elizabeth Bennet, and they went on to have four daughters.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Gully Bennet himself married in 1820, but his wife died less than two years later, leaving him with a single surviving son, called Richard Gully Bennet after his father. Gully Bennet subsequently took a mistress, Elizabeth Mountstevens Tinney, who lived with him as his housekeeper, and by whom he had four children before he died at the age of forty-three in 1836. His will appointed his friends, Edward William Wynne Pendarves MP and Thurston Collins, to be his legitimate son's guardians and trustees, and stipulated that a servant should occupy the house at Tresillian until his son came of age. He probably had Elizabeth in mind for this role, but by 1841 she had become an innkeeper at St Enoder and taken a local farmer as a husband, and Tresillian may have fallen into disrepair. Richard Gully Bennet (1820-1910) came of age in 1841 and decided soon afterwards to rebuild Tresillian House. George Wightwick had produced plans by 1846, which were used as the basis for Twycross' engraving of the intended new house, published in that year, but work did not actually begin until 1848. Part of the new house was ready for occupation in 1849, but work continued in a desultory fashion until final completion in 1862.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Richard Gully Bennet married Mary Jean Hosken in 1846 and the couple had two sons and two daughters. Both of the sons, Edward Gully Bennet (1849-1927) and Ferdinando Wallis Bennet (1850-1929) were career soldiers, achieving the ranks of Lt-Col. and Col. respectively. Edward retired from the army in 1893 and gradually took over some of his ageing father's roles in local government, but he was unmarried, and in 1921 he was living at Tresillian with just one servant. His brother, who inherited the estate in 1927, settled at Northam (Devon) on leaving the army in 1901 and became heavily involved in local government and voluntary work in north Devon for the next quarter of a century. He handed over Tresillian to his son, Major Leonard Wallis Bennet (1897-1957) shortly after his brother's death and it was Major Bennet who led a campaign of restoration work on the then neglected house and grounds, including refitting the library in 1928. Shortly before the Second World War, however, Major Bennet decided to let the house to Thomas Albert Victor Wood (1893-1978), who was looking for a property on which he could selectively breed new daffodils, and moved to Northam Lodge near where his father had lived. Wood remained as tenant at Tresillian until at least 1950, but in 1947 Major Bennet had sold the freehold to Frederick J. Davy, who brought a legal action against the sitting tenant in 1950 for breach of the maintenance conditions in the lease, and seeking possession of the property. His action was unsuccessful, but Wood seems to have left soon afterwards. In due course, the estate descended to Rex Davy (1917-2007) who created the 'Dairyland' farming theme park on the Home Farm in the 1970s. In 2000, he sold the estate to the present owner, a grandson of the Mr T.A.V. Wood who was a tenant in the 1930s and 1940s, and the house has since been thoroughly restored. The sale of the estate in 1947 brought the Bennet family's status as landed gentry to an end. Major Bennet had no son to succeed him, but produced four daughters, at least two of whom settled in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), where in 1963 the eldest daughter, Armenell Mary Betty Bennet (1929-2000), married Clifford Walter Dupont (1905-78), a leading figure in the government of the self-styled republic of Rhodesia and its President, 1970-75.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Tresillian House, St Newlyn East, Cornwall</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">A substantial manorial barton or farm on this site belonged in the medieval period to the Tresilian family, of whom Sir Robert Tresilian was Lord Chief Justice before his execution at Tyburn in 1388. It subsequently passed through the hands of the Hawley and Davies families, before being bought in 1694 by Samuel Gully. Instructions were given for repairs and alterations to the house in 1777, and some accounts suggest that part of the 18th century house is incorporated in the present building, which is a </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">solidly-built but severely plain L-shaped house with a five-bay entrance front, designed by George Wightwick for Richard Gully Bennet (1820-1910), but there is nothing obvious in its <a href="https://www.ribapix.com/Designs-for-Tresillian-House-St-Newlyn-East-for-Richard-Gully-Bennet-Esq-plans_RIBA82973">plan</a> or appearance to suggest the existence of older fabric. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_tWgOAPQN84kD3hTnS0J6cJ_sKJzN0DlvqNwFgbmoGzVNGpq53dVNHl6WeNjXz7tZB7bHzq6xtaobp2jfP-5F1LjkKim9ubkGtIYPZpm1RAtDHOV5es_lM3GITyiHYibFCT0oMkgXT_myYP5HPYM2y1xj6gjlP2EgRB7hxSYDx_vn6iaA2sFwVBgAFt0/s1021/Tresilian%20House%2011.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="1021" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_tWgOAPQN84kD3hTnS0J6cJ_sKJzN0DlvqNwFgbmoGzVNGpq53dVNHl6WeNjXz7tZB7bHzq6xtaobp2jfP-5F1LjkKim9ubkGtIYPZpm1RAtDHOV5es_lM3GITyiHYibFCT0oMkgXT_myYP5HPYM2y1xj6gjlP2EgRB7hxSYDx_vn6iaA2sFwVBgAFt0/w640-h388/Tresilian%20House%2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Tresillian House: entrance front.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The present building was illustrated in Twycross' </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Mansions of England and Wales</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> volume on Cornwall, published in 1846, although construction did not actually begin until 1848: his illustration was based on sight of the architect's drawings. The family were able to move into part of the house in 1849, but it was not completely finished until 1863. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91q4F0cA3FGSOeG_DhSJoBbzVK9cb-1RE64EmUynn1rcjr5vWJwIgQUhUc-zaluQf60k1iIDgyIJiWjioE5edWl6-aKFlYQcxKd8bQw0WdVhUjVXTCGiN746ujAhmTVao0qLoGwbOqeifE0UcaPgiHBR0ZjdaR6oZcATyIDtpb7ols2I8F2IWkx1NEOjy/s3104/Tresilian%20House%2010a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2054" data-original-width="3104" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91q4F0cA3FGSOeG_DhSJoBbzVK9cb-1RE64EmUynn1rcjr5vWJwIgQUhUc-zaluQf60k1iIDgyIJiWjioE5edWl6-aKFlYQcxKd8bQw0WdVhUjVXTCGiN746ujAhmTVao0qLoGwbOqeifE0UcaPgiHBR0ZjdaR6oZcATyIDtpb7ols2I8F2IWkx1NEOjy/w640-h424/Tresilian%20House%2010a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Tresillian House: engraving of the house built for Richard Gully Bennet in 1848-50, from Twycross' <i>Mansions of England & Wales: Cornwall</i>, 1846.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The main block of the house is a double pile, with a central spine wall dividing a hall, dining room and library along the front from a large drawing room and a dramatic top-lit staircase hall at the back. The service wing lies behind the staircase hall and is connected to the dining room by a small room under the staircase which at one time was the butler's pantry. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOE9OwSS0R5f_cGCu0QdWVlscUD_qWYnDBrgmQN32u3F15QMrs1YAwwtFBPEQCRdFpt1tCWDZqmlAx7lG7qcSDUmEZrEjZjtiHFKWVNbeN3TesmDZcHBBvLuvrQZHSLqjAdzL_FWo0CbwrjBmVxMzKLP0Kd34OLC1pZPj9yy_R2RkpNvGA9xWSmFhhCQvD/s1156/Tresilian%20House%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1156" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOE9OwSS0R5f_cGCu0QdWVlscUD_qWYnDBrgmQN32u3F15QMrs1YAwwtFBPEQCRdFpt1tCWDZqmlAx7lG7qcSDUmEZrEjZjtiHFKWVNbeN3TesmDZcHBBvLuvrQZHSLqjAdzL_FWo0CbwrjBmVxMzKLP0Kd34OLC1pZPj9yy_R2RkpNvGA9xWSmFhhCQvD/w640-h426/Tresilian%20House%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Tresillian House: staircase hall. Image: Tresillian House.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsCYB-4MWEkBWv6Bqngd-YRiMI6EA4qyCNZO1thKkOmyZnQol6ymMUB5JEJoVR5rPV1IRIrWuMaz05LAi0B-P71sXkVHVTOhBDsoAfeL4FAjg6TG-plmP1zEYj4_dAC_3g8gfRKa2tbKwc0EUSQRKXo-8lJm6j4UvpiqDO7Glu2npvpM-X8lGStamsl4a/s1603/Tresilian%20House%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1603" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsCYB-4MWEkBWv6Bqngd-YRiMI6EA4qyCNZO1thKkOmyZnQol6ymMUB5JEJoVR5rPV1IRIrWuMaz05LAi0B-P71sXkVHVTOhBDsoAfeL4FAjg6TG-plmP1zEYj4_dAC_3g8gfRKa2tbKwc0EUSQRKXo-8lJm6j4UvpiqDO7Glu2npvpM-X8lGStamsl4a/w640-h426/Tresilian%20House%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Tresillian House: drawing room. Image: Tresillian House.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5RG7KzeD8ytZTcLoR3PTbynIHip9buS_x0o9aSIee32japqTnBoewygWNgh1TUHPRL0G04w_YencZEwT2XO_oQLnHqF5JOhN9t24lEc4aTgGtz_QHj__u_VjmH9vHBjZwcEqMJHzLNnZNwTk6-uf1igtCjbR3cHatyyzf3WynkrFSEFMwK6RA-fveclN/s640/Tresilian%20House%209.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5RG7KzeD8ytZTcLoR3PTbynIHip9buS_x0o9aSIee32japqTnBoewygWNgh1TUHPRL0G04w_YencZEwT2XO_oQLnHqF5JOhN9t24lEc4aTgGtz_QHj__u_VjmH9vHBjZwcEqMJHzLNnZNwTk6-uf1igtCjbR3cHatyyzf3WynkrFSEFMwK6RA-fveclN/w640-h360/Tresilian%20House%209.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Tresillian House: library, remodelled in 1928. Image: Tresillian House.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house has recently been nicely restored, and it seems to have been very little altered since it was first built, apart from a refitting of the library in 1928. The main house and two cottages are now available for holiday lets. A walled kitchen garden was laid out in woodland a short distance from the house in the mid 19th century and is immaculately maintained today. It featured on television recently as part of the </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Rick Stein's Cornwall </i><span style="font-family: georgia;">series, in which the presenter interviewed the characterful head gardener, John Harris.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: sold 1694 to Samuel Gully; to son?, Enodor Gully (d. 1748); to great nephew, Richard Gully (d. 1791); to nephew, Rev. John Bennet (1765-1804); to son, (Richard) Gully Bennet (1793-1836); to son, Richard Gully Bennet (1820-1910); to son, Edward Gully Bennet (1849-1927); to brother, Ferdinando Wallis Bennet (1850-1929), who gave it to his son, Maj. Leonard Wallis Bennet (1897-1957); sold 1947 to Frederick J. Davy; to son, Rex Davy (1917-2007), creator of the DairyLand Farm World theme park; sold 2000 to George Edward Silvanus Robinson (b. 1956), hedge fund manager and grandson of </i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Thomas Albert Victor Wood (1893-1978), who leased the property from 1937 until after 1950. </i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet family of Tresillian</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Rev. John (c.1735-85). </b>Son of Rev. Thomas Bennet (d. 1767), vicar of St Enoder (Cornw.) 1735-67, and his wife Dorothy Vinicombe</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, born at Exeter about 1735. Educated at Clare College, Cambridge (matriculated 1754; BA 1758; MA 1761). Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, 1761-64. Vicar of Gwinear (Cornw.), 1768-85. He married, 22 May 1764 at Newlyn East, Phillippa (1742-84?), daughter of Samuel Gully and sister of Richard Gully (d. 1791) of Tresillian House, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Rev. John Bennet (1765-1804) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Philippa Bennet (b. 1766), born 20 September and baptised at St Enoder, 2 October 1766; probably died unmarried;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Dorothy Bennet (1767-1815), baptised at St Ewe, 2 December 1767; married, 29 July 1790 at Fowey (Cornw.), Rev. James Pascoe (c.1765-1807), vicar of St Keverne (Cornw.), 1789-1807, and had issue seven sons and three daughters; buried at St Keverne, 22 March 1815; will proved in the PCC, 17 July 1815;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Mary Bennet (b. 1769), baptised at Gwinear, 26 July 1769;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Elizabeth Bennet (b. 1772), baptised at Gwinear, 27 March 1772;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Ann Bennet (b. & d. 1773), baptised at Gwinear, 11 December 1773; died in infancy and was buried at Gwinear, 18 December 1773;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Ann Bennet (1776-1862), baptised at Gwinear, 17 April 1776; died unmarried at Wadebridge (Cornw.), 19 September 1862;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Patty Bennet (1777-1851), baptised at Gwinear, 31 October 1777; married, 28 April 1801 at St Keverne, Joseph Norway (1774-1825) of St Columb Major (Cornw.), attorney, who acted as one of the guardians and trustees of his brother-in-law, Rev. John Bennet's, children from 1805, son of Neville Norway of Lostwithiel (Cornw.), and had issue one son and four daughters; died at St Columb Major, Jul-Sept. 1851;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) William Bennet (1780-1817), baptised at Gwinear, 2 March 1780; an officer in the army (Maj.), who acted as one of the guardians and trustees of his brother, Rev. John Bennet's, children from 1805; died 20 April 1817;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) Kitty Bennet (1783-1819), baptised at Gwinear, 9 February 1783; died unmarried and was buried at St Columb Major, 22 February 1819.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Gwinear, 17 February 1785. His wife is said to have died in 1784, but I have been unable to trace a matching burial in that year.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Rev. John (1765-1804). </b>Son of Rev. John Bennet (c.1735-85) and his wife Phillippa, daughter of Samuel Gully of Tresillian House, born 6 June and baptised at St Enoder (Cornw.), 18 June 1765. Educated at Clare College, Cambridge (matriculated 1785; BA 1789). Ordained deacon, 1789. Curate of Antony (Cornw.). He married, 31 October 1791 at Stoke Damerel (Devon), Elizabeth (1770-1805), daughter and heir of Rev. Mydhope Wallis (d. 1791) of Trethill in Sheviock (Cornw.) and vicar of Rame (Cornw.), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Elizabeth Bennet (1792-1842), baptised at Anthony, 3 October 1792; married, 2 November 1815 at Newlyn East, Francis Camborne Paynter (1785-1858) of St Columb Major, solicitor, and had issue four daughters; died 4 November 1842;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Richard Gully Bennet (1793-1836) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Rev. Mydhope Wallis Bennet (1795-1824), baptised at Newlyn East, 13 April 1795; educated at Pembroke College, Oxford (matriculated 1813; BA 1817); ordained deacon, 1818 and priest, 1819; curate of Talland, 1818; died unmarried at East Looe (Cornw.) and was buried at Morval (Cornw.), 8 November 1824; will proved in the PCC, 10 December 1824;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Ann Bennet (1796-1870?), born 3 November 1796 and baptised at Newlyn East, 2 January 1797; married, 30 December 1818 at St Martin by Looe (Cornw.), Rev. James Pascoe (c.1792-1839), vicar of St. Keverne, and had issue six sons and two daughters; probably the 'Ann Pascoe' buried at Sithney (Cornw.), 10 August 1870.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Tresillian House from his maternal uncle, Richard Gully in 1791.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 31 December 1804 and was buried at Newlyn East, 7 January 1805; his will was proved in the PCC, 28 May 1805. His widow died 17 August and was buried at Newlyn East, 24 August 1805.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Richard Gully (1793-1836). </b>Elder son of Rev. John Bennet (1765-1804) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Rev. Mydhope Wallis of Trethill, born 13 November and baptised at Newlyn East, 21 December 1793. Educated at Pembroke College, Oxford (matriculated 1811). JP for Cornwall. He married, 3 January 1820 at St Enoder (Cornw.), Loveday (1798-1821), daughter of William Basset of Pencorse, St Enoder, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Richard Gully Bennet (1820-1910) (</span><i style="font-family: georgia;">q.v.</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">John Bennet (1821-22), baptised at Newlyn East, 27 December 1821; died in infancy and was buried at St Columb Major, 22 September 1822.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">After the death of his wife he seems to have taken as his housekeeper and mistress, Elizabeth Mountstevens Tinney, by whom he apparently had four illegitimate children (mentioned but not named in his will):</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(X1) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Francis Tinney (b. 1830), baptised at Cuby with Tregony (Cornw.), 13 August 1830; living in 1841 but apparently died in the lifetime of his mother;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(X2)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Millicent Tinney (b. 1832), said to have been born in May 1832; baptised at St Columb Minor, 16 March 1837;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(X3) Melissa Tinney (b. c.1834); living in 1841;</span> </div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(X4) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">John Wallis Tinney (b. 1836; fl. 1895), baptised at Newlyn East, 30 August 1836; living in Truro in 1895.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Tresillian House from his father in 1805 and came of age in 1814.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 2 December and was buried at Newlyn East, 9 December 1836; his will made provision for his housekeeper and her children. His wife died 22 December and was buried at Newlyn East, 28 December 1821. His partner became the innkeeper of the Anchor Inn, St. Enoder, and married, Oct-Dec 1841 at Stoke Damerel (Devon), Anthony Cock of St Enoder (Cornw.), yeoman, and had further issue one son; she was buried at St Enoder, 24 October 1846 and her will was proved in the PCC, 27 July 1847.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Richard Gully (1820-1910). </b>Only surviving legitimate son of Richard Gully Bennet (1793-1836) and his wife Loveday, daughter of William Bassett of Pencorse, St Enoder (Cornw.), born 31 October 1820 and baptised at Newlyn East, 12 January 1821. Educated at Taunton, Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1839; BA 1843) and the Inner Temple (admitted 1843). JP and DL for Cornwall; County Councillor, 1889-98; chairman of St Columb Board of Guardians, 1845-95. He married, 21 April 1846 at Cubert (Cornw.), Mary Jean (1821-1906), fourth daughter of Richard Hosken of Carines House, Cubert (Cornw.), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Kathleen Tryphena Bennet (1848-1931), baptised at Newlyn East, 12 June 1848; married, 9 August 1871 at Newlyn East, William Vigor Fox (1832-95) of Comberbach House (Ches.), son of Rev. William Fox, but had no issue; died 13 April 1931; will proved 16 May 1931 (estate £3,227);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Edward Gully Bennet (1849-1927) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Ferdinando Wallis Bennet (1850-1929) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Edith Mary Bennet (1858-1941), born 27 May 1858; lived with her sister at Comberbach; died unmarried at Newquay (Cornw.), 28 February 1941.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Tresillian House from his father in 1836, came of age in 1841, and rebuilt the house in 1848-63.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died aged 89, on 11 January 1910; his will was proved 6 April 1910 (estate £22,179). His wife died 2 June 1906.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Edward Gully (1849-1927). </b>Elder son of Richard Gully Bennet (1820-1910) and his wife Mary Jean, fourth daughter of Richard Hosken of Carines House, Cubert (Cornw.), born 24 October and baptised at Newlyn East, 4 December 1849. An officer in the army (Ensign, 1868; Lt., 1871; Capt., 1881; Maj. 1886; retired as Lt. Col., 1893). JP (Chairman of St Columb Petty Sessions) and County Councillor for Cornwall. He was unmarried and without issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Tresillian House from his father in 1910.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 1 August 1927 and his body was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium, London; his will was proved 12 November 1927 and 19 April 1928 (estate £35,660).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLeIi04ujDhYIAhKLiuH84dcxk8kv3EnDFcP-WseDNAeURNiS1Tm41YXcA5m90F7rzEoTL0sbEsCnEq46oANHmAyzZc0YqKbqN3kC6lQZUjw7Y26g3FJZhBCiG0juPs4d4-aqbZs7sMWfEFCUQjG2mecCnzS5FQj3cahu0Zr1eqMmQrAC2A9BO7z99-68/s849/Bennet,%20Col.%20F.W.%201850-1929.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="679" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLeIi04ujDhYIAhKLiuH84dcxk8kv3EnDFcP-WseDNAeURNiS1Tm41YXcA5m90F7rzEoTL0sbEsCnEq46oANHmAyzZc0YqKbqN3kC6lQZUjw7Y26g3FJZhBCiG0juPs4d4-aqbZs7sMWfEFCUQjG2mecCnzS5FQj3cahu0Zr1eqMmQrAC2A9BO7z99-68/w160-h200/Bennet,%20Col.%20F.W.%201850-1929.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Col. F.W. Bennet (1850-1929) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bennet, Ferdinando Wallis (1850-1929). </b>Second s</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">on of Richard Gully Bennet (1820-1910) and his wife Mary Jean, fourth daughter of Richard Hosken of Carines House, Cubert (Cornw.), born 13 December 1850 and baptised at Newlyn East, 17 January 1851. Educated at Sherborne School, 1862-67, and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. An officer in the Royal Engineers (2nd Lt., 1871; Capt., 1883; Maj. 1889; Lt. Col., 1900 retired as Br. Col., 1901). He served as British Vice-Consul at Adana in Anatolia, 1880-82, and later in Egypt, 1882, 1884-85 and the Boer War, 1899-1901. In retirement he was much involved in public affairs in north Devon, serving as a JP for Devon (Chairman of Bideford Petty Sessions); Vice-Chairman of Northam Urban District Council, and as a poor law guardian and hospital trustee. After joining the army he had a brief but spectacular career as a cricketer, playing regularly for the Royal Engineers and also in four first class matches, and he was also a keen golfer. He married, 18 February 1896 at All Saints, Paddington (Middx), his cousin, Evelyn Mary (1865-1944), a nurse in Hong Kong, daughter of Maj-Gen. Henry Spencer Palmer RE (1838-93), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Maj. Leonard Wallis Bennet (1897-1957) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) <i>twin, </i><span style="background-color: white;"><span>Charles Hosken Bennet</span> </span>(1898-1919), born in Belfast (Co. Down), 6 July 1898; educated at Marlborough and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; an officer in the Royal Artillery (2nd Lt., 1915; Lt. 1917); died of pneumonia, 25 February 1919;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) <i>twin, </i>Mary Kathleen Bennet (1898-1985), born in Belfast, 6 July 1898; married, 3 October 1928, Vice-Adm. John Guy Protheroe Vivian CB (1887-1963) of Northmoor (Oxon), son of Rev. Charles Henry Gerald Vivian of Grampound (Cornw.), but had no issue; died 10 July 1985; will proved 16 September 1985 (estate £67,209);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Evelyn Marjorie Bennet (1902-96), born 17 June and baptised at Northam, 23 July 1902; married, 22 December 1923, Wing-Cdr. John Allan Ferguson OBE (1889-1953), who served in the Indian Army (Col.) and later in the RAF, and had issue one son; died 16 January 1996.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>After retiring from the army, he settled at Fairlea, Northam (Devon). He inherited Tresillian House from his elder brother in 1927, but handed it on to his elder son in his lifetime.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 17 October 1929; his will was proved 15 February 1930 (estate £57,898). His wife died 25 October 1944; her will was proved 23 May 1945 (estate £4,310).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Leonard Wallis (1897-1957). </b>Elder son of Col. Ferdinando Wallis Bennet (1850-1929) and his wife Evelyn Mary, daughter of Maj-Gen. Palmer RE, born 3 January and baptised at St Philip, Kensington (Middx), 10 February 1897. Educated at Marlborough, 1910-14, and Royal Military Academy. An officer in the Royal Artillery (2nd Lt., 1915; Lt., 1916; Capt. 1917; A/Maj., 1918; retired 1928; returned to colours, 1939; Br. Maj., 1944; retired 1949), who served in the First World War from 1916 and throughout the Second World War. He was a freemason from 1920. He married, 4 September 1928, Armenell Betty (1897-1958), only daughter of Gerald Merritt Wynter of Luxstowe, Liskeard (Cornw.), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Armenell Mary Betty Bennet (1929-2000), born 10 August 1929; married, 23 May 1963 at Salisbury (Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe), as his third wife, Clifford Walter Dupont (1905-78)*, but had no issue; died at Harare (Zimbabwe), 10 April 2000;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Evelyn Jennifer Bennet (b. 1931), born 2 November 1931; married, Jan-Mar 1954, Peter David Raymond (1926-93), stockbroker, son of Joseph Raymond of Kensington (Middx);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Rosemary Ann Bennet (b. 1934), born 29 November 1934; married, 11 August 1954, Thomas Ian Fraser Sandeman (1931-95) of Kilkhampton (Cornw.), farmer, and had issue four children; emigrated to Southern Rhodesia (later Zimbabwe) with her husband, 1959;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Jeanette Elizabeth Bennet (b. 1936), born 21 March 1936.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He was given Tresillian House by his father in about 1927 and undertook repairs to the house and grounds before letting the house in 1937 to Thomas Albert Victor Wood (1893-1978). He lived subsequently at Northam Lodge (Devon).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 5 February 1957; administration of his goods was granted 15 May 1957 (estate £18,712). His widow died 2 August 1958; her will was proved 9 October 1958 (estate £9,996).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* After the Unilateral Declaration of Independence by Ian Smith's government in Southern Rhodesia in 1965, Dupont was appointed 'Acting Officer Administering the Government'; he served as President of Rhodesia, 1970-75.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Landed Gentry</i>, 1952, p. 156; E. Twycross, <i>The mansions of England & Wales: County of Cornwall</i>, 1846, pl. facing p. 83; R.G. Kerswell, <i>The Bennets of Tresillian</i>, 1994; D.E. Pett, <i>The parks and gardens of Cornwall</i>, 1998, pp. 180-81; P. Newberry, <i>The country houses of Cornwall</i>, 2023, pp. 165-67;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Bennet family of Tresillian: </i>deeds and papers, 1565-1884 [Kresen Kernow/Cornwall Record Office </span><span style="background-color: #fdfdfd;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">WH1/5014-5085]</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Gules, three demi-lions rampant couped argent in the centre chief point a bezant.</span></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone demonstrate the connection between this family and another of the other Bennet families which used the same coat of arms?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide portraits of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 28 October 2023.<br /></span><br /></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-60538678323454805242023-10-22T16:16:00.004+01:002023-10-28T12:13:07.768+01:00(559) Bennet of Widcombe Manor and Rougham Hall<span style="font-family: georgia;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLWcp_MxffaX0MJLbFYgInchxyCY-SRc_d3ylJRCh29Doyiy49WirQ8ykUwfxByTGyymVEo6zJhq_UL8XMkl6oX3aDqbGqmqVXYTRmCClBDiJnN_R4zxx-OsfuW-BwiiJY2YdBfdGxoqG6I7JaCm4JYiY8bP64bmZ6BbK51zaKFAPnr_CsA13ej3mf_rk/s1200/Bennet%20of%20Babraham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLWcp_MxffaX0MJLbFYgInchxyCY-SRc_d3ylJRCh29Doyiy49WirQ8ykUwfxByTGyymVEo6zJhq_UL8XMkl6oX3aDqbGqmqVXYTRmCClBDiJnN_R4zxx-OsfuW-BwiiJY2YdBfdGxoqG6I7JaCm4JYiY8bP64bmZ6BbK51zaKFAPnr_CsA13ej3mf_rk/w167-h200/Bennet%20of%20Babraham.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bennet of Widcombe and Rougham </span></td></tr></tbody></table>This family traced their descent from the Bennets of Heytesbury (Wilts) but used the same coat of arms as the <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2023/10/557-bennet-of-dawley-house-chillingham.html">Earls of Tankerville</a> and the <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2023/09/556-bennet-of-beachampton-and-calverton.html">Bennets of Babraham</a>. The family considered here began with Edward Benett or Bennet (1567-1626) of South Brewham (Som.), the fourth son of Edward Benett of Heytesbury, born in 1567. Peach (see Principal Sources below) says Edward was lord of the manor of South Brewham (Som.) but that seems not to be correct, as the family only purchased the lordship in 1668, and Edward's status was probably on the borderline between yeoman and gentleman. The genealogy below begins with Edward's son, Philip Bennet (1610-90), who was named after an uncle, and for nine generations the eldest son in each generation was named Philip, which has led to some confusion between the generations in earlier sources. The first Philip inherited his father's lands at Brewham while still a minor, and came of age in 1631. His marriage, about 1635, was the first of a series of dynastically fortunate unions which rapidly advanced the family's wealth and prestige, in this case bringing him the Bayford estate near Wincanton (Som.). He served in the Parliamentarian army from the outbreak of the Civil War in 1642, but perhaps not for very long, for his commanding officer, Col. Denzil Holles (1598-1680) sought a peaceful settlement after the Battle of Brentford in November that year. </span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the next generation, Philip Bennet II (1637-1725) must have had some legal training - probably through a clerkship to a local attorney - for in 1673 he was appointed deputy Clerk of the Peace for Somerset and in 1677 became Clerk himself. This was a position of considerable responsibility in the local government </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">machinery </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">of the day, ensuring regular contact with leading figures in the county, and also brought with it a useful income from fees. Philip II's marriage in 1677 was to Anne Strode (1655-1735), the daughter of Thomas Strode of Maperton (Som.), who was a noted mathematician and an authority on sun dials. The couple seem to have lived at Maperton even before inheriting the estate in 1697, as all their children were baptised there. Their eldest son, Philip Bennet III (1678-1723) probably received a legal training in his father's office, and became Deputy Clerk of the Peace in 1690 and was Clerk of the Peace, 1706-23. He became the third successive generation to marry well, for his wife was Jane Chapman (1672-1722), the only child of Scarborough Chapman of Widcombe near Bath (Som.). Bath was then just beginning its 18th century transformation into a fashionable spa town, and over time the family's focus gradually shifted from Wincanton to Bath. Philip III died in his father's lifetime, leaving as heir to his father's estates at Maperton, Brewham and Bayford and to Widcombe, his eldest son, Philip Bennet IV (1705-61), who came of age and into possession of these properties in 1726. Although possessed of four considerable estates yielding a considerable income, none of them provided a house appropriate to Philip IV's position in the world, so he at once commissioned the remodelling of Widcombe Manor (as it is now called) in 1726-27. His architect was very probably Nathaniel Ireson of Wincanton, who would have been well-known to the family, and who produced an extremely handsome new facade. In the 1730s he strengthened his social status by becoming MP for Shaftesbury, and then in 1741, for Bath. It was probably about this time that he began laying out the Rococo garden at Widcombe which was depicted in the 1750s by Thomas Robins. The years around 1740 probably mark the apogee of the family's fortunes. Philip IV first married in 1729 but his wife died the following year, and he married again in 1733 to Mary Hallam (1712-39), who brought him an estate at Tollesbury (Essex), and provided an heir. However, for reasons we can only guess at, his life began to fall apart in the late 1740s, when he took to 'a career of wild dissipation, squandering his fortune with reckless prodigality'. He mortgaged the Maperton estate in 1741 and sold it in 1748; sold Brewham in 1755; and handed over Widcombe to his son in 1756, retiring to his wife's estate in Essex, where he set up home with a housekeeper who was almost certainly his mistress, and fathered at least one illegitimate child.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Philip Bennet V (1734-74), his father's only surviving son, had only a short life, but he inherited Widcombe and Tollesbury, married a clergyman's daughter - perhaps the first of his family to marry for love rather than for dynastic advantage - and produced a sole heir, Philip Bennet VI (1771-1853), who only came of age in 1792. The house at Widcombe appears to have been let during his long minority, and he was evidently brought up on the Essex estate, as his subsequent connections were all in East Anglia. He sold Widcombe in 1813, bringing his family's long association with Somerset to an end. In 1794 he married Jane Judith (1775-1845), the only child of Rev. Roger Kedington of Rougham Hall (Suffk), and on the latter's death in 1818 they inherited the Rougham estate, together with a large 18th century house. For reasons which are unclear, Philip VI decided to build a new, fashionably Tudor-Gothic, house on a new site on the estate, which was under construction by 1821 and largely complete in 1826. The architect is now known to have been Thomas Hopper, who was remarkably busy in Suffolk at this time (c.f. <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2023/07/551-bence-of-thorington-hall-and.html">Thorington Hall</a>, Woolverstone Hall). The old house was retained alongside it, but is said to have burnt down accidentally soon after its successor was finished. Philip's Tollesbury estate was put on the market in 1827, but may not have sold immediately as he was still described as 'of Rougham Hall and Tollesbury Lodge' when he died in 1853.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Philip Bennet VI and Jane Judith Kedington had a large family, but their eldest son, Philip Bennet VII (1795-1866) inherited Rougham Hall. He was MP for West Suffolk, 1845-59, and commanding officer of a troop of Yeomanry Cavalry for more than forty years. In 1823 he married Anne Pilkington (1804-93), a younger daughter of Sir Thomas Pilkington, 7th bt., of Chevet Park (Yorks WR), but they had only one child, Philip Bennet VIII (1837-75), born fourteen years after the marriage. Philip VIII chose the army over Cambridge, but after five years in the regulars he resigned his commission in favour of a captaincy in the Yeomanry Cavalry. He seems to have been a keen sailor and was noted for his hospitality: his obituarist referred to his 'almost excessive open-handed liberality'. By the time of his death in 1875 it required deeper pockets than the Rougham estate afforded to sustain such hospitable traditions, and after he died his widow leased the hall out and sold off many of the contents. Their son, Philip Bennet IX (1862-1913) came of age in 1883 and continued to lease the house out until, in 1893, he sold the estate, bring to an end more than two centuries as owners of landed property. After 1893, Philip IX lived in greatly reduced circumstances in Bury St Edmunds and later at Felixstowe (Suffk). In about 1908, he married a Scottish wife, who emigrated to the USA after his death and married again.</span></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Widcombe Manor, Bath, Somerset</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house was known as Widcombe House until the early 20th century, and it has been one of the city's best-known and most prominent houses for nearly 300 years. Its elevated position next to Widcombe church gives the house extensive views over the city and towards <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2013/12/94-allen-of-bathampton-manor-and-prior.html">Prior Park</a>, and the rich honey-golden stone of which it is built catches the lowering afternoon sun in the most magical way. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQh7Nrb0fevS70Md0q4nJRuSyBwDnExfIUmSdmGrsrCoTQK43G9eTnwb7Hu5yWlf1YhHKGLKbO6Wfmo3LD1pWsdgtdKmxHma4sLnRCbVyKLLMA1roFf9b8wPi5cIgQm2hHI3jUrxOamoyQBQWyyVZ0CrskM0z91sZat0smqmFfQBX5LYokv7mRJbddq7Z/s640/Widcombe%20Manor%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="640" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQh7Nrb0fevS70Md0q4nJRuSyBwDnExfIUmSdmGrsrCoTQK43G9eTnwb7Hu5yWlf1YhHKGLKbO6Wfmo3LD1pWsdgtdKmxHma4sLnRCbVyKLLMA1roFf9b8wPi5cIgQm2hHI3jUrxOamoyQBQWyyVZ0CrskM0z91sZat0smqmFfQBX5LYokv7mRJbddq7Z/w640-h414/Widcombe%20Manor%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Widcombe Manor: late afternoon sunlight on the south front. Image: Derek Harper. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The core of the house was built in the late 17th century for Scarborough Chapman (d. 1706), who inherited a tenement near Widcombe church from his uncle, Robert Fisher, in 1661. A most intiguing drawing in the sketchbook of Thomas Robins in the Victoria & Albert Museum may record the appearance of the principal front, although by the time Robins made his sketch in the 1750s, it had long since been reconstructed. Presumably Robins had access to an earlier drawing which he copied at the same time as he made a series of contemporary sketches of the house and gardens in the same volume. The topography of the view, showing the house in close proximity to Widcombe church, seems to leave little chance of it being a view of another house, and the building it depicts is just the right size and shape. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVU1oE6UsC0DNjMGOiWGsyBDivmuG2-PL9OpIZXBEiZaHN1nJkufbhTiSGlRAGf4By7jF6eGWDkAOVYNxK3TVvepQ_DQr_L8e-XAbfU9rdTacJuRZ8lh5jl95ejVWLgREnSmj7itgZa1vCOFaTfLvyNj7zvAzU_XL3UTOSSPqEM2mENgYFSUUBi5RuHLw/s2164/Widcombe%20Manor%2026%20TRobins%20V&A.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1435" data-original-width="2164" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVU1oE6UsC0DNjMGOiWGsyBDivmuG2-PL9OpIZXBEiZaHN1nJkufbhTiSGlRAGf4By7jF6eGWDkAOVYNxK3TVvepQ_DQr_L8e-XAbfU9rdTacJuRZ8lh5jl95ejVWLgREnSmj7itgZa1vCOFaTfLvyNj7zvAzU_XL3UTOSSPqEM2mENgYFSUUBi5RuHLw/w640-h424/Widcombe%20Manor%2026%20TRobins%20V&A.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Widcombe Manor: sketch by Thomas Robins, apparently copied from an earlier drawing and showing the south front of the house before the rebuilding of 1726-27. Image: Victoria & Albert Museum </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">E.1308:29-2001</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">If it is what it appears to be, the drawing tells us that the original house had a low ground floor with mullion and transomed cross windows, which would fit with a building date soon after 1661; but that the upper floor had been altered later, with sash windows, taller rooms, and a deep eaves cornice supporting a hipped roof. Although the sketch is a long way from being a finished drawing, it also records that the house had a forecourt garden protected by handsome gatepiers and iron gates, with service buildings - presumably a stable and coach house - to either side. Also shown are the bare outlines of a formal garden, and a simple octagonal dovecote.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNpQGwLbPXGn7dPI2TX2IFVhBH-9jxrpohGd7qCsU9BPI2rDqRQFFC-NntfwxUz8lM_fhBBP2JqfNfiXuchXsGWzHrt9VGPZ4tjKw_W_tyEpb4WTxIkhHP2jvznMTDmX_yEDq5WIGp4r1lcGhQ-ZuHJWbuA2u6HbzO3FzVhi_RDnda5Y2aB3yzZaBtHR0/s2048/Widcombe%20Manor%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNpQGwLbPXGn7dPI2TX2IFVhBH-9jxrpohGd7qCsU9BPI2rDqRQFFC-NntfwxUz8lM_fhBBP2JqfNfiXuchXsGWzHrt9VGPZ4tjKw_W_tyEpb4WTxIkhHP2jvznMTDmX_yEDq5WIGp4r1lcGhQ-ZuHJWbuA2u6HbzO3FzVhi_RDnda5Y2aB3yzZaBtHR0/w640-h426/Widcombe%20Manor%2010.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Widcombe Manor: the south front built in 1726-27, probably to the designs of Nathaniel Ireson.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The 17th century house passed in 1721 to Scarborough's grandson, Philip Bennet (1705-61), who, as soon as he came of age, put in hand the construction of a grand new baroque south front, built in 1726-27. This is widely attributed to Nathaniel Ireson of Wincanton (Som.), a place with which the Bennets had close associations, although actual construction was probably in the hands of the mason Richard Jones, surveyor of works to Ralph Allen (to whom the Bennets were related by marriage) and who later claimed to have built it. The design is quite crowded in a rather provincial way, but everything is so nicely balanced that the overall effect is of considerable elegance. The front has two storeys and seven bays, with a pedimented three-bay centrepiece. Coupled giant fluted Ionic pilasters frame the centre, and mark the ends of the elevation. The centre has a Doric doorcase flanked by arched windows and a further arched window on the first floor, flanked by smaller square windows creating a Serlian motif, with garlands and a large oeil-de-boeuf window shoehorned into the pediment. The outer bays of the front, between the coupled columns, have sash windows with expensively moulded architraves, and keystones carved with grotesque masks. The coupled pilasters support an entablature with a pulvinated frieze and modillion cornice, and there is a tall balustraded parapet behind which rises a hipped roof. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkemWYRqHek67tOGCfaiiRWNGTPqz7dmK0fefGjiq-e8mv0xAKbqg-9aZYPzNN6WPhHmNEloUG_FzFnE0hv64yGBRNln2or7AZEl_lMkUnkO5fqtTexHAMMC72Flqdv3FaBtJvJWISfENSK3BVmvnS_n1KlQH4TvgizEbyTb6D64NVTfUW0c2aidv1IQf/s1162/Widcombe%20Manor%2025%20TRobins%20V&A.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="1162" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkemWYRqHek67tOGCfaiiRWNGTPqz7dmK0fefGjiq-e8mv0xAKbqg-9aZYPzNN6WPhHmNEloUG_FzFnE0hv64yGBRNln2or7AZEl_lMkUnkO5fqtTexHAMMC72Flqdv3FaBtJvJWISfENSK3BVmvnS_n1KlQH4TvgizEbyTb6D64NVTfUW0c2aidv1IQf/w640-h404/Widcombe%20Manor%2025%20TRobins%20V&A.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Widcombe Manor: sketch by Thomas Robins, c.1754, showing the south and west fronts of the house as altered in 1726-27.<br />Image: Victoria & Albert Museum E.1308:46-2001</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The original west front was of five bays, but had a partially exposed basement - due to the fall of the land - and dormer windows behind the parapet. The central bay was wider, and on each of the principal floors had a Venetian window overlooking the gardens. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The elevations were clearly designed to make an impressive show, but the interior, which must also have been completely remodelled, was much more simply treated. There is a low, panelled hall with bolection mouldings, a good staircase with three twisted balusters per step, and a first-floor landing with groin-vaulted side bays. On the first floor, the two rooms behind the new front were thrown into one entertaining space, some fifty feet long, leaving the house rather short of bedrooms.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcw0mZkyGmpMaq-2iZ2yfXiaJRc4kybKkukwWWZmOZHwqwz0R_wIe0Fg7EZZ0b3Mmez8mf-xmTLasOpkTjVQxdXtY11eGkxIDuF_GZEd4T4U3cz-8w6aYadEjL1dNczt_5u0vwgJHxN4NF9IHCiyQp1SPmmU-Gha48hZKWGN4gt25Fmlr0E-0QbBouaq3d/s2265/Widcombe%20Manor%2033.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2265" data-original-width="1825" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcw0mZkyGmpMaq-2iZ2yfXiaJRc4kybKkukwWWZmOZHwqwz0R_wIe0Fg7EZZ0b3Mmez8mf-xmTLasOpkTjVQxdXtY11eGkxIDuF_GZEd4T4U3cz-8w6aYadEjL1dNczt_5u0vwgJHxN4NF9IHCiyQp1SPmmU-Gha48hZKWGN4gt25Fmlr0E-0QbBouaq3d/w516-h640/Widcombe%20Manor%2033.jpg" width="516" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Widcombe Manor: the staircase in 1909. Image: Batsford & Co.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztCGy5PmFcLB469Yj7a86trt-jB0HBhVV5fYJx8sukLCZzT1jW0eOOU7tD3pBFANJjn5MsFsEPXdfQHY6nOThh1EWMj1h19RflbYVvsCHp0j6kkk8io_rDd30cg5nSpQBr6vGHMj4N3HsacaAWI9AQ9UK9C8LIPw83WW-s5-qQllNoXwvmWB21F-D6o5d/s4320/Widcombe%20Manor%205.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4320" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztCGy5PmFcLB469Yj7a86trt-jB0HBhVV5fYJx8sukLCZzT1jW0eOOU7tD3pBFANJjn5MsFsEPXdfQHY6nOThh1EWMj1h19RflbYVvsCHp0j6kkk8io_rDd30cg5nSpQBr6vGHMj4N3HsacaAWI9AQ9UK9C8LIPw83WW-s5-qQllNoXwvmWB21F-D6o5d/w512-h640/Widcombe%20Manor%205.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Widcombe Manor: the west front created in 1840, and the garden terrace in front of it.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the early 19th century, the house was first rented and then bought by Capt. Wrench and his sister Mary, who are thought to have added the recessed service wing, north-west of the house, in the 1820s. A little later, General Clapham, who bought the house in 1839, brought in James Wilson of Bath to alter the west front. He gave it coupled giant Ionic pilasters to match those on the south front, and a two-storey canted bay window in the centre which also has Ionic giant pilasters at its angles, an unusually happy and sympathetic alteration for its date. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxLWDEGCVZgxFEsFQ6KINk9XbroE2vL3o489Fmw1NNtkYx_Zp-1mmwiJoSldhQHlw7woXdI8as-TH4mBh9NpbhRjavWeGG_rN0cUmDgYJ0lU_2L2TAoF_ZKbAprQObMxxNpDZzwE5eYXxqPMLszZlLz8sYDMhkTBGXARVKqQkEA9zGIPE0Yn9XPGaUALk/s976/Widcombe%20Manor%2018%20plan%20of%20grounds%201839%20from%20SP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="976" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxLWDEGCVZgxFEsFQ6KINk9XbroE2vL3o489Fmw1NNtkYx_Zp-1mmwiJoSldhQHlw7woXdI8as-TH4mBh9NpbhRjavWeGG_rN0cUmDgYJ0lU_2L2TAoF_ZKbAprQObMxxNpDZzwE5eYXxqPMLszZlLz8sYDMhkTBGXARVKqQkEA9zGIPE0Yn9XPGaUALk/w640-h468/Widcombe%20Manor%2018%20plan%20of%20grounds%201839%20from%20SP.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Widcombe Manor: plan of the grounds from the sale particulars of 1839. Image: B&NES Record Office 0502.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The gardens were laid out in the mid 18th century for Philip Bennet (1705-61), who created, on a modest plot of about eight acres, a complex and incident-filled garden in the Rococo taste. Adjoining the church was a summerhouse carried on a three-arched loggia, perhaps designed by Richard Jones, and later used as a gardener's cottage, but the bulk of the gardens lay below the house. Broad steps decorated with statuary led down to a small meadow, on the far side of which were three small pools, one of which had a three-tiered cascade, surmounted by a statue of Neptune. The cascade survives and has recently been restored, but the statue has sadly disappeared since the mid 20th century. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfV4JoQajFRvBW8XJZ1BR8ufNno8Pzfv5BkmVOdV2dVSUcGFY-4NHKZ5kX1s9fn8h0xqpbMnDtB4JzEDJBQe525lsBGcP_XSN4RjS1qPifVwJr0r4Vak7lfPmq6MBBoHAguDes8aOktz13aaeYOqquU8D2s5CCAvbHkhdMWjaTGbg-IkG4XJLA02oEjQl/s1827/Widcombe%20Manor%2029a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="1827" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfV4JoQajFRvBW8XJZ1BR8ufNno8Pzfv5BkmVOdV2dVSUcGFY-4NHKZ5kX1s9fn8h0xqpbMnDtB4JzEDJBQe525lsBGcP_XSN4RjS1qPifVwJr0r4Vak7lfPmq6MBBoHAguDes8aOktz13aaeYOqquU8D2s5CCAvbHkhdMWjaTGbg-IkG4XJLA02oEjQl/w640-h414/Widcombe%20Manor%2029a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Widcombe Manor: sketch by Thomas Robins of the mound behind the cascade pond, with the Chinoiserie summer house on top of it. <br />Image: Victoria & Albert Museum E.1308:26-2001</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFypC1R2pPLkX3EpOQIDTOKzN-UQZFL2jlt7XYj5Y6PJxhNG5CR-YpxL0T7DzXGTXdbBR8XLmYr1EoAWNsdaM4q7UdC9py8utpXIKd4BKRiz99pYix-UX1AtMJMHhy8GNe9IE0jhtDHVVGDo4v99QSpWwwYxB99JGAn-XZ6QyzLDclNUJuRT9uvGchG5f/s1632/Widcombe%20Manor%2031%20Neptune.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="1632" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFypC1R2pPLkX3EpOQIDTOKzN-UQZFL2jlt7XYj5Y6PJxhNG5CR-YpxL0T7DzXGTXdbBR8XLmYr1EoAWNsdaM4q7UdC9py8utpXIKd4BKRiz99pYix-UX1AtMJMHhy8GNe9IE0jhtDHVVGDo4v99QSpWwwYxB99JGAn-XZ6QyzLDclNUJuRT9uvGchG5f/w640-h476/Widcombe%20Manor%2031%20Neptune.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Widcombe Manor: view from the cascade back towards the house, c.1947. Image: Reece Winstone.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Behind the pools, and backing on to what became Prior Park Road, was an artificial mound some thirty feet high, which functioned as a viewing platform. It was originally topped by a Chinoiserie temple, but this had gone by 1792, when the spiral path up the mound led anti-climactically to two yew trees and a straggly fir. The other chief ornament of the grounds was a small grotto, which has recently been restored. More recent additions to the grounds include t</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">he double-decker bronze fountain in the forecourt, imported from Italy by Sir John Roper Wright after he bought the house in 1917, which is now thought to have been made new for the purpose. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3ZEeTQX-fj_6vNwVzlzPaXDb4F84iMxBPwpezVpxquMOxE58IcLx744dGAK5u4ApCuxBS6VUo0eUAk7kgnsdMNI6oSHGJNePD4LJwznbyrL5GxmNDZHMB4YflwuDZJSaB0AKh15914gG0F3ycW4Ouxc58q3Mrpp0qsk_Y_VkNU2qYUfKCpkpuGyhyen6/s2864/Widcombe%20Manor%2024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1886" data-original-width="2864" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3ZEeTQX-fj_6vNwVzlzPaXDb4F84iMxBPwpezVpxquMOxE58IcLx744dGAK5u4ApCuxBS6VUo0eUAk7kgnsdMNI6oSHGJNePD4LJwznbyrL5GxmNDZHMB4YflwuDZJSaB0AKh15914gG0F3ycW4Ouxc58q3Mrpp0qsk_Y_VkNU2qYUfKCpkpuGyhyen6/w640-h422/Widcombe%20Manor%2024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Widcombe Manor: the summerhouse of 1961, incorporating stonework from a summerhouse at Fairford Park (Glos). <br />Image: Nicholas Kingsley. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1961, Jeremy Fry bought the ashlar stonework of a small summerhouse from </span><a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2019/06/381-barker-later-raymond-barker-of.html" style="font-family: georgia;">Fairford Park</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> (Glos), which was re-erected here as the front of a new summerhouse by Didier Bertrand. It has an arched centre carried on rusticated Doric columns, with oculi to either side that have four keystones. The frieze has primitive blocks rather than triglyphs. The gardens have recently been splendidly restored by Andy King of </span><a href="https://newleafstudio.co.uk/index.php/11-project/46-project-widcombe" style="font-family: georgia;">New Leaf Studio</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> in Bristol.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: built after 1661 for Scarborough Chapman (d. 1706); to widow, Anne (d. 1721) and then his grandson, Philip Bennet (1703-61), who came of age in 1727 and built the south front and laid out the grounds; to son, Philip Bennet (1734-74); to son, Philip Bennet (1771-1853), who sold 1813 to John Thomas of Bristol, who let by 1820 and later sold to Capt. Wrench and his sister Mary Wrench (d. 1838); sold 1839 to Maj-Gen. William Clapham (d. 1851); to widow, Ellen Elizabeth Clapham (d. 1869); to niece, Ellen Georgina Jones-Parry (d. 1901), wife of Rev. George Tate (d. 1900); to cousin, Mary Gertrude Jones -Parry (d. 1913), wife of Charles St Leger Langford (d. 1917?); to James Jones-Parry alias Yale; sold 1917 to Sir John Roper Wright; to son, Sir Charles Wright; who sold 1927 to Horace (d. 1955) and Arthur Vachell (d. 1949); sold 1955 to Jeremy Fry; sold c.1970 to Hon. & Mrs. Robin Warrender, who sold 1992... sold 1994 to Mr & Mrs Davisson... sold 2011.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Rougham Hall, Suffolk</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">An account of this house has been given in a <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2013/07/58-agnew-of-rougham-hall-and-great.html">previous post</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet family of Widcombe House and Rougham Hall</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia;">Bennet, Philip I (1610-90). </b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Elder son of Edward Bennet (1567-1626) of South Brewham (Som.) and his wife Susanna, daughter of Thomas Churchey of Wincanton, born at Brewham (Som.), 10 May 1610. An officer in Col. Denzil Holles' Parliamentarian regiment in the Civil War (Capt., 1642). He married, about 1634/5, Mary (1611-91), daughter of Richard Shute of Bayford near Wincanton (Som.), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Philip Bennet II (1637-1725) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Mary Bennet (1635-93); married, 1 May 1662, John Walter (d. 1704) and had issue four sons and three daughters; buried at West Pennard (Som.), 12 May 1693;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Martha Bennet (d. 1715); married, 20 April 1668 at St Cuthbert, Wells (Som.), John Clements (d. 1691) of Mere (Wilts), and had issue one son and one daughter; buried at Mere, 29 May 1715.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited his father's property at South Brewham in 1626 and came of age in 1631. He inherited the Bayford estate in right of his wife.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Brewham, 25 September 1690. His widow was buried at Brewham, 14 December 1691.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Philip II (1637-1725). </b>Only son and heir of Philip Bennet I (1610-90) of Bayford and South Brewham, and his wife Mary, daughter of Richard Shute of Bayford, baptised at Stoke Trister (Som.), 4 March 1637. Clerk of the Peace for Somerset, 1677-90 (Deputy Clerk, 1673-76). He married, 20 December 1677 at Maperton (Som.), Anne (1655-1735), daughter and co-heir of Thomas Strode (d. 1697) of Maperton, a mathematician and authority on sun dials, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Philip Bennet III (1678-1723) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Anne Bennet (1680-1707), born 18 March and baptised at Maperton, 15 April 1680; died unmarried and was buried at Maperton, 3 January 1707/8;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) James Bennet (1681-83), baptised at Maperton, 16 December 1681; died in infancy and was buried at Maperton, 3 December 1683;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Abigail Bennet (1682-1767), born 20 November and baptised at Maperton, 28 November 1682; married, 1 July 1721 at Wincanton (Som.), Samuel Burges, and had issue at least two sons and one daughter; will proved in the PCC, 11 November 1767;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Mary Bennet (1685-88), baptised at Maperton, January 1684/5; died young and was buried at Maperton, 1 January 1688/9;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Martha Bennet (b. 1688), baptised at Maperton, 18 July 1688; presumably died young;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Strode Bennet (1691-1711), baptised at Maperton, 16 July 1691; died unmarried and was buried at Wincanton, 22 July 1711;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Mary Bennet (1693-1773), baptised at Maperton, 2 February 1692/3; married, 7 February 1718/9 at Wincanton (Som.), William Burleton (d. 1739) of East Knoyle (Wilts), and had issue two sons and one daughter; possibly the 'Mary Burton' buried at Tisbury (Wilts), 8 December 1773; will proved in the PCC, 16 December 1773;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Sarah Bennet (1695-1785), born 5 March and baptised at Maperton, 13 March 1694/5; lived at Wincanton; died unmarried; will proved in the PCC, 27 April 1785;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) Martha Bennet (1698-99), born 29 December 1698 and baptised at Maperton, 5 January 1698/9; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">died in infancy and was buried at Maperton, 7 March 1698/9</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He or his father purchased the manor of Brewham in 1668. He inherited his father's property at Bayford and South Brewham in 1690, and the Maperton estate in right of his wife in 1697.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Wincanton, 13 April 1725. His widow was buried at Wincanton, 15 December 1735.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Philip III (1678-1723). </b>Eldest son of Philip Bennet II (1637-1725) and his wife Anne, daughter and co-heir of Thomas Strode of Maperton (Som.), born 2 September and baptised </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">at Maperton,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 19 September </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">1678. Clerk of the Peace for Somerset, 1706-23 (Deputy Clerk, 1690-1706). He married, 29 August 1702 at Widcombe, Jane (1672-1722), only child of Scarborough Chapman of Widcombe House (Som.), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) <span style="background-color: white;">Jane Bennet</span> (1703-67), born 22 July and baptised at Maperton, 2 August 1703; married, 22 February 1731/2 at Claverton (Som.), Philip Allen (d. 1765), son of Philip Allen (1667-1728) of St Blazey (Cornw.) and brother of the celebrated <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2013/12/94-allen-of-bathampton-manor-and-prior.html">Ralph Allen (1693-1764)</a>, and had issue two sons and one daughter; died 14 April 1767; will proved in the PCC, 17 June 1767;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Philip Bennet IV (1705-61) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Robert Bennet (1706-50), of Shaftesbury (Dorset) and Widcombe, born 27 July and baptised at Maperton, 22 August 1706; probably died unmarried and without issue and was buried at Widcombe, 14 August 1750;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Anne Bennet (1707-08), born 14 December and baptised at Maperton, 26 December 1707; died in infancy and was buried at Maperton, 3 January 1707/8;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Anne Bennet (1709-85), born 8 March and baptised at Maperton, 17 March 1708/9; heir to her sisters Mary and Susannah, with whom she apparently lived in Bath; died unmarried and was buried at Bath Abbey, 9 June 1785;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Thomas Bennet (1710-c.1748), born 15 December and baptised at Maperton, 26 December 1710; an officer in Lascelles' regiment of foot, formed in 1741; perhaps died while serving in Scotland with his regiment; adminstration of goods granted, 7 May 1748;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Mary Bennet (1712-66), born 29 August and baptised at Maperton, 15 September 1712; married, 1746, as his second wife, George Dodington (c.1681-1757) of Horsington (Som.), MP for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, 1730-41, 1747-54, son of William Dodington of London, but died without issue; probably to be identified with the 'Mary Dorrington' buried at Bathampton, 27 March 1766; will proved in the PCC, 11 April 1766;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Strode Bennet (1714-30), born 11 April and baptised at Maperton, 6 May 1714; died unmarried and was buried at Maperton, 4 December 1730;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Susannah Bennet (1716-83), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">baptised at Maperton, 21 February 1715/6</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">; apparently lived latterly with her sisters Mary and Anne in Bath; buried at Bathampton, 7 June 1783; her will was proved in the PCC, 14 July 1783.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died in the lifetime of his father and was buried at Maperton, 15 March 1722/3; his will was proved in the PCC, 4 April 1724. His wife was buried at Maperton, 2 May 1722.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Philip IV (1705-61). </b>Eldest son of Philip Bennet III (1678-1723) of Maperton (Som.) and his wife Jane, only child of Scarborough Chapman of Widcombe House, Bath (Som.), born 16 January and baptised at Maperton, 8 February 1704/5. Educated at Balliol College, Oxford (matriculated 1722). MP for Shaftesbury, 1734-35, 1738-41 and Bath, 1741-47; JP for Somerset; Lay Rector of St Thomas', Bath. He did not seek re-election to Parliament in 1747, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">about which time he is said to have entered upon ‘a career of wild dissipation, squandering his fortune with reckless prodigality’.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> He married 1st, 1729 (licence 25 May), Anne (c.1706-30), daughter of Edmund Estcourt of Salcombe (Herts), and 2nd, 1733 (licence 31 May), Mary (1712-39), daughter and sole heir of Thomas Hallam of Tollesbury and Clacton (Essex), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Philip Bennet V (1734-74) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.2) Mary Bennet (1735-85?); will dated 5 March 1784; died unmarried and was probably the woman of this name buried at Bathampton (Som.), 8 June 1785;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.3) Thomas Bennet (b. & d. 1737), born 31 January 1736/7 and buried at Widcombe, 22 September 1737.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He apparently also had an illegitimate daughter:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(X1) Elizabeth Budd (fl. 1761); mentioned in his will, when she was still at school.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Widcombe Manor on the death of his maternal grandmother in 1721, the estate at Maperton and Brewham from his grandfather in 1725, and the Tollesbury estate in Essex in right of his second wife. He came of age in 1726/7, gave the house at Widcombe its present south front soon afterwards and probably laid out the gardens in the 1740s. He mortgaged the Maperton estate in 1741 and sold Maperton to Thomas Lockyer in 1748 and Brewham to Henry Hoare in 1755. In 1756 he handed Widcombe over to his son and moved to Essex, living latterly at Witham.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Tollesbury, 9 December 1761; his will was proved in the PCC, 22 December 1761, and made provision for 'Mary Egerton otherwise Carmichael of Witham who now lives with me as my housekeeper and has done so for many years past'. His first wife was buried at Widcombe, 23 April 1730. His second wife was buried at Widcombe, 22 June 1739.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Philip V (1734-74). </b>Only surviving son of Philip Bennet IV (1705-61) of Widcombe (Som.) and his second wife Mary, daughter of Thomas Hallam of Tollesbury (Essex), baptised at Widcombe, 11 April 1734. He married, 14 December 1769 at Bath Abbey (Som.), Mary (1745-1822), daughter of Rev. Christopher Hand (c.1700-78) of Aller (Som.), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Philip Bennet VI (1771-1853) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>His father handed over Widcombe to him in 1756 and he inherited his maternal family's property at Tollesbury in 1761.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Widcombe, Bath (Som), 12 April 1774; his will was proved in the PCC, 24 March 1774. His widow died in Bury St. Edmunds, 16 April, and was buried at Rougham, 23 April 1822.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Philip VI (1771-1853). </b>Only son of Philip Bennet V (1734-74) and his wife Mary, daughter of Rev. Christopher Hand, born 14 April and baptised </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">at Widcombe (Som.),</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 4 September </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">1771. Educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge (matriculated 1789; BA 1793), and subscribed £25 to the rebuilding fund after the college fire of 1811. High Sheriff of Suffolk, 1821-22; JP for Suffolk. An officer in the Suffolk Provisional Cavalry (Lt., 1798). He married, 12 June 1794 at Rougham, Jane Judith (1775-1845), only child of Rev. Roger Kedington of Rougham Hall (Suffk), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Philip Bennet VII (1795-1866) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Rev. James Thomas Bennet (1796-1868), baptised at Great Barton (Suffk), 15 November 1796; educated at Balliol College, Oxford (matriculated 1813; BA 1817; MA 1831); ordained deacon 1829 and priest, 1831; rector of Cheveley (Cambs), 1832-68; married, 6 April 1826, Henrietta Eliza (1804-82), daughter of James Jackson of Doncaster (Yorks WR), and had issue two sons and three daughters; died 12 July 1868; will proved 21 December 1868 (effects under £4,000);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Jane Frances Bennet (1798-1873), born 25 April and baptised at Great Barton, 30 May 1798; married, 4 December 1821 at Rougham, Rev. Samuel Hurry Alderson (c.1789-1863), Fellow of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, 1811-22 and rector of Risby and Fornham St Genevieve (Suffk), 1830-63, son of Robert Alderson of Gt. Yarmouth (Norfk), barrister, and had issue four sons and six daughters; died 24 March 1873; will proved 5 June 1873 (effects under £3,000);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Rev. Christopher Hand Bennet (1799-1854), born September 1799 and baptised at Great Barton, 28 March 1800; educated at Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1818; BA 1822; MA 1825); ordained deacon, 1823 and priest, 1824; rector of Owsden (Suffk), 1835-54; married, 20 September 1848 at St Luke, Chelsea (Middx) and again*, 25 July 1850 at Holy Trinity, Brompton (Middx), Hannah (1826-65) (who m2, 4 January 1860 at Holy Trinity, Brompton, Walter George Sheppard MD MRCS (b. c.1829), son of Charles Sheppard, surgeon), daughter of David Goldstone of Owsden, farmer, but had no issue; died at Buxhall Lodge (Suffk), 4 February, and was buried at Buxhall, 9 February 1854;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Ralph Christopher Bennet (1803-75), baptised at Great Barton, 4 December 1803; farmer at Beyton and later at Rougham; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">died unmarried, 9 July, and was buried at St Helier (Jersey), 12 July 1875; will proved 22 December 1875 (effects under £100);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Edward Bennet (1804-64), baptised at Great Barton, 6 November 1804; farmer at Rougham Old Hall and agent to his father's estate; married, 19 June 1855 at Wortham (Suffk), Anne Elizabeth, second daughter of Charles Harrison of Wortham, and had issue at least three sons and two daughters; died at Copdock Lodge, 1 January 1864; will proved 9 February 1864 (effects under £1,500);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) William Bennet (b. 1805), baptised at Great Barton, 5 December 1805; probably died young.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited his father's property at Widcombe (which he sold in 1813) and Tollesbury and lived at the latter until in 1818 he and his wife inherited Rougham Hall from her father. Tollesbury was advertised for sale in 1827, but was presumably not sold, as he was still described as 'of Rougham Hall and Tollesbury Lodge' at the time of his death.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 4 May 1853; his will was proved in the PCC, 28 May 1853. His wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* According to a newspaper report at the time of the second marriage, it was re-solemnised by reason of the misdescription of one of the parties in the first registration, the groom being described as a mercantile clerk rather than a clerk in holy orders.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Philip VII (1795-1866). </b>Elder son of Philip Bennet VI (1771-1853) and his wife Jane Judith, only child of Rev. Roger Kedington of Rougham Hall (Suffk), baptised at Great Barton (Suffk), 9 May 1795. Educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge (matriculated 1813; BA 1817; MA 1821). Commanding officer of 1st troop of Loyal Suffolk Yeomanry Cavalry (Capt.), 1821-64. JP and DL for Suffolk; MP for West Suffolk, 1845-59. He married, 21 March 1823 at Rougham, Anne (1804-93), second daughter and co-heir of Sir Thomas Pilkington (1773-1811), 7th bt. of Chevet Park (Yorks WR), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Philip Bennet VIII (1837-75) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Rougham Hall and perhaps the Tollesbury estate from his father in 1853.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 17 August 1866; his will was proved 20 September 1866 (effects under £3,000). His widow died in Bury St Edmunds, 21 April, and was buried at Rougham, 24 April 1893.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Philip VIII (1837-75). </b>Only child of Philip Bennet VII (1795-1866) and his wife Anne, second daughter and co-heir of Sir Thomas Pilkington, 7th bt., of Chevet Park (Yorks WR), baptised 16 December 1837. Educated at Harrow, 1849-52, and was admitted to Trinity College, Cambridge, 1855, but did not reside. An officer in the Essex Rifles (Ensign, 1855), the Royal Horse Guards (Cornet, 1856; Lt., 1858; retired 1861) and Suffolk Yeomanry Cavalry (Capt., 1864; Maj., 1868). </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">JP and DL for Suffolk. Vice-Commodore of Harwich Yacht Club. His obituary mentions that his "generous disposition and almost excessive open-handed liberality had endeared him to all who knew him". He married, 29 November 1860 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), Barbara Sophia Harriet (1838-1929), eldest daughter of Edgar Disney of The Hyde, Ingatestone (Essex), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Philip Bennet IX (1862-1913) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Geoffrey Frederick Philip Bennet (1863-1932), of East Barton Farm, Bury St Edmunds (Suffk), born 4 October and baptised at Rougham, 16 December 1863; JP for Suffolk; married, 14 February 1888 at St Saviour, Paddington (Middx), Beatrice Geraldine (c.1862-1935), second daughter of his stepfather, the Hon. Harbord Harbord; died 27 December 1932 and was buried at Newmarket (Suffk);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Cyril Edgar Tyrrell Bennet (1865-1914), born 13 September 1865; an officer in the West Suffolk militia (Lt., 1886; retired 1888) and militia battn., Suffolk Regiment (2nd Lt., 1891; Lt., 1892; Capt., 1892; retired 1894); married, 25 October 1887 at St James, Bury St Edmunds (Suffk), Annie Osmond Louisa (c.1867-1906), daughter of Rev. E.J. Griffiths of Bury St. Edmunds, and had issue two sons and one daughter*; died at Chiswick (Middx), 7 November 1914 and was buried at Acton Cemetery (Middx);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Claude Lambert Bennet (1873-86), born 26 August and baptised at St Mary-in-the-Marsh, Norwich, 26 September 1873; died young, at Eastbourne (Sussex), 20 October 1886;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Iona Barbara Bennet (1874-1961), born 13 October and baptised at St Mary-in-the-Marsh, Norwich, 14 November 1874; lived with her mother at Holly Lodge, Norwich; died unmarried, 30 March 1961; will proved 19 May 1961 (estate £6,816).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Rougham Hall from his father in 1866. His widow let the house and sold the family pictures etc. in 1878. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Dover (Kent), 11 July 1875; his will was proved 24 January 1876 (effects under £5,000). His widow married 2nd, 4 December 1878 at Ingatestone (Essex), Col. the Hon. Harbord Harbord (1836-94); she died in Norwich, 15 March 1929 and was buried at Rougham; her will was proved 29 April 1929 (estate £2,661).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* The daughter died in infancy. The family having fallen on hard times, the younger son was placed with, and raised by, Disney relations at Ingatestone.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Philip IX (1862-1913). </b>Eldest son of Philip Bennet VIII (1837-75) and his wife Harriot Sophia, eldest daughter of Edgar Disney of The Hyde (Essex), born 24 February 1862. An officer in the Prince of Wales' Own Norfolk Artillery, a militia regiment (Lt., 1881; Capt., 1893; hon. Maj., 1895). He married, c.1908*, Robina Cochrane (1881-1959), daughter of James Riddell, but had no issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Rougham estate from his father in 1875 and came of age in 1883. He continued to lease out the house at Rougham out until 1893 when he sold it (while retaining part of the estate) to Mr E. Johnston. In 1901 he was living at the Angel Hotel in Bury St Edmunds and in 1911 at Felixstowe (Suffk).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Felixstowe, 13 May 1913. His widow emigrated to Los Angeles, California (USA) in 1914, married 2nd, 13 September 1918 at Riverside, California (USA), Charles C. Howarter (1892-1964), and died in Los Angeles, 21 November 1959; she was buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* Information from the 1911 census. However, I have been unable to trace this marriage in Great Britain, and there seems to be no reference to it in the press.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Landed Gentry</i>, 1914, p. 135; R.E.M. Peach, <i>Life and times of Ralph Allen</i>, 1895, pp. 206-13; J. Hawkes, 'Widcombe Manor mount and cascade', <i>The survey of Bath and district</i>, no.6, 1996, pp. 19-22; A. Foyle & Sir N. Pevsner, <i>The buildings of England: Somerset - North and Bristol</i>, 2nd edn., 2011, p. 194; M. Siraut, <i>The Victoria County History of Somerset: vol. XI, Queen Camel and the Cadburys</i>, 2015, pp. 151-52; C. Spence, <i>Nature's favourite child: Thomas Robins and the art of the Georgian garden</i>, 2021, pp. 139-40;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://historyofbath.org/images/documents/Widcombe%20Manor.pdf">https://historyofbath.org/images/documents/Widcombe%20Manor.pdf</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Bennet family of Rougham Hall: </i>deeds and estate papers relating to the Rougham estate, 1596-1889 [Suffolk Archives, Bury St. Edmunds, Acc. 839]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Gules, a bezant between three demi-lions rampant, couped, argent.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide portraits of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 22 October 2023. I am most grateful to Prof. Tim Mowl for assisting me with the interpretation of the Thomas Robins drawings of Widcombe Manor, and to Jane Bennet-Earle for corrections and additional information.</span></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-893596979358010502023-10-16T16:31:00.004+01:002023-10-16T16:45:06.514+01:00(558) Bennet of Marlefield, baronets<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbcgJgNehyphenhyphenRZyDOss-pZnLP9R8OI19XJDI7dULCSe1GqxWCYazLs_5_lHoLu6XlHI29YAu4lOsOABlN26Swy-78roKYtqSZS-uiXJut48rVf5JPb-2mnMx9L9hwRVvkS25e6dU6jVzeB5MN1dahGfzLmg7lLMblKN5uTZsnRlYTSbKp7y8zyzE819Qund/s1203/Bennet%20of%20Marlefield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="998" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbcgJgNehyphenhyphenRZyDOss-pZnLP9R8OI19XJDI7dULCSe1GqxWCYazLs_5_lHoLu6XlHI29YAu4lOsOABlN26Swy-78roKYtqSZS-uiXJut48rVf5JPb-2mnMx9L9hwRVvkS25e6dU6jVzeB5MN1dahGfzLmg7lLMblKN5uTZsnRlYTSbKp7y8zyzE819Qund/w166-h200/Bennet%20of%20Marlefield.jpg" width="166" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;">Bennet of Marlefield</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Bennets were a minor gentry family established at Chesters near Ancrum (Roxburghs.) in the 16th century. The branch of the family considered here begins with the Rev. William Bennet (d. 1647), a younger son of Adam Bennet of Chesters, who was appointed minister of Ancrum in 1623. By means which are unclear, William Bennet became wealthy enough to accrue substantial landed property, chiefly around Eckford and Kirk Yetholm (Roxburghshire), which was erected into the barony of Grubet in 1639. He did not marry until 1641, and died just six years later, leaving at least two sons, the elder of whom eventually succeeded to his estates, while the younger became an advocate and was indeed Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, 1698-1712. William's widow married again, to James Scott of Bonnytoun, also an advocate, and had further children. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The elder son was William Bennet (c.1643-1710), who was raised to a baronetcy in 1670 and served as High Sheriff of Roxburghshire in 1693, but who remains a somewhat shadowy figure. He and his wife had eight children, the eldest of whom was Sir William Bennet (1666-1729), 2nd bt., who is much better documented and indeed the central figure of this narrative. He joined the invading army of King William III in 1688 with a troop of fifty men raised at his own expense, and remained in military service until 1698. His career involved taking part in the bloody but ultimately successful Siege of Namur (1695) where it is said that his life was saved by a young gypsy soldier from the Faa family, who had been recognised by King James V of Scotland as 'Kings of the Gypsies' in 1539. As a reward, Sir William granted the Faa family a plot of land on his </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kirk Yetholm estate, where many of them lived in winter, and where they built a small building known as 'the Gypsy Palace', where coronations of successive kings and queens of the gypsies were held down to the early 20th century. Disputes about the succession have since meant the title has been lost, and the gypsy palace is now a holiday cottage.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sir William gradually turned from military to civilian affairs, becoming MP for Roxburghshire in the Scottish Parliament in 1693, and continuing to serve at Westminster after the Act of Union until 1708. He held various military and civilian roles in Scotland later, and was an active opponent of the Jacobite uprising of 1715. He was also noted for his interest in literary and artistic matters, being a friend and patron of the poets James Thomson and Allan Ramsay, and he gave his interests a practical turn by commissioning a new house on his estate at Marlefield. It is likely that this did not happen until after his father's death in 1710, but it could be a few years earlier. The building has a sophisticated plan and elegant simplicity, and shows the influence of Sir Robert Bruce on the Scottish architectural scene, although there is no particular reason to connect Bruce (or Wren, or William Adam) with the design, as others have done in the past. Indeed it seems possible that Sir William, with an intimate knowledge of Edinburgh and experience of London and the Low Countries, was responsible for the design himself.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The 2nd baronet married three times, but had children only by his last wife. He was succeeded at Marlefield by his two eldest sons in turn: Sir William Bennet (1705-33), 3rd bt., and Sir David Bennet (1706-41), 4th bt. The former died unmarried, and the latter left no surviving issue, so in 1741 the estate came into the hands of the 2nd baronet's younger brother, Sir John Bennet (1670-1751), 5th bt. He again is a shadowy figure, but what is known is that he was unmarried, and in 1743 he sold the Marlefield estate to his niece's husband, William Nisbet (d. 1783) of Dirleton (East Lothian). The Bennet baronetcy became extinct on his death in 1751.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Marlefield House, Eckford, Roxburghshire</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">A very substantial five-bay, three-storey double-pile house of the early 18th century, with angle towers projecting at the four corners, and curved links to L-shaped pavilion wings. It was built for Sir William Bennet (1666-1729), 2nd bt., but the date is unclear. Although his father transferred parts of the family property to him in 1692 and 1706, he did not succeed to the whole until 1710, and it is perhaps most likely that building began after that. The plain classical form of the house is testament to Sir William's reputation for being up-to-date on artistic matters, but nothing is known of the architect or craftsmen he employed and he may indeed, have played a role in its design himself. In the 1720s, he recommended the young William Adam (1689-1748) to the Duke of Roxburghe for work at Floors Castle, but his contact with Adam probably came from his involvement with the cultural scene in Edinburgh rather than from any direct experience of employing him at Marlefield. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIecYHvUJ3BYO_85p4em8_v826JprPkpCQqw08XVtIOG1Iq3YGsXO_zkrMf9o3TeBk7r4TwjRRls_hLC75ZdGzsKMUQlYqftHmxaSoupvSjyoqtTpjDbBrwBN-Y_mvk7bb1oGolfjE6qUvlXWfWDAzyt_8dcY46Y-hvuyMTlD_EgSVLLOMDUCsD-Lhuj_2/s600/Marlefield%20House,%20Eckford,%20Roxburghs%208%20John%20Muir%20Wood%20NMS%20CC%20before%201892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIecYHvUJ3BYO_85p4em8_v826JprPkpCQqw08XVtIOG1Iq3YGsXO_zkrMf9o3TeBk7r4TwjRRls_hLC75ZdGzsKMUQlYqftHmxaSoupvSjyoqtTpjDbBrwBN-Y_mvk7bb1oGolfjE6qUvlXWfWDAzyt_8dcY46Y-hvuyMTlD_EgSVLLOMDUCsD-Lhuj_2/w640-h426/Marlefield%20House,%20Eckford,%20Roxburghs%208%20John%20Muir%20Wood%20NMS%20CC%20before%201892.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Marlefield House, Eckford: photograph of the entrance front before the alterations of 1891-92 by John Muir Wood.<br />Image: National Galleries of Scotland. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/">Some rights reserved</a>.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxz8-HVjEErEqRjDPztXDsV9aZMDyKjX4UJVTZiAHESazNwLwXTFGVACNrVTSrIhHtPOrBi_nkzoagq3Yhex9Qcg6j2rEdBqMwP85OrKvayluLltiE2aYqZkcC1RMli6bHl9zKO3x5LaMI-iQTbcslwkOMTkW2gRHcdvbDcvxvY1rPOOsPxgYuKUKVzCI/s600/Marlefield%20House,%20Eckford,%20Roxburghs%207a%20John%20Muir%20Wood%20NMS%20CC%20before%201892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="600" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxz8-HVjEErEqRjDPztXDsV9aZMDyKjX4UJVTZiAHESazNwLwXTFGVACNrVTSrIhHtPOrBi_nkzoagq3Yhex9Qcg6j2rEdBqMwP85OrKvayluLltiE2aYqZkcC1RMli6bHl9zKO3x5LaMI-iQTbcslwkOMTkW2gRHcdvbDcvxvY1rPOOsPxgYuKUKVzCI/w640-h450/Marlefield%20House,%20Eckford,%20Roxburghs%207a%20John%20Muir%20Wood%20NMS%20CC%20before%201892.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Marlefield House, Eckford: photograph of the rear and side elevations before the alterations of 1891-92 by John Muir Wood. Image: National Galleries of Scotland. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">19th century survey plans show that the house then had four main rooms on each floor, with closets in the angle-towers, but very little internal decoration survives from the original building period, except for an angle fireplace and pine panelling in one of the closets, which also has a domed ceiling with a circular painting of Mars in his chariot, and possibly some elements of the staircase, which stands in the middle of the west front and rises from the ground-floor to the attics.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house was sold in 1743 by the last Bennet baronet to his niece and her husband, William Nisbet of Dirleton. In 1754-57 they employed George Paterson to repair and modernise the house, and it seems likely that he was responsible for adding the quadrant links and pavilion wings. He probably also designed the five-bay stable block, which has Gibbsian details to the central doorway and the end bays. Other changes of the same date probably include lowering the sills of the first-floor windows, and adding the Venetian central doorway on the west front. The present form of the staircase, which has alternately straight and twisted mahogany balusters, must also date from the 1750s.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYjgjSG16Ao-8XkXVfiPyb763QgieaCBfuDosaOvoZGbwubHq7PcJB9o26aWgJw5Pj71q_Au_YSuJL5AvmmmlxXwmNQ6dzbMto4VIz_RCUFaPjjYClu5VRvZ_uVPfGaPbMr5dZv-6QtKMMafnAUGkQzKjI7gPaKbN_uVoUSbgmjxdbjLzImr-AOpw8rsc/s1024/Marlefield%20House,%20Eckford,%20Roxburgs%2011%201915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="1024" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYjgjSG16Ao-8XkXVfiPyb763QgieaCBfuDosaOvoZGbwubHq7PcJB9o26aWgJw5Pj71q_Au_YSuJL5AvmmmlxXwmNQ6dzbMto4VIz_RCUFaPjjYClu5VRvZ_uVPfGaPbMr5dZv-6QtKMMafnAUGkQzKjI7gPaKbN_uVoUSbgmjxdbjLzImr-AOpw8rsc/w640-h404/Marlefield%20House,%20Eckford,%20Roxburgs%2011%201915.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Marlefield House: the entrance front in 1915, after the late Victorian alterations, from an old postcard.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the late 18th century, the house was stripped of its remaining contents and let to tenants, including Ralph Oliphant, who is known to have carried out repairs. After it was acquired by the Hay family of Yester, Marquesses of Tweeddale, the house was abandoned and fell into disrepair, until in 1890 it was bought by Athole Stanhope Hay, who brought in </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kinnear & Peddie to carry out a thorough restoration in 1890-91. The house was in such a bad state by then - something suggested by the photographs above - that it had to be more or less gutted internally; certainly most of the principal interiors have decoration of this time. Hay's wife was the sister of Sir Bache Cunard, 3rd bt., and it is said that the Jacobethan panelling in the entrance hall was taken out of a Cunard liner. The doorcase on the east front was altered and given a pediment and sidelights, and a two-storey rectangular bay window was added on the south side. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house was harled until the mid 20th century, and the present exposed rubble walling is unfortunate. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-3XhZqYEMmPRiet2Ndq7W8nzzKTbAHyYnh0GTtn6QaBTrLHjdO5XgoKhnPvfISbS5llBog7RLQIZs1Tya2iolntlRCTwuu3N7kgZCvY_CKxykMF0_FDEsZwDX0iFGjjwzng-p7ihyHSz4pVasBvYhsL6VlunGxQ7s7_a-9tP6e_1VSNvf0rSy5gXZTL9/s1600/Marlefield%20House,%20Eckford,%20Roxburghs%2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-3XhZqYEMmPRiet2Ndq7W8nzzKTbAHyYnh0GTtn6QaBTrLHjdO5XgoKhnPvfISbS5llBog7RLQIZs1Tya2iolntlRCTwuu3N7kgZCvY_CKxykMF0_FDEsZwDX0iFGjjwzng-p7ihyHSz4pVasBvYhsL6VlunGxQ7s7_a-9tP6e_1VSNvf0rSy5gXZTL9/w640-h426/Marlefield%20House,%20Eckford,%20Roxburghs%2010.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Marlefield House today. Image: <a href="https://www.stravaiging.com/history/castle/marlefield-house/">Stravaiging around Scotland</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the late 20th century, the house became an hotel for a time, but it was later reconverted to domestic use</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. The stable block was converted into a separate house by Bain Swan architects in 1990. An excellent set of photographs of the house, including some interior views, can be found <a href="https://canmore.org.uk/site/58235/marlefield-house?display=image">here</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: sold to Rev. William Bennet (d. 1647); to son, Sir William Bennet (c.1643-1710), 1st bt.; to son, Sir William Bennet (1666-1729), 2nd bt.; to son, Sir William Bennet (1705-33), 3rd bt.; to brother, Sir David Bennet (1706-41), 4th bt.; to uncle, Sir John Bennet (1670-1751), 5th bt., who sold 1743 to William Nisbet (d. 1783) of Dirleton...sold to Field Marshal George Hay (1787-1876), 8th Marquess of Tweeddale; to son, Arthur Hay (1824-78), 9th Marquess of Tweeddale; to brother, William Montague Hay (1826-1911), 10th Marquess of Tweeddale; sold 1890 to Athole Stanhope Hay (1861-1933); sold c.1935 to Capt. Alan Richard Lassam Goodson (1896-1941); to widow, Mrs Clarice </i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Muriel Weston </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">(k/a Coey) Goodson (1901-82); to son, Sir Mark Weston Lassam Goodson (1925-2015), 3rd bt.; to son, Sir Alan Reginald Goodson (b. 1960), 4th bt. </i></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet family of Marlefield, baronets</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Rev. William (d. 1647). </b>Younger son of Adam Bennet (d. 1616) of Chesters, portioner of Nether Ancrum, and his wife Janet Crichton. Appointed minister of Ancrum, 1623. In 1644 he loaned £2,400 to the Scots government towards the supply of the Scots armies in England and Ireland. He married, January 1641 (contract 29 January) at Ancrum, Margaret, eldest daughter of William Eliot (d. 1654) of Stobs, and had issue, possibly among others:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Sir William Bennet (c.1643-1710), 1st bt. (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Robert Bennet (1644-1722), born 1644; admitted to Faculty of Advocates, 1672 and 1676 (Dean of the Faculty, 1698-1712); married 1st, 8 April 1685 at Edinburgh, Margaret Weir (d. 1687), and 2nd, 14 October 1692 at Lauder (Berwicks), Janet Colville, and had issue; died 29 September and was buried at Edinburgh, 2 October 1722.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He acquired considerable wealth which he invested in lands including Grubet and Mowmains (later Marlefield), erected into the barony of Grubet in 1639.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died before 14 June 1647. His widow married 2nd, 1651 (contract 24 October) as his second wife, James Scott (d. by 1668) of Bonnytoun, advocate, second son of Laurence Scott of Harperig, advocate, and had further issue three sons and two daughters; her date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Sir William (c.1643-1710), 1st bt. </b>Elder son of Rev. William Bennet (d. 1647) and his wife Margaret, eldest daughter of William Eliot of Stobs, born about 1643. After his father's death his wardship was purchased by Robert Pringle, portioner of Clifton, 14 June 1647. High Sheriff of Roxburghshire, 1693. A Presbyterian in religion, he suffered 'many hardships for conscience sake'. He was created a baronet, 18 November 1670. He married, 1665 (contract 6 April) Christian, second daughter of Sir Alexander Morrison, kt., of Prestongrange (East Lothian), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Sir William Bennet (1666-1729), 2nd bt. (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Elizabeth Bennet (b. c.1668), born about 1668; married, 2 December 1684 at Edinburgh, as his second wife, Sir John Scott (c.1630-1712), 1st bt., of Ancrum; died in or before 1708;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Jean Bennet (b. 1669), baptised at Prestonpans, 17 February 1669; married, 29 March 1688 at Edinburgh, William Nisbet (c.1666-1724) of Dirleton (who m2, 23 April 1711, Jean, daughter of Robert Bennet (1644-1722), Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, and had further issue one son and three daughters), and had issue about ten children; died in or before 1710;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Sir John Bennet (1670-1751), 5th bt. (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Robert Bennet (b. 1671), baptised at Prestonpans, 23 December 1671;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Henry Bennet (fl. 1687), apprenticed to John Duncan of Edinburgh, merchant, 1687;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Margaret Bennet; married, 1711 (contract 29 January), James Carnegie* (d. 1765) of Finavon (who m2, Violet, daughter of Sir James Naismith of Posso, and had further issue one son and two daughters), and had issue two daughters;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Christian Bennet (b. c.1678); married, 1697 (banns 13 February), Charles Stuart (1672-1732) of Dunearn (who m2, 24 August 1700, Jean, daughter of Sir Alexander Hamilton of Dalziel, and had further issue two sons and four daughters), and had issue one son (Alexander Stuart (c.1698-1786), well known for his collections of books and pictures); died in or before 1700.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited his father's barony of Grubet and came of age about 1664.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died in 1710. His wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* Carnegie was found not guilty of murdering the 6th Earl of Strathmore in a famous trial of 1728, which established important precedents in Scots law.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Sir William (1666-1729), 2nd bt. </b>Eldest son of Sir William Bennet (c.1643-1710), 1st bt., and his wife Christian, second daughter of Sir Alexander Morrison of Prestongrange, baptised at Prestonpans (East Lothian), 20 June 1666. Probably educated at Edinburgh University (MA 1685). An officer in the army of King William III (Capt, 1689; Maj. 1697; retired 1698) who accompanied William III from Holland in 1688 with fifty men at his own charge, and fought at the Battle of Namur, 1695. MP for Roxburghshire in the Scottish Parliament, 1693-1707, and in the parliament of Great Britain, 1707-08. Muster-master general for Scotland, 1704-08. He succeeded his father as 2nd baronet, 1710. A Commissioner of Excise in Scotland, 1714-15. He was an ensign in the Royal Company of Archers, 1715, and led the Roxburghshire militia in defence of Kelso during the Jacobite uprising of 1715. A patron of the arts and literature, and a friend of the poets, James Thomson and Allan Ramsay. He married 1st, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Jean, daughter of Sir John Kerr of Lochtour; 2nd, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">1692 (contract 18 March), Margaret (d. 1694), only daughter and heir of John Scowgall alias Sionyall of Whitekirk (East Lothian), commissary of Aberdeen; and 3rd, 1695 (contract 31 August), Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir David Hay MD of Auchquairney, and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3.1) Janet Bennet (b. 1699), baptised at Eckford, 6 July 1699.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3.2) Helen (k/a Nellie) Bennet (1700-52), baptised at Eckford, 11 July 1700; died unmarried, about August 1752;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3.3) Jean Bennet (b. 1702), baptised at Eckford, 31 March 1702; </span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3.4) Agnes Bennet (b. 1703), baptised at Eckford, 18 July 1703;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3.5) Sir William Bennet (1705-33), 3rd bt. (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3.6) Sir David Bennet (1706-41), 4th bt. (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3.7) Elizabeth Bennet; married, 5 August 1726 at Eckford, Barnaby Barrow (d. 1732), comptroller of excise at Edinburgh;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3.8) Robert Bennet (b. 1709), born 16 October 1709; an officer in the Earl of Rothes' regiment (Ensign by 1737); died before 1741.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He had charters for the lands of Grubet in 1692 (rescinded) and 1706, and built the present Marlefield House probably after 1710, possibly to his own designs. </i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Marlefield, 23/24 December 1729. His first wife died before 1692. His second wife died before 23 April 1694. His widow was living in 1742; her date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Sir William (1705-33), 3rd bt. </b>Eldest son of Sir William Bennet (1666-1729), 2nd bt., and his third wife, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir David Hay of Auchquairney, born 20 July 1705. He succeded his father as 3rd baronet, 24 December 1729. He was unmarried and without issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited his father's estate at Marlefield and was served heir to him, 20 April 1730.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 3 January 1733.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Sir David (1706-41), 4th bt. </b>Second </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">son of Sir William Bennet (1666-1729), 2nd bt., and his third wife, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir David Hay of Auchquairney, born 21 October 1706. He succeeded his elder brother as 4th baronet, 3 January 1733. He married [name unknown] and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) William Bennet (b. 1734), baptised at Eckford, 9 July 1734; died in the lifetime of his father.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the family estate at Marlefield from his elder brother and was served heir to him, 19 April 1733.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died about 14 March 1741. His wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Sir John (1670-1751), 5th bt. </b>Second son of </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sir William Bennet (c.1643-1710), 1st bt., and his wife Christian, second daughter of Sir Alexander Morrison of Prestongrange, born 10 September and baptised at Edinburgh, 30 September 1670. He seems to have been apprenticed to William Chatto of Wooler (Northbld), merchant, 1698, but his age at the time makes this doubtful. He succeeded his nephew as 5th baronet, 1741. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the family estate at Marlefield from his nephew in 1741, but sold them to another nephew, William Nisbet of Dirleton, in 1743.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died about 4 November 1751, when the baronetcy became extinct. not in 1765 as most accounts of the family state.</span></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">G.E. Cokayne, <i>Complete Baronetage</i>, vol. 4, 1904, pp. 279-80; K. Cruft, J. Dunbar & R. Fawcett, <i>The buildings of Scotland: Borders</i>, 2006, pp. 526-27; B. Byrom, <i>The country houses, castles and manors of Roxburgshire</i>, 2015, p. 64; G. MacGregor, <i>The Red Book of Scotland</i>, 2nd edn., 2018, vol. 1, pp. 489-91; </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.stravaiging.com/history/castle/marlefield-house/">https://www.stravaiging.com/history/castle/marlefield-house/</a>; </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://canmore.org.uk/site/58235/marlefield-house">https://canmore.org.uk/site/58235/marlefield-house</a>;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Bennet baronets, of Marlfield: </i>Some family papers are included among the records of the Brooke family of Biel (East Lothian), 1435-1915 [National Records of Scotland, GD6]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Sir William Bennet (1666-1729), 2nd bt.: </i>correspondence and papers, c.1690-1729 [National Records of Scotland, GD205]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Either, Gules, on a chevron between three stars, argent, a cross patée gules; </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Or, Or, a cross patée between three mullets, gules, a chief of the last, on a canton the badge of a Nova Scotia baronet.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone explain the ownership history of the house in the late 18th and early 19th century?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide portraits of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 16 October 2023.</span></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-73988065658180025052023-10-12T16:41:00.004+01:002023-10-14T07:34:15.934+01:00(557) Bennet of Dawley House, Chillingham Castle and Walton Hall, Earls of Tankerville<span style="font-family: georgia;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zvGMNe4Ipe84cx3XvdUqlslmtcuxPErAr6kPgLjxkoykmb_LIICIMNKla_5PrddV-Wr7gC-gEnDiQqEq5Cl_nst4CoiuDzLTXzSfWFhgJz4dwftdIKg-EnsWRMp2wlhNRtQzLS1HwV0XsqYjxG3WvJi05zNHfttMt2XHj7PIBnAfHYV66F2i3olqqYAK/s1200/Bennet%20of%20Babraham.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zvGMNe4Ipe84cx3XvdUqlslmtcuxPErAr6kPgLjxkoykmb_LIICIMNKla_5PrddV-Wr7gC-gEnDiQqEq5Cl_nst4CoiuDzLTXzSfWFhgJz4dwftdIKg-EnsWRMp2wlhNRtQzLS1HwV0XsqYjxG3WvJi05zNHfttMt2XHj7PIBnAfHYV66F2i3olqqYAK/w167-h200/Bennet%20of%20Babraham.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;">Bennet of Dawley and Chillingham, <br />Barons Ossulston and Earls of Tankerville </span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This family trace their descent from Sir John Bennet (c.1557-1627), kt., who was the third son of Richard Bennet (c.1528-74) of Clapcot, Wallingford (Berks), who featured in my <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2023/09/556-bennet-of-beachampton-and-calverton.html">previous post</a>. Like so many successful Elizabethans, he came from a minor gentry background, but immensely improved his social and economic position through a successful legal and administrative career. He spent nearly twenty years in posts in York, where he became a member of the Council in the North, but about 1608 he seems to have moved to London, where he became a Chancery Master and also Chancellor to Queen Anne of Denmark. The 1610s mark the apogee of his career, but as early as 1607 he bought the Dawley House estate at Harlington (Middx), some fourteen miles west of London, although he does not seem ever to have lived there, preferring a house in nearby Uxbridge. In 1622 he was convicted by the Star Chamber of corruption, fined the colossal sum of £20,000, imprisoned, and debarred from public office. It is not, in fact, clear that he was any more venal than most of his contemporaries, but he committed the extra crime of being found out, and was disgraced accordingly. He was not, however, stripped of his estate at Dawley, which passed at his death to his eldest son, Sir John Bennet (1589-1658), kt., who unlike his father and sons shunned a career in public affairs. Although Royalist in his sympathies, he managed to avoid the formal sequestration of his estate, paying only a modest fine in 1643, and by the time of his death the house at Dawley was surrounded by a park of some 200 acres. His sons, Sir John Bennet (1616-95), later 1st Baron Ossulston, and Sir Henry Bennet (1618-85), 1st Baron Arlington and later 1st Earl of Arlington, were much more active in the Royalist cause, and the latter spent the Commonwealth years in exile with the Stuart court and acting as the king's representative in Spain. He returned to England in 1661 and quickly became one of King Charles II's closest advisers, as Secretary of State, 1662-74. During his long years of office, he was able to acquire a number of well-rewarded public posts for himself and his brother. In 1666 - the year he took a Dutch wife - he bought Euston Hall in Suffolk, which he subsequently rebuilt. He was raised to the peerage in 1665 and promoted to an earldom in 1672, becoming a Knight of the Garter later the same year. Having no son to succeed him, the king agreed that his peerage could descend to his daughter, Isabella (1667-1723), but when she was only five, she was married to one of the king's many illegitimate children, Henry Fitzroy (1663-90), who was created Earl of Euston on their marriage and Duke of Grafton in 1675. Isabella's peerages, as Countess of Arlington, thus merged into the Dukedom at her death in 1723, and descended with the senior title until 1936, when they fell into abeyance until the barony was successfully revived in 1999. Account of their descendants, and of Euston Hall, will be given in a future post on the Fitzroy family, Dukes of Grafton.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dawley descended in 1658 to Sir John Bennet (1616-95), who was made a Knight of the Bath in 1661 and raised to the peerage as Baron Ossulston in 1682. Since his younger brother had already taken his title from the village in Middlesex where their family estate lay - minus the initial H - Sir John took his title from the name of the hundred (a historic administrative division) in which Dawley stood. It is not clear why he did not simply become 'Lord Dawley': perhaps he felt 'Lord Ossulston' suggested greater antiquity! He rebuilt the house and laid out the grounds at Dawley, creating the property that was depicted in <i>Britannia Illustrata</i> in 1707. He married twice, but only his second marriage produced children: a son and two daughters. His daughters both died young, but his son, Charles Bennet (1674-1722), survived to inherit the peerage and the Dawley estate, which he continued to improve in the early 18th century. The death of his father-in-law, Ford Grey (1655-1701), 3rd Baron Grey of Wark and 1st Earl of Tankerville, meant that he and his wife also inherited the Grey family seats of Uppark (Sussex) and Chillingham Castle (Northumberland), but Dawley seems to have remained their principal seat. A Whig in politics, he was rewarded when the Whigs came to power in 1714 by promotion to an earldom, taking the title of Earl of Tankerville which his father-in-law had previously held; and also by appointment as Chief Justice in Eyre of Forests south of the Trent.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">At his death in 1722, the 1st Earl was succeeded by his eldest son, Charles Bennet (1697-1753), 2nd Earl of Tankerville, who was a Whig and a courtier. Unlike his father and grandfather, who made very canny marriages that significantly enhanced the family's wealth and status, the 2nd Earl married for love. His bride is usually described as a butcher's daughter, but that rather understates her social position, as her father was a yeoman grazier from County Durham. They met at a ball in Newcastle-on-Tyne, and her father, thinking her too young to marry, sent her to friends in Holland to get her away from his attentions. But he followed her, and when her hosts in Holland realised he was pressing his suit, they sent her back to England, only for the ardent Lord Ossulston (as he then was) to conceal himself on the same boat - reputedly by hiding in an empty cask - and carry her off to a compliant clergyman in Jarrow after they landed at South Shields. The young lady, who was both good looking and good natured, later caught the eye of King George II, and seems to have been one of his many mistresses for a time in the mid-1730s. What the 2nd Earl thought of being cuckolded by the king is not recorded, but he and his wife had no further children after 1727 and his career prospered in the 1730s, culminating in his appointment in 1740 as Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland. This probably implies that he was then chiefly resident at Chillingham. He had sold Dawley in 1725 to the Jacobite Lord Bolingbroke, apparently preferring Uppark as a southern seat, but in 1747 he sold Uppark as well, retaining only a town house in London. He was apparently short of money, for when he died in 1753 his son found he had left considerable debts. His widow, who survived him by more than twenty years, inherited lands in America from a cousin and retired to a comfortable town house at Kensington, on the western edge of London.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Chillingham descended in 1753 to the 2nd Earl's elder son, Charles Bennet (1716-67), 3rd Earl of Tankerville, who occupied himself with a military career during his father's lifetime and rented Dorney Court (Bucks) before inheriting Chillingham. Immediately after inheriting, he set about rebuilding the south range of the castle to make it more habitable. He married one of the daughters of Sir John Astley (1688-1771), 2nd bt., of Patshull Hall (Staffs) and died at the young age of fifty-one. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The 3rd Earl and his wife (who lived until 1791) had two sons and two daughters who survived to adulthood. The younger son was a career officer in the army, dying in 1815 as a Lieutenant-General, but the estates passed in 1767 to the elder son, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Charles Bennet (1743-1822), 4th Earl of Tankerville. On the death of his maternal grandmother in 1764, he had inherited Whitehall and Abcott Manor in Shropshire, and in 1771 a lead-rich Shropshire estate, which contributed strongly to the family's income in the 19th century. In 1772 he bought Walton Hall at Walton-on-Thames (Surrey) as a southern seat, conveniently close to London. Although much less grand than either Dawley or Uppark had been, Walton became the principal family home, and was the place where the 4th Earl's countess created a notable garden and successfully propogated exotic species. The two elder sons of the 4th Earl both entered Parliament as Foxite Whigs, and the younger, the Hon. Henry Grey Bennet (1777-1836) made a particular mark as an effective and persistent performer in the House of Commons. His career was cut short, however, by a sexual scandal in 1825, soon after his brother had moved to the House of Lords as Charles Augustus Bennet (1776-1859), 5th Earl of Tankerville.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1806, the 5th Earl had married a French ward of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, who generously provided a dowry of £10,000 for the match and helped the 5th Earl politically as well. The couple inherited the Chillingham and Shropshire estates from the 4th Earl in 1822, but Walton Hall went to the 4th Earl's widow for her life. Soon after inheriting Chillingham, the 5th Earl brought in Sir Jeffry Wyatville to advise on additions and remodelling, but although grand schemes were formulated, only a limited amount was done, and the most significant survival of his work today is the formal garden with its enclosing walls west of the castle. When the 5th Earl inherited Walton Hall from his mother in 1836, the house was very old-fashioned and may have been in some disrepair, and the 5th Earl decided to rebuild it. For this, the Earl turned to Sir Charles Barry, who had just won the competition to rebuild the Palace of Westminster, but he opted for an essay in Barry's innovative Italianate style, rather than the Gothic and Tudor of Parliament. The house was, in fact, a comprehensive remodelling of the old house rather than a complete rebuilding, but the house that emerged was completely unrecognisable, and its transformation was marked by giving it a new name: Mount Felix. By 1850 - for reasons which are unclear - the 5th Earl had run into financial difficulties, and Mount Felix was sold in 1852. His remaining estates passed at his death in 1859 to his only son, Charles Augustus Bennet (1810-99), 6th Earl of Tankerville, who sat as MP for North Northumberland from 1832-59. In contrast to his father and uncle, he sat as a Conservative, albeit one on the liberal wing of his party. In 1879, he converted to Roman Catholicism, and in the same year he lost his eldest son and heir apparent, who died of cholera while soldiering in India. As a result, when the 6th Earl died at an advanced age in 1899, his second son, George Montagu Bennet (1852-1931), inherited Chillingham and came into the title as 7th Earl of Tankerville.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Before he was thirty, the 7th Earl had tried the navy and the army and decided neither was the life for him, and in the early 1880s he emigrated to America, where he spent nearly twenty years as a cattle rancher. While there, he became involved with the revivalist meetings of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_L._Moody">Moody</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ira_D._Sankey">Sankey</a>, through which he met and married the daughter of a New York physician. They came back to England after his father's death and took over the management of the Chillingham estate. The family's remaining Shropshire property was sold in 1912, and from 1916 onwards a good deal of money was ploughed into the restoration of Chillingham, which they found 'a wreck'. In 1919 his wife bought the Plas Newydd estate at Llangollen (Denbighs.), once the home of the famous '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladies_of_Llangollen">Ladies of Llangollen</a>', but it was sold in 1932, after her husband's death. Chillingham was then inherited by their elder son, Charles Augustus Ker Bennet (1897-1971), 8th Earl of Tankerville, who faced heavy death duties, and quickly decided he could not afford to live in the castle. Many of the contents were sold in 1932 and he moved to a modern house in the village at Chillingham. Efforts were made to find a tenant for the castle, but when these failed it was simply shut up and abandoned. A fire in 1940 extensively damaged the north and west sides of the building and by the 1960s the castle was ravaged by wet and dry rot and the Victorian service wing had been unroofed, and it seemed increasingly likely that the building would meet the fate of so many other houses at that time and be demolished. With the 9th Earl and his son, the present 10th Earl, living chiefly in America, the family's connection to the house and estate was weakened, but happily demolition was averted when Sir Humphrey & Lady Wakefield took the house on in 1981. Sir Humphrey had previous experience of country house restoration, and Lady Wakefield was a descendant of the senior line of the Grey family, from whom Chillingham passed to the Bennets. Over the last forty years the castle has been put back into good repair, and although a good deal of historic interior decoration was lost during half a century of neglect, it has been given a new lease of life.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Dawley House, Middlesex</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dawley House began as the manor house of one of the two manors in the parish of Harlington, now in the western suburbs of London. It was acquired with some 600 acres by Sir John Bennet (c.1557-1627) in 1607, but he apparently lived at Uxbridge rather than Dawley, which was let during his lifetime. His son, also Sir John Bennet (1589-1658), kt., did however reside at Dawley, and may have made improvements to it. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Part of the estate had been laid out as a park by 1657, when there were 200 acres attached to the house, and in 1690 Lord Ossulston received licence to impark a further 300 acres, on which avenues were laid out. A print (which exists in two states and was published in <i>Britannia Illustrata</i> in 1707) shows formal gardens to the south and west of the house. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_TjGdeiYg_1xx3FjolhdFxl5bTsuDufwKxBqKXlk0TmVM10nJr7VtsLBIgvQ7rOkV4kHdibOtocuV0tORKgFoNMw5k52a4KFs8KPj9gsTMRxQMRnwojZpffKtK9T9otruSRVlFXuZvdh29eFf1VPsciomoy0KEhh4eA6H2CbM4fdY8zwWXx4J-aapsPc/s2048/Dawley%20House,%20Middx%201b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1473" data-original-width="2048" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_TjGdeiYg_1xx3FjolhdFxl5bTsuDufwKxBqKXlk0TmVM10nJr7VtsLBIgvQ7rOkV4kHdibOtocuV0tORKgFoNMw5k52a4KFs8KPj9gsTMRxQMRnwojZpffKtK9T9otruSRVlFXuZvdh29eFf1VPsciomoy0KEhh4eA6H2CbM4fdY8zwWXx4J-aapsPc/w640-h460/Dawley%20House,%20Middx%201b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Dawley House: bird's eye view by Leonard Knyff, engraved by Jan Kip, published 1707.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">By the time the engraving was made, Lord Ossulston had rebuilt the house, for he paid tax on 16 hearths in 1664 and on 27 hearths a few years later. The print shows a modestly-detailed astylar two-storey house built round a courtyard, with a hipped roof and dormers. It had nine bays on the south front and was perhaps nine bays square; there were also extensive out-buildings attached to the east side of the house, which may have incorporated portions of the earlier house. The gardens which are the focus of the print are more impressive than the house, and the form of the parterre designs suggests that they were laid out by George London, who is known to have been gardener to Lord Ossulston's brother, the Earl of Arlington. The approach was marked by a magnificent set of iron gates in the style of Jean Tijou, whose book of designs was in Lord Ossulston's library. Even grander was the great greenhouse, lit by eighteen windows, that stood south-east of the house.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqvRZGAbjyraTIElFdL_OdZDVcwcu1b6XwwLMKKRtfGkes0k68IE6AFbrlmAd8ifBtaJ8GR4VzooXmtMdKXMi0x0tNOvxWZhxnPwMGqcPE6BBdNIvten5Lw7fVg6lcvFbu9VmPJjU8m8VTfK9VkVd9Z0jWRtWWu7fT_MtdszUAjzCyQ-TZrGkN2g2bxSf/s1006/Dawley%20House,%20Middx%2014%20plan%20early%20C18%20John%20Jenner.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1006" data-original-width="732" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqvRZGAbjyraTIElFdL_OdZDVcwcu1b6XwwLMKKRtfGkes0k68IE6AFbrlmAd8ifBtaJ8GR4VzooXmtMdKXMi0x0tNOvxWZhxnPwMGqcPE6BBdNIvten5Lw7fVg6lcvFbu9VmPJjU8m8VTfK9VkVd9Z0jWRtWWu7fT_MtdszUAjzCyQ-TZrGkN2g2bxSf/w466-h640/Dawley%20House,%20Middx%2014%20plan%20early%20C18%20John%20Jenner.jpg" width="466" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Dawley House: plan of grounds by John Jenner, n.d. but perhaps c.1723-25, when Jenner was working for the 2nd Earl at Uppark. The grander garden scheme this plan shows by comparison with the 1707 engraving was either not carried out or not wholly carried out. Image: TNA MPH 1/246</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lord Ossulston's son, who succeeded in 1695 and was made Earl of Tankerville in 1714, continued the development of the house and park, which was extended by 73 acres in 1707. The road shown to the east of the house in the engraving was diverted further east and a very broad ride was laid out to the north of the house, but a semi-circular <i>patte d'oie</i> south of the formal gardens, with avenues radiating out from it in the manner of Hampton Court or Osterley Park, which is shown on an undated early 18th century plan by John Jenner, seems not to have been carried out, as there is no sign of it on John Rocque's map of 1754. John Price of Richmond, who was an architect as well as a builder, was constructing an addition to the house in 1712, and in 1719-20 he 'partly rebuilt' the house to the designs of Nicholas Dubois. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6XEdl0FYDe2umJBMjgSgjQgyEcdkmAuzJaF8kaFBDEmSDrsYz94hpS4tqV45Qsb2h5ACBK_aWirNT1PiASVdrf6AInZ2OSEECFkS3TJ839wF63jQWHRlpesr_h90le8meAFgRY36TqWmzFOI2o-eZuU_k8hDxWwJWimmW2LfXxRN1zRan-bAIjb0oHiD/s1771/Dawley%20House,%20Middx%2015%20Rocque%201754.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="1771" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6XEdl0FYDe2umJBMjgSgjQgyEcdkmAuzJaF8kaFBDEmSDrsYz94hpS4tqV45Qsb2h5ACBK_aWirNT1PiASVdrf6AInZ2OSEECFkS3TJ839wF63jQWHRlpesr_h90le8meAFgRY36TqWmzFOI2o-eZuU_k8hDxWwJWimmW2LfXxRN1zRan-bAIjb0oHiD/w640-h298/Dawley%20House,%20Middx%2015%20Rocque%201754.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Dawley House: detail of John Rocque's map of Middlesex, 1754, showing the house and grounds.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1725, however, the 2nd Earl of Tankerville, who had inherited Dawley, Chillingham and Uppark, sold Dawley to the Tory polician, Henry St. John (1678-1751), 1st Viscount Bolingbroke. Having supported the Jacobite rebellion in 1715, Bolingbroke had been exiled to France, where he acted as foreign minister for the Old Pretender. In the 1720s, however, by the favour of George I's mistress, the Duchess of Kendal, he was rehabilitated and allowed to return to England, although he remained excluded from the House of Lords. He was supposed to be politically inactive, but his ostentatious rural seclusion at Dawley was itself a form of political statement, since the Tory, or 'country', party extolled the virtues of rural as opposed to city life. He again remodelled or rebuilt the house at Dawley to the designs of James Gibbs - the favourite architect of the Jacobite right. Rocque's map suggests this was a complete rebuilding, for in place of the square courtyard house facing south, Rocque depicts a conventional Palladian layout with a central block and curved links to pavilion wings, facing east. However, the only known engravings of the house, published in the Gentleman's Magazine in 1802, long after most of it had been demolished, show a two-storey block with arched windows on both floors, a seven-bay centre and projecting two-bay wings. This is hard to reconcile with the plan as shown by Rocque. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfQYiKIAunDWBc8qB8H1jViczrNlwGUrG0ySDJAEkGHieVqQhA4-8rU0V-ioDYuaM-u3Ys3QeudW8njRig__7CtvauLKWxiJFN_paDDGZ8aEPgGjo2XWgMERy5KtGpmr8_IVezfQ_jR3J5lSlt0dG9xQiWh8yyLHEXHJVn3Cxwa_U3TJNe4YF0lhErk6I/s1044/Dawley%20House,%20Middx%2012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfQYiKIAunDWBc8qB8H1jViczrNlwGUrG0ySDJAEkGHieVqQhA4-8rU0V-ioDYuaM-u3Ys3QeudW8njRig__7CtvauLKWxiJFN_paDDGZ8aEPgGjo2XWgMERy5KtGpmr8_IVezfQ_jR3J5lSlt0dG9xQiWh8yyLHEXHJVn3Cxwa_U3TJNe4YF0lhErk6I/s16000/Dawley%20House,%20Middx%2012.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Dawley House: engravings of the house published in the <i>Gentlemen's Magazine </i>in 1802, long after it had been pulled down.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ54CdDQ_rPiIrejENOH4CWd4nH9oSyM6vIQEyCpLbLBP2qFQpWpnnUm2SV4E1ykC2ig8-HYOdK_w-6ayjdK_m2ahyphenhyphenrIecuu7Y0Yq9IXHKqQFxOrgwzGuC6xCguKoX-Njhs5SJo35Dk26kfqqWewyq_qIKHeqib0EHj3NkF7sapMhcQp_qVc5rCkhSS279/s524/Dawley%20House,%20Middx%2011.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="493" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ54CdDQ_rPiIrejENOH4CWd4nH9oSyM6vIQEyCpLbLBP2qFQpWpnnUm2SV4E1ykC2ig8-HYOdK_w-6ayjdK_m2ahyphenhyphenrIecuu7Y0Yq9IXHKqQFxOrgwzGuC6xCguKoX-Njhs5SJo35Dk26kfqqWewyq_qIKHeqib0EHj3NkF7sapMhcQp_qVc5rCkhSS279/w376-h400/Dawley%20House,%20Middx%2011.jpg" width="376" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Decorative panel, perhaps for an overmantel, corresponding to <br />Alexander Pope's description of the hall at Dawley. <br />Provenance unknown, but possibly from Dawley.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">By 1728, Bolingbroke had turned his attention to internal decoration, and a letter of Alexander Pope (who was a regular visitor) mentions "I overheard him yesterday agree with a painter for £200, to paint his country hall with trophies of rakes, spades, prongs, &c. and other ornaments, merely to countenance his calling this place a farm". This decoration was executed in monochrome, and what may be an overmantel panel from the room was offered for sale a few years ago: it certainly corresponds to Pope's description. In other rooms there were more ambitious, though still rustic, decorations: "Young winged Cupids smiling guide the plough, And peasants elegantly reap and sow." </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1735 Lord Bolingbroke returned to France and he sold Dawley in 1739. In 1772 Lord Paget broke up the estate and Dawley House was largely pulled down in 1776, when the materials were sold by auction, leaving only a fragment which was said to have been formerly part of the service buildings, but could have been one of the pavilions of the Bolingbroke house if Rocque's plan is accurate. This was a five-by-four bay block with a hipped roof and a fine early 18th century doorcase, perhaps moved from elsewhere when the rest of the house was pulled down. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iOG1U2_mIMMlnBGlYrluQSacxJw4zuSdBITin_HkD18e85JbW_kKKJJzDIHMUTKp8VNkcLt41dYUJAq9crYBpwe3oquGuqwSlBQy3ojdj-e4L2x3uxj1mULEETPsXGC0Ze_CgglR0G4GwbFEFfnETBxbLGuPw3poCrSST7GFiJs6So3R9-QHuRp9hXTU/s994/Dawley%20House,%20Middx%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="994" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iOG1U2_mIMMlnBGlYrluQSacxJw4zuSdBITin_HkD18e85JbW_kKKJJzDIHMUTKp8VNkcLt41dYUJAq9crYBpwe3oquGuqwSlBQy3ojdj-e4L2x3uxj1mULEETPsXGC0Ze_CgglR0G4GwbFEFfnETBxbLGuPw3poCrSST7GFiJs6So3R9-QHuRp9hXTU/w640-h412/Dawley%20House,%20Middx%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Dawley House: engraving of the fragment of the house which survived demolition, c.1820.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvILLXx2wdm9uoK8g_-sqXtUuX3q01Rz9kdoOd0Izgy_AwdLbOTOYMGAPx21AZfyBs-mBMFUIyhaKIV_okgUirKLtsPhdwFTz3N-wsaoJchOVZXPUnNhne83m62vAJFrBTv-ykCvfZWw0YIALOoChcch7rNB-Q28t_jriZSm9vv9CeaNI0Vu2dtkEcMgC/s919/Dawley%20House,%20Middx%208.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="919" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuvILLXx2wdm9uoK8g_-sqXtUuX3q01Rz9kdoOd0Izgy_AwdLbOTOYMGAPx21AZfyBs-mBMFUIyhaKIV_okgUirKLtsPhdwFTz3N-wsaoJchOVZXPUnNhne83m62vAJFrBTv-ykCvfZWw0YIALOoChcch7rNB-Q28t_jriZSm9vv9CeaNI0Vu2dtkEcMgC/w640-h406/Dawley%20House,%20Middx%208.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Dawley House: the house shortly before demolition in the early 1950s. Image: Historic England BB56/1370.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It was not at first occupied by the De Salis family, who acquired the site in 1791 but preferred nearby Dawley Court. They appear to have rented it for some years to Tattersalls as a stud farm, and by 1816 it was a farmhouse. Later in the 19th century a new farmhouse was built nearby and Dawley House again had gentry tenants. It was still apparently well maintained in 1902, but after damage during the Second World War, it was pulled down in the early 1950s. An EMI factory car park later stood on the site.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: John Aubrey (d. 1557); to son, William Aubrey, who sold 1564 to William Roper... Richard Reynolds (fl. 1590)... William Hitchcock who sold 1595 to Sir Ambrose Copinger (d. 1604), kt.; to widow, later wife of Sir John Morris of Ongar (Essex); sold 1607 to Sir John Bennet (c.1557-1627), kt.; to son, Sir John Bennet (1597-1658), kt.; to son, John Bennet (1616-95), 1st Baron Ossulston; to son, Charles Bennet (1674-1722), 2nd Baron Ossulston and 1st Earl of Tankerville; to son, Charles Bennet (1697-1753), 2nd Earl of Tankerville, who sold 1725 to Henry St. John (1678-1751), 1st Viscount Bolingbroke; sold 1739 to Edward Stephenson; sold 1755 to Henry Paget (1719-69), 2nd Earl of Uxbridge; to cousin, Henry Paget (1744-1812), 9th Baron Paget and later 1st Earl of Uxbridge of a new creation, who sold 1772 to Thomas Flight; sold to John Thistlewood; sold 1797 to Peter de Salis (d. 1807), Count de Salis; to son, Jerome de Salis (later Fane de Salis) (d. 1836), Count de Salis; to widow (fl. 1841); to son, William Fane de Salis (d. 1896); to son, Sir Cecil Fane de Salis (d. 1948), who sold Dawley Court in 1929. </i><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Euston Hall, Suffolk</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">An account of this house is reserved for a future post on the Fitzroy family, Dukes of Grafton.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Chillingham Castle, Northumberland</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">A century ago, one writer described the part of the border country around Chillingham as 'the most romantic spot in the British Islands' and whether or not such hyperbole can be justified, it is undeniable that the castle and park, with its famous (and carefully nurtured) herd of wild white cattle, still exert a powerful romantic appeal. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw458ILYSTAlwAXZrq3_S_Pj1lv0kVPFwYv0uN7kjgCiruxf3FnyteDEUqjRmrR2z4fcVPd38p3I0XChgWCH-8y5oCrUITjADOJG15ZcUwTcexCr2A_NjYE14yNgIKniWnlnhDIpGiPmCn4cdqoZ2w_HRaQ_0WO2h8palKepDt75gzpnThruFhSf6uZMOx/s2000/Chillingham%20Castle%201%20C19.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="2000" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw458ILYSTAlwAXZrq3_S_Pj1lv0kVPFwYv0uN7kjgCiruxf3FnyteDEUqjRmrR2z4fcVPd38p3I0XChgWCH-8y5oCrUITjADOJG15ZcUwTcexCr2A_NjYE14yNgIKniWnlnhDIpGiPmCn4cdqoZ2w_HRaQ_0WO2h8palKepDt75gzpnThruFhSf6uZMOx/w640-h392/Chillingham%20Castle%201%20C19.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Chillingham Castle: a romantic early 19th century watercolour, capturing the spirit of the castle and parkland <br />but employing considerable artistic licence in the layout and detail. Image: Private Collection.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">There was a tower at Chillingham by 1255, when King Henry III stayed here, but the present building seems to date from the years around 1344, when Sir Thomas Grey de Heton was granted licence to crenellate. The castle he built is roughly square, and originally comprised four square angle towers linked by curtain walls, with a vaulted ground floor in each of the towers. Today, the towers are joined by stone ranges built against the curtain walls, but there is evidence that these are later than the corner towers, and they probably replaced earlier timber structures in the late 14th or 15th century. The Great Hall is in the south range on the first floor, with the former chapel to its east, in the south-east tower. The castle was badly damaged in 1513, after the Battle of Flodden, and withstood a siege during the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536, but was restored before 1541 by Ralph Ellerker, who held the wardship of the young Grey heir and garrisoned it for the King. His repairs involved the partial rebuilding of the north wall and towers and probably parts of the east and west ranges as well, but the aim of the work was to return the castle to defensibility, not to modernise it. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RkRQLTEeZgK_CoYCLuYzUUPTmka0oWn30ibqOLS44Vg54Phr5nMVWtHLRkaM1ArWdewoDHNZuddPFFAnmTUz2uFfvUrRxSJ5GP0sPhPga3_wSjVgB_fWHt5bnXH2B1uRSU_pSz7Fp0UXvK7ref0n8BPTGeBwuSIWjdvUE_TjJ8stfJw4k4Kcl3f48F6c/s1646/Chillingham%20Castle%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1646" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RkRQLTEeZgK_CoYCLuYzUUPTmka0oWn30ibqOLS44Vg54Phr5nMVWtHLRkaM1ArWdewoDHNZuddPFFAnmTUz2uFfvUrRxSJ5GP0sPhPga3_wSjVgB_fWHt5bnXH2B1uRSU_pSz7Fp0UXvK7ref0n8BPTGeBwuSIWjdvUE_TjJ8stfJw4k4Kcl3f48F6c/w640-h438/Chillingham%20Castle%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Chillingham Castle: the north front, as remodelled c.1630 for the 1st Baron Grey of Wark.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Chillingham thus remained largely in its medieval state until the early 17th century, when the union of the Crowns of England and Scotland brought the promise of more peaceful conditions to the border lands. When work did take place, probably for Sir William Grey, 1st Baron Grey of Wark, who inherited the estate in 1623 and moved to Epping Place in Essex in 1636, it involved remodelling the north front to make a new entrance, with a three-storey frontispiece with coupled columns, a fashionable conceit that may have been familiar from Oxbridge colleges or from great houses further south, such as Stonyhurst (Lancs) or Browsholme Hall (Yorks WR). But whereas more sophisticated architects displayed their classical erudition in employing a correct hierarchy of the different architectural orders on such frontispieces, at Chillingham all the columns are Tuscan. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20TJO_IjLaozGN9M01a4QqnFkHWOf3OVopxLP0_vKyuFv7Xl7bdXE88T8RzR3w1j024Y8eokC-VWhPpZUKXxnW9aDY-SUtoYehVSt20GjXHSJxb5vZB7GZy-Di0Us6r9H7rIgwTfdMUP7qtaT52yvkZbUfPHC5Xu7WplB3PTPluYIrTM215LQungMaTPN/s2885/Chillingham%20Castle%20%20043.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2885" data-original-width="1985" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20TJO_IjLaozGN9M01a4QqnFkHWOf3OVopxLP0_vKyuFv7Xl7bdXE88T8RzR3w1j024Y8eokC-VWhPpZUKXxnW9aDY-SUtoYehVSt20GjXHSJxb5vZB7GZy-Di0Us6r9H7rIgwTfdMUP7qtaT52yvkZbUfPHC5Xu7WplB3PTPluYIrTM215LQungMaTPN/w275-h400/Chillingham%20Castle%20%20043.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Chillingham Castle: drawing room, with ceiling and frieze of c.1630<br />Image: Nick Kingsley. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Inside, some new interiors were created, including the drawing room above the hall, which retains its Jacobean frieze and</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> a good plaster ceiling with patterned ribs and pendants, and the long gallery in the north range, which had two fine overmantel carvings of Susannah and the Elders and the Sacrifice of Isaac, the first of which was later moved to the east range. Another surviving overmantel is the armorial one in the library next to the drawing room, which originally stood in the steward's room.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The entrance archway is approached by a flight of steps and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">leads into the sloping central courtyard of the castle, which is surrounded by rather gaunt three-storey ranges with mullioned and transomed windows that have the simplest mouldings. Facing the visitor is the hall range, in front of which is a two-storey addition which in its current form seems to be 18th century, but which may be wholly or partly a reconstruction of an early 17th century predecessor. Alternatively, it may have been created in the 18th century to make use of decorative details removed from the south front when it was remodelled in 1753</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. What is visible now is an open arcade with segmental arches on the ground floor, and above that an enclosed storey approached by an open stair with coarsely-detailed 17th century stone balusters. On top of this is a terrace with a similar 17th century stone balustrade. In front of the arches of the arcade, and clearly re-used, are a set of stumpy Ionic columns supporting six small statues standing on corbels, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">from a set representing the Nine Worthies</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. Similar columns flank the doorway on the first floor, and another statue is placed in the centre of the terrace balustrade, which is raised at this point to form a sort of gable behind the figure. The statues closely resemble those on the porch at Gibside Hall (Co. Durham), where they date from 1625.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkbiVS2W8Y0QygrZ-IUKPf_pQy8TzfIBVeVWw229NoUeQ0w1Yy0kbfzlgjgEYTYIHxwKKRmgyzrAWll4TExqVZSElUVdPjzxKrw8mGiiI5Xr_mGSSqSUw5qUQ-RBFPhCa0z7mfzNhyeqIjhWr4GVoAIUUPOnVi9I99y12aX5IDEElqLJbL0A44McioqQF/s917/Chillingham%20Castle%2018a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="917" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkbiVS2W8Y0QygrZ-IUKPf_pQy8TzfIBVeVWw229NoUeQ0w1Yy0kbfzlgjgEYTYIHxwKKRmgyzrAWll4TExqVZSElUVdPjzxKrw8mGiiI5Xr_mGSSqSUw5qUQ-RBFPhCa0z7mfzNhyeqIjhWr4GVoAIUUPOnVi9I99y12aX5IDEElqLJbL0A44McioqQF/w640-h560/Chillingham%20Castle%2018a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Chillingham Castle: it is unclear whether the forebuilding in the courtyard is the reworking of a 17th century feature, <br />or an 18th century stage for display of sculpture removed from the south front. Image: Paul Johnson.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVFQx88BncEIzQGROHoWgyc_vxRloHwfIYNWwwmgRRvJTJt1SaALA8wRdxWKx0dDhkzJdiNaHXMX0OY7TQxxdeuw5DNdPy5PA8fhlLXhHHZ7VUimzkLFZ3YleBYKxi2kMO8QsRKgwHXRahzgSwgjZOofNHuX-c7b4GsipbbwlsFCMl2G-G-ZCS9cjTddj/s999/Chillingham%20Castle%2027a%201728%20Buck.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="999" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVFQx88BncEIzQGROHoWgyc_vxRloHwfIYNWwwmgRRvJTJt1SaALA8wRdxWKx0dDhkzJdiNaHXMX0OY7TQxxdeuw5DNdPy5PA8fhlLXhHHZ7VUimzkLFZ3YleBYKxi2kMO8QsRKgwHXRahzgSwgjZOofNHuX-c7b4GsipbbwlsFCMl2G-G-ZCS9cjTddj/w640-h258/Chillingham%20Castle%2027a%201728%20Buck.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Chillingham Castle: engraving of the south front (though titled as the west front) by Samuel & Nathaniel Buck, 1718, <br />showing it before the rebuilding of 1753.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3PkImX378scD2UO1kfKYO-qMStixW4ymAIYETJoVH9tt7XTx6cKR0WXUgPd51JPzTb2VQkNk3r2euBeuutFhR8CjLWERbGKkZNIKr_5RGukrJHu7JPLukcBiO2JuNv5LfcZuLeMlvTUm_S1OQsznfeYEVSg_kI890okNHAgz_H8dHU__HWovz-2Ii3th/s1280/Chillingham%20Castle%2017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3PkImX378scD2UO1kfKYO-qMStixW4ymAIYETJoVH9tt7XTx6cKR0WXUgPd51JPzTb2VQkNk3r2euBeuutFhR8CjLWERbGKkZNIKr_5RGukrJHu7JPLukcBiO2JuNv5LfcZuLeMlvTUm_S1OQsznfeYEVSg_kI890okNHAgz_H8dHU__HWovz-2Ii3th/w640-h426/Chillingham%20Castle%2017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Chillingham Castle: the south front as rebuilt in 1753. Image: TSP. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Later alterations to the castle seem to have begun in 1753 with the remodelling of the central part of the south front of the castle, between the towers, as a conventional five bay, two-storey Georgian façade with a small two-storey canted bay window in the centre. This has octagonal columns at the angles bearing small figures, perhaps a reference to the similar 17th century features on the courtyard side of the hall. At the same time, new decorative plasterwork was introduced into the house, and the grounds south of the castle were landscaped to create the sweeping lawns favoured at the time. Next on the scene was John Paterson, who in 1803 remodelled a number of rooms on the east side of the castle - reputedly after a fire - for the 4th Earl of Tankerville, including the apse-ended school room and Parapet Room. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3d5C2qUpowl8mkQFp4alKLui_joBoIxvKQTGGxXEMM2nEWyr7F_fqj0C-FpZWl-qv95ptF19Ryy9MByhV00MKimkNhgJYkSe1mgGQT6qhAJqfNPzX4-XcOSy7Qu2nzJ_uoz_2Si1DTgiZKdCaBXa5jpy-rE3UlTPv8fWywEs_Up1rWQZcIp8illHdlsaQ/s1650/Chillingham%20Castle%2024%20CL.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="1650" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3d5C2qUpowl8mkQFp4alKLui_joBoIxvKQTGGxXEMM2nEWyr7F_fqj0C-FpZWl-qv95ptF19Ryy9MByhV00MKimkNhgJYkSe1mgGQT6qhAJqfNPzX4-XcOSy7Qu2nzJ_uoz_2Si1DTgiZKdCaBXa5jpy-rE3UlTPv8fWywEs_Up1rWQZcIp8illHdlsaQ/w640-h282/Chillingham%20Castle%2024%20CL.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Chillingham Castle: ground and first floor plans in 1913. Image: <i>Country Life</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In about 1824, the 5th Earl of Tankerville brought in Sir Jeffrey Wyatville, who proposed two alternative schemes for major additions on the west side of the house, the larger of which which would almost have doubled its size. (Some of the unexecuted designs are reproduced by Jeremy Musson in the article cited below). In the end, however, the work carried out by Wyatville in 1828 was limited to the redecoration of several rooms, and the laying out of the formal gardens west of the castle. The great hall had become a dining room in the late 17th or 18th century, but he altered it and installed two magnificent white marble fireplaces from Colen Campbell's Wanstead House (Essex), acquired at the demolition sale in 1822. These remain in situ but are boxed in and not visible, being so out of character with the medievalising theme of the room, with its displays of armour, weapons, and hunting trophies. The final major addition to the castle was the building of a large service wing on the east side for the 6th Earl in 1872-73.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7I7IooJJ6plh6cn5Q4QG2I32Ry5EsAfRFvtg_sRQW0C_o4Wg6grVgYx0wsdeSPtw25L2e8Jrtvzy6r_DMGCGfaofuvrmtkTjqe-nd8bdzcA6i8YnGemPvxBK21jWgkoiMyJpbiDCXjymRqYAKXe7fdV9itw0-V0eZMn2OgUcRPWP3ulLKrz1s2T_hj7w/s2048/Chillingham%20Castle%2012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1362" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7I7IooJJ6plh6cn5Q4QG2I32Ry5EsAfRFvtg_sRQW0C_o4Wg6grVgYx0wsdeSPtw25L2e8Jrtvzy6r_DMGCGfaofuvrmtkTjqe-nd8bdzcA6i8YnGemPvxBK21jWgkoiMyJpbiDCXjymRqYAKXe7fdV9itw0-V0eZMn2OgUcRPWP3ulLKrz1s2T_hj7w/w640-h426/Chillingham%20Castle%2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Chillingham Castle: the new garden laid out by Wyatville in 1827-28 and recently replanted. Image: Paul Johnson</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1629, Sir William Grey had a licence to empark his lands at Chillingham. A 1711 survey of the estate by Henry Pratt shows that an elaborate parterre existed in the western garden by that time. There was a further remodelling of the grounds c.1754, but the present landscape is largely the work of the estate steward, John Bailey, whose brief seems to have been to create a picturesque landscape that designed around the needs of the historic herd of wild cattle. Wyatville, thwarted of his ambition to build a large addition to the castle, created a new formal garden in c.1827-28. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">As so often, the house went into decline in the 20th century. The 6th Earl came to regard the house as a white elephant, and the 7th Earl and his American wife found it 'a wreck' in 1916 and devoted many years to putting it in order. Their son, the 8th Earl, could not afford to sustain the effort, and in 1933 he held a major sale of the contents of the house and moved to a modern house in the village. He attempted to find a tenant for the castle, and when that failed, the house was abandoned. By 1939, a guidebook declared that "Chillingham Castle has fallen upon evil days. Untenanted, emptied of its treasures, most of its interest nowadays is in its picturesque exterior. The castle and grounds are not usually shown...The grounds are neglected - but enough remains of the Italian garden on the west side, where the old jousting-ground was, to show how charming it must have been in its prime". There was a serious fire in 1940, caused by the burning of rubbish abandoned in the house, which burned out part of the north side and left the west wing water damaged and smoke blackened. By the 1960s the condition of the house was a cause of major concern, with the Victorian service wing roofless and completely derelict and rampant wet and dry rot throughout the house. It was offered to the National Trust, who understandably turned it down, and its future seemed very bleak. It was rescued by the current owners, Sir Humphrey and Lady Wakefield, who had a family connection to the place, as Lady Wakefield was descended from the senior line of the Grey family, who had settled at <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2019/04/374-baring-of-howick-barons-howick-of.html">Howick Hall (Northbld)</a>, which her mother had inherited in 1963. Sir Humphrey, who had previous experience restoring Lough Cutra Castle in Ireland, expressed a willingness to take on the restoration and the 10th Lord Tankerville, who lives in America, thankfully made him a gift of it. Sir Humphrey subsequently bought enough of the surrounding land to protect the setting. Over the subsequent twenty years a thorough programme of repairs took place, but in decorating and furnishing the interiors no attempt was made to reinstate the lost Georgian interiors. Almost all the plain plastering of the walls was lost to the dry rot, and the decision was taken to leave the rubble stone of the walls exposed. This policy has made the house a sort of flamboyant stage set, 'evoking the trials and triumphs of this historic border... mansion described by Sir Walter Scott as "bearing the true rust of the baron's wars"'. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The 19th century service wing has been retained but converted into holiday flats.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77b6NkAOoUdeoHdnvQlmttvDkL1AMU19cFSnoO8MB1LeMXrosjpHagGZ99jdxYtRTdaeNba6LFiLHOJ8MDZPhItXEH-UWvbRR42oMjmPHhevyznw-3Fj0nc277MuGcWwbsUjObp-E7PW0ygdls162SVLO-102N6yNxSLZQFR_edVU3ioz0iOuXgZ6w4aG/s1923/Chillingham%20Castle%208.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1320" data-original-width="1923" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77b6NkAOoUdeoHdnvQlmttvDkL1AMU19cFSnoO8MB1LeMXrosjpHagGZ99jdxYtRTdaeNba6LFiLHOJ8MDZPhItXEH-UWvbRR42oMjmPHhevyznw-3Fj0nc277MuGcWwbsUjObp-E7PW0ygdls162SVLO-102N6yNxSLZQFR_edVU3ioz0iOuXgZ6w4aG/w640-h440/Chillingham%20Castle%208.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Chillingham Castle: the hall, as restored in the late 20th century. Image: Paul Johnson.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><i style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">Descent: built for Sir Thomas Grey de Heton (d. before 1369); to son, Sir Thomas Grey (c.1359-1400); to son, Sir Thomas Grey of Wark; to son, Sir Ralph Grey (d. 1465); to son, Sir Edward Grey; to son, Sir Ralph Grey (1529-66), kt.; to son, Sir Thomas Grey (1549-90), kt.; to brother, Sir Ralph Grey (c.1552-1623), kt.; to son, Sir William Grey (1593-1674), 1st bt. and 1st Baron Grey of Wark; to son, Ralph Grey (1630-75), 2nd Baron Grey of Wark; to son, Ford Grey (1655-1701), 3rd Baron Grey of Wark and 1st Earl of Tankerville; to daughter, Lady Mary Grey (d. 1710), wife of Charles Bennet (1674-1722), 2nd Baron Ossulston and later 1st Earl of Tankerville of a new creation; to son, Charles Bennet (1697-1753), 2nd Earl of Tankerville; to son, Charles Bennet (1716-67), 3rd Earl of Tankerville; to son, Charles Bennet (1743-1822), 4th Earl of Tankerville; to son, Charles Augustus Bennet (1776-1859), 5th Earl of Tankerville; to son, Charles Augustus Bennet (1810-99), 6th Earl of Tankerville; to son, George Montagu Bennet (1852-1931), 7th Earl of Tankerville; to son, Charles Augustus Ker (1897-1971), 8th Earl of Tankerville; to son, Charles Augustus Grey Bennet (1921-80), 9th Earl of Tankerville; to son, Peter Grey Bennet (b. 1956), 10th Earl of Tankerville, who gave it in 1981 to Sir Humphrey Wakefield (b. 1936), 2nd bt.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Walton House (later Mount Felix), Walton-on-Thames, Surrey</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919;">There was reputedly a house on this site by the mid 17th century, but it was developed into a small estate by Harry Rodney, father of Admiral Lord Rodney, in the early 18th century. The earliest house of which anything is known is said to have been built in 1748-50 by William Etheridge for Samuel Dicker, a wealthy Jamaican planter who bought the estate in 1744 and retired permanently to England three years later. He acquired additional land and laid out a garden, and in 1747-48 also built a toll bridge across the river Thames below Walton House, also to the designs of William Etheridge. This was a wooden 'mathematical bridge', the elegance of which was so much admired that Canaletto recorded it in a painting of 1754, which also shows Walton House in the background. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8dvhNASwvuAOCobylbNQKogIP1GnzrJeDvSiyTGK6NI6CZzlOq-Cj5qTu8prYIKMOxbK4fZICHNLdPE9yqxz56k1yaodsAm5RpX4AMowEGWq328k333qRlMKWxY9LDM6dw9G70I1B4AWvANEa7j1jQuud54v8Nyj2XqDKfT4lqNisZ8SWV5Ry2FzfFr6/s823/Mount%20Felix%202%20(in%20background).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="823" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8dvhNASwvuAOCobylbNQKogIP1GnzrJeDvSiyTGK6NI6CZzlOq-Cj5qTu8prYIKMOxbK4fZICHNLdPE9yqxz56k1yaodsAm5RpX4AMowEGWq328k333qRlMKWxY9LDM6dw9G70I1B4AWvANEa7j1jQuud54v8Nyj2XqDKfT4lqNisZ8SWV5Ry2FzfFr6/w640-h396/Mount%20Felix%202%20(in%20background).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Canaletto's view of Walton Bridge, 1754 (Dulwich Picture Gallery)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fAYw4pfLJBWPs307KirsqdEtbESVHICqEMVf3-6As6e-949wcz0MCde4hXMYzlo8Bq8Kg8l0BUpQdK3-10tpZeofwpLQfkIefrMNks6eDQPBi-E8NP8pUVsyP1lrbonwP3RucA9R2P4L71OuEWitfBmS2lro-yNSdi0RCPniY4qLaL_MsYTLC7IeN0Ba/s1230/Mount%20Felix%202a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="1230" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fAYw4pfLJBWPs307KirsqdEtbESVHICqEMVf3-6As6e-949wcz0MCde4hXMYzlo8Bq8Kg8l0BUpQdK3-10tpZeofwpLQfkIefrMNks6eDQPBi-E8NP8pUVsyP1lrbonwP3RucA9R2P4L71OuEWitfBmS2lro-yNSdi0RCPniY4qLaL_MsYTLC7IeN0Ba/w640-h324/Mount%20Felix%202a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Detail of Canaletto's view of Walton Bridge, showing Walton House, 1754.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919;"><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZYd0GILV2PrSLeQERkY-vqnyeBgw7DuZ70YXD28hLd8zgg-SgcNEL85iiUNdTi4JB8GtDXnjXoxcFujSMH0CXqY6GtnoahpTHqc_WhRNKTZD0Rx79unVCeNKozRfXY58CEuBa1e6tYRuoAuUMiFmPubHxG0e1aa-sqznI-tTUFOxyAaDm6B4WnWZBfDb/s507/Mount%20Felix%2013a%20Surrey%20AS.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="507" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZYd0GILV2PrSLeQERkY-vqnyeBgw7DuZ70YXD28hLd8zgg-SgcNEL85iiUNdTi4JB8GtDXnjXoxcFujSMH0CXqY6GtnoahpTHqc_WhRNKTZD0Rx79unVCeNKozRfXY58CEuBa1e6tYRuoAuUMiFmPubHxG0e1aa-sqznI-tTUFOxyAaDm6B4WnWZBfDb/w640-h398/Mount%20Felix%2013a%20Surrey%20AS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Walton House: watercolour view by John Hassall, 1823. Image: Surrey Archives Service </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">4348/4/30/3</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919;">Although Canaletto's image of the house is very indistinct, it fairly clearly shows the same house as was recorded in 1823 by John Hassall and in a group of drawings by Lord Tankerville's daughter, Mary Elizabeth Bennet (later Monck). Hassall's view shows an eleven-bay house, the central five bays of which are much more closely spaced, and I think that very probably the central five bays were built in the 1710s for Harry Rodney, and that Etheridge's work involved the addition of the wings and perhaps the internal remodelling of the rest.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAPIlMtBz-D3XjO_sly6-nMpL_JuMRFLepc0wyujKAP9kIUvwDeYBVomvKs85bpkN5fJ2ixiGTPeylx7yoX_W8l_JCLxUe77-_NbExpyzFz-cXIUbBKaqK9LQ7O1h5qpGslPxne0P-XntNaAFr4p7QrQVL8Nh2y9pwrrATuH9sVzQ20n1WOhx3KTjC3i2/s1200/Mount%20Felix%2024%20ME%20Bennet.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1200" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAPIlMtBz-D3XjO_sly6-nMpL_JuMRFLepc0wyujKAP9kIUvwDeYBVomvKs85bpkN5fJ2ixiGTPeylx7yoX_W8l_JCLxUe77-_NbExpyzFz-cXIUbBKaqK9LQ7O1h5qpGslPxne0P-XntNaAFr4p7QrQVL8Nh2y9pwrrATuH9sVzQ20n1WOhx3KTjC3i2/w640-h354/Mount%20Felix%2024%20ME%20Bennet.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Walton House: view of the entrance front by Lady Mary Elizabeth Bennet, c.1822. Image: Elmbridge Museum.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919;">The house was acquired by Charles Bennet, 4th Earl of Tankerville in 1772, and his wife laid out fine gardens around the house. When the 4th Earl died in 1822 he bequeathed Walton House to his widow, and only when she died in 1836 did it pass to their son, the 5th Earl. With coffers swollen by the profits of lead mining in Shropshire, he decided in 1836 to remodel the house, and commissioned Sir Charles Barry - who had recently won the competition to design the new Houses of Parliament - to transform it into an Italianate</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: georgia;"> villa dominated by a tall, square entrance tower that formed a porte-cochère, which he named Mount Felix. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFbjNUnBGnIoQG_9fBeblTiX1SvImYCi3RHorxkBvOH6YkD9fxbEBLJLFs2QFlYC0hOqow2rZ9l5tyoWuaclk4EfiRWKET68mrRFIZUfXAqPZXWMQ8aut758BS79BhjMAjGmwASK9uLW7JUFSIvC0OX8VPwzgtDZpawdGkCKii1vC-41wSQsUNUEASdMC/s1591/Mount%20Felix%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1591" data-original-width="1193" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFbjNUnBGnIoQG_9fBeblTiX1SvImYCi3RHorxkBvOH6YkD9fxbEBLJLFs2QFlYC0hOqow2rZ9l5tyoWuaclk4EfiRWKET68mrRFIZUfXAqPZXWMQ8aut758BS79BhjMAjGmwASK9uLW7JUFSIvC0OX8VPwzgtDZpawdGkCKii1vC-41wSQsUNUEASdMC/w480-h640/Mount%20Felix%2010.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mount Felix: entrance front of the Barry house, 1958. Image: Historic England AA59/3271</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;"></span></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHkbXN-zTqsOXSosP4EFpyGYV__26AjmLNIJZ2GdBzFi2TGhk4c9QES4Ql59JNdo1-sMpIDi_OPz0gr1gt0prnbNrXS3-nQxBNsmR7E_7hUkhzmRztFUiXQmjh17fKBmGFRxbpVIn2cwu-C7AkyElGnMLGkfqSKIiB47bP6YlRrBUsAlged893kzxGq3v/s1366/Mount%20Felix%2015.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1366" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHkbXN-zTqsOXSosP4EFpyGYV__26AjmLNIJZ2GdBzFi2TGhk4c9QES4Ql59JNdo1-sMpIDi_OPz0gr1gt0prnbNrXS3-nQxBNsmR7E_7hUkhzmRztFUiXQmjh17fKBmGFRxbpVIn2cwu-C7AkyElGnMLGkfqSKIiB47bP6YlRrBUsAlged893kzxGq3v/w640-h392/Mount%20Felix%2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Mount Felix: garden front while in use as a voluntary hospital in the First World War. Image: Auckland Museum PH-ALB-398-p8-3 </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: georgia;">Subsequent owners - who included the founder of the <i>Illustrated London News</i> and a member of the family which owned the Thomas Cook travel company - made few major changes to the house</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: georgia;">. In 1915, the then owners, John and Kathleen Compton, loaned the house for use as a wartime emergency hospital, which by 1920 had treated some 27,000 men, chiefly Australian and New Zealand servicemen wounded at Gallipoli and later in France. When the house was returned to the Comptons it was in poor condition, and they were unable to afford to restore it or live in it. It was sold to a syndicate which planned to turn it into a country club, but it was eventually converted into flats, while the stables were turned into houses.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: georgia;"> During the Second World War, the ballroom was used as a temporary morturary to enable identification of the bodies of those killed during an attack on the nearby Vickers factory in 1940, and after the war it housed</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: georgia;"> a small business and various shows. In 1966, a fire severely damaged the house and it was demolished the following year, leaving only some of the outbuildings and the entrance gates erected by Mrs. Ingram in 1870. The site of the house was covered by a large housing development.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919;"><i>Descent: Anthony Twine and his mother Elizabeth Twine; sold 1713 to Harry Rodney; sold 1720 to Leonard Smelt (d. 1740); to son? William Smelt, who sold 1744 to Samuel Dicker (d. 1760); sold after his death to John Zephaniah Holwell; sold c.1765 to Martin Yorke, who sold 1772 to Charles Bennet (1743-1822), 4th Earl of Tankerville, who may already have been in occupation as a tenant; to widow, Emma (d. 1836), Countess of Tankerville; to son, Charles Augustus Bennet (1776-1859), 5th Earl of Tankerville; sold 1852 to Sir Edward Gambier; sold 1856 to Herbert Ingram MP (d. 1868); to widow, Ann (d. 1896), </i></span></span><i style="color: #191919; font-family: georgia;">later the wife of Sir Edward William Watkin</i><i style="color: #191919; font-family: georgia;">; sold 1898 to John Mason Cook (d. 1905); sold after his death to John Compton; sold c.1920 to Felix Syndicate Ltd.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet family of Chillingham Castle, Earls of Tankerville</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Sir John (c.1557-1627). </b>Third son of <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2023/09/556-bennet-of-beachampton-and-calverton.html">Richard Bennet (c.1528-74)</a> of Clapcot, Wallingford (Berks) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Teasdale of Sandford Dingley (Berks), b<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">orn about 1557. Educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1573; BA 1577; MA 1580; BCL and DCL 1589) and incorporated at Cambridge, 1583. Admitted an advocate, 1590 and made an honorary member of Grays Inn, 1599 and a member of Doctor's Commons, 1604-27. Vicar-general and Chancellor of the archdiocese of York, 1591-96, 1599-1608; counsel to the commissioners for a treaty with Scotland, 1597; MP for Ripon, 1597-98, 1604-10, York, 1601 and Oxford University, 1614, 1621-22; a member of the Council in the North, 1599-1613; judge of the Prerogative Court of York, 1599-1609 and Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1603-22; a commissioner for the Union of England and Scotland, 1604; Master in Chancery, 1608-22; Chancellor to Queen Anne of Denmark, 1608-19. JP for Yorks (ER), 1594-1622, Yorks (NR and WR) by 1601-22, Co. Durham, 1604-22; Middlesex 1608-22. He was sent as an envoy to Brussels, 1617, on a fruitless mission to seek the punishment of the author of an attack on King James I published there. He was knighted, 23 July 1603. In 1622 his career ended in disgrace when he was tried in the Star Chamber for corruption and imprisoned in the Fleet Prison for about a year, as well as being fined £20,000 and banned from holding public office. He devoted his time in prison to religious meditation and after being released published <i>The Psalme of Mercy</i> (1625). He was a friend and executor of Sir Thomas Bodley, kt., who entrusted him with the rebuilding of the University Schools (now part of the Bodleian Library) at Oxford. He married 1st, 29 May 1586 at St Thomas, Salisbury (Wilts), Anne (d. 1602), daughter of Christopher Weeks MP of Salisbury; 2nd, Elizabeth (d. 1614), daughter of Sir Thomas Lowe, haberdasher and alderman of London; and 3rd, by 1617, Leonora (d. 1638), daughter of Adrian Vierandeels of Antwerp and widow of Abraham Tryon (d. 1608) of London, merchant and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Gregory Donhault (d. 1614) of London, master in chancery, and had issue, with two further sons and three further daughters by his first wife and one daughter by his second wife, who probably all died in infancy:</span></span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(1.1) Anne Bennet (b. 1587), baptised at St Thomas, Salisbury (Wilts), 4 May 1587; died young;</span></span></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(1.2) Sir John Bennet (1589-1658), kt. (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(1.3) Anne Bennet (b. 1591), baptised at St Martin, Salisbury, 21 September 1591;</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(1.4) Sir Thomas Bennet (1592-1670), of Salthrop (Wilts), born 5 December and baptised at St Michael-le-Belfry, York, 10 December 1592; ed. at Christ Church, Oxford (BA 1610); Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford from 1611 (BCL 1615; DCL 1624); admitted to Grays Inn, 1617; a Master in Chancery, 1635-70; knighted at Whitehall, 21 August 1661; married 1st, Charlotte (d. 1636), daughter of William Harrison of London and had issue two daughters; married 2nd, 1638/9 (licence 27 December 1638), Thomasine, daughter and co-heir of George Dethick, barrister, son of Sir William Dethick (c.1542-1612), Garter King of Arms, and had issue one son; died 27 June and was buried at Wroughton (Wilts), 1 July 1670; will proved in the PCC, 8 November 1670;</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(1.5) William Bennet (b. c.1594), born about 1594; educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1611; BA 1615; MA 1618) and Grays Inn (called 1620); barrister-at-law;</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(1.6) </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Elizabeth Bennet (b. 1597), baptised at St Michael-le-Belfry, York, 27 December 1597; married, 7 March 1615/6 at Harlington, [forename unknown] Gregory;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(1.7) Rev. Matthew Bennet (1599-c.1661), baptised at St Michael-le-Belfry, York, 1 April 1599; educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1615; BA 1616) and Grays Inn (admitted 1618); ordained deacon and priest, 1622; rector of Harlington, 1628-44 and St. Nicholas Acons, London, 1637-61 (ejected c.1645 but restored 1660); died unmarried before July 1661;</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(1.8) Frances Bennet (b. 1600), baptised at St Michael-le-Belfry, York, 12 November 1600;</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Rev. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Michael Bennett (c.1610-55?), born about 1610; educated at Christ Church and Brasenose Colleges, Oxford (BA 1628; MA 1631); ordained deacon, 1631 and priest, 1634; rector of Cowley (Glos), 1632-34, Sudborough (Northants), 1633-45, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Greatford with Wilsthorpe (Northants), 1636-39, and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> Yardley Hastings (Northants), 1639-55; probably died in 1655.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">He purchased the Dawley House estate at Harlington in 1607, but he seems to have let it and lived at the Treaty House, Uxbridge (Middx).</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">He died intestate and was buried at Christ Church, Newgate, London, 15 February 1626/7. His first wife died 9 February 1601/2, and was buried at York Minster, where she is commemorated by a monument erected in 1615 to the designs of Nicholas Stone (and said to be his earliest surviving work). His second wife was buried at Harlington, 14 May 1614. His widow died in 1638 and was buried at Uxbridge, where she is commemorated by a fine monument..</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Bennet, Sir John (1589-1658), kt. </b>Eldest surviving son of Sir John Bennet (c.1557-1627), kt. and his first wife, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Anne, daughter of Christopher Weeks MP of Salisbury, baptised at St Thomas, Salisbury (Wilts), 15 June 1589. He was knighted at Theobalds, 15 June 1616. Unlike his father and sons he preferred living quietly on his estates to the world of high politics. During the Civil War he was evidently a moderate Royalist and Parliamentary soldiers were billeted on the estate in 1642-43, but he seems to have avoided sequestration by paying a modest fine of £100. His house at Uxbridge, later known as the Treaty House, was used for abortive negotations between representatives of the King, Parliament and the Scots in 1645. He married, 26 June 1615 at St Peter-le-Poer, London, Dorothy (d. 1659), daughter of Sir John Crofts of Saxham (Suffk) and had issue including:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(1) Sir John Bennet (1616-94), kt., 1st Baron Ossulston (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(2) Sir Henry Bennet (1618-85), kt., 1st Baron Arlington and 1st Earl of Arlington (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(3) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Robert Bennet</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">; third son; died without issue;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(4) Charles Bennet (fl. 1658), fourth son; married Anne, daughter of Richard Wigmore of Upton Court (Herefs) and had issue one son and two daughters; living in 1658, when he was executor of his father's will;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(5) Thomas Bennet; fifth son; died without issue</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(6) Anne Bennet (d. 1623); buried at Harlington, 28 August 1623;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(7) Dorothy Bennet (b. c.1624; fl. 1658); married, 1647/8 (licence, 19 January), Benjamin Baron (b. c.1621; fl. 1660) of London, merchant, and had issue at least two sons and two daughters; living in 1658;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(8) Anne Bennet (1628-31), baptised at Harlington, 23 October 1628; died young and was buried at Harlington, 7 March 1630/1;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(9) Arthur Bennet (1630-31), baptised at Harlington, 13 January 1629/30; died in infancy and was buried at Harlington, 5 April 1631;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(10) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Edward Bennet (1631-68), baptised at Harlington, 30 June 1631; died unmarried and without issue and was buried at Harlington, 14 November 1668;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(11) Elizabeth Bennet (1633-96), baptised at Harlington, 12 October 1633; married, perhaps bigamously, 13 July 1662, as his second wife*, Sir Robert Carr (1637-82), 3rd bt. of Aswarby (Lincs), MP for Lincolnshire, 1665-82, son of Sir Robert Carr (d. 1667), 2nd bt., and had issue two sons and two daughters; died August 1696 and was buried at Sleaford (Lincs); will proved in the PCC, 18 August 1696;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(12) Richard Bennet (1637-43), baptised at Harlington, 15 May 1637; died young and was buried at Harlington, 26 June 1643.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">He inherited Dawley House from his father in 1627, and the Treaty House at Uxbridge (Middx) from his stepmother in 1638.</i></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">He was buried at Harlington, 16 November 1658; his will was proved in the PCC, 16 June 1659. His widow was buried at Harlington, 2 November 1659; her will was proved in the PCC, 7 December 1659.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;">* Sir Robert's first wife, Isabel Falkingham, was his mother's maid; he is said to have paid her £1,000 'that she should not claim him' when he was courting Elizabeth Bennet.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Bennet, Sir Henry (1618-85), kt., 1st Baron Arlington and 1st Earl of Arlington. </b>Second son of Sir John Bennet (1589-1658), kt., and his wife Dorothy, daughter of Sir John Crofts of Saxham (Suffk), baptised at Little Saxham (Suffk), 6 September 1618. Educated at Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1635; BA 1639; MA 1642; Student, 1636-48), where he gained a reputation as a scholar and a poet. In 1643 he entered the service of George, Lord Digby, secretary of state to Charles I, and saw military action in a skirmish at Andover, where he received a scar on the bridge of his nose that he bore with pride for the rest of his life. From the end of 1644 until 1647 he acted as a Royalist courier, visiting Paris, Rome and Dublin, eventually joining the court in exile at St Germain in 1647, where he became Secretary to James, Duke of York, 1648-57 and a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, 1656-61. In 1657 he was sent on a diplomatic mission to Spain, remaining there until 1661, absorbing the formal manners of the Spanish court, and being at least attracted to Roman Catholicism. On returning to England he was MP for Callington, 1661-65 and was made </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">a member of the Privy Council, 1662-85,</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"> Keeper of the King's Privy Purse, 1661-62 and then Secretary of State for the South, 1662-74. He used his position as one of the king's inner cabinet of senior ministers to acquire other roles and was Postmaster General, 1667-77 and a Commissioner for Trade, 1668-72. His power and influence at court reached a peak in 1672 and thereafter slowly declined. In 1674 Parliament threatened to impeach him, and although the charges against him were dropped in the face of his masterly defence, he sought a quieter life and gave up the Secretaryship for a post as Chamberlain of the Royal Household, 1674-85. He was a </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">JP for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Kent, Middlesex, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Westminster 1662-85 and for Thetford 1668, 1670, and became a Governor of the Charterhouse 1667, Steward of Norwich Cathedral 1668, High Steward of Wallingford 1670-85 and of Kingston-upon-Thames 1683-85 and Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, 1681-85. He was Grand Master of Freemasons, 1679-85. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">He had been knighted by December 1656 and was raised to the peerage as Baron Arlington, 14 March 1664/5, and was promoted Viscount Thetford and Earl of Arlington, 22 April 1672; both peerages being created with a special remainder that allowed them to descend in the female line. He was also made a Knight of the Garter, 15 June 1672 and was awarded honorary degrees by the Universities of Oxford (DCL, 1663) and Cambridge (LL.D, 1681). The assessment of contemporaries tended to stress his learning, cultivation and subtlety, but historians have until recently taken a harsher view, seeing him as a timid, self-serving intriguer. The more balanced assessment is probably that he was intelligent, shrewd and tactful, and while possessed of a natural timidity, had sufficient courage to seize the opportunities that opened to him. He was a generous host and promoter of the talents of younger men, several of whom, however, showed less gratitude when they became rivals rather than clients. He was fluent in Latin, Spanish and French, and cultivated a wide network of contacts across western Europe. He married, 16 April 1666,</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Isabella* (1633-1718), daughter of Lodewyck van Nassau, lord of Beverweerd (Netherlands), a cousin of William of Orange, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(1) Isabella Bennet (1667-1723), 2nd Countess of Arlington (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>He purchased Euston Hall (Suffk) in 1666 and built a new house there, with interiors painted by Verrio and gardens laid out by John Evelyn. His town house in London, Arlington House (on the site now occupied by Buckingham Palace), where Verrio also worked, was badly damaged by fire in September 1674, by which he was estimated to have lost £40-50,000.</i></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">He died 28 July 1685, and was buried at Euston (Suffk); his will was proved in the PCC, 6 November 1685. His widow died 18 January, and was buried at Euston, 25 January 1717/8; her will was proved in the PCC, 24 February 1717/8.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;">* She was naturalised by Act of Parliament, 10 November 1666.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Bennet, Isabella (1667-1723), 2nd Countess of Arlington. </b>Only child of Sir Henry Bennet (1618-85), 1st Earl of Arlington, and his wife <span style="color: black;">Isabella, daughter of Lodewyck van Nassau, </span><span style="color: black;">lord of Beverweerd (Netherlands)</span>, born in 1667. She succeeded her father as Countess of Arlington in her own right, 28 July 1685. She married 1st, 1 August 1672 at her father's house (when she was five and her husband was nine) and again 6 November 1679 at her father's lodgings in Whitehall (when she was twelve and her husband sixteen), Henry Fitzroy, the second illegitimate son of King Charles II and Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland, who was created Baron Sudbury, Viscount Ipswich and Earl of Euston on his first marriage, and Duke of Grafton, 11 September 1675. She married 2nd, 1698 (licence 14 October), Sir Thomas Hanmer (c.1678-1746), 4th bt., of Bettisfield (Flints). She had issue by her first husband:</span></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(1.1) Charles Fitzroy (1683-1757), 2nd Duke of Grafton, born 25 October 1683; succeeded his father as 2nd Duke of Grafton, 9 October 1690 and his mother as Earl of Arlington, 7 February 1722/3; sworn of the Privy Council, 1715; a</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> Lord of the Bedchamber, 1714-17; </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">Lord Chamberlain, 1724-57; </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, 1705-57;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">appointed a Knight of the Garter, 1721;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">awarded an honorary degree by Cambridge University (LLD, 1728) and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, 1749; married, 30 April 1713 at St Luke, Chelsea (Middx), Henrietta (1690-1726), daughter of Charles Somerset, Marquess of Worcester and grand-daughter of Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort, and had issue four sons and three daughters; died 6 May 1757 [the Fitzroys, Dukes of Grafton, will be the subject of a future article].</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><i>She and her husband inherited Euston Hall from her father in 1685, and it remains the property of the current 12th Duke today.</i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">She died 7 February and was buried 'very splendidly' at Euston, 15 February 1722/3, when her peerage passed to her son. Her first husband died 9 October 1690 from wounds received on 28 September during the siege of Cork in the Williamite Wars in Ireland; he was buried at Euston. Her widower died 5 May 1746; his will was proved 22 September 1746.</span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0mKiiPeI293VYhFP0pFdHx5P9VBwuIg4YsCcANn7Za5VEGbxWi0fER5a2vQ9b3Bb2rCvwWzMkQzvg3FxxnWbudWcRiZYqqIOTFvIq6sTFRvAgHl-GfWamuvv2I0HOewD2Z10jfY-D19iAl0phXq7ohkuRMWgOL4cdnwrBoat_pwIaBvJuyGw6Kog2og3/s1200/Bennet,%20Sir%20John,%201st%20Baron%20Ossulston.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="981" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0mKiiPeI293VYhFP0pFdHx5P9VBwuIg4YsCcANn7Za5VEGbxWi0fER5a2vQ9b3Bb2rCvwWzMkQzvg3FxxnWbudWcRiZYqqIOTFvIq6sTFRvAgHl-GfWamuvv2I0HOewD2Z10jfY-D19iAl0phXq7ohkuRMWgOL4cdnwrBoat_pwIaBvJuyGw6Kog2og3/w164-h200/Bennet,%20Sir%20John,%201st%20Baron%20Ossulston.jpg" width="164" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1st Baron Ossulston</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bennet, Sir John (1616-95), kt., 1st Baron Ossulston. </b>Eldest son </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">of Sir John Bennet (1589-1658), kt., and his wife Dorothy, daughter of Sir John Crofts of Saxham (Suffk), baptised at Little Saxham (Suffk), 5 July 1616. Educated at Pembroke College, Oxford* (matriculated 1635), and Grays Inn (admitted 1636). He is said to have served as an officer in the Royalist army (Capt.) during the Civil War, and after the Restoration he secured a series of posts of increasing responsibility, probably due largely to the influence of his younger brother, Sir Henry Bennet, later 1st Earl of Arlington, although his bullying manner made him much feared by his subordinates. He was several times suspected of embezzling public funds and in the reign of James II he was obliged to refund over £12,000 to the state for money falsely claimed. He was an officer in the Gentlemen Pensioners 1660-76 (Lt., 1662); MP for Wallingford, 1663-79; Treasurer of the Fund for the Relief of Indigent Loyal Officers, 1663; Deputy Post Master, 1666-72; and a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to King Charles II, 1676-85. JP for Middlesex, 1660-87 and the City of Westminster, 1665-88; DL for Middlesex, 1662-before 1680. He was made a Knight of the Bath at the coronation of King Charles II, 1661, and raised to the peerage as Baron Ossulston, 24 November 1682, taking his title from the hundred in which his seat at Dawley lay. He married 1st, 28 October 1661 at St Andrew Undershaft, London, Elizabeth (d. 1672), daughter of Lionel Cranfield, 1st Earl of Middlesex, and widow of Edmund Sheffield (1611-58), 2nd Earl of Mulgrave, and 2nd, 1673 (licence 1 May), Bridget (d. 1703), daughter of John Grubham Howe (1625-79) of Cassey Compton (Glos) and Langar (Notts) and sister of Sir Scrope Howe (1648-1713), 1st Viscount Howe, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Charles Bennet (1674-1722), 2nd Baron Ossulston and 1st Earl of Tankerville (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(2.2) Hon. Annabella Bennet (c.1675-98), born about 1675; married, 9 February 1696/7 at Harlington (Middx), with a portion of £30,000, John Cecil (1674-1721), Lord Burghley and later 6th Earl of Exeter, but had no issue; died aged 23 on 30 July and was buried at St Martin, Stamford (Lincs), 6 August 1698;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(2.3) Dorothy Bennet (1676-94), baptised at Westminster, 5 December 1676; died unmarried and was buried at Harlington, 7 March 1693/4.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>He inherited Dawley House from his father in 1658 and rebuilt it. He laid out the grounds c.1690, probably to the designs of George London.</i></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">He died 11 February and was buried at Harlington, 15 February 1694/5, where he is commemorated by a monument; his will was proved in the PCC, 18 February 1694/5. His first wife died about 1 February 1671/2. His second wife died 14 July and was buried at Harlington, 21 July 1703; her will was proved in the PCC, 23 July 1703.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;">* He became a significant benefactor of his <i>alma mater</i> in about 1672, when he endowed two fellowships and two scholarships and contributed largely to the rebuilding of the college.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Bennet, Charles (1674-1722), 2nd Baron Ossulston and 1st Earl of Tankerville. </b>Only son of John Bennet (1616-95), 1st Baron Ossulston, and his second wife, Bridget, daughter of John Grubham Howe of Langar (Notts), born 12 November and baptised at St Margaret, Westminster, 16 November 1674. He succeeded his father as 2nd Baron Ossulston, 11 February 1694/5, was further promoted in the peerage as 1st Earl of Tankerville of the second creation, 19 October 1714, and was made a Knight of the Thistle, February 1720/1. A Whig in politics, he was Chief Justice in Eyre of the Forests south of the Trent, 1715-22 and sworn of the Privy Council, 1716. He married*, 3 July 1695 at Harting (Sussex), Lady Mary (d. 1710), only daughter and heiress of Ford Grey (1655-1701), 3rd Baron Grey 0f Wark and 1st Earl of Tankerville of the first creation, of Uppark (Sussex) and Chillingham Castle (Northbld), and had issue:</span></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(1) </span><span style="background-color: white;">Lady Bridget Bennet</span><span style="background-color: white;"> (1696-1738), baptised at Harlington, 3 September 1696; married, 20 May 1716, John Wallop MP (1690-1762) of Hurstbourne Park and Farleigh House, Farleigh Wallop, later 1st Viscount Lymington and 1st Earl of Portsmouth (who married 2nd, 4 June 1740 at Binfield (Berks), Elizabeth (1691-1762), elder daughter of James Griffin (1667-1715), 2nd Baron Griffin of Braybrooke (Northants) and widow of Henry Neville (later Grey) (1683-1740) of Billingbear (Berks)), third son of John Wallop of Farleigh Wallop, and had issue six sons and four daughters; died at Lyndhurst (Hants), 12 October 1738 and was buried at Farleigh Wallop (Hants);</span></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(2) Charles Bennet (1697-1753), 2nd Earl of Tankerville (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(3) Lady Annabella Bennet (1698-1769), baptised at Harlington, 6 December 1698; married, 10 February 1720/1, William Powlett (c.1693-1757), MP for Lymington, 1729-34, Winchester, 1741-47, and Whitchurch, 1754-57, eldest son of Lord William Powlett (1665-1729) and grandson of Charles Powlett (d. 1699), 1st Duke of Bolton, and had issue one son and one daughter; died in London, 22 November and was buried at Old Basing (Hants), 30 November 1769; will proved in the PCC, 1 December 1769;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(4) Hon. John Bennet (c.1700-03), born about 1700; died in infancy and was buried at Harlington, 7 June 1703;</span></span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(5) Lady Mary Bennet (1701-29), baptised at Harlington, 2 August 1701; married, 5 August 1720 at the Fleet Prison, London, William Wilmer (c.1692-1744) of Sywell (Northants), Whig MP for Northampton, 1715-27, 1734-44, and had issue three sons and one daughter; died 24 May and was buried at Sywell, 2 June 1729;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(6) Hon. Henry Bennet (1702-21), baptised at Harlington, 31 August 1702; died unmarried and was buried at Harlington, 24 August 1721;</span></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(7) Hon. Grey Bennet (1704-24), baptised at Harlington, 18 May 1704; died unmarried, 19 November, and was buried at Harlington, 21 November 1724; will proved in the PCC, 27 February 1724/5.</span></span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">He inherited Dawley House from his father in 1695 and </i><i style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">and employed both John Price and Nicholas Dubois to make alterations to it (in 1712 and 1719-20 respectively)</i><i style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">. He and his wife inherited Uppark (Sussex) and Chillingham Castle from her father in 1701.</i></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">He died at Dawley, 21 May and was buried at Harlington, 26 May 1722; his will was proved in the PCC, 12 June 1722. His wife died 31 May and was buried at Harlington, 3 June 1710.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;">* His marriage in July 1695 seems to have put an end to a turbulent period in his personal affairs. A year earlier, Narcissus Luttrell reports 'Lord Ossulston's eldest son is to marry Mrs. Thomas of Wales...having £5000 per annum land, besides £50,000 in money' (7 July) and again he 'is to marry Mrs Crew, one of the heiresses of the Lord Crew' (11 September). On 20 January 1694/5 a warrant was issued 'to search for Mr. Bennett, son of Lord Ossulston, and Mr Popham Conway... in order to prevent their fighting' and finally on 16 April 1695 Lord Lexington was informed that 'it is said Lord Ossulston is married to a young exchange woman. His relations have carried him into the country to see how he is to be brought off'.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Bennet, Charles (1697-1753), 2nd Earl of Tankerville. </b>Eldest son of Charles Bennet (1674-1722), 2nd Baron Ossulston and 1st Earl of Tankerville, and his wife Lady Mary, only daughter and heiress of Ford Grey, 3rd Baron Grey of Wark and 1st Earl of Tankerville, baptised at Harlington, 21 December 1697. Educated at Eton from 1707 and Winchester, 1712. Known as Lord Ossulston from 1714 until he succeeded his father as 2nd Earl of Tankerville, 21 May 1722. An officer in the 8th Dragoons (Capt., 1716). A courtier, he was Lord of the Bedchamber to the Prince of Wales, 1729-33, Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard, 1731-33, Master of the Royal Buckhounds, 1733-37 and a Lord of the Bedchamber </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">to the King, 1737-38</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">. Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland and Newcastle, 1740-53; one of the Governors of Newcastle Infirmary. He was made a Knight of the Thistle, 1730 and awarded an honorary degree by Cambridge University (LLD), 1749. </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He married, c.1715* at Jarrow (Co. Durham), Camilla (1698-1775), (who became a mistress of King George II** and a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Caroline, 1737 and later to Princess Augusta), daughter of Edward Colville of Whitehouse (Co. Durham), yeoman grazier and butcher, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(1) Charles Bennet (1716-67), 3rd Earl of Tankerville (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(2) Lady Camilla Bennet (d. 1785); married 1st, 14 January 1754 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), Gilbert Fane Fleming (c.1724-76), son of Gilbert Fleming (d. 1762), Governor of the Leeward Islands, and had issue two daughters; married 2nd, 9 October 1779, Basil Wake (1720-1800) of Bath (Som.); buried at St James, Bath (Som), </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">7 February 1785</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(3) Hon. George Bennet (1727-93), said to have been born 28 October and baptised in the chapel of the Coldstream Guards barracks at Westminster, 1 November 1727 when King George II was one of his godfathers; educated at Eton, 1742; died about April 1793.</span></span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>He inherited Dawley House, Uppark and Chillingham Castle from his father in 1722, and built a new stable at Uppark (to the design of John Jenner) in 1723-25; but he sold Dawley in 1725 to Henry St. John, Viscount Bolingbroke and Uppark in 1747 to Sir Matthew Featherstonhaugh. He had a house in St James' Sq., London, the staircase of which was decorated by Jacopo Amigoni in 1730-31. Later his town house was in Gerrard St. His widow inherited propert</i></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>y in the colonies of Virginia and Maryland from her cousin, John Colville (1690-1755), and lived latterly at a house in Kensington Square.</i></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">He had a stroke while travelling and died at the Green Man, Ilford (Essex), 14 March 1753; he was buried at Harlington, 20 March 1753 and his will was proved in the PCC, 11 April 1753. His widow died at Kensington, 8 October 1775; her will was proved in the PCC, 24 October 1775.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;">* The couple are said to have met an an assize ball in Newcastle, but her father - thinking her too young to marry - sent her to Rotterdam. Lord Ossulston pursued her there and pressed his suit, and when she was sent back to England, he contrived to secrete himself on the same vessel, in a cask, and they landed together at South Shields, being married soon afterwards at Jarrow, then a well-known resort for young couples wishing to marry without parental consent.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;">** In 1735, Lord Hervey described her as 'a handsome, good-natured, simple woman' and Sir Robert Walpole told the Queen that she was 'a very safe fool and would give the King some amusement without giving Her Majesty any trouble'.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Bennet, Charles (1716-67), 3rd Earl of Tankerville. </b>Elder son of Charles Bennet (1697-1753), 2nd Earl of Tankerville, and his wife Camilla, daughter of Edward Colville of Whitehouse (Co. Durham), yeoman grazier and butcher, usually said to have been born 6 September 1716 but baptised at All Saints, Newcastle-on-Tyne (Northbld), 27 August 1716. Educated at Winchester, 1729-31, and undertook the Grand Tour, 1734-36. An officer in the army (Ensign, 1734; Capt. 1739; Maj., 1741; Lt-Col. 1743; retired 1749), who saw service in the West Indies and was present at the siege of Cartagena (Columbia). Whig MP for Northumberland, 1748-49, but the election result was contested and he withdrew his claim. He was known as Lord Ossulston until he succeded his father as 3rd Earl of Tankerville, 14 March 1753. On inheriting, he found his father had left considerable debts, to pay off which he attempted to obtain an official post. Although this attempt was unsuccessful he was granted a secret service pension of £800 a year in 1756. He married, 23 September 1742 at St Julian, Shrewsbury (Shrops.), Alicia (1716-91), fourth, but second surviving, daughter and co-heir of <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2016/06/220-astley-of-patshull-hall-everleigh.html">Sir John Astley (1688-1771), 2nd bt.</a>, of Patshull Hall (Staffs), and had issue:</span></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(1) Charles Bennet (1743-1822), 4th Earl of Tankerville (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(2) Lady Camilla Elizabeth Bennet (1747-1821), born 11 March and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, 22 March 1746/7; married 1st, 5 September 1764 at Cologne (Germany), Capt. Pieter von Donhoff (1720-64), Count Donhoff, a Polish nobleman in the service of the Dutch States General, who died about a month after their wedding at his seat near Nijmegen (Netherlands); she married 2nd, 11 September 1778 at St Martin in the Fields, Westminster (Middx) (sep. before 1814*), </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Robert Robinson (d. 1814) of Appleby (Westmld), and had issue one son and one daughter</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">; died at Chelmsford (Essex), 2 September, and was buried at Easthampstead (Berks), 10 September 1821;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(3) Lady Frances Alicia Bennet (c.1749-1835), born about 1749; married 1st, 17 January 1776 at St Martin, Exeter (Devon), William Aslong (1748-80), and had issue two sons and one daughter (who all died young); married 2nd, 27 March 1781 at St Mary Bredin, Canterbury (Kent), as his second wife, Rev. Richard Sandys (c.1746-82), eldest son of Richard Sandys of Northbourne Court (Kent), and had issue one daughter; married 3rd, 26 August 1783 at St Alphage, Canterbury, Rev. Edward Beckingham Benson (1755-95), rector of Deal (Kent), and had issue one daughter (who died young); buried at Harbledown (Kent), 23 March 1835;</span></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(4) John Grey Bennet (1751-53), baptised at St Thomas, Salisbury (Wilts), 26 October 1751; died in infancy 25 August 1753 and was buried at Hitcham (Bucks), where he was commemorated by an inscribed flagstone;</span></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(5) Hon. Henry Astley Bennet (1757-1815), born 3 April and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., London, 10 April 1757; an officer in the army (Ensign, 1774; Capt., 1778; Lt-Col., 1791; Col., 1795; Maj-Gen., 1798; Lt-Gen., 1805); lived latterly at Oakingham, Easthampstead (Berks); married, 17 June 1798 at St Luke, Chelsea (Middx) </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span>Mary Cranfield</span><span> </span></span><span style="background-color: white;">(d. 1816), but had no issue; died 13 December and was buried at Easthampstead, 18 December 1815; will proved in the PCC, 13 January 1816.</span></span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>He rented Dorney Court (Bucks) (where he employed Stiff Leadbetter on repairs in 1753-54) before he inherited Chillingham Castle from his father in 1753. He also had a town house in Upper Brook St. and later in Hertford St., Westminster. In 1756 he had a significant inheritance from his maternal great-uncle, John Colville of Virginia (USA).</i></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">He died at East Sheen (Surrey), 27 October, and was buried at Harlington (Middx), 6 November 1767; his will was proved in January 1768. His wife died in London, 28 February and was buried at Harlington, 7 March 1791; administration of her goods with will annexed was granted, 15 March 1791, and by her wiill her two '</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)">unworthy and undutiful daughters' were cut off with the proverbial shilling</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">; her chief heir was her younger surviving son.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">* Her second husband went on to have at least four illegitimate children, named in his will, who were all minors at the time of his death in 1814.</span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qebY_e-tILT_ibUJlCIYi1kK2W5GM3DAUUPdxxB7vU9cY9DybH_5wBbZqLyU_4MlKI8kdicqsPqIfymjC0SYJSivIYmYKUKtD6WQjY12qQ-1Z4WSoNehNO7wBm8kWvuMgNMAsRH4eE__BwWLRCd0WDiY8QmbiN5zyNT2ySAPgKtbLmhWeB7hAjqXw-03/s400/Bennet,%20Charles,%204th%20Earl%20of%20Tankerville.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qebY_e-tILT_ibUJlCIYi1kK2W5GM3DAUUPdxxB7vU9cY9DybH_5wBbZqLyU_4MlKI8kdicqsPqIfymjC0SYJSivIYmYKUKtD6WQjY12qQ-1Z4WSoNehNO7wBm8kWvuMgNMAsRH4eE__BwWLRCd0WDiY8QmbiN5zyNT2ySAPgKtbLmhWeB7hAjqXw-03/w158-h200/Bennet,%20Charles,%204th%20Earl%20of%20Tankerville.jpg" width="158" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">4th Earl of Tankerville</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bennet, Charles (1743-1822), 4th Earl of Tankerville. </b>Eldest son of Charles Bennet (1716-67), 3rd Earl of Tankerville, and his wife Alicia, fourth daughter of Sir John Astley, 2nd bt., of Patshull (Staffs), born in London, 15 November and baptised at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster (Middx), 10 December 1743. Educated at Eton, 1753-60. He succeeded his father as 4th Earl of Tankerville, 27 October 1767, was sworn of the Privy Council, 1782, and served as </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Joint Postmaster-General, 1782-83, 1784-86, but is said to have become disillusioned by politics and to have retired from public life.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> He was a leading cricketer, playing for Hambledon Cricket Club until 1781, and later acting as promoter of matches. In 1784 he sat on the Committee at the Star and Garter tavern in Pall Mall which devised some of the most important laws of cricket, including the leg-before-wicket rule. He spent a great deal of money gambling on matches and sponsoring teams, and employed two talented cricketers amongst his domestic staff: William Bedster, who acted as his butler, and Edward Stevens (one of the best bowlers of his generation) who was a gardener at Walton Hall. In later life he amassed a renowned collection of shells at Walton Hall, which his will directed should be sold. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">He married, 7 October 1771 at Gatton (Surrey), Emma (1752-1836), <a href="https://www.northumberlandarchives.com/2021/11/02/lady-emma-tankerville/">gardener, botanist, and botanical artist</a>, younger daughter and co-heir of Sir James Colebrook (1722-61), 1st bt. of Gatton, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(1) Lady Caroline Bennet (1772-1818), born 2 October and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, 1 November 1772; married, 23 June 1795 by special licence at her father's house in Portman Sq., Westminster, Sir John Wrottesley (1771-1841), 9th bt. of Wrottesley (Staffs) and later 1st Baron Wrottesley (who m2, 1819, Julia, daughter of John Conyers of Copt Hall (Essex) and widow of his first wife's brother, the Hon. John Astley Bennet (1778-1812)), and had issue five sons and one daughter; died 7 March and was buried at Tettenhall (Staffs), 16 March 1818;</span></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(2) </span><span style="background-color: white;">Lady Anna Bennet</span><span style="background-color: white;"> (1774-1836), born 28 April and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, 30 May 1774; married, 19 July 1804 by special licence at her father's house in Portman Sq., Westminster, Rev. Hon. William Beresford (1780-1830), third son of William Beresford (1743-1819), Archbishop of Tuam and 1st Baron Decies, and had issue one son and one daughter; died at Walton Hall and was buried at Harlington (Middx), 19 September 1836;</span></span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(3) Charles Augustus Bennet (1776-1859), 5th Earl of Tankerville (</span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">q.v.</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">(4) Hon. Henry Grey Bennet (1777-1836), born 2 December and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, 27 December 1777; educated at Eton, 1788-92; an officer in the Foot Guards (Ensign, 1793; Lt. & Capt. 1794; retired 1796); travelled in Italy and Sicily and then returned to education at Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1798; called 1803) and </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Peterhouse, Cambridge (matriculated 1799)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">; barrister-at-law practising on the western circuit; an officer in the Glendale Volunteers (Capt., 1803); he became an extremely active Whig MP, sitting for Shrewsbury, 1806-07, 1811-26, and a close friend of Henry Brougham and </span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thomas Creevey, who described him as "‘most amiable, occasionally most boring, but at all times most upright and honourable"; he had a strong interest in geology, was President of the Geological Society of London, 1813-15, and funded the creation of a readership in geology at Oxford University, 1818; Fellow of the Royal Society; </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">he married, 15 May 1816, Gertrude Frances (1791-1841), eldest daughter of Lord William Russell MP (1767-1840) and had issue one son (who predeceased him) and two daughters;</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> he was evidently bisexual, for in 1825, his family being ill, he took them to Spa (Belgium) for a cure, where he was publicly accused of soliciting a homosexual act, an allegation which he found it impossible to wholly deny; his wife stood by him, but the incident destroyed his moral reputation and he was obliged to retire from Parliament and live abroad with his family at a villa near Lake Como and later at Pisa (Italy); in 1826 he inherited Chilton House (Bucks) from his uncle, </span><a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2017/02/249-aubrey-later-aubrey-fletcher-of.html" style="font-family: georgia;">Sir John Aubrey (1739-1826), 6th bt.</a>,<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> but let it; he died in Florence (Italy), 29 May 1836; administration of his goods (with will annexed) was granted in the PCC, 14 July 1837, and further administration was granted 30 July 1851;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(5) </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hon. John Astley Bennet (1778-1812), born 22 December 1778 and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, 2 February 1779; educated at Eton and Royal Naval Academy (admitted 1793); an officer in the Royal Navy (Lt., 1799; Cdr., 1802; Capt., 1805; retired 1807); married, 27 August 1811 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, Julia (1783-1860) (who m2, 19 May 1819, her brother-in-law, Sir John Wrottesley (1771-1841), 9th bt. and 1st Baron Wrottesley), daughter of John Conyers of Copthall (Essex); died suddenly at Meriden (Warks), 14 September 1812, while travelling to London, and was buried at Tettenhall (Staffs); will proved 1 February 1813;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(6) Lady Margaret Alicia Emma Bennet (1780-1813), born 22 May and baptised at St Marylebone (Middx), 16 June 1780; died unmarried, 27 March and was buried at Harlington (Middx), 3 April 1813;</span></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(7) </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Lady Mary Elizabeth Bennet (1783-1861), born 24 March and baptised at St Marylebone, 25 April 1783; a very competent amateur artist who was a pupil of John Varley, and who made a collection of drawings of Walton Hall which were published in 1924; married, 26 July 1833 by special licence at her brother's house in Grosvenor Sq., Westminster, as his second wife, Sir Charles Miles Lambert Middleton (later Monck) (1779-1867), 6th bt. of Belsay Hall (Northbld), but had no issue; died 27 February 1861;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(8) Lady Harriot Maria Bennet (1785-1801), born 26 May 1785 and baptised at St Marylebone, June 1785; died unmarried, 6 March, and was buried at Walton-on-Thames, 9 March 1801;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(9) Lady Augusta Sophia Bennet (1787-1809), born 27 November and baptised at St Marylebone (Middx), 27 December 1787; died unmarried, 10 February and was buried at Harlington, 18 February 1809.</span></span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">He inherited Whitehall, Shrewsbury and Abcott Manor (Shropshire) from his maternal grandmother in 1764, and Chillingham Castle from his father in 1767. He inherited further lands in Shropshire from his father-in-law in 1771, and in the 19th century these proved to have rich lead deposits. He bought Walton Hall, Walton-on-Thames (Surrey) in 1772. He had sold Abcott Manor before 1812. In 1803 he employed John Paterson to rebuild the east side of Chillingham Castle after a fire.</i></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">He died at Walton Hall, 10 December and was buried at Harlington, 19 December 1822; his will was proved 10 February 1823 and further administrations were granted February 1839 and March 1845. His widow died at Walton Hall, 20 November 1836, and was buried at Harlington; her will was proved in the PCC, 14 December 1836.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Bennet, Charles Augustus (1776-1859), 5th Earl of Tankerville. </b>Eldest son of Charles Bennet (1743-1822), 4th Earl of Tankerville, and his wife Emma, younger daughter and co-heir of Sir James Colebrook, 1st bt., born 28 April and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), 29 May 1776. Educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1793; hon. MA 1795) and travelled in Italy in 1797. Major commanding the Glendale Volunteers, 1803. He was a Foxite Whig in politics, and sat as MP for Steyning, 1803-06, Knaresborough, 1806-18 and Berwick, 1820-22. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">He was sworn of the Privy Council, 1806, and was </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Treasurer of the Royal Household, 1806-07 in the Ministry of All the Talents. A physically small man (Lady Holland referred to him as 'Little O'), his political career was hampered by pride, indecision and poor oratory: he was a ready enough speaker but could not project his voice enough to be heard well in the House of Commons. He lost his seat at Knaresborough, where he sat on the Duke of Devonshire's interest, because he was more independent in his voting than the Duke was prepared to tolerate, and his politics were too radical for many Liberal constituencies. He accumulated substantial debts (said to amount to £40,000), which his father paid off in 1817 on condition that he and his family lived at Walton Hall with his parents on an allowance of £1100 a year, out of which he was obliged to pay £500 a year for the interest on the money his father had had to borrow to pay his debts! In later life he withdrew from public life due to problems with his sight. Known as Lord Ossulstone until he succeeded his father as 5th Earl of Tankerville, 10 December 1822. He married, against the wishes of his father, 28 July 1806, by special licence, at Devonshire House, Piccadilly, Westminster (Middx), Corisande Armandine Sophie Leonice Hélène (1782-1865)*, daughter of Antoine Louis Marie, Duc de Gramont, and the ward of the Duchess of Devonshire, whose husband provided a dowry of £10,000 for her, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(1) Lady Corisande Emma Bennet (1807-76), born 10 August and baptised at St Margaret, Westminster, 5 September 1807; married, 13 April 1830, at her father's house in Grosvenor Sq., Westminster, as his first wife, Rt. Hon. James Howard Harris GCB (1807-89), 3rd Earl of Malmesbury, Foreign Secretary, 1852, 1858-59 and Lord Privy Seal, 1866-68 and 1874-76, but had no issue; died 17 May 1876 and was buried at Christchurch Priory (Hants), where she is commemorated by a fine monument;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(2) Lady Harriet Alicia Bennet (1808-24), born 23 August 1808 and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, 1 June 1809; died young at Walton Hall, 11 January, and was buried at Harlington (Middx), 19 January 1824;</span></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(3) Charles Augustus Bennet (1810-99), 6th Earl of Tankerville (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>He inherited Chillingham Castle and the Shropshire estate from his father in 1822 and employed Sir Jeffry Wyatville to make alterations to Chillingham c.1825-28. He inherited Walton House on the death of his mother in 1836 and largely rebuilt it to the designs of Sir Charles Barry in 1836-39, after which it was renamed Mount Felix, but financial retrenchment caused him to sell it in 1852. He had a town house in Grosvenor Square, Westminster.</i></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">He died in London, 25 June, and was buried at Harlington (Middx), 1 July 1859. His widow died in London, 23 January 1865.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;">* Lord Melbourne described her to Queen Victoria in 1839 as 'a frivolous little woman, who doesn't know what she is about'.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-6nhhxIW3pWquDLROWsvZMAWgRoTn1ZupQOcwng5MR5s9wi_W3aT9IkXKOjvtjm31OvxdyI_6tMBBwLht0U08SzfDKZGx3og5-2Ru6uB_MS996ybQy4iKcNGzKVOgXlk63TYkizjoIKnIG1UuagR41xjWozwUZ0jMTLGMs5bnDcNigrV-0PCgMLOhgCu/s470/Bennet,%20CA,%206th%20Earl%20of%20Tankerville%202.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="312" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-6nhhxIW3pWquDLROWsvZMAWgRoTn1ZupQOcwng5MR5s9wi_W3aT9IkXKOjvtjm31OvxdyI_6tMBBwLht0U08SzfDKZGx3og5-2Ru6uB_MS996ybQy4iKcNGzKVOgXlk63TYkizjoIKnIG1UuagR41xjWozwUZ0jMTLGMs5bnDcNigrV-0PCgMLOhgCu/w133-h200/Bennet,%20CA,%206th%20Earl%20of%20Tankerville%202.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">6th Earl of Tankerville </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bennet, Rt. Hon. Charles Augustus (1810-99), 6th Earl of Tankerville. </b>Only son of Charles Augustus Bennet (1776-1859), 5th Earl of Tankerville, and his wife </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Armandine Sophie Leonice Hélène, daughter of Antoine Louis Marie, Duc de Gramont,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> born 10 January and baptised at St Margaret, Westminster (Middx), 18 February 1810. Educated at Harrow and Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1827; BA 1831). Lord Brougham described him as 'a very agreeable, intelligent young man... a sort of Liberal Conservative'. He sat in Parliament as Conservative MP for North Northumberland, 1832-59. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Known by the courtesy title of Lord Ossulston from 1822.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">He was called to House of Lords in this barony by a writ of acceleration just a month before he succeeded his father as 6th Earl of Tankerville, 25 June 1859. JP and DL for Northumberland. Lt-Col. commanding Northumberland Rifle Volunteers, 1860. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1866 and was Captain of the Gentlemen at Arms, 1866-67 and Lord Steward of the Household, 1867-68 during Disraeli's first administration. He converted to Roman Catholicism in 1879. He married, 29 January 1850 at Kimbolton (Hunts), Lady Olivia (1830-1922), social reformer and philanthropist, eldest daughter of George Montagu, 6th Duke of Manchester, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(1) Hon. Charles Bennet (1850-79), Lord Ossulston, born 31 December 1850 and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, 3 February 1851; educated at Harrow; known by the courtesy title of Lord Ossulston from 1859; took the civil service examination in 1870 (coming 12th) but became an officer in the army (Ensign & Lt., 1870) who served in the Afghan War, 1878-79; died unmarried of cholera at Abbottabad (India), 29 June 1879; administration of goods granted to his father, 17 April 1880 (effects under £1,000);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(2) George Montagu Bennet (1852-1931), 7th Earl of Tankerville (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(3) Hon. Frederick Augustus Ker Bennet (1853-91), born 31 May and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, 9 July 1853; educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1871; BA 1875; MA 1878) and the Inner Temple (admitted 1873; called 1877); barrister-at-law, practising on the north-eastern circuit until 1889; died unmarried, 5 September 1891; administration of goods granted February and 12 August 1892 (effects £20,162);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(4) Lady Corisande Olivia Bennet (1855-1941), born 23 July and was baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, 13 August 1855; became mentally ill in the 1870s and was admitted to The Briars, Sandown (IoW), 1889; died unmarried, 11 January 1941;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(5) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lady Ida Louise Bennet (1857-87), born 22 June and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, 18 July 1857; married, 6 December 1877 at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster, John William Ramsay (1847-87*), 13th Earl of Dalhousie, and had issue seven sons; died of peritonitis at Le Havre (France) while returning from a visit to the USA, 24 November 1887.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Chillingham Castle and the Shropshire estate from his father in 1859. His widow lived latterly at Greystones, Tunbridge Wells (Kent).</i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">He died 18 December 1899 and was buried at Chillingham; his will was proved 12 May 1900 (estate £85,931). His widow died 15 February 1922; her will was proved 19 June 1922 (estate £12,547).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">* Lord Dalhousie took to his bed after his wife's death and died </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">in his sleep</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">, probably of a stroke, less than twenty-four hours after her.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAv1Ot_HTfZYidCmI9Xe_przJfCnkecsIW5GagUsKbq2s5tLwdDpb6A88P6fnThKE-hENcPcje2nqf5R0MyHAC4330q-kewEt81tTrz8Pkw_xL0GKCwjTJu8WlXmBoXQ28WaldOkkRRRRJlA-nNxhQ4BmZvshHGLOorettchIU3gnd3qZ6eBex79pTNAI/s241/Bennet,%20George%20Montagu,%207th%20Earl%20of%20Tankerville.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="160" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAv1Ot_HTfZYidCmI9Xe_przJfCnkecsIW5GagUsKbq2s5tLwdDpb6A88P6fnThKE-hENcPcje2nqf5R0MyHAC4330q-kewEt81tTrz8Pkw_xL0GKCwjTJu8WlXmBoXQ28WaldOkkRRRRJlA-nNxhQ4BmZvshHGLOorettchIU3gnd3qZ6eBex79pTNAI/w133-h200/Bennet,%20George%20Montagu,%207th%20Earl%20of%20Tankerville.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">7th Earl of Tankerville</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bennet, George Montagu (1852-1931), 7th Earl of Tankerville. </b>Second, but only surviving, son of Charles Augustus Bennet (1810-99), 6th Earl of Tankerville, and his wife Lady Olivia, eldest daughter of George Montagu, 6th Duke of Manchester, born 30 March and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), 24 April 1852. Educated at Radley. Served in the Royal Navy, 1865-69 (Midshipman, 1867-69) and the Army (Sub-Lt., 1872; Lt., 1874; retired 1880); ADC to Duke of Marlborough as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1876-80. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Known by the courtesy title of Lord Bennet after the death of his elder brother in 1879. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">After leaving the army he spent nearly twenty years cattle ranching in America. JP and DL for Northumberland. A Conservative in politics. He was noted for his fine tenor voice, and while in America he became involved as a singer with the evangelical campaigns of Dwight L. Moody and Ira D. Sankey, through which he met his wife. He was also a competent artist and talented wood-carver. He married, 23 October 1895 at Tacoma, Washington State (USA), Leonora Sophia (c.1873-1949), daughter of James G. van Marter of New York (USA), physician, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(1) Georgina Bennet (b. & d. 1896), born 16 July 1896; died in infancy, 17 July 1896;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(2) Charles Augustus Ker Bennet (1897-1971), 8th Earl of Tankerville (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(3) Lady Ida Olivia Sophie Bennet (1898-1900), born 10 November 1898; died in infancy, May 1900;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(4) Hon. George William Bennet (1903-81), born 21 November 1903; educated at Winchester and Trinity College, Cambridge (BA 1925; MA 1933); mechanical engineer; Fellow of the British Horological Institute; married, 12 February 1929 at St Peter, Eaton Sq., Westminster, Constance Clare (1901-86), daughter of Cyril Wace of Victoria, British Columbia (Canada), but had no issue; died 12 February and was cremated in Edinburgh, 16 February 1981.</span></div></span></span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Chillingham Castle and the Shropshire estate from his father in 1899, but his lands in Shropshire were sold after 1912. His wife bought Plas Newydd, Llangollen (once the home of 'The Ladies of Llangollen') in 1919 but sold it in 1932. As a widow she lived in Edinburgh.</i></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">He died 9 July 1931 and was cremated in Edinburgh; his will was proved 6 October 1931 and 23 February 1932 (estate £56,592). His widow died 15 February and was cremated in Edinburgh, 18 February 1949; her will was proved in Scotland and sealed in London, 11 June 1949.</span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZczQv9OIaJeMT1Z7Gvc95aF4nAbO35Kg1vpoxCmPVSDw8-7cb2ps6kE7MwN8lkIKvBPeYVgX5mn_iROxca6NiJzEn3pJyHA7yjq4_CFzEQdra1IZLtbAE9XqSo_nQN7y1B5haJMfbETc31GqYjfrR0oKb-jyOTJXxw9RhBNzIGG8bdKh7v26hP9Dkbn2m/s400/Bennet,%20CAK,%208th%20Earl%20of%20Tankerville%202.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="312" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZczQv9OIaJeMT1Z7Gvc95aF4nAbO35Kg1vpoxCmPVSDw8-7cb2ps6kE7MwN8lkIKvBPeYVgX5mn_iROxca6NiJzEn3pJyHA7yjq4_CFzEQdra1IZLtbAE9XqSo_nQN7y1B5haJMfbETc31GqYjfrR0oKb-jyOTJXxw9RhBNzIGG8bdKh7v26hP9Dkbn2m/w156-h200/Bennet,%20CAK,%208th%20Earl%20of%20Tankerville%202.jpg" width="156" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">8th Earl of Tankerville </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bennet, Charles Augustus Ker (1897-1971), 8th Earl of Tankerville. </b>Elder son of George Montagu Bennet (1852-1931), 7th Earl of Tankerville, and his wife Leonora Sophia, daughter of James G. van Marter of New York (USA), born 16 August 1897. Educated at Eton. Known by the courtesy title of Lord Ossulston until he succeeded his father as 8th Earl of Tankerville, 9 July 1931. He served in the First World War with the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force; and in the Second World War was in the RAF Volunteer Reserve (F/Lt.). Associate of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Founder and Life President of Chillingham Wild Cattle Association. JP for Northumberland. In about 1929 he opened a cinema on the estate, which he subsequently transferred to Wooler (Northbld). He married 1st, 20 October 1920 at St Margaret, Westminster (div. 1930), Roberta Nolan-Mitchell (1897-1992), daughter of Julian St John Nolan of Chicago, merchant, and step-daughter of Percy Mitchell, and 2nd, 1 July 1930, Violet (1908-2003), daughter of Erik Pallin of Stockholm (Sweden), and had issue:</span></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(1.1) Charles Augustus Grey Bennet (1921-80), 9th Earl of Tankerville (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(1.2) Hon. & Rev. George Arthur Grey Bennet (1925-2001), born 12 March 1925; educated at Radley and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (BA 1946; MA 1951); </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">senior physics master at Clifton College, Bristol; </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">ordained deacon, 1969 and priest, 1970; vicar of Shaston Team Ministry, 1973-80; rector of Redenhall, Harleston, Wortwell and Needham, 1980-90; joined RC church 1994 and became a RC priest, 1997; assistant priest, Wymondham (Norfk); author of <i>Electricity and Modern Physics</i> (1965); <i>Progress through Lent</i> (1993) and <i>One Fold, One Shepherd </i>(1996); married, 27 July 1957, Hazel Jane Glyddon (1926-2006), health visitor, only daughter of Ernest William George Judson of Bishopswood, Chard (Som.) and had issue two sons (the elder of whom is heir presumptive to the earldom) and one daughter; died 4 July 2001;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Hon. Ian Bennet (1935-98), born 16 April 1935; educated at Radley and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (BA 1958; MA 1962), an officer in the Royal Naval Reserve; died unmarried, 2 November 1998; will proved 16 March 1999;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(2.2) Lady Corisande Bennet (b. 1938), born 10 April 1938; genealogist; married, 6 April 1963, Lt-Cdr. Timothy Bain Smith RN (1935-2022) of Wickens Manor, Charing (Kent), younger son of Lt-Col. George Stewart Bain Smith of Cartmel (Lancs), and had issue two sons; living in 2019.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Chillingham Castle from his father in 1931, but lived at a small manor house in the village of Chillingham (formerly the rectory?). An attempt was made to let the castle in 1933, but it stood empty and decaying throughout the mid 20th century. </i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">He died 1 December 1971; his will was proved 12 July 1972 and 7 June 1973 (estate £238,976). His first wife married 2nd, 19 December 1930, John Holt Wilson of Redgrave Hall (Suffk) and died 23 November 1992; her will was proved 8 January 1993 (estate £35,790). His widow died 3 November 2003; her will was proved 29 April 2004.</span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Bennet, Charles Augustus Grey (1921-80), 9th Earl of Tankerville. </b>Elder son of Charles Augustus Ker Bennet (1897-1971), 8th Earl of Tankerville, and his first wife, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Roberta, daughter of John Nolan of Chicago and step-daughter of Percy Mitchell,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> born 28 July and baptised at St Margaret, Westminster (Middx), 15 October 1921. Educated at Radley. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">Known by the courtesy title of Lord Ossulston from 1931 until he succeeded his father as</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> 9th Earl of Tankerville, 1 December 1971. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">He served in the Second World War with the RAF Volunteer Reserve (F/Lt). He married 1st, 15 May 1943 at Canadian Memorial Chapel, Vancouver (div. 1950), Virginia (c.1915-54), eldest daughter of Louis M. Diether of Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada) and formerly wife of [forename unknown] Morris, and 2nd, 22 June 1954, Georgiana Lilian Maude (1917-98), librarian, daughter of Rev. Gilbert Wilson MA PhD DD of Regina, Saskatchewan (Canada), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Lady Corisande Elizabeth Bennet (b. 1947), born 21 March 1947;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Lady Alexandra Katherine Bennet (1955-93), born 5 May 1955; died unmarried at San Mateo, California, 29 April 1993;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(2.2) <i>twin, </i><b>Peter Grey Bennet (b. 1956), 10th Earl of Tankerville</b>, born in San Francisco, California (USA), 18 October 1956; educated at Grace Cathedral School, San Francisco, Oberlin Conservatory, Ohio (BMus) and San Francisco State University (MA Mus); </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">known by the courtesy title of Lord Ossulston from 1971 until he succeeded his father as</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> 10th Earl of Tankerville, 1 December 1980;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"> musician in San Francisco; now living;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">(2.3) <i>twin, </i>Lady Anne Th</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">érèse Bennet (b. 1956), born 18 October 1956; married, 1981, Timothy Michael Poirier of San Francisco; living in 2019.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived chiefly in the USA. He inherited Chillingham Castle from his father in 1971. After his death the 10th Earl made a gift of the castle in 1981 to Sir Humphrey Wakefield, who was willing to restore it, and who bought enough land around it to protect its setting.</i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia;">He died 27 April 1980; his will was proved 2 December 1980 (estate in England, £33,576). His first wife died in Montreal (Canada), 5 November 1954. His widow died in San Francisco, 19 November 1998.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Peerage & Baronetage</i>, 2003, pp. 3857-58; D. Lysons, <i>An historical account of those parishes in the county of Middlesex which are not described in the Environs of London, </i>1800, pp. 125-35; <i>Country Life</i>, 8 March 1913, pp. 346-55; T. Friedman, <i>James Gibbs</i>, 1984, pp. 315-16; Sir N. Pevsner, I. Richmond et al., <i>The buildings of England: Northumberland</i>, 2nd edn., 1992, pp. 227-30; J. Harris, 'The Dawley of Tankerville and Bolingbroke', <i>Georgian Group Journal</i>, 1994, pp. 58-64; J. Musson, 'Chillingham Castle, Northumberland', <i>Country Life</i>, 22 April 2004, pp. 130-35; S.J.G. Hall, 'Caring for the legend of the wild bull: an interpretation of the Georgian landscape of Chillingham Park, Northumberland', <i>Garden History</i>, vol. 38 (2), 2010, pp. 213-30; C. O'Brien, I. Nairn & B. Cherry, <i>The buildings of England: Surrey</i>, 3rd edn., 2022, p. 700; </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.surreyarchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/SHCOL_351">https://www.surreyarchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/SHCOL_351</a>;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1604-1629/member/bennet-sir-john-1553-1627">https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1604-1629/member/bennet-sir-john-1553-1627</a>;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1660-1690/member/bennet-sir-john-1616-95">http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1660-1690/member/bennet-sir-john-1616-95</a>; </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1660-1690/member/bennet-sir-henry-1618-85">http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1660-1690/member/bennet-sir-henry-1618-85</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Bennet family, Earls of Tankerville: </i>deeds, estate, family and legal papers, 17th-20th cents [Northumberland Archives, NRO424]; deeds, estate and family papers, correspondence and diaries, 13th-18th cents [The National Archives, C104]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Gules, a bezant between three demi-lions rampant argent.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide portraits or photographs of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 12 October 2023.</span></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-65679442299947195892023-09-27T16:14:00.005+01:002023-10-13T14:34:41.756+01:00(556) Bennet of Beachampton and Calverton and Bennet of Babraham, baronets<span style="font-family: georgia;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfrRZNR1up3p4sewzugHY39MH04itUSMX9TRNwgUPgJo_gnNfR5Joe8hJEvae89anevZdhgSeWuihznVbmTxs4-C5tNxX9DNbIwnpZBJFt_-2LH6MttVxKjq2ibiFbzZSWbcfYI4M23FYU2sGUaoNK3AFq9wcqttqu9ThxN8qzv1mpIJUzk7l1onbJDAO/s1200/Bennet%20of%20Babraham.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfrRZNR1up3p4sewzugHY39MH04itUSMX9TRNwgUPgJo_gnNfR5Joe8hJEvae89anevZdhgSeWuihznVbmTxs4-C5tNxX9DNbIwnpZBJFt_-2LH6MttVxKjq2ibiFbzZSWbcfYI4M23FYU2sGUaoNK3AFq9wcqttqu9ThxN8qzv1mpIJUzk7l1onbJDAO/w167-h200/Bennet%20of%20Babraham.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;">Bennet of Babraham, baronets </span></td></tr></tbody></table>This family were established as minor gentry in Berkshire by 1433 but a coherent descent can be traced only from Thomas Bennet (c.1503-47) of Clapcot in Wallingford (Berks), with whom the genealogy below begins. His eldest son, Richard Bennet (c.1528-74) inherited his father's lands in and around Wallingford, but his younger brothers, Edmond (d. 1602) and Sir Thomas (c.1544-1627), kt., became merchants in Oxford and London respectively. Sir Thomas made a fortune quickly as a mercer in London and in the early 17th century applied his capital to lending money at interest to the Crown and others. He was an active philanthropist, being involved in London charities in his lifetime and making generous bequests to others at his death, and he played a full part in civic affairs, being an alderman from 1593 and serving as Lord Mayor of London in 1603-04. In 1609 he bought Beachampton Manor in Buckinghamshire (which he noted in his will he had spent £500 on improving) and then in 1616 the adjoining manor of Calverton. This included much of the busy town of Stony Stratford (Bucks), including its market and several of the important inns in the town, which serviced the traffic on the main road (Watling St.) from London to the north-west. He also bought, about 1622, the manor of Broad Marston in the parish of Pebworth (then Glos, now Worcs). Sir Thomas had eight sons and four daughters, but several of his sons died young and the eldest to survive, Ambrose Bennet (1582-1631) was evidently not favoured by his father, for although not cut out of Sir Thomas' will altogether he received only modest bequests. It was the next surviving son, Sir Simon Bennet (1584-1631), 1st bt., who was the principal beneficiary, inheriting the manors of Beachampton and Calverton. He was raised to a baronetcy shortly after his father's death in 1627, but since he had no issue the dignity died with him. He acquired an extensively wooded estate in Northamptonshire called Handley Park, and at his death bequeathed this to his <i>alma mater</i>, University College, Oxford. Sir Thomas' will provided that in the event of Sir Simon's death without issue, the Beachampton and Calverton estates should pass to his next son, Richard Bennet (1586-1628) and then to the latter's son Simon Bennet (1624-82). <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwH5wKKuz2lkybTORHmTVa3h16V_QkIY7ECI6THKPHydqs2HfMQv0GmpRJcLR74qX6rEIbQojWrSv2fJ6jbxhxTp8ex_NZaW4YzyqNKvNZJ6TyjtUOYJaDBKk2K0EDbvgSvRDjBYSEwd3Ou8j-e2piV_I3K3O9Ki1nE44hbBiQXkgLKb01z84-0n31Y5iE/s1121/Broad%20Marston%20Manor,%20Pebworth%201.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="1121" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwH5wKKuz2lkybTORHmTVa3h16V_QkIY7ECI6THKPHydqs2HfMQv0GmpRJcLR74qX6rEIbQojWrSv2fJ6jbxhxTp8ex_NZaW4YzyqNKvNZJ6TyjtUOYJaDBKk2K0EDbvgSvRDjBYSEwd3Ou8j-e2piV_I3K3O9Ki1nE44hbBiQXkgLKb01z84-0n31Y5iE/w400-h283/Broad%20Marston%20Manor,%20Pebworth%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Broad Marston Manor</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Richard himself received the manor of Broad Marston under his father's will and was probably already been living there, as he was in the middle of remodelling the house (as well as his town house in London) when he himself died just a year after his father. The house is still substantially a building of the 1620s.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Richard's widow, Elizabeth (d. 1661) purchased the wardship of her son from the Crown and married again, to Sir Heneage Finch (1580-1631), kt., the Speaker of the House of Commons. In 1630, Finch bought the house at Kensington (Middx) which was later acquired by the Crown and developed as Kensington Palace, and Elizabeth made her home there throughout her long widowhood. Her son, Simon Bennet (1624-82) came of age and into possession of his manors of Beachampton, Calverton and Broad Marston in 1645. He married in 1649 and he and his wife settled at Calverton Manor, which they enlarged and remodelled in 1659. Far from settling into the retired life of a country gentleman, however, Simon became an important player in the nascent London banking scene, using his substantial assets to make loans on a large scale to hundreds of clients, and substantially increasing his wealth as a result. He brought the </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">hard-headed </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">attitude of the businessman to his role as a country squire and father too. He converted much of his Buckinghamshire estate to permanent grassland, throwing many of the estate labourers out of work as a result, and his widow continued the process and became extremely unpopular locally as a result. It is also clear that at least two of his three surviving daughters were married against their wishes, even if - in the eyes of the world - they were 'good' matches. All of them had left home by the end of 1682, and Simon's widow, Grace Bennet, lived alone at Calverton Manor, surrounded by a resentful tenantry and apparently without indoor servants. Rumours abounded that much of the family wealth was kept in the house in the form of gold coins, and in 1694 a butcher and his apprentice from Stony Stratford broke into the house one morning intent on robbery and murdered Grace with exceptional violence. They were spotted by estate workers while making their escape and were captured, tried and executed, but the murder of Grace Bennet remained a cause célèbre for decades to come. The family estates passed to the two surviving daughters, Grace Bennet (1664-1732) and Frances Cecil (1670-1713), Countess of Salisbury, both of whom had one son. But Grace's son predeceased her and left no issue, so the family estates at Broad Marston, Calverton and Beachampton all passed in the hands of the Cecils of Hatfield House, and their manor houses had declined into farmhouses before the properties were sold in 1806 and 1807.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The family's original property at Wallingford descended in 1547 to Richard Bennet (c.1528-74), but much of it was leased, and since the interests of the next generation lay elsewhere, the leases were not renewed. Richard had seven sons and three daughters, but little is known about the career of his eldest son, Ralph Bennet (b. c.1555), who married the daughter of a Bristol merchant and was probably a merchant himself; his descendants settled at Morden (Surrey). The next surviving son was Sir John Bennet (c.1557-1627), a lawyer, politician and courtier, whose career ended in disgrace in 1622, when he was convicted of corruption, jailed, fined and banned from public office. His descendants included the Earls of Arlington and Tankerville and will be the subject of future posts. Next brother to Sir John was Thomas Bennet (c.1562-1620), who seems to have been apprenticed to his uncle and namesake, Sir Thomas Bennet (c.1544-1627), the Lord Mayor, and who pursued a similar career as a mercer in London, becoming an alderman in 1613, although he was never Lord Mayor. The two men have often been confused, not least because this Thomas Bennet, the nephew, also invested heavily in landed property, presumably with a view to providing for his huge family of fourteen children. His eldest surviving son, Richard Bennet (1595-1658), was educated at the Inner Temple and became a lawyer. He inherited much of his father's scattered property portfolio, but settled at Kew (Surrey), where he had a 16th century timber-framed house on the site where Frederick, Prince of Wales' White House was to stand in the mid 18th century. Richard and his next brother, Sir Thomas Bennet (1596-1667), 1st bt., married two sisters, and in 1632 they and their mother-in-law jointly purchased the Babraham Hall estate in Cambridgeshire, although only Sir Thomas seems to have lived there. Whereas the properties bought by the other branch of the family at Broad Marston, Calverton and Beachampton were all relatively modest manor houses, Babraham Hall was a much grander and very substantial mansion, taxed on forty hearths in 1662. It became the centre of the Bennet estates, although Sir Thomas also acquired property at Hurcot in Somerset and in the Isle of Wight to add to the lands in Sussex and Kent he had inherited from his father.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Babraham descended from Sir Thomas to his elder son, Sir Levinus Bennet (1631-93), 2nd bt., who was named after his maternal grandfather. He seems to have reshaped the family estates to focus more on their lands in and around Babraham, and sold off the lands he inherited in the Isle of Wight and probably those in Kent and Sussex too. He was MP for Cambridgeshire from 1679 until his death, and married Judith Boevey, whose father was an upwardly mobile London merchant of Dutch origins who settled his family at Flaxley Abbey in Gloucestershire. Levinus and Judith had two sons (one of whom died in infancy) and eight daughters, so at his death Babraham passed to his only surviving son, Sir Richard Bennet (1673-1701), 3rd bt. However, Sir Richard did not enjoy the family estates for very long, since he came of age in 1694 and died of smallpox just seven years later, leaving only a daughter, Judith Bennet (1701-13). When she died before coming into her inheritance, the Babraham and Hurcot estates passed to Sir Richard's five surviving sisters (Mary Bush, Judith Bennet, Dorothy Page, Levina Alexander and Jane Mitchell) as co-heirs. Only Levina and Jane left surviving children, in each case a single son, and the testamentary arrangements of their co-heirs meant that Bennet Alexander (1702-45) ended up with seven-tenths of the estate and his cousin William Mitchell (b. 1704) with three-tenths. Bennet Alexander, who took the additional name Bennet in 1742, was arguably in a stronger position to reunite the estate than his cousin William Mitchell, but his early death divided his share of the property once more between his son, Richard Henry Alexander Bennet (1743-1814) and his daughter, Levina (1739-1822) and her husband, John Luther (c.1739-86) of Great Myles (Essex). In the event, Bennet and Luther came to an arrangement with William Mitchell in 1765 by which Mitchell secured undivided possession of Babraham, Bennet undivided possession of Hurcot and some cash, while the Luthers received just a cash settlement.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2ZyCVvf71EFG9vEcB9bz55prcbbALR2DZV1wgzcP1WjetbfuPIa_XOw8lxChgnMLrsMUHMYiPRVcPgt7_r_2LbiawDxj6SgN7snCZrHjnxVZ9NerxRqWfvsgAxaNZ7P1nOQ8P0A0K7kUlhytKbgzPfCPVsPtXxrH1ZtwRbok8XDYeeNr8SF7Be-Yow53/s1600/Northcourt%20Manor,%20Shorwell,%20IoW%201.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2ZyCVvf71EFG9vEcB9bz55prcbbALR2DZV1wgzcP1WjetbfuPIa_XOw8lxChgnMLrsMUHMYiPRVcPgt7_r_2LbiawDxj6SgN7snCZrHjnxVZ9NerxRqWfvsgAxaNZ7P1nOQ8P0A0K7kUlhytKbgzPfCPVsPtXxrH1ZtwRbok8XDYeeNr8SF7Be-Yow53/w400-h225/Northcourt%20Manor,%20Shorwell,%20IoW%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Northcourt Manor, Shorwell: engraving of 1864.</span></td></tr></tbody></table> Mitchell pulled down the (now very neglected) Jacobean house at Babraham in 1766-67 and sold the estate in 1770 to Robert Jones (d. 1774), the MP for Huntingdon, who built a much smaller house on the site of its predecessor. Richard Bennet sold the Hurcot estate in Somerset in 1798, after which the family had no significant landed property for about ten years, until in 1809 he inherited Northcourt Manor, Shorwell (Isle of Wight) from his half-sister. This house remained in the family until the death of his widow in 1837 but then passed to his younger daughter Isabella (1775-1867) and her husband, Gen. Sir James Willoughby Gordon (1772-1851), 1st bt.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia;">Beachampton Hall, Buckinghamshire</b></h3><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">A manor house was recorded at Beachampton in 1333, but the present house, set on a terrace above the River Great Ouse, seems to be the late 16th or early 17th century wing of an earlier, perhaps timber-framed, house of c.1500, which stood on the site of the present walled garden and was demolished in the 18th century. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVe0ErySo4AY2SZPVOl-484soHsub50tjeeueMpffhyNyv7TGNxIpo9SqJzGX2cxNcXn-hpX2tQQ589hQtUUslfrW2DtTURb6U46sqR5BYCIQWpqv_Bi3XyAMJ2AYLHbG3Hsf9-QENL5AsKqVV1dUT4tFlY7boYmAs1UZqXvGyqKDDAUQyfKpmUfDSzNp/s2222/Beachampton%20Hall%207.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1403" data-original-width="2222" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVe0ErySo4AY2SZPVOl-484soHsub50tjeeueMpffhyNyv7TGNxIpo9SqJzGX2cxNcXn-hpX2tQQ589hQtUUslfrW2DtTURb6U46sqR5BYCIQWpqv_Bi3XyAMJ2AYLHbG3Hsf9-QENL5AsKqVV1dUT4tFlY7boYmAs1UZqXvGyqKDDAUQyfKpmUfDSzNp/w640-h404/Beachampton%20Hall%207.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Beachampton Hall: the house from the north-east in 2020, with the 17th century Great Chamber wing on the left.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The surviving fragment is built of rubble stone, with gables, mullioned and transomed windows, and brick chimneystacks, and comprises a main range running north-to-south, with wings to the east and west, forming a Z-plan. The east wing is thought to have been added in the early 17th century, perhaps for a visit by Queen Anne of Denmark which is traditionally said to have taken place (quite plausibly, as Sir Thomas Bennet's brother was the queen's chancellor). This may account for the £500 which Sir Thomas noted in his will that he had spent on improving the house. The gabled east wall of the east wing has a seven-light canted bay window lighting the Great Chamber, which retains some armorial stained glass. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNtdQ6DCEm_0m4N1xnsx0_-7A1qWFyMxdwlz5z2hF18BK4f338MHA0IiwOAcB_LUAXi573narNA3Y8EscLiaGhTyET3nopuusf-tP8FYusycso8DNJGxm2rvMq8Fxca1htxwn1GWDfO3IkhH0ZyVOZjn5LjWwTyRJ9gLsAi0jcYo3X_OTpzoFTYCE3YNn/s961/Beachampton%20Hall%20Farm%206.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="961" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNtdQ6DCEm_0m4N1xnsx0_-7A1qWFyMxdwlz5z2hF18BK4f338MHA0IiwOAcB_LUAXi573narNA3Y8EscLiaGhTyET3nopuusf-tP8FYusycso8DNJGxm2rvMq8Fxca1htxwn1GWDfO3IkhH0ZyVOZjn5LjWwTyRJ9gLsAi0jcYo3X_OTpzoFTYCE3YNn/w640-h484/Beachampton%20Hall%20Farm%206.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Beachampton Hall: the house from the south-west in the early 20th century.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGoyXMlhWphOEWY8ZZSwMrds1doNDrmo_H4MxshcuG99x8ukwuJd48fcFe_WWZ-YdaDYRWtXZPmc4cncL00RJjk4t_nL87r_oLHMqTS55Uz0g-9r9vAN1neQD2Hgue5uWuFLMv7BTiPlLaMxr-ndqIMkK4xtqubTqCiPtq91v2kj3Jt7v-AuQSSDWJXYIH/s606/Beachampton%20Hall%20Farm%204.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGoyXMlhWphOEWY8ZZSwMrds1doNDrmo_H4MxshcuG99x8ukwuJd48fcFe_WWZ-YdaDYRWtXZPmc4cncL00RJjk4t_nL87r_oLHMqTS55Uz0g-9r9vAN1neQD2Hgue5uWuFLMv7BTiPlLaMxr-ndqIMkK4xtqubTqCiPtq91v2kj3Jt7v-AuQSSDWJXYIH/w330-h400/Beachampton%20Hall%20Farm%204.jpg" width="330" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Beachampton Hall: the staircase in 1911. </span></td></tr></tbody></table>The staircase seems to be early 17th century and remains </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">in situ</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">, but the elaborate balustrade with carved heraldic newel figures which was photographed in the early 20th century was removed in the 1920s, and sold in 1927 to William Randolph Hearst; its current location is unknown. The staircase still has the door surround with a billet motif visible in the picture reproduced here. Few other early internal features survive, however, for the house declined into a farmhouse in the 18th century and the Great Chamber wing was unoccupied for many years. The house has been extensively restored in recent years.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house is surrounded by the well-preserved earthworks and relict features of a complex Tudor and Jacobean garden, with terracing, garden walls, a fine gateway, and a summerhouse in the walled garden south of the house which appears to incorporate materials from the demolished part of the main house.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: John Cornwall, sold c.1458 to Richard Pigott (d. 1460); to son, John Pigott; to son, Robert Pigott; to son Thomas Pigott (d. 1592); to son, George Pigott (fl. 1599); to son, Sir Thomas Pigott, who sold c.1609 to Sir Thomas Bennet (c.1544-1627), kt.; to son, Sir Simon Bennet (1584-1631), 1st bt.; to nephew, Simon Bennet (1624-82); to daughter Frances (1670-1713), wife of James Cecil (1666-94), 4th Earl of Salisbury; to son, </i><i>to son, James Cecil (1691-1728), 5th Earl of Salisbury; to son, James Cecil (1713-80), 6th Earl of Salisbury; to son, James Cecil (1748-1823), 7th Earl and 1st Marquess of Salisbury, who sold</i><i> 1807 to trustees of will of Ann Brooks for use of her nephew, John Harrison (d. 1834) of Shelswell (Oxon); to Sir James Walker (1803-83), 1st bt.; to son, Sir James Robert Walker (1829-99), 2nd bt.; to son, Sir James Heron Walker (1865-1900), 3rd bt.; to son, Sir Robert James Milo Walker (1890-1930), 4th bt., who sold 1922 to Frederick Henry Verey (1857-1922); to nephew, George Frederick Verey (1891-1974); sold after his death to [forename unknown] Marchant; sold 2020. From the early 18th century until the 1880s the house is said to have been tenanted by the Flowers family, and it remained tenanted until 1922, when the sitting tenants, the Vereys, bought the freehold.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Calverton Manor, Buckinghamshire</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">A stone built manor house north of the church, with a steep tiled roof. The core, comprising the main block with a jettied rear projection and three-light mullioned windows, was built around 1500 or perhaps a little later for either John de Vere (d. 1513), 13th Earl of Oxford, Great Chamberlain to Henry VII, or his nephew, the 14th Earl (d. 1526). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nDL7dYEwQvFyvZqhcxqKCki8l1KMVV7VBmVAd9TlRUBqj-2CLoV5gPxGxZ2Pon3GciXvI1slJFLf4TfRwhx2-0qWJgJ0tdFiAr2QqhZaEz-_bfbaMM1e84Aup_s1Qm8BwxC6W5DWVTJ3T8pwFCzKt_0aFb2qbItLTsAJzyoCkSyFK63kn3vMfb5D0KU-/s1000/Calverton%20Manor%20House%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1000" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nDL7dYEwQvFyvZqhcxqKCki8l1KMVV7VBmVAd9TlRUBqj-2CLoV5gPxGxZ2Pon3GciXvI1slJFLf4TfRwhx2-0qWJgJ0tdFiAr2QqhZaEz-_bfbaMM1e84Aup_s1Qm8BwxC6W5DWVTJ3T8pwFCzKt_0aFb2qbItLTsAJzyoCkSyFK63kn3vMfb5D0KU-/w640-h474/Calverton%20Manor%20House%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Calverton Manor House in the early 20th century.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house was extended in the late 16th century and again enlarged and modernised for Simon Bennet in 1659, whose initials and the date appear on the porch. Benett added the two tall dormers on the west front and the gabled south wing. Like Beachampton, Calverton Manor House passed in the 18th century to the Earls of Salisbury and declined into a farmhouse, which had become derelict by the late 20th century. It was restored in the early 21st century by Mr & Mrs David Lock, a process which was the subject of a programme in the </span><i style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2010600/">Restoration Home</a></i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> TV series broadcast in 2011</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOfi4hTLBL2bzti3ZptezqlrnRWzAXKk12YyJFd2cq3AiylVyRHGG3mDzR-eTgi75srxDr9H_o5whBQoEJB62m8YC9GCsFX7jLf7KwD4ZyPUH8Z659CtIYv444k17BYiiHPXofDZKwMOeBTnLWUj0nJ9JSADJhiRfKVwg2IqhlLnhpRGZfjxWWt1XvqEH/s987/Calverton%20Manor%20House%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="987" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOfi4hTLBL2bzti3ZptezqlrnRWzAXKk12YyJFd2cq3AiylVyRHGG3mDzR-eTgi75srxDr9H_o5whBQoEJB62m8YC9GCsFX7jLf7KwD4ZyPUH8Z659CtIYv444k17BYiiHPXofDZKwMOeBTnLWUj0nJ9JSADJhiRfKVwg2IqhlLnhpRGZfjxWWt1XvqEH/w640-h428/Calverton%20Manor%20House%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Calverton Manor House: the house shortly before the recent restoration. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: John de Vere (1442-1513), 13th Earl of Oxford; to nephew, John de Vere (1499-1526), 14th Earl of Oxford; to widow Ann de Vere (d. 1559), Countess of Oxford; to co-heirs (John Nevill (d. 1576), 3rd Baron Latimer, Lady Ursula Knightley (d. 1560) and Sir Robert Wingfield); a partition of estates in 1580 assigned Calverton to Sir Robert's daughter Katherine (d. 1596), wife of Henry Percy (c.1532-85), 2nd Earl of Northumberland and later of Francis Fytton; to son, Sir Charles Percy who with his brother Henry Percy (1564-1632), 3rd Earl of Northumberland sold 1616 </i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">to <i>Sir Thomas Bennet (c.1544-1627), kt.; to son, Sir Simon Bennet (1584-1631), 1st bt.; to nephew, Simon Bennet (1624-82); to daughter Frances (1670-1713), wife of James Cecil (1666-94), 4th Earl of Salisbury; </i>to son, James Cecil (1691-1728), 5th Earl of Salisbury; to son, James Cecil (1713-80), 6th Earl of Salisbury; to son, James Cecil (1748-1823), 7th Earl and 1st Marquess of Salisbury, who sold 1806 to William Selby Lowndes of Whaddon Hall (1767-1840); to son, William Selby-Lowndes (1807-86); to son, William Selby-Lowndes (1836-1920)... sold c.2006 to Mr & Mrs David Lock.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Babraham Hall, Cambridgeshire</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">An account of this house has been given in a <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2013/06/47-adeane-of-babraham.html">previous post</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet family of Beachampton</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Thomas (c.1503-47). </b>Parentage unknown; said to have been born 6 October 1503. He married, c.1524 at Wallingford (Berks), Agnes (d. 1557), daughter of William Moleyns of Mackney (Oxon), and had issue:</span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Joan Bennet the elder; married Thomas Fritwell;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Elizabeth Bennet (d. 1580); married Edward Gunn, and had issue at least two sons and two daughters;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Avis Bennet (d. 1574); married, before 1547, Robert Southby, and had issue;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Richard Bennet (1528-74) [for whom see below, under Bennet family of Babraham];</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Edmund Bennet (d. 1602), of Oxford; buried at St Martin, Oxford, 28 May 1602;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Margaret Bennet;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Avelen Bennet; married [forename unknown] Burt, and had issue at least one son;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Joan Bennet the younger;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Sir Thomas Bennet (c.1544-1627), kt (</span><i style="font-family: georgia;">q.v.</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) Samuel Bennet (b. c.1548), presumably the child his wife was carrying when he wrote his will in 1547.</span></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Clapcot near Wallingford.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 25 March 1547 and was buried at Wallingford; his will was proved in the PCC, 7 February 1547/8. His widow married 2nd, Thomas Teasdale, and had further issue one son; she died in 1557; her will was proved in the PCC, 13 December 1557.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Sir Thomas (c.1544-1627), kt. </b>Third son of Thomas Bennet (c.1503-47) and his wife Agnes, daughter of William Moleyns of Mackney (Oxon), born about 1544. Apprenticed to the Mercer's Company. He traded as a mercer in London and diversified into financing the Crown in the early 17th century. Alderman of the City of London, 1593-1627 (Sheriff 1594-95 and Lord Mayor 1603-04). Knighted at Whitehall, 24 July 1603. He served as President of the Bridewell and Bethlem Hospitals and was a patron of St Bartholomew's Hospital. He married, 25 August 1575 at St Mary le Bow, London, Mary (b. 1555), daughter of Robert Taylor, haberdasher and alderman of London, and had issue:</span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Thomas Bennet (b. 1575), baptised at St Benet Fink, London, 21 December 1575; died young;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Anne Bennet (1577-1611), baptised at St Benet Fink, London, 14 July 1577; married 1st, 22 October 1594 at St Lawrence Jewry, London, William Duncombe (d. 1608), haberdasher, son of Thomas Duncombe (d. 1596), and had issue one son and seven daughters; married 2nd, 6 November 1609 at St Olave, Old Jewry, London, George Lowe (c.1570-1639), merchant, financier and MP for Calne, 1625-29 (who m2, by 1625, Katherine (d. 1629), daughter of Sir John Smythe of Ostenhanger (Kent) and widow of <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2018/07/338-baker-of-sissinghurst-baronets.html">Sir Henry Baker (c.1587-1623), 1st bt.</a>, of Sissinghurst (Kent)), son of William Lowe (d. 1588) of Shrewsbury (Shrops.), draper, and had issue two sons; buried 16 July 1611;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Robert Bennet (b. 1579), baptised at St Benet Fink, London, 24 February 1578/9; probably died young;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Elizabeth Bennet (1580-82), baptised at St Benet Fink, London, 21 February 1579/80; died young and was buried at St Benet Fink, London, 29 April 1582;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Ambrose Bennet (1582-1631), baptised at St Benet Fink, London, 15 April 1582; died unmarried and without issue, 22 March 1630/1; will proved in the PCC, 28 March 1631;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Thomas Bennet (b. 1583), baptised at St Benet Fink, London, 12 May 1583; probably died young;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Sir Simon Bennet (1584-1631), 1st bt. (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Sarah Bennet (1585-87), baptised at St Benet Fink, London, 1 August 1585; died in infancy and was buried at St Benet Fink, London, 18 May 1587;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Richard Bennet (1586-1628) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) John Bennet (c.1589-1631); a rich merchant in London; married, possibly 15 January 1606/7 at St Andrew by the Wardrobe, London, Joan [surname unknown*] (fl. 1627) and had issue at least three sons; buried in the chancel of St Stephen Walbrook, London, 3 May 1631;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(11) Mary Bennet (1590-1657), baptised at St Benet Fink, London, 10 January 1590; married, 16 June 1608 at St Olave, Old Jewry, London (with a portion of £3,000), Sir George Croke (1560-1642), serjeant-at-law, justice of the common pleas, 1623-28 and justice of King's Bench, 1628-41 and MP for Bere Alston (Devon), 1597, third son of John Croke (d. 1608) of Chilton (Bucks), and had issue one son and three daughters; died 1 December and was buried at Waterstock (Oxon), 3 December 1657; will proved in the PCC, 20 November 1658;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(12) George Bennet (1593-96), baptised at St Benet Fink, London, 11 July 1593; died young and was buried at St Lawrence Jewry, 10 September 1596.</span></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He purchased the Beachampton estate (Bucks) in 1609, the manor of Calverton in 1616 and the Broad Marston (Glos, now Warks) estate c.1622.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 16 February 1626/7; his wealth at death has been estimated at £24,000. His wife presumably predeceased him as she is not mentioned in his will; her date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* If this is the correct marriage, the bride's surname has been omitted from the entry.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Sir Simon (1584-1631), 1st bt. </b>Fifth son of Sir Thomas Bennet (c.1544-1627) and his wife Mary, daughter of Robert Taylor, alderman of London, baptised at St Benet Fink, London, 14 June 1584. Educated at University College, Oxford (matriculated 1602) and Inner Temple (admitted 1605). He was created a baronet, 17 July 1627. He married, by December 1624, Elizabeth (d. 1636), daughter of Sir Arthur Ingram (c.1565-1642), kt., of Temple Newsam House (Yorks WR), but had no issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Beachampton and Calverton estates from his father in 1627. In 1630 he bought Handley Park in Whittlewood (Northants) from the Crown for £6,000: he bequeathed this estate to University College, Oxford, which used it to fund major additions to the college buildings in the 1630s and to establish additional fellowships and scholarships, although there were later <a href="https://www.univ.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Handley-Park.pdf">disputes with the Bennet family about the terms of the bequest</a>.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 21 August 1631, when his baronetcy became extinct, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">and was buried at Beachampton, 22 August 1631</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">; his will was proved in the PCC, 3 September 1631. His widow died 13 June and was buried at St Bartholomew the Great, London, 30 June 1636.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Richard (1586-1628). </b>Sixth son of </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sir Thomas Bennet (c.1544-1627) and his wife Mary, daughter of Robert Taylor, alderman of London, baptised at St Benet Fink, London, 7 August 1586. Citizen and mercer of London, who became a member of the Virginia Company and also invested in the East India Company. He married Elizabeth (d. 1661), daughter of William Craddock, cloth factor for <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2021/11/5013-hicks-baronets-beach-and-hicks.html">Sir Baptist Hicks (c.1551-1629)</a> in Hamburg (Germany), and had issue:</span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Simon Bennet (1624-82) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He lived in Old Jewry, London and inherited Broad Marston manor (then Glos, now Worcs), at both of which he was enlarging his houses at the time of his death. He also had property at Deanshanger and Passenham (Northants) and Shelton and Thorpe (Notts). His widow lived latterly at the house in Kensington (Middx) acquired by her second husband which was later acquired by the Crown as Kensington Palace.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 21 April and was buried at St Olave, Old Jewry, 29 April 1628; his will was proved in the PCC, 7 May 1628. His widow married 2nd, 16 April 1629 at St Dunstan-in-the-West, London, Sir Heneage Finch (1580-1631), kt., Recorder of the City of London, MP for London, 1624-29, and Speaker of the House of Commons, fifth son of Sir Moyle Finch, 1st bt. of Eastwell (Kent), and had further issue two daughters; she died about September 1661 and her will was proved 27 February 1661/2.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Simon (1624-82). </b>Only son of Richard Bennet (1586-1628) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of William Craddock of Staffordshire, baptised at St Olave, Old Jewry, London, 6 June 1624. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">After his father's death he became a ward of King Charles I, who granted his wardship to Walter Steward who in turn assigned it to Sir Richard Wynn and Sir William Uvedale, before his mother purchased his wardship from Steward and his assignees at a cost of £4,000. His education was probably interrupted by the Civil War, but he attended Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1646) and later had chambers at the inn. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">A</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> moderate Parliamentarian in the Civil War (his funerary monument covers all bases by recording that he was 'heartily devoted to the Church, the King, and the Republic'). He employed his capital in money-lending, chiefly on property and short-term loans, and his letters and accounts survive to document the extent of his operations. He clearly believed that politics should not get in the way of business, since his clients included both Cavaliers and Roundheads. High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, 1650-51 and 1665-66. In April 1657 he travelled to France, apparently on behalf of the Cromwellian regime, in connection with the Anglo-French alliance against the Spanish. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He married, 30 October 1649 at St Bartholomew the Less, London (with a portion of £6,000), Grace (1632-94), daughter of Gilbert Moorwood of London, merchant, and had issue:</span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Mary Bennet (1651-63), born 10 July 1651; died young, 20 July 1663;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Thomas Bennet (b. & d. 1653), born 28 April and baptised at Beachampton, 1 May 1653; died in infancy, 2 May 1653;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Elizabeth Bennet (1659-80), born 27 February and baptised at Beachampton, 27 March 1659; married, May 1674 (licence 23 May), Edward Osborne (1654-89), Viscount Latimer, MP for Corfe Castle, 1677-79 and Buckingham, 1679-81, eldest son of Thomas Osborne (1632-1712), 1st Earl of Danby, and had issue one son and one daughter (who both died young); died 1 May 1680;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Grace Bennet (1664-1732), born 27 September 1664; married, 1681, after a turbulent courtship*, John Bennet (1656-1712) of Great and Little Abington (Cambs), MP for Newton (Lancs), 1691-95, eldest son of John Bennet (d. 1663), and had issue one son (who predeceased her); died 5 September and was buried in Westminster Abbey, 13 September 1732; her will was proved 7 September 1732;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Mary Bennet (1666-74), born 28 April 1666; died young, 26 November 1674;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Simon Bennet (1668-73), born 27 June 1668; died young, 23 August 1674;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Frances Bennet (1670-1713), born 20 October 1670; in 1700-01 she undertook a Grand Tour, visiting Rome, Venice and Padua, apparently accompanied by her late husband's younger brothers and a lover called Colonel Josselyn; married (aged just thirteen), 13 July 1683 at St Martin Outwich, London, James Cecil (1666-94), 4th Earl of Salisbury, and had issue one son (who succeeded his father as 5th Earl); died at Epsom (Surrey), 7 or 8 July and was buried at St Giles in the Fields, Westminster (Middx), 15 July 1713; her will was proved 3 October 1713.</span></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the manor of Broad Marston from his father in 1628 and Calverton and Beachampton from his uncle in 1631 and came of age in 1645. In 1656 he purchased an estate at Witley Park (Surrey). The house at Calverton where he lived was modernised and enlarged in 1659. At his death the estate passed to his widow for life and then to his three daughters as co-heirs, but ultimately passed into the Cecil family. His widow, 'a miserable, covetous and wretched person' lived alone in the manor house at Calverton (Bucks).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died in August** 1682 and was buried at Beachampton, where he and his wife are commemorated by a fine baroque monument; his will was proved in the PCC, 4 November 1682. His widow was murdered by a burglar who broke into the manor house at Calverton, 19 September 1694; she was buried at Beachampton. Her murderer, a butcher from Stony Stratford (Bucks) was caught and executed for his crime.</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* Her father supported the match, but recorded "my daughter Grace is more violent against him than her mother, and after she had given him five or six denials, she hath ever since locked herself up whenever he came to the house, both mother and daughter keep themselves very close from him, insomuch that he is forced to get a ladder to climb up to the window to them, but cannot see them when he hath done. Sometimes they fling a pail of water upon his head and wet him to the skin, the difference being so high among them; yet for all this he is not at all dismayed, but is fully resolved to stick by it and pursue his design, although it should last yet these seven years". The date and place of the eventual marriage have not been traced. Her husband over-reached himself financially in making agricultural improvements at Abington and his mortgagees foreclosed and deprived him of his estates; he died in a debtor's prison.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">** Dates of 6 August, 20 August and 30 August are recorded in different sources, but there seems to be no entry in the parish register and no date is given on his monument in the church.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet family of Babraham, baronets</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Richard (c.1528-74). </b>Eldest </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">son of Thomas Bennet (c.1503-47) and his wife Agnes, daughter of William Moleyns of Mackney (Oxon), born about 1528. Apprenticed to the Mercer's Company. He married, c.1552, Elizabeth (d. 1597?), daughter of Thomas Teasdale* of 'Sandford Deanly', and had issue:</span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Anne Bennet (b. c.1553), born about 1553; married 1st David Harris junior (d. 1586) of Bristol, and 2nd, 23 July 1587 at St Nicholas, Bristol, as his second wife, William Vawer (c.1548-1620) of Bristol, merchant, and had issue four sons; probably died before 1619 as she is not mentioned in her husband's will;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Ralph Bennet (b. c.1555; fl. 1608), of Morden (Surrey); educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1574?); married, before 1582, Alice, daughter of David Harris (d. 1582), alderman. grocer and apothecary of Bristol, and had issue at least two sons and three daughters; living in 1608;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Richard Bennet; probably died in infancy;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sir John Bennet (c.1557-1627), kt. [for whom see my post on the <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2023/10/557-bennet-of-dawley-house-chillingham.html">Bennet family of Dawley House, Chillingham Castle and Walton Hall, Barons Ossulston and Earls of Tankerville</a>]</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Thomas Bennet (c.1562-1620) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) William Bennet (c.1564-1609), of Fulham (Middx) and Marlborough (Wilts), born about 1564; educated at Abingdon Grammar School and Grays Inn (admitted 1584); MP for Ripon, 1593; married Anne [surname unknown] but had no issue; died February 1608/9; will proved in the PCC, 22 February 1608/9, by which he endowed six scholarships at Abingdon school and a charity for the poor of Marlborough;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Bridget Bennet (b. c.1565; fl. 1610), born about 1565; married, c.1587, Rev. Thomas Brickendon, and had issue; living in 1610;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Edmund Bennet (b. c.1567; fl. 1608); educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1581); living in 1608;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Rev. Walter Bennet (c.1568-1614), born about 1568; educated at New College, Oxford (matriculated 1588; BA 1592; MA 1596; BD 1608; DD, 1609); Fellow of New College, 1599-1607; university proctor, 1602-03; ordained deacon and priest, 1606; rector of Little Wittenham (Berks), 1607-14; canon of York Minster, 1608-14; precentor of Salisbury Cathedral, 1608-13 and canon there, 1610-13; archdeacon of Wiltshire and rector of Minety (Wilts), 1610-14; married, 13 September 1608 at Salisbury Cathedral, Katherine, daughter of Henry Cotton (d. 1615), bishop of Salisbury; died before 25 August 1614; administration of goods granted to his widow, 1615;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) Elizabeth Bennet (b. c.1570), born about 1570; married, 6 February 1591/2 at St Michael-le-Belfry, York, John Piers (d. 1647), registrar to Archbishop of York, son of Thomas Piers of South Hinksey (Berks) and nephew and heir of Most Rev. John Piers (1523-94), Archbishop of York, and had issue.</span></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He lived at Wallingford (Berks), where he was lessee of the manor of Clapcot and of the parsonage of All Hallows, Wallingford, and owned other property.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died after 30 January 1573/4; his will was proved in the PCC, 3 July 1574. His wife is said to have died 28 June 1597.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* His wife was presumably the daughter of his mother's second husband.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">** She died 9 February 1601/2 and was buried at York Minster, where she is commemorated by a monument erected in 1615 to the design of Nicholas Stone: it is said to be his earliest surviving work.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Thomas (c.1562-1620). </b>Fourth son of Richard Bennet (c.1528-74) of Clapcot, Wallingford (Berks) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Tisdale of 'Sandford Deanly', born about 1562. Possibly the man of this name educated at Trinity College, Oxford (matriculated 1581). Apprenticed to his uncle, Sir Thomas Bennet (c.1544-1627). Mercer in London and a member of the Company of Merchant Adventurers there. Alderman of London, 1613-20; Sheriff of London, 1613-14. He married, 18 August 1590 at St Thomas the Apostle, London, Dorothy (1572-1642), daughter of Richard May of London and Rawmere (Sussex), and sister of Sir Humphrey May, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and had surviving issue:</span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Edward Bennet (1592-1604), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">baptised at St Thomas the Apostle, London, 3 December 1592; died young and was buried at St Thomas the Apostle, London, 9 May 1604;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) William Bennet (1594-1604), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">baptised at St Thomas the Apostle, London,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 25 August 1594; died young and was buried at St Thomas the Apostle, London, 9 May 1604;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Richard Bennet (1595-1658) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Sir Thomas Bennet (1596-1667), 1st bt. (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Mary Bennet (1597-1648?), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">baptised at St Thomas the Apostle, London,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 4 December 1597; married, 1 January 1617/8 at St Michael Paternoster, London, Richard Lewkenor (c.1589-1635), and had issue at least one son; buried at West Dean (Sussex), 13 May 1648;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Dorothy Bennet (1599-1651), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">baptised at St Thomas the Apostle, London, 22 April 1599; married, 28 February 1619/20 at St Pancras, Soper Lane, London, Sir Gamaliel Capel (1601-83), kt., and had issue one son; buried at Oxted (Surrey), 2 January 1651/2;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Elizabeth Bennet (b. 1600), baptised at St Thomas the Apostle, London, 22 June 1600; married, 30 April 1622 at St Pancras, Soper Lane, London, Sir Richard Stone (d. 1660), kt. of Great Stukeley (Hunts), Ridgmont (Beds) and Rushden House (Herts) (who m2, 1643, Elizabeth (1620-71?), daughter of Sir Richard Gery of Bushmead Priory (Beds) and had further issue), son of John Stone (d. 1640), serjeant-at-law, and had issue four sons and five daughters; died before 1643;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Humphrey Bennet (b. 1601), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">baptised at St Thomas the Apostle, London, 16 August 1601</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">; died young;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Anne Bennet (1602-c.1630), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">baptised at St Thomas the Apostle, London, 5 September 1602; married, 9 May 1622 at St Pancras, Soper Lane, London, William Amcotts (c.1593-1639) of Aisthorpe (Lincs), son of Sir Richard Amcotts of Aisthorpe, and had issue two sons and three daughters; probably died in or soon after 1630;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) William Bennet (b. 1604), baptised at St Thomas the Apostle, London, 30 December 1604; died in the lifetime of his father but death not traced;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(11) Sir Humphrey Bennet (1606-67), kt., </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">baptised at St Thomas the Apostle, London,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 19 March 1605/6; educated at </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Inner Temple (admitted 1622) and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">St John's College, Oxford (matriculated 1623); </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">High Sheriff of Hampshire, 1643-45; the leading Royalist in Hampshire, he was </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">an officer in the Royalist army (Col. of horse), 1643-45 and was described as 'very active and very cruel'; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">knighted in October or November 1644 for his distinguished service at the second Battle of Newbury, but went abroad after the fall of Winchester in 1645, returning in 1646; he compounded for his estates in 1649, paying a fine of £890, but during the 1650s he continued to plot against the Commonwealth government and was arrested and imprisoned at least three times;</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">JP and DL for Hampshire, 1660-67; MP for Petersfield, 1661-67; a gentleman of the privy chamber, 1666-67; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">owned the manors of Shalden (Hants) - which he bought in 1632 and was obliged to sell in 1653 - and Newport (IoW), but lived latterly at Rotherfield Park (Hants), in which his third wife had a life interest;</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">married 1st, 7 July 1631 at St Mary Aldermanbury, London, Mary (d. 1637), daughter of Thomas Smith of Aldermanbury, London and South Tidworth (Hants), merchant and had issue one son (killed at the Battle of Sole Bay in 1672) and one daughter; married 2nd, Elizabeth (d. 1660), daughter of Meredith Thomas and had issue two daughters; married 3rd, 14 February 1660/1 at St Clement Danes, London, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Button (1585-1655), 1st bt., of Alton Priors (Wilts) and widow of Sir Richard Norton (1619-52), 2nd bt., of Rotherfield (Hants); died December 1667;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(12) Margaret Bennet (b. 1607), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">baptised at St Thomas the Apostle, London,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 5 August 1607; married, 5 April 1627 at St Pancras, Soper Lane, London, Henry Rolle (c.1589-1656) of Shapwick (Som.), lawyer, MP for Callington, 1614, 1621, 1624 and for Truro, 1625-29, serjeant-at-law, 1640-45, and Lord Chief Justice of Kings Bench, 1648-55, second son of Robert Rolle (d. 1633) of Heanton (Devon), and had issue one son; probably the woman of this name buried at St Giles in the Wood (Devon), 21 January 1676/7;</span></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(13) Rebecca Bennet (1609-34), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">baptised at St Thomas the Apostle, London,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 2 April 1609</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">; married, 22 June 1630, as his first wife, Sir Bulstrode Whitelock (1605-75)*, kt., of Fawley Court (Bucks), Parliamentarian lawyer and politician, who was raised to the peerage by Oliver Cromwell as Lord Whitelock, 1657, although this lapsed at he Restoration, eldest son of Sir James Whitelocke (1570-1632), and had issue one son; died insane, 9 May 1634;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(14) Joan Bennet (1610-93), baptised at St Pancras, Soper Lane, 20 May 1610; married, 30 June 1631 at St Pancras, Soper Lane, Stephen Smith (1604-70) of Blackmore (Essex), son of Arthur Smith, and had issue five sons and five daughters; buried at Blackmore, 18 May 1693.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He purchased a wide range of property across southern England in the last years of his life, probably reflecting a desire to provide for his sons.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died after 18 April 1620 and was buried at the Mercers' Chapel, St Thomas Acons in the parish of St Pancras, Soper Lane, London, 18 May 1620; his will was proved in the PCC, 9 May 1620. His widow was buried at Mortlake (Surrey), 21 June 1642; her will was proved in the PCC, 5 July 1642.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><span>* </span>Sir Bulstrode married 2nd, 9 November 1635 at Fawley Court chapel after an elopement, Frances (1614-49), daughter of William, 3rd Lord Willoughby of Parham, by whom he had three sons and six daughters; and married 3rd, 5 August 1650 at Bromham (Beds) and again 11 September 1650 at Hackney (Middx), Mary (d. 1684), daughter of Bigley Carleton of London, grocer, and widow of Rowland Wilson MP (d. 1650), by whom he had five sons and two daughters.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Richard (1595-1658). </b></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Third, but eldest surviving, son of Thomas Bennet (c.1562-1620) and his wife Dorothy, daughter of Richard May of London and Rawmere (Sussex), baptised at St Thomas the Apostle, London, 30 August 1595. Educated at the Inner Temple (admitted 1616). Lawyer. He married 1st, 25 November 1623 at St Stephen Walbrook, London, Jane (d. 1638), daughter and co-heir of Levinus Monk, and 2nd, 11 December 1638 at St Botolph Aldgate, London, Mary, daughter of Robert Leman of Ipswich, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Jane Bennet (1629-1700), baptised at St Olave, Hart St., London, 19 February 1628/9; married, 14 September 1648 at Babraham, Hon. James Scudamore (1624-68), MP for Hereford, 1642-44 and for Herefordshire, 1661-68, son of John Scudamore, 1st Viscount Scudamore of Sligo, of Holme Lacy (Herefs), and had issue two sons and one daughter; died 21 February 1699/1700 and was buried at Holme Lacy, where she is commemorated by a splendid baroque monument; will proved in the PCC, 2 November 1700;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dorothy Bennet (1642-1721), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn (Middx), 16 November 1642; married, 1659 (settlement 16 February), Sir Henry Capel KB (1638-96), 1st Baron Capell of Tewkesbury, of the White House, Kew (Surrey), MP for Tewkesbury, 1660-85, 1690-92 and for Cockermouth, 1689-90, third son of Arthur Capel (d. 1649), 1st Baron Capell of Hadham, but had no issue; died 7 June and was buried at Kew (Surrey), 15 June 1721; she was commemorated by a memorial in Mortlake church (Surrey);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.2) Leman Bennet (1650-c.1655), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn, 20 August 1650; said to have died young, in the lifetime of his father, but death not traced;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.3) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Richard Bennet (b. 1654), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn, 19 June 1654; said to have died young, in the lifetime of his father</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, but death not traced</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Kew House (Surrey), then an old timber-framed house which would be rebuilt in the 18th century by Frederick, Prince of Wales, as The White House; this passed to his daughter Dorothy and thence to the Capel family. Richard inherited the castle and manor of Wyrcroft and associated lands at Axminster (Devon), the manor of Perycourt at Faversham (Kent), the New Parke near Leicester (Leics) and the Black Swan Inn in Westcheape, London from his father in 1620, and jointly purchased the manor of Babraham with his next brother and mother-in-law, 1631. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 12 April and was buried at Babraham, 29 April 1658, where the monument erected by his nephew says he was a baronet, although no other reference to him as such has been found. His first wife died in 1638. His second wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Sir Thomas (1596-1667), 1st bt. </b>Fourth, but second surviving, son of Thomas Bennet (c.1562-1620) and his wife Dorothy, daughter of Richard May of London and Rawmere (Sussex), baptised at St Thomas the Apostle, London, 7 November 1596. Educated at the Inner Temple (admitted 1616). Evidently a Royalist in the Civil War. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was created a baronet, 22 November 1660.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He married, c.1628, Mary (d. 1684), daughter and co-heir of Levinus Monk, one of the Clerks to the Signet, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Mary Bennet (c.1629-1711), born about 1629; married, 25 December 1650 at All Hallows, London Wall, London, Sir Heneage Fetherstone (1627-1711), 1st bt., only son of Henry Fetherstone of Hassingbrook, Stanford-le-Hope (Essex) and London, stationer, and had issue three sons and seven daughters; buried at Stanford-le-Hope, 30? January 1710/11;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Sir Levinus Bennet (1631-93), 2nd bt. (</span><i style="font-family: georgia;">q.v.</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Elizabeth Bennet (1633?-1711), perhaps the woman of this name baptised at St Olave, Hart St., London, 3 July 1633 although age stated on her marriage licence would imply a birth around 1647; married, 7 December 1682 at Babraham, as his second wife, Hon. Robert Bertie (1619-1708), third son of Robert Bertie (1582-1642), 1st Earl of Lindsey, but had no issue; buried at Barking (Essex), 12 January 1712/3; will proved in the PCC, 13 January 1712/3;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Thomas Bennet (d. c.1680); mentioned in his father's will in 1664, but said to have died about 1680.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited lands </i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">at Sidlesham (Sussex), and Benenden and Rolvenden (Kent) from his father in 1620. </i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>In 1629 he purchased the manor of Hurcot at Somerton (Som.) and this descended with his Babraham estate, which he purchased jontly with </i><i>his elder brother and mother-in-law in 1632. By his marriage, he acquired a moiety of the manor of Stoke Hammond (Bucks), which his widow and son sold in 1672. He also acquired lands in the Isle of Wight, which he settled on his elder son. </i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">His estate was sequestrated in 1651, but he recovered his property. His will noted that "I lived in hard and troublesome times and with much difficulty did preserve that estate which I leave".</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 28 June and was buried at Babraham, 30 June 1667, where he and his brother Richard are commemorated by a large standing monument; his will was proved 1667. His widow was buried at Babraham, 20 May 1684; her will was proved in 1684.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Sir Levinus (1631-93), 2nd bt. </b>Elder son of Sir Thomas Bennet (1596-1667), 1st bt., and his wife Mary, daughter and co-heir of Levinus Monk, baptised at Mortlake (Surrey), 18 January 1630/1. Educated at Grays Inn (admitted 1644) and perhaps at St Catherine's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1645). High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, 1652-53; JP for Cambridgeshire, 1661-88, 1689-93. MP for Cambridgeshire, 1679-93. He succeeded his father as 2nd baronet, 28 June 1667. He married, 6 July 1653 at All Hallows, London Wall, London, Judith (d. 1703), daughter of William Boevey (d. 1661) of London and Flaxley Abbey (Glos)*, merchant, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Mary Bennet (1654-1725?), baptised at Babraham, 25 April 1654; married, 7 January 1680 at Holy Trinity, Minories, London, James Bush (d. 1724) of London and Amsterdam, merchant, and had issue one son (Levinus (d. 1723)); inherited a one-fifth share in the Babraham and Hurcot (Som.) estates from her niece, 1713; said to have died in 1725 but is not mentioned in her husband's will, written in 1722, and may therefore have died considerably earlier;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Levinus Bennet (b. 1656), born at Babraham, 26 August 1656; died before 1693 and probably in infancy;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) <span style="background-color: white;"><span>Judith Bennet</span> </span>(1657-1724), born at Babraham, 27 September 1657; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">inherited a one-fifth share in the Babraham and Hurcot estates from her niece, 1713 and also owned the manor of Foulden (Norfk);</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">died unmarried, 3 October 1724; her will, proved in the PCC, 23 October 1724, added a further £1,000 to similar charitable bequests by her brother-in-law James Bush and the latter's son, Levinus Bush, for the establishment of a school and almshouse at Babraham;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Elizabeth Bennet (1660-84), born 3 June and baptised at Babraham, 14 June 1660; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">died unmarried and was buried at Babraham, 16 October 1684;</span></div></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Dorothy Bennet (1661-1735), born 18 November and baptised at Babraham, 28 November 1661; inherited a one-fifth share in the Babraham and Hurcot estates from her niece, 1713; married, 25 November 1690 at Babraham, John Page (d. by 1717); buried at Babraham, 13 June 1735;</span><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Levina Bennet (1664-1732) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Bridget Bennet (1665-66), born 11 September and baptised at Babraham, 20 September 1665; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">died in infancy and was buried at Babraham, 5 December 1666;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Jane Bennet (b. 1667), born 8 March 1666/7 and baptised at Babraham, 25 March 1667; inherited a one-fifth share in the Babraham and Hurcot estates from her niece, 1713; married, 27 July 1703 in the Bishop of London's chapel in St Botolph Aldersgate, London, James Mitchell (fl. 1721) and had issue at least one son; living in 1721;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Caroline Bennet (b. 1669), born 28 September and baptised at Babraham, 3 October 1669; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">died before 1693 and probably in infancy;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) Sir Richard Bennet (1673-1701), 3rd bt. (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He inherited the Babraham and Hurcot estates from his uncle in 1658 and his father in 1667. His father settled lands in the Isle of Wight on him at his marriage in 1653. In 1667 he also inherited the manor of Newport (IoW) from his uncle, Sir Humphrey Bennet, but he sold it the following year.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died in London, 5 December and was buried at Babraham, 14 December 1693; his will was proved 17 January 1693/4. His widow was buried at Babraham, 22 January 1702/3 and her will was proved 4 February 1702/3.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* William and his half-brother, James Boevey, jointly bought Flaxley Abbey c.1654. At William's death it passed to his sister, Joanna Clarke.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Sir Richard (1673-1701), 3rd bt. </b>Second but only surviving son of Sir Levinus Bennet (1631-93), 2nd bt., and his wife Judith, daughter of William Boevey of London and Flaxley Abbey (Glos), merchant, born 8 July and baptised at Babraham, 15 July 1673. He succeeded his father as 3rd baronet, 5 December 1693. He married, 27 June 1695 at Ely Chapel, Holborn (Middx), Elizabeth (1680-1727), daughter of Sir Charles Caesar, kt., MP, of Bennington Place (Herts), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Judith Bennet (1701-13), born 6 January 1700/1; died young, and was buried at Warminghurst (Sussex), 6 July 1713.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Babraham and Hurcot estates from his father in 1693. At his death his estate passed to his daughter, and then when she died young, to his five sisters as co-heirs.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died of smallpox, 23 May, when his baronetcy became extinct, and was buried at Babraham, 29 May 1701; administration of his goods was granted 23 June 1701. His widow married 2nd, 31 January 1704/5, James Butler (1680-1741) of Warminghurst Park (Sussex)*, MP for Arundel, 1705-08 and for Sussex, 1715-22, 1728-41, son of James Butler of Amberley Castle (Sussex), and had further issue one son; she died 1 July and was buried (as Lady Elizabeth Bennet) at Warminghurst, 5 July 1727.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* He and his wife acquired the estate in 1707 and had built a large new house on a new site by 1710. It was pulled down between 1806 and 1810.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Levina (1664-1732). </b>Fifth daughter of </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sir Levinus Bennet (1631-93), 2nd bt., and his wife Judith, daughter of William Boevey of London and Flaxley Abbey (Glos), merchant, born 28 January and baptised at Babraham, 14 February 1663/4. She married, 12 October 1700 at Charterhouse Chapel, Finsbury (Middx), Edward Alexander (1670-1751) of the White House, Ongar (Essex), a proctor in the Court of Arches at Doctor's Commons, second son of Nicholas Alexander of Marden Ash, High Ongar (Essex), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Bennet Alexander (later Bennet) (1702-45) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>She inherited a one-fifth share in the manors of Babraham and Hurcot (Som.) from her niece in 1713 which she bequeathed to her son at her death.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">She was buried at Babraham, 10 September 1732. Her husband was buried at Chipping Ongar (Essex), 2 November 1751; his will was proved in the PCC, 2 December 1752.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Alexander (later Bennet), Bennet (1702-45). </b>Only child of Edward Alexander of Ongar (Essex) and his wife Levina, daughter of Sir Levinus Bennet (1631-93), 2nd bt., born 28 April and baptised at St Gregory-by-St Paul, London, 30 April 1702. Educated at Westminster and Queen's College, Oxford (matriculated 1721). He took the additional name Bennet by Act of Parliament in 1742. He married, 30 September 1738 at High Laver (Essex), Mary (1719-76), daughter of Benjamin Ash, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Levina Bennet (1739-1822), baptised at High Ongar (Essex), 3 August 1739; married, 21 January 1762 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), John Luther (c.1739-86) of Great Myles, Kelvedon Hatch (Essex), MP for Essex, 1763-84, and had issue two children (who died in the lifetime of their father); buried at Shorwell (IoW), 9 February 1822; will proved in the PCC, 13 February 1822;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Richard Henry Alexander Bennet (1743-1814) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited a one-fifth share in the manors of Babraham and Hurcot (Som.) from his mother in 1732, another two-fifths from his aunt Judith Bennet in 1724, and a further tenth from his aunt Dorothy in 1735. At his death the property was divided between his son and son-in-law.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 20 December 1745, and was buried at Babraham, 1 January 1745/6. His widow married 2nd, 2 May 1747 at Ely Chapel, Holborn (Middx), Richard Bull (1721-1805) of The White House, Chipping Ongar (Essex) and later of Northcourt Manor, Shorwell (IoW), MP for Newport (Cornw.), 1756-80, a noted book collector and extra-illustrator, son of Sir John Bull, kt., a London merchant, and had further issue two daughters, who died unmarried; she was buried at Chipping Ongar (Essex), 3 June 1776.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennet, Richard Henry Alexander (1743-1814). </b>Only son of Bennet Alexander (later Bennet) (1702-45), and his wife Mary, daughter of Benjamin Ash, born 11 May 1743. Educated at Westminster. Elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, 1765 and of the Royal Society, 1767. MP for Newport (Cornw.), 1770-74. He married, 20 January 1766 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), Elizabeth Amelia (1750-1837)*, daughter of Peter Burrell MP (1724-75), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Emilia Elizabeth Bennet (1766-1839), born 1 December and baptised at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster, 26 December 1766; married, 13 July 1787 at Beckenham (Kent), Sir John Edward Swinburne (1762-1860), 6th bt. of Capheaton (Northbld), and had issue two sons and five daughters; died 28 March 1839;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Richard Henry Alexander Bennet (1769-1818), born 26 October and baptised at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster, 13 November 1769; educated at Westminster School, 1777-81; joined Royal Navy (Lt. 1790; Cdr. 1793; Capt. 1796; retired 1809); MP for Launceston, 1802-06, 1807-12 and for Enniskillen, 1807; he suffered a stroke in 1813 and died unmarried, 11 October 1818, being buried at Shorwell (IoW), 21 October 1818; will proved in the PCC, 26 November 1818;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Isabella Julia Levina Bennet (1775-1867), born 11 September and baptised 5 October 1775; artist (as Lady Gordon), who published a volume of etchings in 1847; married, 15 October 1805 at her father's house in Beckenham (Kent) by special licence, Sir James Willoughby Gordon (1772-1851), 1st bt., Quartermaster General of the army and MP for Launceston, 1829-31, son of Capt. James Grant-Gordon, and had issue one son and one daughter; died 28 March 1867; will proved 6 June 1867 (effects under £4,000).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited a moiety of his father's interest in the Babraham and Hurcot (Som.) estates in 1745, and in 1765 joined with his brother-in-law, John Luther, in selling the whole of their interest in Babraham to his first cousin once removed, William Mitchell, who held the remaining share in the estate, while in return he received the whole of their joint interest in Hurcot, which he sold in 1798. He lived subsequently at Beckenham (Kent). In 1809 he inherited Northcourt Manor, Shorwell (IoW) from his half-sister, Elizabeth Bull.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 14 March and was buried at Shorwell (IoW), 24 March 1814; his will was proved in the PCC, 24 March 1814. His widow was buried at Shorwell, 9 February 1837; her will was proved in the PCC, 31 March 1837.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">* She was unusually well connected, as her brother </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Peter Burrell (1754-1820) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">became</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 1st Baron Gwydir, and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">three of her sisters married the Duke of Northumberland, the Earl of Beverley, and the Marquess of Exeter.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies</i>, 2nd edn., 1841, p. 57; <i>VCH Buckinghamshire</i>, vol. 4, 1927, pp. <a href="https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp149-153">149-53</a>; <i>VCH Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely</i>, vol. 6, 1978, pp. <a href="https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol6/pp19-30">19-30</a>; Sir N. Pevsner & E. Williamson, <i>The buildings of England: Buckinghamshire</i>, 2nd edn., 1994, pp. 167-68, 213; J. Harris, <i>Moving Rooms</i>, 2007, p. 235; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">L.L. Peck, Women of Fortune: money, marriage and murder in Early Modern England, 2018; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><a href="https://bucksgardenstrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Beachampton-BGT-RR-Dossier-Apr-22.pdf">Beachampton Hall</a></i> (Buckinghamshire Gardens Trust report, 2022; </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Bennet of Shorwell (IoW): </i>deeds and papers, 1636-18th cent. [Isle of Wight Record Office, DL]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Bennet, Simon (1624-82): </i>correspondence and accounts relating to banking business, c.1648-80 [Hatfield House Archives, Accounts 162]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Gules, a bezant between three demi-lions rampant, argent.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide fuller information about the 20th century ownership of Beachampton Hall or Calverton Manor?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide portraits or photographs of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 27 September 2023.</span></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-62164836776571773032023-09-16T07:43:00.005+01:002024-02-24T07:01:51.282+00:00(555) Bengough of The Ridge, Wotton-under-Edge<span style="font-family: georgia;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgub2HakswToJLe04GKpHTqKARLL7NQljfFy0cPAPBw5nei_EDYyl4seI2wXRzEe304Vbkx8lxFUaWWXK5C6yCuhcom95_nAJ91kEsBL7nG-W7E23mkfTGI8bAiINd0p8E9ShwBNS-hUM3IxGgNCi7G0IgiqywhrFhAO6Js6Z5fZmXk3G12_RJgCA0R72Vf/s1200/Bengough%20of%20The%20Ridge.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgub2HakswToJLe04GKpHTqKARLL7NQljfFy0cPAPBw5nei_EDYyl4seI2wXRzEe304Vbkx8lxFUaWWXK5C6yCuhcom95_nAJ91kEsBL7nG-W7E23mkfTGI8bAiINd0p8E9ShwBNS-hUM3IxGgNCi7G0IgiqywhrFhAO6Js6Z5fZmXk3G12_RJgCA0R72Vf/w167-h200/Bengough%20of%20The%20Ridge.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;">Bengough of The Ridge </span></td></tr></tbody></table>The Rev. George Bengough (1705?-53), who became a Presbyterian minister in Tewkesbury (Glos) in the mid 18th century, and with whom the genealogy below begins, was almost certainly the son of Henry Bengough (d. 1740) of Worcester. George and his wife, Elizabeth Pinnock or Pynock, were married in 1735 and their eldest son, Henry Bengough (1739-1818) was born four years later. Henry was destined for a career in the law but made his first appearance in the courts at the tender age of fourteen, when he had to appear before the Prerogative Court of Canterbury to swear to having written his late father's will at his father's direction. It was probably not much later that he was articled as a clerk to William Cadell of Bristol, solicitor, whose daughter, Joanna, he married in 1760. He subsequently went on build an extensive and lucrative practice as a solicitor in Bristol, acting for many of the leading families of the city for some fifty years. His brother-in-law, Thomas Cadell, was a successful publisher, and Henry invested in the business (his purchase of the copyright in <i>Blackstone's Commentaries</i> alone is said to have brought him £30,000). In due course he became a member of the city corporation and he was Mayor in 1792. Two years later, he used some of his accumulated capital to become one of the founders of the Bristol City Bank, which further increased his wealth. He retired from practice a few years before his death, but the valuation of his estate for probate estimated that he was worth some £250,000, placing him firmly among the super-rich of his age. Henry and his wife had at least four children, but all of them seem to have died before their parents, so at his death he left an unusually complex will which attempted to dictate the future uses of his wealth for up to 140 years after his death. The chief beneficiaries, apart from his widow, who was left a life interest in some of his property and died in 1821, were to be the poor of Bristol, for whom he endowed an almshouse in the city, and a large group of nephews and nieces, first among whom was his nephew, George Bengough (1794-1856). The lands in Somerset intended to support the almshouse did not produce sufficient income to realise his objective, and the income had to accrue until the 1870s, when at last they were sufficient to buy a site in Horfield Road and build Bengough's Almshouse. The will established a body of trustees who were charged with managing Henry's assets, paying annuities to some of his relatives and accumulating the surplus income until £1,500 was available, when it was to be invested in landed property. As a result the trustees built up a ragbag property portfolio with little coherence. There was litigation between the trustees and the intended beneficiaries, who attempted to gain control of the capital in a long-running case eventually decided in the trustees' favour by the House of Lords. </span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">George Bengough was himself a lawyer in Bristol, and may have taken over his uncle's practice on the latter's retirement. There is no record of his being formally articled to another solicitor, so he was probably taken into his uncle's firm without formal articles. In due course he became a member of Bristol corporation, but he was never as significant or dominant a figure as his uncle had been. He maintained the nonconformist tradition of the family, being a Unitarian, and was also a Whig in politics and an opponent of slavery, although his uncle had certainly acted for Bristol families with West Indian plantations and thus derived some of his wealth, directly or indirectly, from the proceeds of slavery. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Although the terms of his uncle's will were upheld by the House of Lords, in 1837 George was able to buy The Ridge at Wotton-under-Edge, and other large purchases of land followed, including the manor of Gaunt's Earthcott at Almondsbury in 1838. It seems probable that these acquisitions were financed by the profits of his own legal career rather than by the release of funds from his uncle's trustees. George made some minor changes to The Ridge, and built a chapel and bridge in the grounds, but the house was less than twenty years old when he acquired it and not in need of major works.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">George and his wife had four sons and four daughters. His eldest son, George Henry Bengough (1828-65) was of a serious cast of mind, and trained for the priesthood at Wells Theological College, but while he was studying there he met the leading Gloucestershire magistrate, Thomas Barwick Lloyd-Baker, who persuaded him that he could do more good in the world as a philanthropic layman than as 'yet another rich clergyman'. Together, the two men established the Hardwicke Reformatory, taking juvenile criminals from the slums of London and giving them a stable environment, education and physical labour with a view to reforming them. For several years, Bengough was the resident master of the institution, before moving on to advise on the creation of a similar body in Devon and then to manage the Kingswood reformatory near Bristol. The reformatory movement was surprisingly successful, having a marked impact on juvenile offending in the major cities, and spread rapidly in the 1850s and 1860s, earning government grants in the process. Bengough himself did not live to see this, however, for he seems to have contracted tuberculosis (whether from one of the young offenders he lived among or not is uncertain) and died in Florence in 1865. Since he had no son, and as The Ridge estate had been entailed, it passed to his next brother, John Charles Bengough (1829-1913), who may also have considered entering the church and was certainly a composer of hymn tunes in his later years, an interest he shared with his youngest brother, the Rev. Edward Stewart Bengough (1839-1920), who was for two years chaplain and precentor of King's College, Cambridge.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">John played his part in county affairs, being High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1877-78, and serving as a JP, DL and an officer in the Gloucestershire Yeomanry. However, for reasons which are unclear, in about 1884 he moved out of The Ridge (which was taken over by his eldest son, John Alan George Bengough (1859-99)) and moved to Upton House near Poole (Dorset), which he rented. J.C. Bengough and his wife Caroline Augusta had ten children, several of whom had interesting lives, although many of them predeceased their father. His second son, Clement Stuart Bengough (1861-1934) was a painfully shy and reclusive man, prone to fits of violent temper. Perhaps as a result of one such episode, he was sent to America as a remittance man, where he became a solitary rancher living in a log cabin in Wyoming, and the stuff of local legend. Another son, Cyril Francis Bengough (1864-1931) was more conventionally successful, becoming a civil engineer and retiring as chief engineer of the North-Eastern Railway to a manor house at Conderton (Worcs). John Alan Bengough (1859-99), having moved into The Ridge in 1884 moved out again to the dower house known as The Ridings in 1895. This time the cause seems to have been the declining income from the estate during the Agricultural Depression, and The Ridge was let to Colonel Parkinson. The family would never live there again. When J.A.G. Bengough died in 1899, another victim of tuberculosis, his children were all young and his widow moved away from Wotton-under-Edge. His elder son, John Crosbie Bengough (1888-1916) inherited the estate on the death of his grandfather in 1913 but was killed in the First World War. That landed the family with a second set of death duties within a few years, and obliged John's brother, Nigel James Bengough (1895-1980) to sell most the outlying lands the family had acquired in the early 19th century. Col. Parkinson and his son having both died during the First World War, The Ridge was unoccupied, and at some point in the 1920s the house and the 500 acre core of the estate were sold to a neighbouring landowner, Charles Kingsley Cory (1890-1967), who pulled down most of the house between 1934 and 1937. Nigel Bengough made his home in a farmhouse at Monkland (Herefs), which remains the property of his descendants today.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>The Ridge, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire</b></span></h3><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Ridge estate, which in medieval times had belonged to Kingswood Abbey, passed at the Dissolution of the Monasteries to the Poyntz family and descended with their Newark Park estate until the 18th century. It then changed hands a number of times before being bought by Edward Sheppard, a clothier from Uley, in 1805. The early 19th century was a period of widespread, if cyclical, prosperity in the Gloucestershire clothing industry, and work on the creation of The Ridge and laying out the grounds may have taken place over an extended period as a result. Nothing seems to have happened until at least 1810, when Sheppard was assessed for rates only on a farm, but probably began about that time as Sheppard sought a footpath diversion order - suggesting he was beginning to layout a park - in 1811. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_cW6QJy8C_-073Q49GDDR2BeW-2G4QgtpDytVGyjzyNeDAwsYz6st6AZmL5qJypdKT5rOsYrRJolRKI0xhEu6h9XQqui5is12EMgZQVq_Q4KUOig8l2GT8W3FLEqiOBlTg9aiKHVA21uWpuIYRex_fCTW3i2o5WzCxPO6eUoREP7dv11UgQork9qbc-V/s936/Ridge%20(The)%2010%201811.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="936" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_cW6QJy8C_-073Q49GDDR2BeW-2G4QgtpDytVGyjzyNeDAwsYz6st6AZmL5qJypdKT5rOsYrRJolRKI0xhEu6h9XQqui5is12EMgZQVq_Q4KUOig8l2GT8W3FLEqiOBlTg9aiKHVA21uWpuIYRex_fCTW3i2o5WzCxPO6eUoREP7dv11UgQork9qbc-V/w400-h361/Ridge%20(The)%2010%201811.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Ridge: sketch plan of (probably then unbuilt) mansion in 1811.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The plan he submitted shows the footprint of a gentleman's house which </span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">already incorporates key elements (the long</span></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">conservatory and the two bow fronts facing north-west) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">of the eventual design</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, but is not the same as the eventual layout. In 1814 the description of the property in the rating records changes from 'Ridge Farm' to 'House and Offices' so the shell of the building was probably then either complete or under construction. In 1816, a press report gives The Ridge as Edward Sheppard's address for the first time, so enough of the house must then have been complete for him to occupy it. Another footpath diversion order plan dated 1817, which shows only half the house, shows enough to make it clear that the layout was the same as that projected by 1811, but a lodge had been built and the environs had been transformed in a gentleman's park, with shelter belts and plantations of trees. It is thus pretty certain that a significant part of Sheppard's scheme was carried out in the 1810s. This is puzzling because since the publication of <i>Delineations of Gloucestershire</i> in 1825, </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">the </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">architect of Edward Sheppard's new house has been recorded as George Stanley Repton (1786-1858), son of the landscape gardener, Humphry Repton, who after many years as a pupil and assistant in the office of John Nash, finally set up on his own between 1818 and 1820. It would seem, therefore, that Sheppard, having begun by remodelling and extending the existing Ridge Farm or building a new house on its site, decided that it was not satisfactory, and turned to Repton to convert the - possibly incomplete - building into something grander. As early as 1810 </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Nash wrote to a client that he wanted to give Repton freedom to design “a Moiety of all
Cottages farm houses & picturesque buildings” for which commissions might
come to their office, but i</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">t seems unlikely that Nash would have allowed Repton to design a major new house as early as 1814. It was, however, not unusual for architects to pass on an important commission to favoured former pupils when they set up on their own, to help them establish their own practice, and it is possible that this is what happened at The Ridge. Another possibility is that Repton's elder brother John Adey Repton, who had a number of commissions in Gloucestershire at this time, was originally approached about work at The Ridge, and passed on the commission to a brother just starting to build an independent career.</span><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfke5sW1YXalugJzZyJ7VoEFOUUJ6bG1hwSa3e41XKNt9Dg7RdUBBW_rtk7Da9X2jC7K-Obwzvry3bzLLd14TjlmBVrtrFv_6zFvs-gfbJf1xHGgKA29kA9MzMSj9mKM8zD6PY77Tj2pCmyVFRY6-GStJfvgvJhZM3Tk9QTmdn9VirT67Wrqtl0aqVvf3/s789/Ridge%20(The)%2018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="789" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfke5sW1YXalugJzZyJ7VoEFOUUJ6bG1hwSa3e41XKNt9Dg7RdUBBW_rtk7Da9X2jC7K-Obwzvry3bzLLd14TjlmBVrtrFv_6zFvs-gfbJf1xHGgKA29kA9MzMSj9mKM8zD6PY77Tj2pCmyVFRY6-GStJfvgvJhZM3Tk9QTmdn9VirT67Wrqtl0aqVvf3/w640-h408/Ridge%20(The)%2018.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">The Ridge: engraving of the house from the south-west, 1825, from <i>Delineations of Gloucestershire.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrJYws8Dm01tX07-LRIIOjjamlBagBHCKJgzjv27SNfHABuPHa2y3cTKdY8ooI2fWjRz3diGZE1tUxSQ24oGlcNtsz6MpBV8xBKYnc6wBXzi9DY0YjrRDnZqIUv6o940avz9fKpxrxnQdRO2AGYvAUcLIIJgA8miysdCvO9Embiy4qHtDkGoemJHQvwoI/s983/Ridge%20(The)%207%201837.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="983" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrJYws8Dm01tX07-LRIIOjjamlBagBHCKJgzjv27SNfHABuPHa2y3cTKdY8ooI2fWjRz3diGZE1tUxSQ24oGlcNtsz6MpBV8xBKYnc6wBXzi9DY0YjrRDnZqIUv6o940avz9fKpxrxnQdRO2AGYvAUcLIIJgA8miysdCvO9Embiy4qHtDkGoemJHQvwoI/w640-h314/Ridge%20(The)%207%201837.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">The Ridge: garden front elevation from the sale particulars of 1837, showing the original arrangement, with pediments on the wings and <br />over the ground floor windows. Image: Gloucestershire Archives RZ354.1</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house that resulted from Repton's involvement was on a very considerable scale, and the commission must have helped to establish his career. Clearly it was a building he was proud of and of which he showed drawings to later clients, for the RIBA has a plan and elevation on paper watermarked 1825, which must have been made for such a purpose. The main block of the house was almost square, but the north front, which overlooked spectacular views, was extended to either side by four‑bay blank arcades concealing a conservatory on one side and service accommodation on the other. These terminated in single‑bay pavilions, again blind to the north, but lit by windows in their return elevations. The central block was itself in three parts: a two‑storey three‑bay centre with a concealed roof and balustraded parapet, and flanking, slightly projecting, wings which had an additional attic storey and pitched roofs running in templar fashion from front to back of the house. These wings had shallow curved bow windows. It is apparent from the plans and later views of the house how the building of the 1810s was simply incorporated into Repton's scheme. His main innovation was to create a new entrance front on the south side, with the tall earlier wings framing a broad Ionic portico rising the full height of the central three bays. All the ground‑floor windows on the main fronts were pedimented, and from the corners of the south front quadrant walls curved out to enclose a forecourt and conceal the rear view of the kitchen court. On the west, the glazed, south‑facing side of the conservatory looked out onto an enclosed flower garden, while to the west the buildings of the service court incorporated the earlier L-shaped range.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2IdpMohsQi3JxAXWVsz3PxP6meTjhgbJHitGtM7-6NQN8jQ7El7DLFiNfNcnqgXVbAat-y4rFyqhhH7EouYolEZWS1cmjlXSglvTnAT8z6z0kZ2NZ2EysEJLed5vpOh35N8o6NPc1_kobc2eEprujSbVx7eQqQGyt2H-E85-mUJFWwGUhofXQyEJY6jS/s2048/Ridge%20(The)%2020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="2048" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2IdpMohsQi3JxAXWVsz3PxP6meTjhgbJHitGtM7-6NQN8jQ7El7DLFiNfNcnqgXVbAat-y4rFyqhhH7EouYolEZWS1cmjlXSglvTnAT8z6z0kZ2NZ2EysEJLed5vpOh35N8o6NPc1_kobc2eEprujSbVx7eQqQGyt2H-E85-mUJFWwGUhofXQyEJY6jS/w640-h328/Ridge%20(The)%2020.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">The Ridge: ground floor plan of the house from the sale particulars of 1837. Image: Gloucestershire Archives RZ354.1.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Although no illustrations seem to survive to show how the interiors of The Ridge were decorated, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">an excellent and detailed plan of the</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> house was published when it was sold in 1837 after Edward Sheppard became bankrupt</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. Along the north front, a suite of three rooms (drawing room, library and dining room) of varied shapes inter‑connected through wide folding doors. The 60ft conservatory opened from the drawing room in what was coming to be the usual way. Behind this sequence of rooms ran a passage open on one side through an arcade to the unheated entrance hall. From the hall itself, a top‑lit oval staircase hall containing a cantilevered stone stair opened to the east, while on its west side was an elaborated columned niche. A subsidiary stair occupied the space behind the niche, and the ground floor also contained a breakfast room and justice room, poked rather awkwardly down a corridor behind the second staircase.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />The size of The Ridge, and the grandeur of its bow‑ended dining room and lengthy conservatory announced Sheppard's wealth to the world; the book‑lined library and provision of a justice room signalled his politeness and his aspiration to the magistracy. But Sheppard's was a fortune founded on industrial wealth, and ultimately he proved vulnerable to the collapse in the clothing trade which took Paul Wathen, Daniel Lloyd and other local clothiers into bankruptcy. The Ridge was auctioned at the Old Bell Inn, Dursley, in 1837, and was bought by George Bengough (1794-1856), a Bristol solicitor. He added a second lodge and built a delightful cast-iron bridge in the grounds in 1840 and a chapel at The Ridings in 1841, and apparently also made some changes to the house. Later photographs of the garden front shows raised parapets in lieu of the pediments on the wings, and that the pediments on the ground floor windows had also been removed. There seem, however, to have been few other changes to Repton's design, at least externally.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKo_-TRRoV0o0_gMFCZfRMbT0c78JrAWV__QC_MDdpxuFAKvIKGgG8xdDwUZ19D-mjd3rH0UXGsh0uOIjLELJDPD7UFycBaOiTj2p_JsXH6Q4J7bfqRmkSJwEQolIHspozO30-3TS6yPzyOzX7ykOasBfNUSq3W4hHBBMcGlGko_SYHqr-9QbTUBekJgW/s1435/Ridge%20(The)%20001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1435" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKo_-TRRoV0o0_gMFCZfRMbT0c78JrAWV__QC_MDdpxuFAKvIKGgG8xdDwUZ19D-mjd3rH0UXGsh0uOIjLELJDPD7UFycBaOiTj2p_JsXH6Q4J7bfqRmkSJwEQolIHspozO30-3TS6yPzyOzX7ykOasBfNUSq3W4hHBBMcGlGko_SYHqr-9QbTUBekJgW/w640-h320/Ridge%20(The)%20001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">The Ridge: a photograph of the garden front, probably in the 1860s, showing how the pediments over the wings <br />and ground-floor windows had been removed. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The estate descended in turn to George's sons, George Henry Bengough (d. 1865) and John Charles Bengough (d. 1913), but was not occupied by the family after 1895, and was </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">let until the death of the tenant in the First World War. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">It was among extensive Gloucestershire estates put up for sale by John's grandson, Nigel James Bengough, in 1918, but remained unsold. Unoccupied and deteriorating, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">it was finally sold with the 500 acre core of the estate to a neighbouring landowner, Charles Kingsley Cory (1890-1967), who demolished it except for the carriage courtyard. The exact date of demolition is uncertain. A press report in 1933 stated that it was intended to demolish the house, but not until May 1937 does another report mention that demolition had taken place; some of the doorcases are said to have been reused in the extension and refitting of Stancombe Park (Glos), which seem to have been underway in 1936.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wHTIueIBxRqQMr9mPzftVo2YdWP1Bu-t2R0N9gNNJYRBCHUCY5FwDMPoTNQDdGxIBZR2tcAe7hsPi16GTWmWqrkl_uIJrbmw97m2iYkAgPhXmUsVSVxSbRVbR7Hy9o3vcllmWykKSMjbZJiViC1TKxHjM3FZoA33lNbvbiVF0YrYXeuOzHCFpi0WvVkn/s803/Ridge%20(The)%2012%20new%20house%20PYiangou%202009.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="803" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wHTIueIBxRqQMr9mPzftVo2YdWP1Bu-t2R0N9gNNJYRBCHUCY5FwDMPoTNQDdGxIBZR2tcAe7hsPi16GTWmWqrkl_uIJrbmw97m2iYkAgPhXmUsVSVxSbRVbR7Hy9o3vcllmWykKSMjbZJiViC1TKxHjM3FZoA33lNbvbiVF0YrYXeuOzHCFpi0WvVkn/w640-h244/Ridge%20(The)%2012%20new%20house%20PYiangou%202009.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">The Ridge: unexecuted scheme for a replacement house designed by Peter Yiangou, 2009. Image: Peter Yiangou.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the 1960s the abandoned and ruinous carriage court was restored as a holiday home for Raymond Cory, but when his daughters came to sell the estate in the early 21st century, they increased the value of the property by obtaining planning permission for the building of a new classical country house on the site of The Ridge, to the designs of Peter Yiangou. This would have emulated the external appearance of the Repton house - without being a precise copy - but not its internal layout, and would have incorporated the existing house. The scheme was widely publicised as an interesting proposal at the time. However, in 2014, after the property had been sold to The Ebony Trust, they commissioned a smaller scheme in an earlier 18th century style from Quinlan & Francis Terry which was also given planning permission. Unfortunately, neither scheme has been proceeded with at the time of writing, although some minor additions and improvements have been made to the existing house.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: built c.1811-17 for Edward Sheppard (d. 1849); sold following his bankruptcy in 1837 to George Bengough (d. 1856); to son, George Henry Bengough (d. 1865); to brother, John Charles Bengough (1829-1913), who moved out in 1884 in favour of his son, John Alan George Bengough (1859-99); to trustees for son, John Crosbie Bengough (1888-1916); to brother, Wing-Cdr. Nigel James Bengough (1895-1980), who sold between 1921 and 1934 to Charles Kingsley Cory (1890-1967), who demolished the house c.1934; to son, Raymond Cory (1922-2007); to daughters, who sold 2009 to The Ebony Trust. From 1895 to about 1916 the house was let </i><i>to Col. Parkinson and his son, Thomas Parkinson, solicitor. </i><br /><br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bengough family of The Ridge</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bengough, Rev. George (1705?-53). </b>Almost certainly the son of Henry Bengough (d. 1740) of Worcester, baptised at the Angel St. Independent Chapel, Worcester, 22 March 1704/5. Presbyterian minister at Tewkesbury (Glos), who evidently also had links with the Barton St. Chapel in Gloucester as the registers of that church include a note of the baptisms of most of his children at Tewkesbury. He married, 13 March 1734/5 at Tirley (Glos), Elizabeth, daughter of James Pinnock alias Pynock of Bristol, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Henry Bengough (1739-1818) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) James Bengough (b. 1742), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">baptised in the Presbyterian church at Tewkesbury,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 19 March 1741/2</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Ann Bengough (c.1744-1819), born about 1744; married, 9 November 1780 at Stapleton (Glos), Richard Rickets (1747-1818), and had issue two sons and two daughters; buried 5 November 1819;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) George Bengough (b. 1745); baptised at the Presbyterian church in Tewkesbury, 26 March 1744/5; died young;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Elizabeth Bengough (b. 1747), baptised in the Presbyterian church at Tewkesbury, 9 November 1747; died young;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Elizabeth Bengough (1749-61), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">baptised in the Presbyterian church at Tewkesbury,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 15 November 1749; died young and was buried at Tewkesbury, 4 May 1761;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) George Bengough (1751-1804) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Tewkesbury.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">His will was proved in the PCC, 1 January 1753. His widow's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bengough, Henry (1739-1818). </b>Eldest son of Rev. George Bengough (1705?-53) and his wife Elizabeth Pynock, born 1739. Articled clerk to William Cadell of Bristol, attorney, who after serving his apprenticeship became a leading solicitor in Bristol, acting for many of the chief merchant families in the city, and being for some years Under-Sheriff of the City. He was also one of the founding partners in the Bristol City Bank, 1794. An alderman of Bristol Corporation (Sheriff, 1789; Mayor, 1792-93), he was regarded as the dominant public figure in Bristol in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. After retiring from legal practice he became a JP for Bristol. He was a Unitarian in religion. He married, 10 April 1760 at Christ Church, Bristol, Joanna (1739-1821), daughter of William Cadell of Bristol, attorney, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Mary Bengough (1761-96), baptised </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">at Lewins Mead Unitarian Chapel,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">9 February 1761; died unmarried and was buried </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">at Lewins Mead Unitarian Chapel,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 28 December 1796;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Alice Bengough (b. 1764), baptised at Lewins Mead Unitarian Chapel, 13 November 1764; probably died young;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) George Bengough (1772-1811?), baptised </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">at Lewins Mead Unitarian Chapel,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 20 February 1772; possibly the man of this name who was buried at St Swithin, Walcot, Bath (Som.), 5 November 1811;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Henry Hett Bengough (b. 1776), baptised at Lewins Mead Unitarian Chapel, 20 June 1776; probably died young.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived in Queen Square, Bristol, and also acquired a seat at Westbury-on-Trym (Glos).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 10 April 1818 and was buried in the Lord Mayor's Chapel, Bristol, where he is commemorated by a monument designed by Sir Francis Chantrey. He left a long and complex will which was proved in the PCC but led to lengthy litigation in Chancery, finally decided by the House of Lords. By his will he left a sum to endow an almshouse charity (Bengough's Almshouses) in Bristol. His widow was buried in the family vault at Lewins Mead Unitarian Chapel, 23 June 1821; her will was proved in the PCC, 28 June 1821.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bengough, George (1751-1804). </b>Fourth and youngest son of </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Rev. George Bengough (1705?-53) and his wife Elizabeth Pynock, born at Tewkesbury (Glos), 7 November, and baptised in the Presbyterian chapel there, 2 December 1751. Apprenticed to Samuel Fripp of Bristol, soap boiler and tallow chandler, 1768, but there seems to be no evidence that he pursued a commercial career: in the few contemporary references to him he is described as a gentleman. He married, 1 March 1791 at St James, Bristol, Ann (1757-1835), daughter of Samuel Fripp (1723-94) of Bristol, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) George Bengough (1794-1856) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Henry Bengough (1795-1848), born 10 January 1795; married, 15 June 1826 at Bathwick (Som.), Louisa (1796-1871), daughter of Joseph Chapman, and had issue three sons; died 20 November and was buried at Widcombe (Som.), 25 November 1848; will proved in the PCC, 14 December 1848;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Samuel Bengough (1797-1802), born 31 December 1797 and baptised at Lewins Mead Unitarian Chapel, Bristol, 11 May 1798; died young and was buried at Lewins Mead Unitarian Chapel, Bristol, 30 October 1802;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) James Bengough (1799-1825), born 2 April 1799; married, 3 February 1825 at St Augustine-the-Less, Bristol, Sarah Taprell (1801-68), and had issue one daughter (born posthumously); died 4 December and was buried at Lewins Mead Unitarian Chapel, Bristol, 15 December 1825; administration of his goods was granted to his widow;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Anne Elizabeth Bengough (1801-33), born 5 December 1801; married, 2 August 1827 at St James, Bristol, William Ignatius Okely (1804-59), architect, partner of James Foster of Bristol, architect until 1837 and later a Moravian minister, son of Rev. Dr. William Okely of Mirfield (Yorks WR), Moravian minister, but had no issue; buried in the Moravian Church burial ground, Upper Maudlin St., Bristol, 19 May 1833.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived in Bristol.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 7 April and was buried at Lewins Mead Unitarian Chapel, Bristol, 16 April 1804; his will was proved in the PCC, 3 October 1804. His widow died 6 January 1835 and was buried in the Moravian Church burial ground, Upper Maudlin St., Bristol; her will was proved in the PCC, 4 February 1835.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bengough, George (1794-1856). </b>Eldest son of George Bengough (1751-1804) of Bristol and his wife Ann, daughter of Samuel Fripp of Bristol, born 2 January and baptised at Lewins Mead Unitarian Chapel, 6 February 1794. Solicitor in Bristol; admitted to Lincoln's Inn, 1826. A member of the Common Council of the City of Bristol from 1829 (High Sheriff, 1831-32) and a Trustee of the Bristol Municipal Charities, 1836-52; JP for Bristol; High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, 1846-47. Secretary of the Bristol Theological Lecture Fund and the Bristol Asylum for the Blind. He was a Liberal in politics and a Unitarian in religion, and an an opponent of slavery, being one of those who petitioned the mayor of Bristol to hold a public meeting in favour of abolition throughout the British dominions, 1828. He married, 2 August 1826 at St Andrew, Clifton, Bristol, Anne (1802-75), daughter of Capt. John Cooke Carpenter RN, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) George Henry Bengough (1828-65) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) John Charles Bengough (1829-1913) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Emily Mary Agnes Josephine Bengough (1831-77), born 3 January and baptised at St Andrew, Clifton, Bristol, 31 May 1831; died unmarried at St Mary Church (Devon), 2 February 1877; will proved 23 March 1877 (effects under £5,000);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Isabella Bengough (1833-99), baptised at St Andrew, Clifton, Bristol, 3 July 1833; after her father's death, lived with her youngest brother and presumably acted as his housekeeper; died unmarried at Hemingby, 14 April 1899; will proved 10 June 1899 and 18 September 1901 (estate £5,544);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Gertrude Anne Bengough (1834-61), born 10 November 1834 and baptised at St James, Bristol, 17 June 1835; died unmarried and was buried at Wotton-under-Edge, 23 March 1861; administration of goods granted to her brother John, 24 January 1876 (effects under £5,000);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Maj-Gen. Sir Harcourt Mortimer Bengough (1837-1922), kt., born 25 November 1837; educated at Rugby; army officer (Ensign, 1855; Lt., 1855; Capt., 1864; Maj., 1878; Lt-Col. 1881; Col., 1883; Brig-Gen., 1886; Maj-Gen., 1894), who served in the Crimean War, First Zulu War and Third Anglo-Burmese War (mentioned in despatches, 1886); appointed CB 1886 and KCB, 1908; published <i>Memories of a soldier's life</i> (1913); married, 22 December 1876 at Yorktown (Surrey), Christina (1852-1938), daughter of Henry Maybery of Ely Tower, Brecon (Brecons.), and had issue four sons; died at Bognor Regis (Sussex), 30 March 1922; will proved 21 April 1922 (estate £464);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Rev. Edward Stewart Bengough (1839-1920), born July and baptised at Wotton-under-Edge, 18 October 1839; educated at Oriel College, Oxford (matriculated 1858; BA 1861; MA 1865; BMus, 1872); ordained deacon, 1863 and priest, 1864; curate in Kidderminster (Worcs), 1863-66, Weston-in-Gordano (Som.), 1866-68 and St Thomas, Oxford, 1868-73; chaplain and precentor of King's College, Cambridge, 1873-75; rector of Hemingby (Lincs), 1876-91 and Horncastle (Lincs), 1881-1914; a composer of musical works, including a setting of <i>God save the king</i> for four voices (1902) and a <i>Te Deum</i> (1910); died unmarried, 20 July 1920; will proved 23 November 1920 (estate £1,186);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Harriott Caroline Bengough (1842-44), born 14 December 1842; died in infancy and was buried at Uley (Glos), 24 February 1844</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He was heir to his uncle, Henry Bengough of Bristol, solicitor and partner in the Bristol City Bank. In the 1830s he lived at Cotham Lodge, Bristol. He purchased The Ridge in 1837 and the manor of Gaunts Earthcott at Almondsbury in 1838, and also acquired land at Monkland (Herefs), Eastington (Glos), Shirenewton (Mon) and Cirencester (Glos). After his death his widow moved to London but soon settled at St Mary Church (Devon).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 25 December 1856 and was buried at Wotton-under-Edge, 2 January 1857; his will was proved in the PCC, 7 February 1857. His widow died at St Mary Church (Devon), 17 January and was buried at Torquay Cemetery, 21 January 1875; her will was proved 19 May 1875 (effects under £1,500).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bengough, George Henry (1828-65). </b>Eldest son of George Bengough (1794-1856) and his wife Anne, daughter of Capt. John Cooke Carpenter RN, born 24 March and baptised at St. Andrew, Clifton, Bristol (Glos), 19 May 1828. Educated at Winchester, Oriel College, Oxford (matriculated 1846; BA 1850; MA 1853) and Wells Theological College (admitted 1850). He originally intended to make a career in the church, but was persuaded instead by Thomas Barwick Lloyd-Baker of Hardwicke Court (Glos) to join him in the establishment and management of a pioneering reformatory for boys with criminal convictions at Hardwicke in 1852, of which he served as the first governor for several years before helping to establish a similar institution in Devon and then managing the Kingswood Reformatory in Gloucestershire, where he remained until his health declined. He was the first Secretary of the Reformatory Union, and was also an officer in the Royal South Gloucestershire Light Infantry Militia (Capt., 1858) and a JP for Gloucestershire. He was a radical Whig in politics. He married 1st, 22 September 1855 at St Michael, Gloucester, Harriet (1835-59), younger daughter of Dr. Thomas Evans MD, and 2nd, 11 September 1860 at Stapleton (Glos), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Mary</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Josephine (1841-1917), eldest daughter of Rev. Joseph Henry Butterworth, vicar of Stapleton, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Marion Agnes Bengough (1856-96), baptised at St Michael, Gloucester, 26 November 1856; emigrated to South Africa in 1879 with her friend </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">Elenora Catharine Cuyler</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">and worked as a nurse at Kimberley; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">author of the novels </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">So near akin</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> (1891) and <i>In a promised land</i> (1893), which are respectively based on her experience of life in England and South Africa; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">died unmarried at Cape Town, 3 October 1896; will proved 1 December 1896 (effects £10,191);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Amy Georgina Bengough (1857-1935), born Oct-Dec 1857 and baptised at St Peter, Bournemouth (Hants), 3 January 1858; acted as companion to her uncle, Rev. E.S. Bengough (1839-1920) at Horncastle (Lincs); died unmarried at Horncastle, 27 April 1935; will proved 22 October 1935 (estate £5,762);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Mary George Etheldreda Bengough (1863-1936), born in Paris (France); educated at University College, Bristol; travelled to India, 1921; died unmarried, 24 January 1936; will proved 20 March 1936 (estate £18,218);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.2) Beatrice Eugenie Bengough (1864-1952), born in Paris, 9 June 1864 and baptised at Honfleur (France), 18 August 1864 and again at Stapleton, 18 June 1866; educated at St Mary's, Wantage; a Sister of Mercy at St Mary's Convent, Wantage; died Apr-Jun 1952.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited The Ridge from his father in 1856. His widow moved to Clifton, Bristol after his death, and later to London.</i></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died in Florence (Italy), 22 October 1865 and was buried in the Cimitero Accotolico there. His will was proved 21 November 1865 (effects under £16,000). His first wife died at Plymouth (Devon), 5 July 1859. His widow died 16 December 1917; her will was proved 19 January 1918 (estate £15,354).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bengough, John Charles (1829-1913). </b>Second son of </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">George Bengough (1794-1856) and his wife Anne, daughter of Capt. John Cooke Carpenter RN, born 20 May and baptised at St Andrew, Clifton, Bristol, 22 June 1829. Educated at Rugby and Exeter and Oriel Colleges, Oxford (matriculated 1847; BA 1851). An officer in the Royal Gloucestershire Yeomanry Cavalry (Capt., 1870; retired 1877) and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">2nd (Volunteer) Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment (Capt., retired 1885). </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">JP and DL for Gloucestershire; High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, 1877-78. He was a composer of hymn tunes and a collection of his compositions, dating from c.1890, is now in Gloucestershire Archives. He married, 9 June 1857 at Newington Bagpath (Glos), Caroline Augusta (c.1834-99), daughter of Rev. Alan Gardner Cornwall (1798-1872) of Ashcroft House (Glos), rector of Kingscote and Newington Bagpath (Glos), and had issue*:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) John Alan George Bengough (1859-99) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) <span style="background-color: white;">Clement Stuart Bengough</span> (1861-1934), born 14 January and baptised at Frampton Cotterell (Glos), 28 March 1861; educated at Marlborough College; played two first class cricket matches for Gloucestershire CCC; noted for his painful shyness, occasional fits of violent temper, vicious wolfhounds and a love of books and flowers, he was sent to America as a remittance man in about 1887 and became a rancher near Laramie, Wyoming, where he lived as a recluse in an isolated log cabin; he died 19 June 1934, his will directing that he be buried on the hillside near his cabin, where he was commemorated by a monument; his will was proved 19 November 1934 (estate in England £4,856), but he reputedly left some $40,000 in cash in America;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Evelyn Caroline Bengough (1862-88), baptised at Newington Bagpath, 4 October 1862; died unmarried and was buried at Hamworthy (Dorset), 27 August 1888;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Cyril Francis Bengough (1864-1931), born 31 March and baptised at Olveston (Glos), 11 May 1864; educated at Marlborough College, University College, Bristol, and the Institution of Civil Engineers (admitted 1883; MICE, 1893); civil engineer with the Tyne Commissioners, 1888-90 and North-Eastern Railway, 1890-1926, becoming their Chief Engineer; married, 30 April 1891 at Gosforth (Northbld), Agnes Elizabeth (1866-1957), eighth daughter of George Angus of Low Gosforth House, and had issue three sons and three daughters and one further child who died in infancy; lived latterly at Conderton Manor (Worcs); died 22 July and was buried at Overbury (Worcs), 26 July 1931; will proved 2 September 1931 (estate £15,164);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Cecil Ann Bengough (1865-1949), born 29 August and baptised at Olveston (Glos), 25 September 1865; married, 5 April 1894 at Hamworthy (Dorset), Rev. Thomas Henry Philpot (1839-1917) of Hedge End, Botleigh (Hants), rector of Stockleigh Pomeroy (Devon), 1894-1917, but had no issue; died 3 January 1949; will proved 7 May 1949 (estate £4,637);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Ernest Henry Bengough (1866-87), born 29 November 1866 and baptised at Wotton-under-Edge, 4 March 1867; educated at Rugby and Oriel College, Oxford (matriculated 1886); died unmarried and was buried at Hamworthy, 3 May 1887;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Charles William Bengough (1867-97), born 22 November 1867 and baptised at Wotton-under-Edge, 21 February 1868; educated at Rugby; an officer in the army (2nd Lt., 1888; Lt., 1890); died unmarried, 26 January and was buried at Hamworthy, 29 January 1897; administration of goods granted to his father, 12 March 1897 (effects £162);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">twin, </i><span style="font-family: georgia;">Emily Marguerite Bengough (1869-1961), born 23 October and baptised at Wotton-under-Edge, 17 December 1869; died unmarried, aged 92, 28 November 1961; will proved 5 February 1962 (estate £479);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) <i>twin, </i>Eleanor Daisy Bengough (1869-87), born 23 October </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">and baptised at Wotton-under-Edge, 17 December</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">1869; died unmarried of tuberculosis, 9 October, and was buried at Hamworthy, 14 October 1887;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) Alan John Bengough (1872-1913), born 16 December 1872 and baptised at Wotton-under-Edge, 1 April 1873; lived at Latteridge, Iron Acton (Glos); died 26 August and was buried at Iron Acton, 30 August 1913; will proved 29 September 1913 (estate £1,020).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited The Ridge from his elder brother in 1865, but handed it over to his eldest son in 1884, and lived subsequently at Upton House, Poole (Dorset) and Southampton.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 19 March 1913 and left instructions that his body should be cremated; his will was proved 26 September 1913 (estate £43,102). His wife died at Upton House, Poole, 7 April 1899.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* The couple also had a stillborn son in 1858.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bengough, John Alan George (1859-99). </b>Eldest son of John Charles Bengough (1829-1913) and his wife Caroline Augusta, daughter of Rev. Alan Gardner-Cornwall, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">rector of Kingscote and Newington Bagpath (Glos),</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> born 14 July and baptised at Newington Bagpath, 21 August 1859. Educated at Eton and Exeter College, Oxford (matriculated 1878; BA 1884; MA 1886). An officer in the 2nd Gloucestershire Volunteer Rifles (Lt., 1882; Capt., 1889; retired 1889). JP (from 1884) and DL (from 1882) for Gloucestershire. He married, 10 November 1887 at Ballyheigue (Co. Kerry), Rose Margaret Anne (1863-1941), second daughter of Col. James Crosbie of Ballyheigue Castle, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) John Crosbie Bengough (1888-1916) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Evelyn Rose Bengough (1889-1971), born 23 November 1889 and baptised at Newington Bagpath (Glos), 10 January 1890; educated at Royal Academy of Music (LRAM); served in First World War as a nurse in France with the British Red Cross; after the war she became a music teacher at Petworth (Sussex); lived later at The Priory, Buckland Dinham (Som.); died unmarried, 16 May 1971; will proved 8 September 1971 (estate £5,577);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Gwenda Kathleen Bengough (1892-1976), born 21 May 1892; lived with her elder sister at Buckland Dinham; died unmarried, 24 March 1976; will proved 21 May 1976 (estate £27,474);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Nigel James Bengough (1895-1980) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Madeleine Lois Bengough (1898-1981), born 1 April and baptised at Newington Bagpath, 26 April 1898; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">lived with her elder sister at Buckland Dinham; died unmarried, 7 December 1981; will proved 26 April 1982 (estate £29,149).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He occupied The Ridge from 1884-95 and then moved to the dower house, The Ridings. After his death his widow declined to stay on the estate and it was subsequently tenanted. She lived subsequently at various addresses including Tocknells House, Painswick (Glos), The Abbey, Cranbrook (Kent) and Pallingham Manor, Petworth (Sussex).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died of tuberculosis in the lifetime of his father, 24 November, and was buried at Wotton-under-Edge, 29 November 1899; administration of his effects was granted to his widow, 9 March 1900 (effects £74). His widow died 24 January 1941; her will was proved 30 September 1941 (estate £4,584).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3OVOxa0lIGVcNE-9IOoPrOVASjUciZnQcDM-Qc3ycP8tMlAEXDywGXtqfy7NeOZlgcS1xrTVCOG28ymDm79P4iA4mbkQsUvDSc3cbnAEGvezH0AQ70EScTrgTRI7Ve49hzHE2MDlt-mNxgCyBNUPxjHiEinQU0J32chrDrH2NcKWF3zNTOZdjHSD4JEc/s751/Bengough,%20J.C.%201888-1916%202.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="591" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3OVOxa0lIGVcNE-9IOoPrOVASjUciZnQcDM-Qc3ycP8tMlAEXDywGXtqfy7NeOZlgcS1xrTVCOG28ymDm79P4iA4mbkQsUvDSc3cbnAEGvezH0AQ70EScTrgTRI7Ve49hzHE2MDlt-mNxgCyBNUPxjHiEinQU0J32chrDrH2NcKWF3zNTOZdjHSD4JEc/w158-h200/Bengough,%20J.C.%201888-1916%202.jpg" width="158" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">John Crosbie Bengough (1888-1916) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bengough, John Crosbie (1888-1916). </b>Elder son of John Alan George Bengough (1859-99) and his wife Rose Margaret Anne, second daughter of Col. James Crosbie of Ballyheigue Castle (Co. Kerry), baptised at Newington Bagpath (Glos), 29 November 1888. Educated at Rugby and Emmanuel College, Cambridge (matriculated 1908; BA 1911). He was entered for the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich but failed an eyesight test and went to Cambridge instead. After taking his degree he went out to the Transvaal to farm, but returned in 1913 and joined the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars (2nd Lt., 1913; T/Capt., 1915; mentioned in despatches), serving as ADC to General Peyton. He was a freemason from 1914. He was unmarried and without issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited The Ridge on the death of his grandfather in 1913, but never moved into the house.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was killed in action in a cavalry charge on the western frontier in Egypt, 26 February 1916, and was buried at the Chatby Military Cemetery, Alexandria (Egypt); he is commemorated by a monument at Wotton-under-Edge. Administration of his goods was granted to his mother, 2 September 1916 (estate £5,824).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixz1ZhI1dz2by8kEwk1Van8XYx2nSP8MEKj6M3KCUyvcDN1VN8NSBrzosSlaqOrFjiF5uMxIFl0NueE5mOXF5c61gPHW-xTH7UX8MYkHGuQb19yxI1xgX55Ah1aU9snQyHS1GaPLlZ4E3sSGR5oh6R2khBw6D-MDt97QYcqXgFBZNnoUqkbrrnZESpk_jS/s507/Bengough,%20Nigel.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="467" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixz1ZhI1dz2by8kEwk1Van8XYx2nSP8MEKj6M3KCUyvcDN1VN8NSBrzosSlaqOrFjiF5uMxIFl0NueE5mOXF5c61gPHW-xTH7UX8MYkHGuQb19yxI1xgX55Ah1aU9snQyHS1GaPLlZ4E3sSGR5oh6R2khBw6D-MDt97QYcqXgFBZNnoUqkbrrnZESpk_jS/w184-h200/Bengough,%20Nigel.jpg" width="184" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Nigel James Bengough (1895-1980) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bengough, Nigel James (1895-1980). </b>Second son </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">of John Alan George Bengough (1859-99) and his wife Rose Margaret Anne, second daughter of Col. James Crosbie of Ballyheigue Castle (Co. Kerry), born 4 January and baptised at Newington Bagpath (Glos), 4 March 1895. Educated at Haileybury College and the Royal School of Mines. An officer in the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry (2nd Lt., 1914; Lt. 1916; retired as Hon. Capt. 1917), who obtained a pilot's licence in 1915 and was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps (Flying Offr, 1915; Flight Cdr., 1916) in the First World War; an officer in </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">the Royal Air Force (Pilot Offr., 1939; Fl. Offr., 1940; Fl. Lt., 1942; Sq. Ldr., 1944; retired as</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Wing Cdr., 1944) in the Second World War. He was an enthusiastic and successful archer, winning several trophies from the 1920s to the 1950s. In retirement, he became Chairman of Herefordshire Community Council and Master of the Guild of Hereford Craftsmen. He married, 4 September 1924, Alice Ernestine (1893-1982), second daughter of Sir George Albu (1857-1935), 1st bt., the German-born South African diamond magnate, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Jane Bengough (1926-2006), born 5 October 1926; married, 15 July 1952, as his third wife, Richard Bridges St. John Quarry OBE (1912-2002) of Gaddeshill House, Eversley (Hants), company director, son of Maj. St John S. Quarry, and had issue one son and one daughter; died 9 May 2006; will proved 19 December 2006;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Sir Piers Henry George Bengough (1929-2005), kt., born 24 May 1929; educated at Eton; an officer in the army, 1948-73 (2nd Lt., 1948; Lt., 1951; Capt., 1956; Maj., 1963; Lt-Col., 1971; retired 1973) and a member of the Hon. Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, 1981-99; Hon. Colonel of the Royal Hussars, 1983-90; racehorse owner and amateur jockey (he rode over thirty winners); a member of the Jockey Club from 1965; a Trustee of Ascot Racecourse, 1973-97 (Chairman, 1982-97) and Queen's Representative at Ascot, 1982-97; also a director of several other racecourses and Chairman of the Compensation Fund for Jockeys, 1981-89; appointed OBE, 1973 and KCVO, 1986; DL for Hereford & Worcester, 1987; High Sheriff of Herefordshire, 2002-03; lived at Great House, Canon Pyon (Herefs) and later Monkland (Herefs); married, 21 June 1952, the former Olympic figure skater, Bridget (1928-2019), daughter of Dr. F. Shirley Adams MD of Harley St., London and Alton House, Seaview (IoW), and had issue two sons; died 18 April 2005; will proved 21 September 2005;</span></div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He inherited The Ridge from his elder brother in 1916, but sold outlying portions of the estate comprising some 3,000 acres around Almondsbury, Winterbourne, Cirencester and Shirenewton (Mon.) in 1918 in order to meet the double death duties payable on the property following the deaths in rapid succession of his father and brother. He lived for a time at Alkerton Grange, Eastington (Glos). The Ridge itself was eventually sold privately to Charles Kingsley Cory (1890-1967). Nigel Bengough lived subsequently at Monkland (Herefs).</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 13 February 1980; his will was proved 1 August 1980 (estate £229,889). His widow died 16 November 1982; her will was proved 11 April 1983 (estate £181,802).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Landed Gentry</i>, 1972, p.60; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">E.S. Lindley, <i>A History of Wotton‑under‑Edge</i>, 1956, pp. 325‑7; <i><a href="https://www.newspapers.com/image/446152882/?clipping_id=127870097&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjQ0NjE1Mjg4MiwiaWF0IjoxNjk0NDI0MzMyLCJleHAiOjE2OTQ1MTA3MzJ9.S1KJQ3dQrx4kH5ltR4HS4tUzSLP1jNYENJO_SY02lZc">Caspar Star-Tribune</a></i>, 27 February 1972, p. 58; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">G. Masefield, <i>Wotton under Edge: a century of change</i>, 1980, p. 92; N.W. Kingsley, <i>The country houses of Gloucestershire: vol. 2, 1660-1830</i>, 1992, pp. 209-11; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">N. Temple, George Repton’s Pavilion Notebook, 1993, pp. 9-10; J. Lyes, <i><a href="chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://bristolha.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/bha098.pdf">A strong smell of brimstone: the solicitors and attorneys of Bristol, 1740-1840</a></i>, 1999.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">No significant accumulation is known to survive. Some papers may remain with the family.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Argent, three lions' heads erased sable, each charged with an ermine spot or; on a chief indented of the second, three crosses pattée of the first.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone knows more about the will of Henry Bengough (1739-1818) than I have discovered, and especially about how far it benefited his nephew George and subsequent generations of the family, I should be very pleased to hear from them.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Does anyone know why J.C. Bengough moved out of The Ridge in 1884 in favour of his eldest son?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide portraits or photographs of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 16 September 2023 and updated 27 December 2023 and 24 February 2024. I am most grateful to Thoss Shearer for sharing his research on The Ridge with me, and to George Hudson and Peter Bowen for additional information.</span></div></div></div></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-17990500464436951202023-08-29T15:55:00.006+01:002024-03-02T15:03:39.275+00:00(554) Benett of Norton Bavant and Bennett of Pythouse<span style="font-family: georgia;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxKKVHnHSxI6swzUtPNd5op2AukmVSu05IBExdSZBWVugrmZGsSNHYu1gGyqXEoGduC6OPsmdI2kEiSRxJyGToTTy5kQIfTCPBUbxykPDzGamujoIF0qGVA209JCesmiVyCbi94tDwNV6XB3bhkNPLnhuGcXsWsj8AdujzmNFBYYyCA3tB4xov_danr-_/s1200/Benett%20of%20Pythouse%20and%20Norton%20Bavant.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxKKVHnHSxI6swzUtPNd5op2AukmVSu05IBExdSZBWVugrmZGsSNHYu1gGyqXEoGduC6OPsmdI2kEiSRxJyGToTTy5kQIfTCPBUbxykPDzGamujoIF0qGVA209JCesmiVyCbi94tDwNV6XB3bhkNPLnhuGcXsWsj8AdujzmNFBYYyCA3tB4xov_danr-_/w167-h200/Benett%20of%20Pythouse%20and%20Norton%20Bavant.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Benett of Norton Bavant and Pythouse </span></td></tr></tbody></table>This article concerns two Wiltshire families of the name Benett (or Bennett), which although initially unrelated were united by marriage at the end of the 17th century. The first family, which usually spelled their name as Benet, Bennet or Benett, was based at Norton Bavant and Westbury; the second, which preferred the common modern form of the name, Bennett, was at Pythouse in Tisbury.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Benetts are first recorded at Norton Bavant in 1390, when they were yeomen tenants of the Dominican nuns of Dartford Priory (Kent), which had been granted the manor in 1358. In the 15th century they flourished as clothiers, presumably from a base in one of the watermills on the River Wylye. John Benett leased a fulling mill on the river in 1486, and by the early 16th century the family were lessees, under Dartford Priory (and after the dissolution of the monasteries, under the Crown), of most of the land in the manor. William Benett (c.1485-1558), with whom the genealogy below begins, was the third son of John Benett, but ultimately inherited his family's property at Norton Bavant, his eldest brother having died without issue and his next brother, Thomas, having trained as a lawyer and entered the church. The Rev. Dr. Thomas Benett (1480-1558) had a very successful and high profile career as a civil servant, serving as secretary to Cardinal Wolsey and after Wolsey's death, quickly establishing himself in the regard of Thomas Cromwell. The dissolution of the monasteries seems to have caused him few qualms, and he was rewarded with a series of preferments, including prebends at St Paul's Cathedral and the office of precentor at Salisbury Cathedral, where he actually lived. After Cromwell's execution he seems to have decided the time for a quieter retirement had come, and he settled into his role as precentor and choirmaster, and occupied himself with refounding the cathedral school at Salisbury.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Either William Benett (c.1485-1558) or more probably his son, William Benett (d. 1574) was MP for Westbury in 1554. In 1565 the younger William appeared at the herald's visitation for Wiltshire and proved his entitlement to the coat of arms illustrated above, despite his reluctance to be described as a gentleman. It seems likely that the arms had first been granted to his father in the reign of Henry VIII through the influence of his uncle, Dr. Benett. The younger William was also indebted to his uncle for a lease of the rectory manor in Westbury, which he was granted in 1544, and where he made his home and carried on his business as a clothier. He left this property to his eldest son, Thomas Benett (c.1549-1605), who eventually took over his business, but the Crown lease of the manor of Norton Bavant was left to his second son, William Benett (1551-1618), who renewed it in 1583 and in 1611 was the leading partner in a local consortium which purchased the freehold. His son, Thomas Benett (c.1597-1653), consolidated the family's gentry status by building a new house at Norton Bavant in 1641, for which the contract happily survives. It is not clear whether the Civil War interrupted progress on the building, but it seems possible, even though Thomas belonged to the victorious Parliamentarian faction. Thomas was married twice. His first wife died in childbirth and he quickly married again, producing a large family by his much younger second wife, who was the daughter of a well-to-do Bristol merchant. His son by his first wife, Thomas Benett (1623-78?), survived but got rather a raw deal, being on poor terms with his father and stepmother who largely disinherited him and later banished him to a farm at Burghfield (Berks). It was the eldest son by the second wife, John Benett (1630-1707) who was made the heir to Norton Bavant. He married but unfortunately he had no surviving children, so on his death the estate passed to his brother William Benett (d. 1707), a lawyer in Shaftesbury (Dorset).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The second family covered by this post, the Bennetts of Pythouse, had been yeomen in Tisbury for several generations before, in 1565, Thomas Bennett (d. 1591) bought the major portion of the manor of West Hatch in Tisbury when it was dispersed by sale. Thomas' predecessors seem to have used the surnames Pitt and Bennett interchangeably, and their home, Pythouse, probably obtained its name in this way. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house of this name was then in East Hatch, not on its present site. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">When </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thomas died in 1591 he had settled the enlarged estate on his widow Mary (d. 1618) for life, with remainder to his sons. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His elder son, John Bennett, may be the man of this name who was MP for Heytesbury (Wilts) in 1586 and/or for Westbury in 1589, but he died unmarried before his mother, so it was the second son, Thomas Bennett (1563-1635) who ultimately inherited Pythouse.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Thomas's son, Thomas Bennett (1588-1663) was a Royalist in the Civil War, and as one of the leaders of the 'Club Men' movement was lucky to avoid serious punishment after being arrested by the Parliamentarian forces. His property was sequestrated but he was allowed to recover it on the payment of a substantial fine in 1646. He survived to see the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, and when he died in 1663 he left a large family. He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Anthony Bennett (1623-88), but for reasons which are unclear, Anthony had inherited or accumulated debts which obliged him to sell Pythouse in 1669, and he lived subsequently at Stour Provost in Dorset. He had children, but little is known about them, and his descendants seem to have slipped out of the gentry. Anthony's younger brother, John Bennett (1625-77) had been a trooper in the Royalist army, 1643-45, and became steward to Lord Arundell at Wardour Castle in 1661. He was a friend of the Earl of Shaftesbury, who secured his election as MP for Shaftesbury, 1667-76, and perhaps helped him to secure several Crown appointments as well. When he died in 1677, however, he owed the Crown £781 which he was unable to pay. The debt was inherited by his son, Thomas Bennett (c.1645-88), who was private secretary to both Prince Rupert, 1678-82 and Lord Shaftesbury, 1679-85, and who succeeded his father as MP for Shaftesbury. He died without issue, when the debt seems to have transferred to his surviving sisters. Among these was Patience (d. 1726?), who had married, as her second husband, William Benett (d. 1707) of Norton Bavant; he arranged a deal whereby the sisters were allowed to compound for half of the outstanding sum. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">When William Benett died in 1707, his estate at Norton Bavant passed to his son Thomas Benett (1687-1755), whose career is a bit of a mystery. He was appointed as one of the registrars of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, which might imply he had some legal training, but he does not seem to have attended a university or inn of court. Perhaps the post was a sinecure which he discharged through deputies? In 1733 he received a commission as a Lieutenant-Colonel of Foot, but there is no evidence that he was qualified for this either! The army is, however, especially poorly documented in the early 18th century, so it may just be that the evidence of his earlier career does not survive. We know more about his building activities, for it was probably soon after he inherited in 1707 that the 17th century house at Norton Bavant was remodelled in its present form. In 1725 he bought the Pythouse estate that had belonged to his mother's ancestors until 1669, and he then built a modest new house on the estate (on a new site) and laid out a park around it. His eldest son, William Benett (1715-49) became a dissolute rake and married an innkeeper's daughter to the dismay of his family, and although he died in his father's lifetime there proved to be a posthumous child, William Benett (1749-81), on whom Norton Bavant was entailed. The child's mother was not on good terms with her husband's family, and did everything she could to prevent contact between them and her son. After Thomas died in 1755, she had her son made a ward of court, and the court made an allowance from the estate for their maintenance and his upbringing. Not until she died in 1768 - reputedly of drink - was any contact renewed between the young man and the Benett family, and although efforts were apparently then made to assimilate him to the gentry, his health deteriorated quickly. He went to Bath to take the waters but got into bad company there, and was married to the young widow of an apothecary just six weeks before he died. He bequeathed his estate to her, provoking accusations of undue influence from his family, who instigated legal proceedings in Chancery</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. In 1788 the court ordered the sale of the estate and a division of the proceeds, but it remained in the family because it was bought by Catherine Benett (1714-98), the unmarried eldest sister of William Benett (1715-49), whose childhood home Norton Bavant had been.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Norton Bavant may have been entailed, but Thomas Benett (1687-1755) was free to dispose of Pythouse as he chose. He accordingly bequeathed it to his second surviving son, Thomas Benett (1729-97), a far more upright figure than his elder brother. He served as High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1758-59 and twice attempted unsuccessfully </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">to enter Parliament</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. He married twice and by his second wife produced three sons and three daughters. His eldest son was killed in a shooting accident at Pythouse in 1789, so it was the second son, John Benett (1773-1852) who inherited the estate on his father's death, and in the following year he also inherited Norton Bavant from his aunt Catherine. In 1801 he married Lucy Lambert (1785-1827), the daughter of Edmund Lambert of Boyton House (Wilts), who brought him a substantial dowry. Soon afterwards, he began an extensive rebuilding of Pythouse to his own designs which was completed by 1808 and much admired by his neighbours and friends. John comes across as a highly energetic, determined, and intellectually able man with very limited emotional intelligence or empathy with others. An MP for Wiltshire for more than thirty years, his lack of concern for the welfare of his social inferiors was legendary (although often tempered in practice when he was dealing with individuals), and, perhaps as a result, his estate was one of the chief targets of the "Captain Swing" rioters in Wiltshire in 1830. The profits of his two estates, swollen by the high price of agricultural produce during the Napoleonic wars and by John's energetic schemes of improvement, allowed him to enlarge the estate and to reshape it by selling distant properties in Hampshire and Dorset and buying lands adjoining Pythouse. The most ambitious of these purchases was a large slice of the Fonthill estate, including the site of <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2022/09/524-beckford-of-fonthill-basing-park.html">Fonthill Abbey</a>, but legal difficulties meant that the purchase dragged on until 1838 and he eventually sold this property again in 1844. In 1842 he inherited a life interest in the Boyton Hall estate in right of his wife, who had died in 1827, but at his death this passed to his son-in-law, the Rev. Arthur Fane (1809-72). Unsurprisingly, considering his investment in it, Pythouse was the centre of John Benett's estate. The more old fashioned Norton Bavant House was occupied by his unmarried sisters, Anna Maria (1776-1857) and Etheldred (1775-1845), the latter being a pioneering female geologist.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">John Benett outlived both his sons, and was succeeded at Pythouse by his grandson, John Edward Benett (1841-56), who died well before coming of age. His property then passed through the female line to another of John's grandsons, Vere Fane (1839-94), the son of the Rev. Arthur Fane, who took the name Fane-Benett on coming of age in 1860. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Seven years later he married Ellen Stanford (1848-1932), the owner of the Preston Place estate at Brighton (Sussex) and they took the name Fane-Benett-Stanford. Then, finding that this was rather a mouthful, they dropped his patronymic and settled on Benett-Stanford. Vere rebuilt the stables in 1880 and ten years later built two new blocks at the north-east and north-west corners of the house to enlarge the service accommodation. When he died in 1897, </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Vere Benett-Stanford left the house at Pythouse to his widow (who married again) for life, although the estate seems to have passed directly to his son, the divertingly complex and eccentric John Montague Benett-Stanford (1870-1947), who had to rent the house from his mother. After a brief career as a soldier he became a freelance war correspondent, and shot the earliest known movie footage of war at the Battle of Omdurman. He later came to feel that cinematography was no occupation for an officer and a gentleman, and turned his enthusiasm to cars instead. In the First World War he served with the motor volunteer corps, retiring with the rank of Lt-Col, but in the ironic words of the <i>Oxford Dictionary of National Biography</i> "his greatest contribution to the war effort seems to have been lobbing rocks at conscientious objectors from the back seat of his Rolls-Royce". After his only son died in 1922 he became increasingly irascible and unstable and conducted feuds with his mother and stepfather, his trustees, his neighbours and some of his acquaintances. Much of the Norton Bavant estate was sold in the 1930s, and after he died in 1947 the house at Norton Bavant was sold and the Pythouse estate passed to his widow, Evelyn Benett-Stanford (1868-1957) for life, and then to his distant kinsman, Sir Anthony Rumbold (1911-83), 10th bt. Sir Anthony chose to live at Hatch House on the estate and sold Pythouse to the Mutual Households Association in c.1959, which divided it into flats. When the Country Houses Association (as it had become) got into financial difficulties in 2004, Sir Henry Rumbold (b. 1947), 11th bt., exercised a right established at the time of his father's sale of the house to buy it back, selling it in 2007 to Jan Murray (otherwise Murray-Obodynski) (b. c.1948), the founder of PC World, who restored it to single occupancy. He has recently put it on the market. </span></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Norton Bavant House, Wiltshire</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Benett family leased the manor from from 1519, initially from </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">the nuns of Dartford Priory</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> and later from the Crown, and in 1611 they acquired the freehold. At that time, the medieval </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">house traditionally occupied by the farmers of the demesne was ruinous, but the Benetts had long occupied another property, which was </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">no doubt the house which in 1618 consisted, beside domestic offices and servants' quarters, of only a hall, a parlour, and four chambers. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1641 Thomas Benett made a contract with John Thommes of Andover, bricklayer, to build a house in a meadow called the West Garden adjoining the previous house. Its dimensions were to be 65 by 24 ft., which agrees well with the present north range of the house, as far back as a massive wall which separates the rooms on that side from the rest. The contract specified that the great parlour was to be 34 feet long 'in biggnes and breadeth equally as large as the roomes in the howse of Benjamen Pitt' of Standerwick Court (Som). This building was, however, probably added to an existing one which is represented by the present east wing, for this retains several internal features of the earlier 17th century. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1654 the house contained hall, parlour, dining chamber, domestic offices and ten chambers</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. Perhaps after Thomas Benett inherited the house in 1707, it was completely remodelled. The 'decent gable ends' of 1641 were replaced by a hipped tiled roof, and a west wing was added to make the house U-shaped. In the late 18th century the space between the two projecting wings was filled in; the flat lead roof of this addition is dated 1774. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNU3OkOZ9qrSiLWvHhMNd2ru0P2U_BGhLmbBU-Pv4byveLpJC1tehDmC8HkAFkz-qdSYIHZgbHcrI-_mLaoILN1vJ2n3YzswmWQkL2NI0fFlWPKcU2IXcYmJ9LrAwgKW98pT71UDhuVZgr1qOO2ivDZoWYhE-3Uipc6oN_3S3Yrxrq3uQm8h4xkJpxeQ_/s3000/Norton%20Bavant%20House%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1955" data-original-width="3000" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNU3OkOZ9qrSiLWvHhMNd2ru0P2U_BGhLmbBU-Pv4byveLpJC1tehDmC8HkAFkz-qdSYIHZgbHcrI-_mLaoILN1vJ2n3YzswmWQkL2NI0fFlWPKcU2IXcYmJ9LrAwgKW98pT71UDhuVZgr1qOO2ivDZoWYhE-3Uipc6oN_3S3Yrxrq3uQm8h4xkJpxeQ_/w640-h418/Norton%20Bavant%20House%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Norton Bavant House: north front in 2014. Image: David Lovell.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The external appearance is now entirely of the Queen Anne period. The house is now stuccoed, probably to mask the differences in building materials and dates of construction of the building. It has a two-storey, seven bay front with stone cross-windows, which remarkably were never converted to sashes. A deep moulded and coved eaves cornice supports a steep hipped roof with later dormer windows, and over the doorway is a handsome wooden shell-hood on carved brackets. The five-bay side elevation to the right has been more altered, with some plate glass sashes and glazed central double doors. At the rear, the central two bays represent the late 18th century infill between the wings. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYizgpuXicO6b0bSNhoooR3aTHsANH0oqSgnBr0pNU7KpSZhoBp1XTwR1biBDal1m1bfRdyVWKRpKNcxoS7aV9kxlhd9VaPblfepn-jnw0lyI4iUhtN_BKomHSBVrJKjc2Dk_7U04seRk8ahlJnxLr6lSzVdY3OEKlWzL5byR1fdUpJiXtqoRMUvhU903/s850/Norton%20Bavant%20House%205.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="850" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYizgpuXicO6b0bSNhoooR3aTHsANH0oqSgnBr0pNU7KpSZhoBp1XTwR1biBDal1m1bfRdyVWKRpKNcxoS7aV9kxlhd9VaPblfepn-jnw0lyI4iUhtN_BKomHSBVrJKjc2Dk_7U04seRk8ahlJnxLr6lSzVdY3OEKlWzL5byR1fdUpJiXtqoRMUvhU903/w640-h412/Norton%20Bavant%20House%205.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Norton Bavant House: the north front and the 1920s extension to its left. Image: Devizes Museum .</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">To the left of the entrance front is a fussy 1920s extension which detracts from the effect of the original building, although it adopts the same materials and window proportions, and continues the stringcourse above the first floor windows. It is recessed but has a canted front; the cornice and roof do not match the profiles of the main block; the first floor windows are pointlessly treated as oriels carried on mean brackets, and a (probably later) first-floor extension carried on larger brackets squats awkwardly in the angle between the wings and the main block. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Inside, the house preserves an early 18th century main staircase with two turned balusters per tread, which was, however, moved in the 1960s from the west entrance hall to the centre of the house. Otherwise, the 18th century interiors seem little altered, with good panelling and cornices in many rooms, especially in the rear drawing room and the billiard room on the first floor. The attic stairs with splat balusters date from the 17th century, and the survival of a single Tudor-arched doorway and some studded timber partitions in the attics of the east wing are evidence that this part of the house pre-dates the 1641 rebuilding. Two of the outbuildings in the stable court also have hipped roofs and cross-windows, and are thought to be mid-17th century in origin, although entirely refitted internally in modern times. One of them is probably the detached brewhouse mentioned in the contract of 1641. The walls of a large garden survive to the west of the house, but a formal canal south of the house shown on 19th century maps seems to have been filled in.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: William Benett (c.1485-1558); to son, William Benett (d. 1574); to son, William Benett (1551-1618); to son, Thomas Benett (c.1597-1653), who built a new house; to son, John Benett (1630-1707); to brother, William Benett (d. 1707); to son, Thomas Benett (1687-1755), who probably remodelled the house; to grandson, William Benett (1749-81); to widow, Jane, later wife of William Parry (fl. 1796); sold 1788 to Catherine Benett (1714-98); to nephew, John Benett (1773-1852); to grandson, John Edward Benett (1841-56); to cousin, Vere Fane (later Fane-Benett, then Fane-Benett-Stanford, then Benett-Stanford) (1839-94); to son, John Montague Benett-Stanford (1870-1947), who sold much of the estate; to widow, Evelyn Benett-Stanford (1868-1957), who sold the house 1948 or 1951 to Sir Kenneth Nicholson (1891-1964), kt.; to daughter, Priscilla Mignon Nicholson (1924-2018), wife of Sir John Valentine Jardine Paterson (1920-2000); to son, Jonathan James Jardine Paterson (b. 1959). The house was occupied in the early 19th century by Etheldred (1775-1845) and Anna Maria Benett (1776-1857), the unmarried sisters of John Benett (1773-1852). The house was let in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to tenants including Mrs. Torrance (fl. 1884-88), Lindsay Bury (1882-1952), who was resident c.1910-16, and H.W. Whitbread, who was here in the 1930s and 1940s.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Pythouse, Tisbury, Wiltshire</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the 16th and 17th centuries the house called Pythouse occupied by the Benett family stood in East Hatch, but its exact location is unknown. By 1725 it was a mansion house with a terraced garden on its north side, but it was pulled down shortly afterwards, when Thomas Benett (1687-1755) of Norton Bavant, who had bought the estate in 1725, built a new Pythouse with four rooms to a floor on a new site at West Hatch, where the present house stands. The Pythouse built in or soon after 1725-27 was a plain rectangular building of three storeys with a walled forecourt, guarded by the splendid gatepiers that are now set at one of the entrances to the estate. </span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbK48KXjD0xhaTzhqq_zmvUhOHGCOD3xTLl2w9pyPupSBeUH-od9cOKgSMYB-EKV7Ig3Ws3iBL_wx-qO_81WChzF42pWNYjGoKD0F5vyLFCdaVhRplPc5uI9nK2xF_eYfDSb0x0YC7Xrsf39IcmuBPCXDSFa4a_jZqW1runqMPGPTLfXzlAX-Xd0wYSX0F/s2368/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%2025.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="2368" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbK48KXjD0xhaTzhqq_zmvUhOHGCOD3xTLl2w9pyPupSBeUH-od9cOKgSMYB-EKV7Ig3Ws3iBL_wx-qO_81WChzF42pWNYjGoKD0F5vyLFCdaVhRplPc5uI9nK2xF_eYfDSb0x0YC7Xrsf39IcmuBPCXDSFa4a_jZqW1runqMPGPTLfXzlAX-Xd0wYSX0F/w640-h392/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%2025.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Pythouse: the house built in the 1720s, as it appeared before the remodelling by John Benett in c.1802-08.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">John Benett (1773-1852) greatly enlarged the house in 1802-08. According to two near-contemporary sources he was his own architect and supervised the building personally, 'rising at five each morning for the purpose'. He cleverly sandwiched the existing house between two new ranges to the north and south and joined their four ends with Ionic porticos in antis which passed in front of the refaced side elevations of the early </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">18th century</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> house</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. The south front of nine bays has a rusticated basement and a severe entablature supporting a low parapet, with windows that are simple, unframed, holes in the wall. One hardly notices such details, however, because the façade is dominated by an impressive three-bay giant portico of four unfluted Ionic columns, supporting a pediment decorated with a wreathed heraldic escutcheon. The end elevations of the south range have tripartite windows under a super-arch on the ground floor, and these are repeated on the ends of the north range to frame three-bay Ionic colonnades <i>in antis</i> which conceal the ends of the early 18th century block. John Benett's </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">house was amongst the first in the country to make use of Greek Revival motifs, and was much admired by his friends and neighbours: nearby Philipps House, Dinton (Wilts) is almost a copy by Wyatville, and the great portico on the south front was the model for those by Hopper at Leigh Court, Abbotsleigh (Som,) and Thorington Hall (Suffk). </span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDmD7KXExMORBLQwqUj9D5xgJk7mM8SpBPywiP3HTkk_QY-YZPpVnbp7dZ3WeauyY3TcMfS9r5H0lOZG4_YRpBEfDs1audRC-74BE_vdaEUNcln0B76QMm4C01FOUhr5pHru6PRaumiD9ZH8p3DFupXr_22VswNRyDScEek3ySfQXEV0ZYibbfXajLBs0/s950/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%2023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="950" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDmD7KXExMORBLQwqUj9D5xgJk7mM8SpBPywiP3HTkk_QY-YZPpVnbp7dZ3WeauyY3TcMfS9r5H0lOZG4_YRpBEfDs1audRC-74BE_vdaEUNcln0B76QMm4C01FOUhr5pHru6PRaumiD9ZH8p3DFupXr_22VswNRyDScEek3ySfQXEV0ZYibbfXajLBs0/w640-h420/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%2023.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Pythouse, Tisbury: engraving of the house as remodelled in 1802-08.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Inside, the portico leads into a modest entrance hall with a black and white tiled floor and a simple anthemion plaster frieze. Behind this, much of the early 18th century centre was remodelled to accommodate an elaborate staircase designed to connect the different levels of the old and new buildings. It rises in a single flight to a landing with Ionic scagliola columns, and returns in two arms that have landings halfway up. The lower part is supported on an innovative cast iron beam, testament to Benett's interest in new materials and new ways of working. The upper part is more conventionally cantilevered but has iron stick balusters. Over the staircase is a coved ceiling and an oval lantern to provide top lighting. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZj1oDSzTv_ONz3g__2Xv-uzPTSPQC8mok_k0YYxjT1vePFZV_3UdYfKZOWSTmkVM1fnEXhD4liOd6S1jHuxZckzI52fbIkViNgF9nududgzI4UV45gR3RQRWrA6VAxMc8-z2O0n2nElrmjksKQ3HOt_Kge6qLht3CSLKj8VnEbRFTeguIZIbj7P3_SqII/s1200/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZj1oDSzTv_ONz3g__2Xv-uzPTSPQC8mok_k0YYxjT1vePFZV_3UdYfKZOWSTmkVM1fnEXhD4liOd6S1jHuxZckzI52fbIkViNgF9nududgzI4UV45gR3RQRWrA6VAxMc8-z2O0n2nElrmjksKQ3HOt_Kge6qLht3CSLKj8VnEbRFTeguIZIbj7P3_SqII/w640-h426/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Pythouse, Tisbury: entrance hall in 2023.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJ6tNtOZYzDEDnvsOryH1F9jxIQZ0txdx5yEOCzGV5vUu27VnASeF-3xrCcVO9cugdaGnB6WhWxRb8KXHYqUAIZgABtxATChhaKRhviqRsynI59mhaOxSGTI9VAgti8pedg1G_uBCFrUA6yhy9Ja0vdflNijIGfx8RlQetaGJylyeB38PQedeOaF9S1CH/s1200/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%2012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJ6tNtOZYzDEDnvsOryH1F9jxIQZ0txdx5yEOCzGV5vUu27VnASeF-3xrCcVO9cugdaGnB6WhWxRb8KXHYqUAIZgABtxATChhaKRhviqRsynI59mhaOxSGTI9VAgti8pedg1G_uBCFrUA6yhy9Ja0vdflNijIGfx8RlQetaGJylyeB38PQedeOaF9S1CH/w640-h426/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Pythouse, Tisbury: staircase hall in 2023</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Either side of the entrance hall are the two principal reception rooms - originally the drawing and dining rooms - which both have richly carved north Italian chimneypieces, one of which was carved in 1553 for the Martinengo family of Brescia (Italy). Julian Orbach has suggested that they may have been acquired at the demolition sale of nearby Fonthill Splendens in 1807 and have been incorporated into John Benett's original scheme, but they could also be a later 19th century interpolation.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmY_UvxTm-pHkZl5kUWYq3ArD6vYnxqegkNgSHNXOboq0JzhT-gPL9naCc2LS0dkSz6Tti4GTrgDB6ulhjdacyxM9ql9n_thh1t7_g1D4mqISxc-OBdoLfzxXvdscMHthSHTXtMH-DpE1slYhW_0UqkfFgbhJsOynO_t6u9fE7mUUZe7Fpy1FkeLKLfyG/s1200/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmY_UvxTm-pHkZl5kUWYq3ArD6vYnxqegkNgSHNXOboq0JzhT-gPL9naCc2LS0dkSz6Tti4GTrgDB6ulhjdacyxM9ql9n_thh1t7_g1D4mqISxc-OBdoLfzxXvdscMHthSHTXtMH-DpE1slYhW_0UqkfFgbhJsOynO_t6u9fE7mUUZe7Fpy1FkeLKLfyG/w640-h426/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Pythouse, Tisbury: drawing room with 16th century Italian chimneypiece, perhaps bought at the Fonthill Splendens sale in 1807.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrL6WHFg2-FYBcPvUQ6omEOAO-D4kMztrtUyoYJYHana8gpjZHGM6IitHDaHCO289LqR1nkwMhYGI5S-McdHULdIo1l5KX0z_d_EwKh-Pkrzaw_XPycBUJhHvAYiYXfbZa447BaGQMzyI-pEe_lLxn3V_ENJ9a-n37Ysoi8oK9W1QVKuxBwb17WGJsKpB/s2192/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%2020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1643" data-original-width="2192" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrL6WHFg2-FYBcPvUQ6omEOAO-D4kMztrtUyoYJYHana8gpjZHGM6IitHDaHCO289LqR1nkwMhYGI5S-McdHULdIo1l5KX0z_d_EwKh-Pkrzaw_XPycBUJhHvAYiYXfbZa447BaGQMzyI-pEe_lLxn3V_ENJ9a-n37Ysoi8oK9W1QVKuxBwb17WGJsKpB/w640-h480/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%2020.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Pythouse, Tisbury: the west elevation, showing the original symmetrical arrangement and the additional service block of 1891. Image: Historic England.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">To expand the service accommodation, two new blocks were built at the north-east and north-west corners of the house in 1891 to the designs of Charles Stanley Peach of London, best known as a designer of infrastructure for the burgeoning electricity industry. In general, his wings tactfully emulate the proportions and forms of the main block, but the curved links which squat in the angles between the new wings and the main block on both sides disturb the illusion of continuity and proclaim their later date. The multi-pane sash windows by which the house was originally lit were perhaps replaced with plate glass sashes at the same time: a sad alteration which one hopes may in future be reversed. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house was divided into flats in 1959 but restored to single occupancy after 2005 and was for sale at the time of writing. </span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFZFbSt8qSCzjoIyXrxmbkd9-8gUY8f7zc-0SR7vjwBqV_iUBulm3nSGil6_LR5m6QWt4IVy_OfMEblRiakhaarX-xIcJdYL-Vjf3duNKJaHLG-mNc9t77KSzviwsp-GO6y4JBPczVxfwndAf3ipX85EfyH0e1jAa5b9GHPlVnUaTD9v_EndbjRQfvIKt/s1686/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%2022%20Andrews%20&%20Dury%201773.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1686" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFZFbSt8qSCzjoIyXrxmbkd9-8gUY8f7zc-0SR7vjwBqV_iUBulm3nSGil6_LR5m6QWt4IVy_OfMEblRiakhaarX-xIcJdYL-Vjf3duNKJaHLG-mNc9t77KSzviwsp-GO6y4JBPczVxfwndAf3ipX85EfyH0e1jAa5b9GHPlVnUaTD9v_EndbjRQfvIKt/w400-h206/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%2022%20Andrews%20&%20Dury%201773.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pythouse, Westbury: the park as shown on Andrews & Dury's 1773 map of Wiltshire </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Andrews & Dury's 1773 map of Wiltshire shows that the early Georgian Pythouse was set in a small park and approached by a short drive from the south-east and a much longer one from the west. A plantation roughly corresponding to the distinctive kidney shape of the later Chapel Plantation is also shown on the map, as is an unnamed building below the plantation which is probably the surviving mid 18th-century orangery, now set on a terrace above a lawn west of the house. It has five arches between Ionic pilasters, and a three-bay pediment rising through a parapet decorated with ball finials. Another survival from the early 18th century landscape is the roofless cylindrical drum of a dovecote, south of the stables.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jHg4UTqNsz_qYf3X0EAi5gnTo5r2y2qc64-xQs8ma4chPaEsJ4cMr2M2WB-v_FAc3Oc-RMYHZQ_la9W8CUaNcCLycd9tPIy5jDUyvfkS550jIYcVMqkpd1OTNb48n6QiCIonKD16Dx2KiWQtXq6PmzZEWyDi_HnuLY-ORYkHm2A-wzlGY7csQzXCnC9q/s1200/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%2014.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jHg4UTqNsz_qYf3X0EAi5gnTo5r2y2qc64-xQs8ma4chPaEsJ4cMr2M2WB-v_FAc3Oc-RMYHZQ_la9W8CUaNcCLycd9tPIy5jDUyvfkS550jIYcVMqkpd1OTNb48n6QiCIonKD16Dx2KiWQtXq6PmzZEWyDi_HnuLY-ORYkHm2A-wzlGY7csQzXCnC9q/w640-h426/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%2014.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Pythouse, Tisbury: the orangery of c.1730-50.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPF5Gexs5GCnWZxGffipI4P79LdDKBIINcsVhMbMS77TBg0ZeVjWygtS9utb5vmXzVy2o8knnWEXWFmAuVMjwfVIIpLanRJDFdErFGfYrb-jhQFHKbUCcPyy02TbdfCKcrfCydAyC31UNl-8_As52spG6XnQthgR7KUssT4sPAF59KlCbcweDWLKsxbVz/s1200/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%2018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPF5Gexs5GCnWZxGffipI4P79LdDKBIINcsVhMbMS77TBg0ZeVjWygtS9utb5vmXzVy2o8knnWEXWFmAuVMjwfVIIpLanRJDFdErFGfYrb-jhQFHKbUCcPyy02TbdfCKcrfCydAyC31UNl-8_As52spG6XnQthgR7KUssT4sPAF59KlCbcweDWLKsxbVz/w640-h426/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%2018.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Pythouse, Tisbury: the ruined chapel.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The plantation takes its name from an early 19th-century stone chapel in the Gothic style, which was built, and presumably designed by, John Benett. This has a gabled middle doorway between pointed windows, blank outer bays, and six buttresses, once pinnacled. The window tracery has gone and a doorway was moved to the new church in Newtown built in 1911-12. Inside it has plaster wall shafts and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">a plaster rib vault, still largely intact. The chapel was actually never consecrated and became simply a decorative building in the park, but has long been in ruins.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> At some point, probably in the early 19th century, the park was landscaped again. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxymQSuKvdls7WqbmjhiSHtOoEUWNoIGWgCjpcdmLxwq0VcVL4EBlJkMk-oSui_77tLrfkeu2_ZdP_A5VDgyn3DIhIu5fAbfARZZYzhTH5z-So8ScGvtYTKA5vzMPS6Ha8A9KK2cBEKdnlpus8ytCbEtnWaYDD_xEjdbAjPlsJjuZe3ICIZz-w9FTeFQRd/s1546/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%2021.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1546" data-original-width="1172" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxymQSuKvdls7WqbmjhiSHtOoEUWNoIGWgCjpcdmLxwq0VcVL4EBlJkMk-oSui_77tLrfkeu2_ZdP_A5VDgyn3DIhIu5fAbfARZZYzhTH5z-So8ScGvtYTKA5vzMPS6Ha8A9KK2cBEKdnlpus8ytCbEtnWaYDD_xEjdbAjPlsJjuZe3ICIZz-w9FTeFQRd/w304-h400/Pyt%20House,%20Tisbury%2021.jpg" width="304" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pythouse: the 18th century gatepiers at the service entrance, <br />formerly in the forecourt, with the gates added in 1880.<br />Image: Historic England</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The long drive to the west was redirected to the south-west, to emerge on the public road near Billhay Bridge, while the east drive was made much longer by carrying it over the road from Fonthill Bishop to Semley on a bridge and bringing it down to a new lodge at a crossroads by Pythouse Farm. The stable court east of the house has an impressive pedimented archway dated 1880, with Corinthian columns and a timber lantern. The gate piers to the service entrance are early 18th century, with bands of rocky rustication and tall urns, and were placed here in 1881 with fine iron gates by Macfarlane of Glasgow. The bands of rustication are very reminiscent of those on the <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2022/09/524-beckford-of-fonthill-basing-park.html">entrance archway of the Fonthill estate</a> but the gatepiers were previously around the forecourt of the 1720s Pythouse, so they are evidently not another piece of architectural salvage by John Benett. </span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: built for Thomas Benett (1687-1755); to son, Thomas Benett (1729-97); to son, John Benett (1773-1852); to grandson, John Edward Benett (1841-56); to cousin, Vere Fane (later Fane-Benett and then Fane-Benett-Stanford) (1839-94); to widow, Ellen (1848-1932), later wife of Sir Charles Thomas (later Thomas-Stanford); leased and later bequeathed to her son, John Montague Benett-Stanford (1870-1947); to widow Evelyn (1868-1957) for life and then to kinsman, Sir (Horace) Anthony Claude Rumbold (1911-83), 10th bt. of Hatch House; who sold the house c.1959 with a small acreage but not the estate to Mutual Households Association (later Country Houses Association Ltd), which sold 2005 to Sir Henry John Sebastian Rumbold (b. 1947), 11th bt., of Hatch House; sold 2007 to Jan Andrew Murray (otherwise Murray-Obodynski) (b. 1948); for sale in 2023.</i></span><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-family: georgia;">Benett family of Norton Bavant and later Pythouse</b></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benett, William (c.1485-1558). </b>Third son of John Benett of Norton Bavant and his wife Agnes Forwarde of Somerset, and younger brother of Dr. Thomas Bennett, precentor of Salisbury Cathedral, born about 1485. Clothier. Either he or more probably his son was MP for Westbury, 1554. He married Isabel, daughter of Augustine Dursley of Gloucestershire, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) William Benett (d. 1574) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) John Benett (d. c.1565); inherited the parsonage manor of Warminster from his father, but later sold it; not (as has sometimes been claimed) the man of this name who was MP for Heytesbury, 1586 or for Westbury, 1589, since he was dead long before; married, 1559, Joan Elderton of Sutton Veny and had issue four children; administration of goods granted 18 January 1565/6;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Jane Benett (fl. 1558); married, before 1565, Edmund Wickwick of Salisbury</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Jone Benett (fl. 1558); married</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, before 1565,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Robert Chamberlain of Sutton Veny (Wilts);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Margaret Benett (fl. 1558); probably died unmarried before 1565;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Elizabeth Benett (fl. 1558); married</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, before 1565,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> William Pyray of Warminster;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Katherine Benett (fl. 1558); married</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, before 1565,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lionel Tichborne of Salisbury.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited land at Norton Bavant from his father and from 1519 leased the manor of Norton Bavant from Dartford Priory and later from the Crown.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died about 1558; his will was proved at Salisbury, 16 February 1558/9. His wife is not mentioned in his will and therefore probably predeceased him. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benett, William (d. 1574). </b>Elder son of William Benett (c.1485-1558) and his wife Isabel, daughter of Augustine Dursley of Gloucestershire. Clothier at Westbury. Either he or his father was MP for Westbury, 1554. He married 1st, by about 1545, Margaret (d. 1563), daughter of John Aylward of Basingstoke (Hants), and 2nd, 4 June 1564 at Westbury, Katherine, daughter of William Willoughby of Silton (Dorset), and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Thomas Benett (c.1549-1605) of Westbury (Wilts), born about 1645; as a young child, was brought up in the household of Dr Thomas Bennett (1480-1558), precentor of Salisbury Cathedral; inherited the manor of Westbury rectory and a lease of the parsonage of St Martin, Salisbury from his father and settled at Westbury as a clothier; married Margaret (fl. 1610), eldest daughter of Thomas Berington of Streatley (Berks); probably died without issue and was buried at Westbury, 24 June 1605, where he and his widow were commemorated by a memorial brass;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) William Benett (1551?-1618) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.3) Elizabeth Benett (1557-58), baptised at Westbury, 14 September 1557; died in infancy and w</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">as buried at Westbury, 15 July 1558;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.4) Margaret Benett (1559-67), baptised at Westbury, March 1559; died young, and was buried at Westbury, 11 July 1567;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.5) Mary Benett (b. 1562), baptised at Westbury, 9 October 1562;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Anne Benett (b. 1569), baptised at Westbury, 22 May 1569;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.2) John Benett (b. 1570), baptised at Westbury, 12 October 1570.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited land at Norton Bavant from his father in about 1566. In 1544 he was granted a lease of the rectory manor of Westbury by his uncle, Dr. Thomas Benett.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Westbury, 6 April 1574; his will was proved in the PCC, 6 May 1574. His first wife was buried at Westbury, 19 July 1563. His widow married 2nd, about January 1575/6, William Weston, son of Hugh Weston of 'Calleweston' (Som.); her date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benett, William (1551?-1618). </b>Second son of William Benett (d. 1574) and his first wife, Margery, daughter of John Aylward of Basingstoke (Hants), said to have been born in 1551. He married 1st, 16 August 1574 at Westbury, Elizabeth Whitaker (d. 1589), and 2nd, 4 June 1593 at Trowbridge (Wilts), Ann (fl. 1625), daughter of Thomas Wallis of Trowbridge, clothier, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Adam Benett (b. 1584), baptised at Westbury, 2 February 1583/4; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">presumably died in the lifetime of his father;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Thomas Benett (b. 1585), baptised at Westbury, 6 July 1585; presumably died in the lifetime of his father;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Thomas Benett </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">(c.1597-1653) (</span><i style="font-family: georgia;">q.v.</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited a lease of the manor of Norton Bavant from his father in 1574, renewed it in 1583, and purchased the freehold in 1611. He inherited the rectory manor of Westbury from his elder brother in 1605.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died around the end of 1617 or beginning of 1618; his will was proved in the PCC, 13 February 1617/8 (effects £716) and an inquisition post mortem was held in 1620. His first wife was buried at Westbury, 6 November 1589. His widow was living in 1625.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia;">Benett, Thomas (c.1597-1653). </b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Only recorded son of William Benett (1551?-1618) and his second wife Ann, daughter of Thomas Wallis of Trowbridge, clothier, born about 1597. Educated at Exeter College, Oxford (matriculated 1615) and the Middle Temple (admitted 1617). In 1631 he paid a fine of £28 to avoid knighthood. JP for Wiltshire. From 1639 until his death he was involved, ultimately unsuccessfully, in a long-running legal dispute with Sir Thomas Thynne of Longleat about the ownership of Dartford Woods, a detached part of Norton Bavant parish. During the Civil War, he supported the Parliamentary faction, and he was probably an officer in Denzil Holles' regiment during the fighting in 1642-45, and he may temporarily have lost control of the manor of Norton Bavant as two Royalists were appointed to manage the estate on the king's behalf in 1644. In the same year he was made a member of the Wiltshire County Committee. He married 1st, 19 December 1618 at Bromham (Wilts), Susanna (1594-1623). fourth daughter of Andrew White of Bromham, and 2nd, 19 July 1627 at St Werburgh, Bristol, Elizabeth (1607-81), daughter of Thomas Moore of Bristol, merchant, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Thomas Benett (1623-78?), baptised at Westbury (Wilts), 13 May 1623, on the same day as his mother was buried; appears to have fallen out with his father and stepmother and to have been substantially disinherited, although he was given a farm at Redwoods, Burghfield (Berks), where he lived; married 1st, Lucy Mervin and 2nd, 19 February 1656/7 at Norton Bavant, Ann (d. 1703?), daughter of Christopher Wrench of Norton Bavant, yeoman, and had issue at least one son and probably other issue; probably the man of this name buried at Burghfield, 7 May 1678;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) John Benett (1630-1707) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.2) Sarah Benett (b. 1631; fl. 1686), baptised at Westbury, 15 April 1631; married, 27 December 1654 at Inglesham (Wilts), John Goddard (1614-77) of Upham in Aldbourne (Wilts), son of Edward Goddard of Inglesham, and had issue at least one son and one daughter; living in 1686;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.3) Elizabeth Benett (b. 1632), baptised at Westbury, 11 October 1632; married 1st, 23 May 1659 at Norton Bavant, Edward Hawtaine (1616-66) of Marlborough, physician, and 2nd, 1670, William Temple (d. 1686?); probably died without issue;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.4) Ann Benett (1634-73), baptised at Norton Bavant, 6 August 1634; died unmarried, and was buried at Norton Bavant, 3 November 1673;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.5) Mary Benett (1635-96), baptised at Norton Bavant, 1 October 1635; married, 29 December 1656 at Boyton (Wilts), Ven. Thomas Lambert (1616-95), rector of Sherrington and Boyton </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">(Wilts)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">and Archdeacon of Salisbury, 1674-94, second son of Thomas Lambert of Boyton; died 24 November 1696 and was buried in Salisbury Cathedral;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.6) Florence Benett (c.1638-1705), born about 1638; married, 17 August 1682 at Norton Bavant, as his second wife, Edward Garrard (c.1639-1712) of Salisbury; died aged 67 and was buried in the south aisle of Salisbury Cathedral, 16 August 1705;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.7) William Benett (d. 1707) (</span><i style="font-family: georgia;">q.v.</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.8) Thomas Benett; apprenticed to Jonathan Burmore of Lullington (Som.), clothier, 1656; probably died without issue before 1680;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.9) Richard Benett; said to have gone to sea but returned to England and lived at Burghfield (Berks);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.10) Samuel Benett (d. 1677); said to have gone to sea 'and did not return', but mentioned in his father's will and was buried at Norton Bavant, 21 August 1677;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.11) Margaret Benett; married, 1661, Jerome Richmond (fl. 1681);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.12) Martha Benett (fl. 1681).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Norton Bavant Manor and the rectory manor of Westbury from his father in 1618. </i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">He built a new house at Norton Bavant, incorporating part of its predecessor, in 1641. </i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 18 August and was buried at Norton Bavant, 30 August 1653?*; his will was proved at Westminster, 17 November 1654. His first wife presumably died in childbirth and was buried at Westbury, 13 May 1623. His widow was buried at Norton Bavant, 4 November 1681.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* Some sources give his date of burial as 1654.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benett, John (1630-1707) </b>Eldest son </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">of Thomas Benett (c.1597-1653) and his second wife, Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Moore of Bristol, merchant, baptised at Westbury (Wilts), 21 January 1629/30. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">High Sheriff of Wiltshire, 1697-98. He married, 1673 (licence 16 January), Frances (c.1655-1719), daughter of Charles Garrard of Lambourn (Berks) and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Thomas Benett (1674-76), baptised at Westbury, 16 January 1673/4; died in infancy and was buried at Westbury, 3 March 1676/7;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Elizabeth Benett (b. & d. 1675), baptised at Westbury, 8 June 1675; died in infancy and was buried at Westbury (Wilts), 23 March 1675/6.</span></div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He inherited Norton Bavant Manor from his father in 1653.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died suddenly and was buried at Norton Bavant, 17 January 1706/7. His widow married 2nd, 1 July 1708 at Upton Scudamore (Wilts), Henry Coker (1656-1736) of Hill Deverill (Wilts); she was probably the Frances Coker buried at Hill Deverill, 15 October 1719.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benett, William (d. 1707). </b>Second son of Thomas Benett (1597-1653) and his second wife, Elizabeth Moore. Educated at Middle Temple (admitted 1669; called 1677). Barrister-at-law; Deputy </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Recorder of Shaftesbury, 1688; Recorder of Bridport (Dorset), 1693-1707.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> JP and DL (from 1702) for Dorset. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He married, 5 October 1686 at Stockton (Wilts), Patience (d. 1726?), daughter of John Bennett (1625-77) and widow of William/John Bishop (c.1649-82), son of Humphrey Bishop of Chilcombe (Dorset)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Thomas Benett (1687-1754) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He inherited Norton Bavant Manor from his elder brother in 1707 but died less than a year later. He lived at Shaftesbury.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Norton Bavant, 3 December 1707. His widow is said to have died in 1726 and been buried at Shaftesbury; her will, written in 1716, was proved in the PCC, 28 June 1726.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benett, Thomas (1687-1755). </b>Only son of William Benett (d. 1707) and his wife Patience, sister and sole heir of Col. Thomas Benett of Pythouse and widow of William/John Bishop, said to have been baptised at Norton Bavant, 8 November 1687. He does not appear to have attended either university or any of the inns of court, but he does seem to have received some legal training, as he became one of the registrars of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, a post held until his death. JP and DL </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">(from 1727) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">for Wiltshire. He was made a Lt-Col. of foot, 1733, but had left the army by 1740. He married, 6 October 1713 at Canterbury Cathedral, Etheldred (1689-1766), daughter and co-heir of Most Rev. William Wake DD, Archbishop of Canterbury, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Catherine Benett (1714-98) (<i>q.v.</i>); </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) William Benett (1715-49) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Ethelred Benett (1717-78), born 15 March 1716/7 and baptised at Norton Bavant, 12 April 1717; died unmarried and was buried at Norton Bavant, 20 May 1778;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Francis Benett (1719-34), born 8 February and baptised at Norton Bavant, 5 March 1718/9; died young and was buried at Norton Bavant, 27 September 1734;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Thomas Benett (b. & d. 1720), born about 1720; died in infancy and was buried at Norton Bavant, 13 November 1720;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Thomas Benett (b. & d. 1722), born about 1722; died in infancy and was buried at Norton Bavant, 14 August 1722;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Patience Benett (b. & d. 1723), born at Lambeth Palace but died soon afterwards and was buried at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster (Middx), 10 November 1723;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Elizabeth Benett (b. & d. 1725), baptised at Norton Bavant, 3 February 1724/5; died in infancy and was buried at Norton Bavant, 19 March 1724/5; </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Thomas Benett (1729-97) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) Rev. John Benett (1730-1808), born 21 February 1729/30 and baptised at Norton Bavant, 25 March 1730; educated at St Edmund Hall, Oxford (matriculated 1754; BCL 1760; DCL 1770); rector of Donhead St. Andrew (Wilts) and Owermoigne (Dorset), 1761-1808; married, 18 March 1780 at St Clement Danes, London, Frances (d. 1795), daughter of William Turton of Nettlebed (Oxon) and Kingston Lisle (Berks) and sister of Sir Thomas Turton, 1st bt., of Starborough Castle (Surrey), and had issue five sons and three daughters; buried at Donhead St. Andrew, 16 June 1808; will proved in the PCC, 6 August 1808;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(11) Wake Benett (1731-32), born 29 April and baptised at Norton Bavant, 15 May 1731; died in infancy and was buried at Norton Bavant, 8 January 1731/2;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(12) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Anne Benett (1737-88), born 6 March 1736/7 and baptised at Norton Bavant, 20 May 1737; died unmarried and was buried at Norton Bavant, 26 September 1788;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(13) Frances Benett (1738-50), born 5 December 1738 and baptised at Norton Bavant, 2 January 1738/9; died young, 12 August, and was buried at Norton Bavant, 19 August 1750</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Norton Bavant Manor from his father in 1707 and was probably responsible for remodelling the house soon afterwards. In 1725 he purchased the Pythouse estate from Richard Dove, and built a new house on a different site there, but he continued to live at Norton Bavant until his death.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 2 January, and was buried at Norton Bavant, 11 January 1754/5; his will was proved in the PCC, 4 February 1754/5. His widow was buried at Norton Bavant, 11 April 1766; her will was proved in the PCC, 30 May 1766.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benett, William (1715-49). </b>Eldest son of Thomas Benett (1687-1755) and his wife Etheldred, daughter and co-heir of Most Rev. William Wake DD, Archbishop of Canterbury, born 15 October and baptised at Norton Bavant, 17 November 1715. According to his sister Catherine, "very early in life he grew refractory, and being heir apparent to so good an estate, he did not want for abettors of his folly. Drinking and other intemperance soon destroyed an original and good constitution... he used to spend much of his time in the lowest company... and married an innkeeper's daughter". He married* Mary (1717-68), daughter of Samuel Mountain, innkeeper, of Stockbridge (Hants), and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) William Benett (1749-81) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died of dropsy at Stockbridge, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">28 April, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">and was buried at Norton Bavant, 5 May 1749. His widow is said to have drunk herself to death; she died 27 October and was buried at Norton Bavant, 4 November 1768.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* I have not been able to trace this marriage, although William's widow was evidently able to satisfy the lawyers that it had taken place. The names of the parties are entered in the register for Morestead (Hants) but crossed out, and no date is given for the ceremony, so it probably did not take place there.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benett, William (1749-81). </b>Only son of William Benett (1715-49) and his wife Mary, daughter of Samuel Mountain of Stockbridge (Hants), innkeeper, born posthumously about 10 June 1749, and baptised at Stockbridge, 11 June and 4 October 1749. His aunt Catherine described him as having 'a tender constitution and [being] subject to fits'. He was educated privately, and is said to have gone to Cambridge University, but there is no record of him in the <i>Alumni Cantabrigiensis. </i>His mother tried to prevent contact with her husband's relatives, arranging for him to become a Ward of Court after 1754, but after her death some contact was re-established. He is said to have joined the militia, but in the late 1770s his health deteriorated and he lived mainly at Bath (Som.), where he married (reputedly while incapably drunk), 29 January 1781 at Bath Abbey (Som.), Jane Harford, an apothecary's widow, but had no issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the manor of Norton Bavant from his grandfather in 1754. At his death he bequeathed his estates to his widow, which led to a lawsuit in Chancery, as a result of which the estate was put up for sale in 1788 and was bought by his aunt, Catherine Benett.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Norton Bavant, 14 March 1781. His widow married 3rd, 18 August 1781 at All Saints, Hereford, William Parry (fl. 1796) of Kenchester (Herefs), and was living in 1788.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4teX-aXsH2m3KrFLiHilEGhJ9MtfhDAJPsVNGt44d_FJgfRpZBaihrHvqsHlLFHcDCywF8qfns7BTLnJtUOiYLG1GChYDuJJaVUxLCKmBJt3K526Wd2blUex41sYOK4WrbhiyuqnlHsrAL5YF4rh7jUT_xcQv2Zt4g4bpmS7xjxhT_YtN_FUrCQ9feknr/s953/Benett,%20Catherine%20d1798003.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="741" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4teX-aXsH2m3KrFLiHilEGhJ9MtfhDAJPsVNGt44d_FJgfRpZBaihrHvqsHlLFHcDCywF8qfns7BTLnJtUOiYLG1GChYDuJJaVUxLCKmBJt3K526Wd2blUex41sYOK4WrbhiyuqnlHsrAL5YF4rh7jUT_xcQv2Zt4g4bpmS7xjxhT_YtN_FUrCQ9feknr/w156-h200/Benett,%20Catherine%20d1798003.jpg" width="156" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Catherine Benett (d. 1798) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Benett, Catherine (1714-98). </b>Eldest daughter </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">of Thomas Benett (1687-1755) and his wife Etheldred, daughter and co-heir of Most Rev. William Wake DD, Archbishop of Canterbury, baptised at Shapwick (Dorset), 24 October 1714</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. She was unmarried and without issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>She purchased the manor of Norton Bavant when it was sold in 1788 and bequeathed it to her nephew John Benett (1773-1852).</i> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">She was buried at Norton Bavant, 20 January 1798.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlasHeNV9htyhCWgjsAIChLKKbaqHmL47mgmVfZ411hCvcDjsuaQZGwAuzct7hf0NHfsyjuWzAPIsWpSoDe5bMHZROw719oBesnxM0kglXcrI1JSz_pjtHLNVJ8Mw_GXNF8HLGd1oVjHN8e42V2XKg54m7PI9TgWXma5r2HFRJidldmipPXuYcLI2q1DJ/s1048/Benett,%20Thomas%201729-97.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="886" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlasHeNV9htyhCWgjsAIChLKKbaqHmL47mgmVfZ411hCvcDjsuaQZGwAuzct7hf0NHfsyjuWzAPIsWpSoDe5bMHZROw719oBesnxM0kglXcrI1JSz_pjtHLNVJ8Mw_GXNF8HLGd1oVjHN8e42V2XKg54m7PI9TgWXma5r2HFRJidldmipPXuYcLI2q1DJ/w169-h200/Benett,%20Thomas%201729-97.jpg" width="169" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Thomas Benett (1729-97) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Benett, Thomas (1729-97). </b>Second </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">son of Thomas Benett (1687-1755) and his wife Etheldred, daughter and co-heir of the Most Rev. William Wake DD, Archbishop of Canterbury, born 3 March and baptised at Norton Bavant, 11 March 1728/9.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Educated at Wadham College, Oxford (matriculated 1747); Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford (by right of being a descendant of the founder, Archbishop Chichele), 1754-97. High Sheriff of Wiltshire, 1758-59. He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament at Heytesbury (Wilts) in 1754 and 1761, but stood no chance of challenging the interest of the Ashe family in this rotten borough. He may have shared his son's interest in architecture, as he is said to have designed the top stage of the tower of Tisbury church after the original tower had been struck by lightning in 1762, although Richard Colt Hoare later described the result as 'a miserable square embattled turret'. He married 1st, 7 June 1766 at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster (Middx), Frances (c.1742-68), daughter of Rev. Richard Reynolds of Little Paxton (Hunts), Chancellor of the diocese of Lincoln, and 2nd, 3 January 1771 at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster (Middx), Catherine (1745-80), daughter of John Darell of London, banker, and co-heir of her brother, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Thomas Benett (1772-89), baptised at Tisbury, 16 April 1772; died unmarried when he was accidentally shot near the chapel at Pythouse, 14 March 1789; buried at Norton Bavant, 23 March 1789;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.2) John Benett (1773-1852) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.3) Catherine Benett (1774-78), born 15 May and baptised at Tisbury, 22 June 1774; died young and was buried at Norton Bavant, 11 June 1778;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.4) Etheldred Benett (1775-1845), born 22 July and baptised at Tisbury, 29 July 1775; a pioneering female geologist, who also had antiquarian interests; her collection of fossils was published as <i>A catalogue of organic remains of the county of Wilts</i> (1831); she made a gift of some fossils to the museum at St Petersburg (Russia), in acknowledgement of which the Emperor of Russia, assuming her to be male, arranged for the University of St Petersburg to </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">confer an honorary doctorate of civil law on her</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">; she also published her great-grandfather Archbishop Wake's history of the Wake family (1833); lived at Norton Bavant Manor; died unmarried, 11 January 1845, and was buried at Norton Bavant; will proved in the PCC, 8 April 1845;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.5) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Anna Maria</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Benett (1776-1857), born 16 September and baptised at Tisbury, 4 October 1776; died unmarried, 8 November, and was buried at Norton Bavant, 14 November 1857;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.6) William Benett (1779-1859), born 24 February and baptised at Tisbury, 24 June 1779; educated at Wadham and Merton Colleges, Oxford (matriculated 1796; BA 1801) and Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1800); evidently a stipendiary magistrate in the east end of London for many years; married, 26 June 1815 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), Ellen (c.1791-1845), daughter and heir of Thomas Gore of Tring Park, and had issue two sons and three daughters; died at Sydenham (Kent), 25 August and was buried at Norton Bavant, 1 September 1859; his will was proved 26 October 1859 (effects under £50,000).</span></div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He inherited Pythouse from his father in 1755, and subsequently expanded the estate, buying property at Enford (Wilts) in 1769 and at Semley and Chicklade (Wilts) in 1796-97. His second wife brought him a dowry of £18,000. By the time of his death he also owned land at Sutton Veny and Warminster (Wilts) and South Litchfield, West Stour and Askerswell (Dorset) and Kingsclere (Hants).</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 16 May and was buried at Norton Bavant, 24 May 1797; his will was proved in the PCC, 4 August 1797. His first wife died without issue and was buried at Norton Bavant, 13 April 1768. His second wife died in childbirth and was buried at Norton Bavant, 7 December 1780.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSmIMLIoOhgpg3luqzqIPbeNsyTxEZkAxdQRlMnVA9dvykNzuTpT1nqRTvwsPe_L4n720bCA_1xpINyU-xvcHYO7MYuaKLu_YG6a_nJQ3ZbSVPwD5QrIw78sLxpOUZbVIlzng_Nd-kLWQrH7HmAhh8JMobUl74EEQHW-tNbIX7lo72NB0iY06iZLNCvtK/s1512/Benett,%20John%20(1773-1852).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1211" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSmIMLIoOhgpg3luqzqIPbeNsyTxEZkAxdQRlMnVA9dvykNzuTpT1nqRTvwsPe_L4n720bCA_1xpINyU-xvcHYO7MYuaKLu_YG6a_nJQ3ZbSVPwD5QrIw78sLxpOUZbVIlzng_Nd-kLWQrH7HmAhh8JMobUl74EEQHW-tNbIX7lo72NB0iY06iZLNCvtK/w160-h200/Benett,%20John%20(1773-1852).jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">John Benett (1773-1852) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Benett, John (1773-1852). </b>Eldest surviving son of Thomas Benett (1729-97) and his second wife, Catherine, daughter of John Darell of London, born 20 May and baptised at Tisbury, 6 July 1773. An officer in the Wiltshire Yeomanry Cavalry (Cornet, 1800; Lt., 1802; Capt. 1811; Maj., 1825; retired 1837). High Sheriff of Wiltshire, 1798-99. Despite being a man of generally Whiggish views, he had protectionist views throughout his political career, and sat in Parliament as Independent MP for Wiltshire, 1819-32 and Conservative MP for Wiltshire South, 1832-52. An able amateur architect, who was said by two near-contemporary sources to have designed the extension and remodelling of Pythouse for himself, and who also designed new stables at Stockton House (Wilts) and probably advised his friends and neighbours on architectural matters. During the digging of the foundations for his new house, a trunk of letters - apparently part of the correspondence of Prince Rupert - was discovered, most of which were sold in 1848 and found their way to the British Library; the remainder were partly published in 1879. He was noted as active 'improving' landowner, and was one of the leading figures in the creation of the Wiltshire Society for the Encouragement of Agriculture, founded in 1813, of which he was President until 1849. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1814 he published a pamphlet calling for the compulsory commutation of tithes, which provoked an acrimonious correspondence </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">in the public press</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">in 1815-16 with the Ven. William Coxe, Archdeacon of Wiltshire. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">While keen to foster a prosperous tenantry (who could pay increased rents), his attitude to farm labourers was much harsher, and he was an active supporter of the Corn Laws and an opponent of reforms to the settlement laws. In 1830, his neighbour Lord Arundell called Tisbury 'a parish in which the poor have been more oppressed and are in greater misery... than any parish in the kingdom', and Pythouse was attacked by a mob of between 300 and 500 'Swing' rioters, who destroyed his threshing machinery and many of his outbuildings before the militia turned up and dispersed the rioters, one of whom was killed. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">A tall, thin man, John's unpopularity with the poor earned him the nicknames Black Jack and, more colourfully, 'the Devil's Knitting Needle', but he was evidently a complex man, whose actual actions were frequently more humane than the rhetoric of his political and social opinions. He was ambitious, determined and obstinate, and possessed a self-confidence that others often perceived as a sense of entitlement. He lacked strong religious views, and his first five surviving children were not baptised until 1820, for reasons which are unclear. He might almost be considered an atheist, and certainly the religious enthusiasm which some of his children and grandchildren developed distressed him. He married, 30 May 1801 at Boyton, Lucy (1785-1827), only surviving daughter of Edmund Lambert of Boyton House (Wilts), and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Lucy Harriet Benett (1802-45) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Etheldred Catherine Benett (1805-39), born 19 January 1805 and baptised as an older child at Norton Bavant, 22 July 1820; married, 24 August 1827 at Tisbury, Lord Charles Spencer Churchill (1798-1840), second son of George Spencer (later Spencer-Churchill) (1766-1840), 9th Baron Spencer and 5th Duke of Marlborough, and had issue two sons and three daughters; died 6 December and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, 12 December 1839;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Anna Maria Benett (1806-77), born 15 September 1806 and baptised as an older child at Norton Bavant, 22 July 1820; married, 25 January 1840 at Tisbury, Marmaduke Robert Jeffreys (1807-98) of Sedgehill House (Wilts), barrister, son of Rev. John Jeffreys, and had issue one son and one daughter; died at Surbiton (Surrey), 21 October, and was buried at Norton Bavant, 25 October 1877;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Emily Ellen Benett (1808-09), born in London, April 1808; died in infancy, 6 February, and was buried at Tisbury, 11 February 1809;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) John Benett (1809-44) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Thomas Edmund Benett (1812-29), born 29 November 1812 and baptised as an older child at Norton Bavant, 22 July 1820; died unmarried, 20 October, and was buried at Boyton, 3 November 1829;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Frances (k/a Fanny) Benett (1821-58), born 24 February and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), 19 March 1821; lived at Norton Bavant House; died unmarried, 28 April, and was buried at Norton Bavant, 4 May 1858; will proved 16 June 1858 (effects under £9,000).</span></div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He inherited Pythouse from his father in 1797 and </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">Norton Bavant Manor from his aunt Catherine in 1798</i><i style="font-family: georgia;">. He remodelled Pythouse to his own designs in 1802-08. He also reshaped the estate, buying land in Semley, Tisbury and the adjacent villages and selling his outlying property. In 1825 he bought (although the sale was not finally concluded until 1838) the site and part of the estate of the collapsed <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2022/09/524-beckford-of-fonthill-basing-park.html">Fonthill Abbey</a> (partially clearing the rubble and making the surviving east wing into a new house as cheaply as possible), but sold it again in 1844. In 1842 he inherited a life interest in the Boyton estate which had belonged to his wife's half-brother; at his death this passed to the eldest son of his son-in-law, the Rev. Arthur Fane.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died of a stroke, 1 October, and was buried at Norton Bavant, 11 October 1852; his will was proved in the PCC, 10 December 1852. His wife was buried at Boyton, 16 February 1827.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benett, John (1809-44). </b>Elder son of </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">John Benett (1773-1852) and his wife Lucy, daughter of Edmund Lambert of Boyton House (Wilts), born 10 August 1809 and baptised as an older child at Norton Bavant, 22 July 1820. Educated at Charterhouse and Trinity College, Cambridge (but did not matriculate). He converted to Roman Catholicism, probably after his marriage. He married, 25 July 1836 at Tichborne (Hants), Emily Blanche (1818-86), daughter of Sir Henry Tichborne, 8th bt., and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) John Edward Benett (1841-56) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) A daughter (d. 1842); died in infancy and was buried at Tichborne, 5 July 1842.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died in Madeira in the lifetime of his father, 1844/5, and was buried in the RC cemetery at Wardour Castle. His widow married 2nd, 2 July 1850 at Holy Trinity, Chelsea (Middx), Matthew James Higgins (1810-68) and had further issue one son and two daughters; she died 29 December 1886; her will was proved 22 March 1887 (estate £5,296).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benett, John Edward (1840/1-56). </b>Son of John Benett (1808-44) and his wife, born either Jul-Sep 1840 or Jan-Mar 1841. He was unmarried and without issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Pythouse and Norton Bavant estates from his grandfather in 1852. At his death they passed to his cousin, Vere Fane (1839-94).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died young at Nice (France), 29 April 1856.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Benett, Lucy Harriet (1802-45). </b>Eldest daughter of John Benett (1773-1852) and his wife Lucy, daughter of Edmund Lambert of Boyton House (Wilts), born 3 October 1802 and baptised as an adult at Norton Bavant, 22 July 1820. She married, 27 August 1832 at Tisbury, Rev. Arthur Fane (1809-72), vicar of Warminster (Wilts), 1841-63, rector of Fulbeck (Lincs), 1863-72 and prebendary of Salisbury Cathedral, 1854-72, illegitimate son of Gen. Sir Henry Fane GCB (1778-1840), and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Isabel Anna Fane (1835-1912), born 29 March and baptised at Boyton, 17 May 1835; converted to Roman Catholicism; lived at Speke Hall, Garston (Lancs); married, 29 September 1881 in the RC chapel at Wardour Castle (Wilts), Andrea Pio Lazzani (1850-1914); died in Florence (Italy), 13 February 1912; will proved 27 March 1912 (estate £1,973);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Amy Fane (1836-1902), born 17 May and baptised at Semley (Wilts), 3 November 1836; married 1st, 24 February 1859 at St Swithin, Walcot, Bath (Som.) (div. 1868 on the grounds of her adultery with the man who became her second husband), Charles Langford Oliver (1835-1908), son of Thomas Oliver of Child Okeford (Dorset) and had issue two sons and three daughters; married 2nd, Robert Farie (1844-1912) of Victoria (Australia); emigrated to Australia with her second husband and is said to have died there, 10 April 1902;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Sir Edmund Douglas Veitch Fane (1837-1900), kt., baptised at Sopley (Hants), 24 September 1837; inherited the Boyton (Wilts) estate, 1852; educated at Merton College, Oxford (matriculated 1855); joined diplomatic service (second secretary, 1866; first secretary, 1880; minister at Belgrade (Serbia), 1893-98 and Copenhagen (Denmark), 1898-1900) appointed KCMG, 1899; JP and DL for Wiltshire; married, 10 July 1875 at St Peter, Eaton Sq., Westminster (Middx), Constantia Eleanor (1851-1940), daughter of Gen. R. Blucher Wood and had issue at least one son and two daughters (of whom Ethelred (1879-1964) married Sir Henry Rumbold (1869-1941), 9th bt., whose son inherited Pythouse and Norton Bavant in 1957); died in Copenhagen, 20 March 1900; will proved 13 June 1900 (estate £27,427);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) <span style="background-color: white;">Anne Elizabeth Fane (1838-91)</span>, born 18 March and baptised at Boyton, 15 July 1838; married, 20 October 1873 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), James Land (c.1834-1915), army surgeon, son of Holmer Land, and had issue at least one daughter; died Oct-Dec 1891;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Vere Fane (later Fane-Benett, Fane-Benett-Stanford and Benett-Stanford) (1839-94) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Henry Arthur Fane (1841-1914), baptised at Boyton, 10 March 1841; educated at Marlborough; employed as a clerk in the War Office (retired 1871); lived latterly at Tite St., Chelsea (Middx); died 12 May 1914; will proved 19 June 1914 (estate £773).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">She died 6 April and was buried at Boyton, 12 April 1845. Her husband married 2nd, 29 October 1853 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), Charlotte (1814-92), daughter of Richard Watt of Bishop Burton (Yorks ER) and Speke (Lancs), and widow of Harrington George Frederick Hudson (1798-1848); he died 11 June and was buried at Boyton, 18 June 1872; his will was proved 3 September 1872 (effects under £4,000).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VrCMkMuEkMTyynYTb2l-3Ym0QE5zFc8bonmKiM6IhlOVy7BMxBwxGMTi4JCQ_R2vksTRD3zBEmhFfIdhrm-VOMpdfCf0-M9fEB-0p4M000Q0VC9TXeIbQf6mjdNH7Ne3kX4PO2bVgREsHoxjNBKg2XRvoPplt3GYVf5crSNSffBJ2EylomDI0F5C29m3/s691/Fane-Benett-Stanford,%20Vere%20(1839-94).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="691" data-original-width="447" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VrCMkMuEkMTyynYTb2l-3Ym0QE5zFc8bonmKiM6IhlOVy7BMxBwxGMTi4JCQ_R2vksTRD3zBEmhFfIdhrm-VOMpdfCf0-M9fEB-0p4M000Q0VC9TXeIbQf6mjdNH7Ne3kX4PO2bVgREsHoxjNBKg2XRvoPplt3GYVf5crSNSffBJ2EylomDI0F5C29m3/s320/Fane-Benett-Stanford,%20Vere%20(1839-94).jpg" width="207" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Vere Fane-Benett-Stanford (1839-94) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Fane (later Fane-Benett, Fane-Benett-Stanford and Benet-Stanford), Vere (1839-94</b></span><b style="font-family: georgia;">). </b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Second son of Rev. Arthur Fane and his wife Lucy Harriet, daughter of John Benett of Pythouse (Wilts), born 29 June and baptised at Boyton (Wilts), 15 December 1839. Educated at Marlborough. An officer in the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry Cavalry (Cornet, 1860; retired 1873) and the Shaftesbury Rifle Volunteers, 1871-87 (Capt., 1871; Maj., 1878; hon. Lt-Col., 1887). Conservative MP for Shaftesbury, 1873-80; DL for Wiltshire and JP for Wiltshire, Dorset and Sussex. He took the additional surname Benett in 1860, and the further additional surname Stanford on his marriage, but later discontinued the use of his patronymic. He married, 1 October 1867 at Preston (Sussex), Ellen (1848-1932), only daughter and heiress of William Stanford of Preston Place, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) John Montague Benett-Stanford (1870-1947) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Pythouse and Norton Bavant estates from his cousin in 1856. He built new stables at Pythouse in 1880 and extended the service range in 1891. His wife inherited the Preston Place estate from her father and came into possession of the estate in 1869 at the age of 21, but in 1883 they sold most of it to Brighton Corporation, which laid out a public park. After his death his estates passed to his widow, who leased Pythouse to their son. Much of the Norton Bavant estate was sold in the 1930s.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Quinta Vigia, Funchal, on the island of Madeira, 8 May 1894; his will was proved 16 June 1894 (effects £6,926). His widow married 2nd, 19 May 1897 at All Saints, Ennismore Gardens, Knightsbridge (Middx), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sir Charles Giesler Thomas (later Thomas-Stanford) (1858-1932), barrister-at-law, son of David Collet Thomas, and died 11 November 1932; her will was proved 9 March and 29 April 1932 (estate £299,597).</span></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbB2EI6EtJhlOUFU9khO0p2r6jSzRVbFnS3XGau-pqAGN2jOBg54pzdwb_OBdgLCX7SMWyj2ve-V3ns3J7wL96MHfRg3H4QUu64ejszbDIJ0gE2v-P0MjXS4uKMGxOEUMDe8WnaqLLMRl66lIeh-E-5bFIWLcYyWcVdF0pwwHJj4FhEWM2OpP74pqQvfz/s157/Benett-Stanford,%20John%20Montague%20(1870-1947).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="153" data-original-width="157" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbB2EI6EtJhlOUFU9khO0p2r6jSzRVbFnS3XGau-pqAGN2jOBg54pzdwb_OBdgLCX7SMWyj2ve-V3ns3J7wL96MHfRg3H4QUu64ejszbDIJ0gE2v-P0MjXS4uKMGxOEUMDe8WnaqLLMRl66lIeh-E-5bFIWLcYyWcVdF0pwwHJj4FhEWM2OpP74pqQvfz/w200-h195/Benett-Stanford,%20John%20Montague%20(1870-1947).jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">John Montague Benett-Stanford (1870-1947) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Benett-Stanford, John Montague (1870-1947). </b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Only son of Vere Fane (later Fane-Benett, Fane-Benett-Stanford and Benett-Stanford) (1839-94) of Pythouse and his wife Ellen, only daughter and heir of William Stanford of Preston (Sussex), born 5 February and baptised at Tisbury, 7 March 1870. Educated at Eton. Apprenticed to London, Brighton & South Coast Railway, 1886 before becoming an officer in the Royal Dragoons (2nd Lt., 1890; Lt., 1891; retired 1892) and Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry (Lt., 1892; retired 1900; recalled 1914 (Capt.)). He undertook surveying work in Kenya and East Africa in the 1890s and later worked as a war correspondent and photographer during the Sudan campaign and the Boer War, shooting some of the earliest moving picture footage of combat at the Battle of Omdurman. In 1900, having been wounded, he returned to England and evidently gave up cinematography, having decided that it was not a suitable activity for an officer and a gentleman. An interest in motor cars seems to have replaced his enthusiasm for photography. In the First World War he served with the motor volunteer corps, retiring with the rank of Lt-Col, but "his greatest contribution to the war effort </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">seems to have been lobbing rocks at conscientious objectors from the back seat of his </span><span class="name" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: auto !important; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: none; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Rolls-Royce"</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. After the First World War he settled down to the life of an increasingly eccentric country squire, serving as a JP and County Councillor for Wiltshire, and occupying his time with hunting, shooting and occasional antiquarian activities. He became more irascible with age, particularly after the death of his son, and conducted feuds with his mother and stepfather, his trustees, his neighbours and some of his acquaintances, and gained the nickname 'Mad Jack'. He was a freemason from 1891. He married, 4 July 1893 at Clewer (Berks), Evelyn (1869-1957), daughter of Capt. Burchell Helme of Broadfield Court, Leominster (Herefs), and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Vere Benett-Stanford (1894-1922), born 3 April and baptised at Semley (Wilts), 26 April 1894; an officer in the Royal Artillery (2nd Lt., 1913; Lt., 1915; Capt., 1917); awarded MC; died of tuberculosis in the lifetime of his father, 30 May, and was buried at Norton Bavant, 2 June 1922; will proved 1 August 1922 (estate £62,493);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Patience Mary Benett-Stanford (1899-1904), baptised at Preston (Sussex), 23 July 1899; died young and was buried at Norton Bavant, 21 March 1904.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He leased Pythouse from his mother until her death in 1932, when he inherited it and the remainder of the Norton Bavant estate, including the house, which he sold in 1948. At his death Pythouse passed to his widow for life, and then to his distant kinsman, </i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Sir (Horace) Anthony Claude Rumbold (1911-83) , 10th bt. who chose to live at Hatch House on the estate and sold Pythouse to the Mutual Households Association in c.1959.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died of heart failure at Pythouse, 18 November 1947; his will was proved 10 June and 16 June 1948 (estate £203,339). His widow died 5 March 1957; her will was proved 31 December 1957 (estate £244,577).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: red;">Bennett family of Pythouse</span></b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, Thomas (d. 1591). </b>Son of John Bennett (fl. 1573) of Pythouse and his wife Agnes, daughter of Thomas Topp of Fenny Sutton. He married Mary (d. 1618), daughter of Christopher Ashlock of Heytesbury (Wilts), and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) John Bennett; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">possibly the man of this name who was MP for Heytesbury, 1586 or for Westbury, 1589; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">living in 1591 but died unmarried and without issue;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Thomas Bennett (1563-1635) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Maria Bennett (fl. 1591); married Andrew Blackman (d. 1588) of Chicklade (Wilts) and East Knoyle (Wilts), and had issue two daughters.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the original Pythouse at East Hatch from his father and settled it on his wife before his death. In 1565 he bought the major portion of the manor of West Hatch when it was dispersed by sale, and he and his father subsequently bought further parts of this property from their first purchasers.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Tisbury, 11 June 1591. His widow was buried at Tisbury, 7 March 1617/8.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, Thomas (1563-1635). </b>Second but probably only surviving son of Thomas Benett (d. 1591) and his wife Mary, daughter of Christopher Ashlock of Heytesbury (Wilts). He married, 5 July 1585 at Tisbury, Margaret (1565-99), daughter of William Grove of Grays Inn, and Ferne in Donhead St Andrew (Wilts), and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Mary Bennett (1586-1634), baptised at Tisbury, 29 May 1586; married, 13 September 1602 at Tisbury, Robert Goldsborough (1579-1654) of East Knoyle, yeoman, and had issue four sons and four daughters; buried at East Knoyle, 3 March 1633/4;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Thomas Bennett (1588-1663) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Anne Bennett (b. 1589; fl. 1635), baptised at Tisbury, 30? November 1589; married 1st, James Parham of Stratford-sub-Castle (Wilts) and 2nd, 7 May 1618 at Salisbury Cathedral, John Brether (d. 1632) of East Knoyle, but probably had no surviving children; living in 1635; </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Christopher Bennett (c.1591-1636) of Shaftesbury (Dorset), born in 1590 or 1591; married, 1616, Dorothy (fl. 1635), daughter of Oliver Lotesham of Foxington (Som.), and had issue one son and twin daughters (who died young); died 22 April 1636; will proved in the PCC, 6 July 1636;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Joan Bennett (1592-1651), baptised at Tisbury, 18 June 1592; married, 19 November 1610 at Tisbury, William Jesse (d. 1657) of Chilmark (Wilts); died 21 May 1651 and was buried at Chilmark, where she is commemorated by a brass plaque;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) William Bennett (1596-1661) of Berwick St John (Wilts), baptised at Tisbury, 8 February 1595/6; married, 1620, Agnes (d. 1673), fourth daughter of John Hitchcock of Preshute (Wilts), and had issue at least three sons and one daughter; died 16 June 1661 and was buried at Berwick St. John.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Pythouse estate from his mother in 1618.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 20 March and was buried at Tisbury, 1 April 1634/5, where he was commemorated by an altar tomb which has since been lost; an inquisition post mortem was held 18 August 1635. His wife was buried at Tisbury, 2 March 1598/9.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYeCIMjuK7DFei7mz1cLbT4AG1oRKi-rZIyvF7EHUPwe4iZwtOx7jxIhlgwn-E39uzrZ4kIhKbzMFQ59TNwWmLrAev9Hh7Z51fEp6P5UspEC9ahL9Z80tWaQFtnw764WCEfd0bnJmXHR8RtmNw9GtooUC6OGeir7cWlMsxgs_gw1WwH8kMgpgxnLC6Wp6/s760/Bennett,%20Thomas%201588-1663001.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="632" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYeCIMjuK7DFei7mz1cLbT4AG1oRKi-rZIyvF7EHUPwe4iZwtOx7jxIhlgwn-E39uzrZ4kIhKbzMFQ59TNwWmLrAev9Hh7Z51fEp6P5UspEC9ahL9Z80tWaQFtnw764WCEfd0bnJmXHR8RtmNw9GtooUC6OGeir7cWlMsxgs_gw1WwH8kMgpgxnLC6Wp6/w166-h200/Bennett,%20Thomas%201588-1663001.jpg" width="166" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Thomas Bennett (1588-1663) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bennett, Thomas (1588-1663). </b>Eldest son of Thomas Benett (1563-1635) and his wife Margaret, daughter of William Grove of Grays Inn and Ferne (Wilts), born 1588. JP for Wiltshire. He was a Royalist in the Civil War, and his property was sequestrated, but he compounded for his estates in 1646. He was also one of the leaders of the 'Club-Men' movement, which brought together groups of men under the control of the gentry to protect property from plunder by the armies of both sides, but who were generally perceived as being more sympathetic to the Royalist faction, and in 1645 he was arrested at Shaftesbury and briefly imprisoned with his son John by the Parliamentary faction. He married, about 1612, Melior (1596-1669), daughter of Richard Thomas of Stockton (Wilts), and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Anne Bennett (b. 1613), baptised at Tisbury, 1 September 1613;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Richard Bennett (1614-16), baptised at Tisbury, 20 November 1614; died in infancy and was buried at Tisbury, 23 February 1615/6;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Maria Bennett (b. 1617?), said to have been baptised at Shaftesbury, 18 March 1616/7, but no corresponding entry in the parish register has been traced; </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Dorothy Bennett (b. 1619), baptised at East Knoyle, 27 March 1619; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">married, 17 July 1634 at Tisbury, William Barnes, and had issue at least one daughter; </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Thomas Bennett (1620-41), baptised at East Knoyle, 23 April 1620; educated at Hart Hall, Oxford (matriculated 1637); MP for Hindon, 1641; died of smallpox, 1 August and was probably buried at St Clement Danes, London, 13 August 1641;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Margaret Bennett (b. 1622), baptised at Tisbury, 23 March 1621/2;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Anthony Bennett (1623-88) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Francis Bennett (b. & d. 1624), baptised at Tisbury, 13 August 1624; died in infancy and was buried at Tisbury, 3 December 1624;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) John Bennett (1625-77) (<i>q.v.</i>); </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) William Bennett (1627-99), baptised at Tisbury, 1 April 1627; an officer in the army; one subject of a double portrait formerly at Pythouse; later steward to Thomas Freke of Shroton (Dorset); married, 22 May 1646 at Tisbury, Edith Snook, and had issue; buried at Margaret Marsh (Dorset), 1 August 1699; will proved 17 August 1699;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(11) James Bennett (1628-61), baptised at Tisbury, 25 July 1628; an officer in the Royalist forces bv 1647; died, reputedly following an assault by a highwayman, and was buried at Tisbury, 1 December 1661;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(12) Christopher Bennett (1629-67?), baptised at St James, Shaftesbury, 10 January 1629/30; perhaps married before 1657 and had issue three sons and one daughter; said to have died in 1667;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(13) Frances Bennett (1631-1711), baptised at St James, Shaftesbury, 20 February 1631; married, 12 January 1654/5 at Tisbury, Richard Hurman (fl. 1687), who was intruded as mayor of Shaftesbury by King James II; died 24 January and was buried at Stockton (Wilts), 27 January 1710/11, where she was commemorated by a monument;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(14) Matthew Bennett (1633-91), baptised at St James, Shaftesbury, 2 June 1633; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">an officer in the army (Capt. in Prince Rupert's Regiment of Dragoons, 1678); one subject of a double portrait formerly at Pythouse;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(15) Repentance Bennett (1634-1704), baptised at Tisbury, 25 December 1634; died unmarried and was buried at St James, Shaftesbury, 6 March 1704.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Pythouse estate from his father in 1635.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Tisbury, 24 April 1663; his will was proved in the PCC, 18 November 1663. His widow died 30 November and was buried at Stockton (Wilts), 1 December 1669.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, Anthony (1623-88). </b>Third, but eldest surviving son of Thomas Benett (c.1587-1663) and his wife Melior, daughter of Richard Thomas, baptised at Tisbury, 25 March 1623. He married, 1641, Ellen/Eleanor, daughter of Richard Snooke of Donhead St Mary (Wilts), and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Thomas Bennett (d. 1712?) of Semley; married and had issue at least two sons and several daughters; said to have died in 1712;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Samuel Bennett (fl. 1688);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Christopher Bennett (fl. 1688) of Kingsclere (Hants);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Frances Bennett (fl. 1688); married John? Petteridge of Semley;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Richard Bennett (fl. 1688);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Mary Bennett (d. by 1688); married John Browne (fl. 1688) of Semley, and had issue at least one son and one daughter;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Sarah Bennett (fl. 1688). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Pythouse estate from his father in 1663 but sold it to Peter Dove in 1669. He lived latterly at Stour Provost (Dorset)</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died in 1688; his will was proved in the PCC, 4 July 1688. His wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bennett, John (1625-77). </b>Fifth son of Thomas Benett (c.1587-1663) and his wife Melior, daughter of Richard Thomas, baptised at Tisbury, 15 January 1725. A trooper in the Royalist army, 1643-45. He later </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">took an active part in the activities of the 'club-men' in the south-west under the leadership of his father. Steward to 3rd Baron Arundell of Wardour by 1661. He was a friend of the Earl of Shaftesbury who secured his election as MP for Shaftesbury, 1667-76. Receiver-General for Dorset and Somerset, 1660-76 and Receiver of Hearth Tax for Wiltshire, 1663-74? Under-Sheriff of Dorset, 1668-69. Despite holding these potentially profitable offices, he owed the Crown £781 at his death, which remained outstanding until after 1688, when his son-in-law, William Benett, was allowed to compound for it at 10 shillings in the pound. He married, c.1645, Frances (1629-93), daughter of Robert Toope (d. 1673) of Shaftesbury (Dorset) and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Thomas Bennett (c.1645-88), born about 1645; educated at Winchester, New College, Oxford (matriculated 1664) and Middle Temple (admitted 1667; called 1673); Fellow of New College, 1666-67; private secretary to Prince Rupert of the Rhine, 1678-82 and to Lord Shaftesbury, 1679-85; an extreme Whig in politics, he succeeded his father as MP for Shaftesbury, 1677-85 and was Chairman of the Green Dragon Club (a Whig club), 1679; married, 1677 (licence, September), Catherine (d. 1693), daughter of John Ryves and widow of John Topp (d. 1675) of Stockton (Wilts), but had no issue; died 6 May 1688 and was buried at Holy Trinity, Shaftesbury, where he was commemorated by a monument; his will was proved in the PCC, 26 February 1688/9;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Arundell Bennett (d. 1682); died unmarried, 28 May 1682 and was presumably buried at Holy Trinity, Shaftesbury, where he was commemorated by a floor slab (since lost); administration of goods granted 29 April 1684;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Ann Bennett (b. c.1647; fl. 1693), born about 1647; married, 1667 (licence 22 April), probably at Motcombe (Dorset), Robert Toope (b. c.1641; fl. 1693) of East Knoyle (Wilts), and had issue three daughters;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Ashley Bennett; died unmarried in the lifetime of his father;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Patience Bennett (d. 1726?), born after 1650; married 1st, 7 January 1677/8 at Stockton (Wilts), William/John Bishop (c.1649-82), son of Humphrey Bishop of Chilcombe (Dorset), and had issue one son and one daughter; married 2nd, 5 October 1686 at Stockton, William Benett (d. 1707) of Norton Bavant [for whom see above]; said to have died in 1726; will proved in the PCC, 3 May 1726;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Repentance Bennett (d. 1709), born after 1650; married, 1683 (licence 20 June), Edward Grimstead (d. 1739) of Yetminster and Shaftesbury (who m2, 16 July 1711 at Marnhull (Dorset), Mary Gragrin, and had further issue), and had issue at least one daughter; buried at Shaftesbury, 7 March 1709.</span></div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">By 1653 he was living at Hook Manor, Semley (Wilts), which he held on lease from Lord Arundell. He also owned property at Motcombe (Dorset), in right of his wife. His widow lived latterly at Shaftesbury.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 9 February 1676/7 and was presumably buried at Holy Trinity, Shaftesbury, where he was commemorated by a monument; his will was proved in the PCC, 5 March 1676/7. His widow died about 1693; her will was proved in the PCC, 12 August 1693.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Landed Gentry</i>, 1886, vol. 1, pp. 118-19; <i>VCH Wiltshire</i>, vol. 8, 1965, pp. 47-58; vol. 13, 1987, pp. 195-248; J. Eyre, <i>Pythouse and the Benetts</i>, 2002; R. Moody, <i>John Benett of Pythouse: his life and ancestors at Norton Bavant and Pythouse, c.1450-1852</i>, 2003; Sir H.M. Colvin, <i>A biographical dictionary of British architects</i>, 4th edn., 2008, p.119; J. Orbach, Sir N. Pevsner & B. Cherry, <i>The buildings of England: Wiltshire</i>, 3rd edn., 2021, pp. 487-88, 493; <i>ODNB </i>entry for John Montague Benett-Stanford (1870-1947).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Benett family of Norton Bavant and Pythouse: </i>deeds, legal, estate and family papers, 15th-20th cents [Wiltshire & Swindon Archives, 413, 843, 1938, 2599]; correspondence and papers concerning Prince Rupert of the Rhine, 1628-1909 [British Library, Add MSS. 62081-86]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Gules, three demi-lions rampant argent, a mullet or. The arms were latterly quartered with those of Fane and Stanford.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Does anyone know more about the career of Thomas Benett (1687-1755) as a registrar of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury as an infantry officer?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide portraits or photographs of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 29 August 2023 and updated 2 March 2024. I am grateful to Heather Sykes for a correction.<br /></span><br /><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-89445408035700398442023-08-13T16:55:00.001+01:002023-08-20T17:56:55.053+01:00(553) Bendyshe of Barrington Hall and Broomford Manor<span style="font-family: georgia;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5cGD0QU3sgvpfbWNRlEONn_zKkWVfPXIfeHFLbv-_DMLddkyRBxzoNixGFD06PTGYmd3ZTXTrSuQVxhQEBfKKV6ho3QcbS9a-Fw0L4qjSiO-cmhr-m06k7iVac2JfYyR0OR22oCUr2RI_sqhU5Qy9z1Q4XMcUKrZxrxvrd3Y9LB41Iwq1DHYS64VD4G3/s1200/Bendyshe%20of%20Barrington.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5cGD0QU3sgvpfbWNRlEONn_zKkWVfPXIfeHFLbv-_DMLddkyRBxzoNixGFD06PTGYmd3ZTXTrSuQVxhQEBfKKV6ho3QcbS9a-Fw0L4qjSiO-cmhr-m06k7iVac2JfYyR0OR22oCUr2RI_sqhU5Qy9z1Q4XMcUKrZxrxvrd3Y9LB41Iwq1DHYS64VD4G3/w167-h200/Bendyshe%20of%20Barrington.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;">Bendyshe of Barrington </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Thomas Bendyshe (d. 1448), with whom the genealogy below begins, was the first of this family to acquire property at Barrington in Cambridgeshire, when he came into possession of his father-in-law's estate there. He handed this property onto his son Edward Bendyshe (d. 1474) during his lifetime, while his patrimony in Essex descended to another son, Thomas (d. 1485) [for whom see my previous post on the <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2023/08/552-bendish-of-bower-hall-baronets.html">Bendish family of Bower Hall</a>]. The Cambridgeshire branch of the family gradually standardised the spelling of their surname as Bendyshe, and this form has been used in this article, although in the 16th century a variety of spellings are found; the Essex branch preferred the form Bendish. The coats of arms used by the two families were similar but not identical.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Little is known about the early generations of the Cambridgeshire family, whose status was close to the borderline between yeomen and gentry. In the time of William Bendyshe (d. 1492) his lands were regarded as a distinct manor, although the property ran to only around 110 acres. Acquisitions through marriage and purchase resulted in the expansion of the estate later in the 16th century, and it included about 215 acres in 1610. It was reduced by the need to make provision for younger sons in the 17th century, but still included some 200 acres in 1664. Thereafter, expansion was more rapid, and Thomas Bendyshe (d. 1710) bought another 200 acres at Barrington between 1695 and 1700 as well as the manors of Orwell (Cambs) and Mortimers in Foxton (Cambs), while after inclosure in 1798, Richard Bendyshe (1753-1825) owned nearly 1,000 acres in Barrington and both manors in Foxton.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">William Bendyshe (d. 1492) was succeeded by his son Thomas (d. 1520) and grandson William (d. 1546). The latter's son Thomas (d. by 1577) is the first of whom much can be said. It was apparently he who began the expansion of the estate, and he was able to send all four of his sons to Jesus College, Cambridge. His successor, Andrew Bendyshe (c.1560-1615), became a Fellow of Jesus in 1583, but resigned his fellowship in 1590 in favour of his next brother, William (c.1566-1626). The <i>Alumni Cantabrigiensis </i>suggests his resignation was prompted by inheriting the Barrington estate, but his father had died by 1577 and he probably came of age in about 1581: it was more probably an intention to marry that prompted his resignation, although I have not been able to trace Andrew's marriage and his first recorded child was born in 1600. Both William Bendyshe (c.1566-1626) and the third brother, Thomas (c.1572-1633), entered the church, while Francis Bendyshe (c.1575-1618) inherited a portion of the Barrington estate.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Andrew Bendyshe's only surviving son was Thomas Bendyshe (1602-84). His tenure of the estate seems to have been untroubled during the Civil War, so his sympathies - like those of most Cambridgeshire gentry - probably lay with the Parliamentarians. His son, Robert Bendyshe (1638-87), married three times but only survived his father by three years, and left the estate to his son Thomas Bendyshe (1670?-1710). Perhaps because his father's three marriages had brought some useful capital to the family, Thomas was able to expand the estate, and pay for the construction of a new country house at Barrington, built by his father-in-law, who was master bricklayer to the king. These developments significantly increased the status of the family in the 18th century.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thomas and his wife had a large family, all of whom were minors when he died at the early age of forty. He left the house at Barrington to his widow for life, but the estate seems to have passed to his eldest son, Thomas Bendyshe (1699-1775), who came of age in 1720. The younger Thomas seems to be almost invisible in the records, as there is no record of him playing any part in public life and he was unmarried. Indeed, h</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">e seems almost to have been airbrushed out of history, with no reference to him in <i>Burke's Landed Gentry</i> or the <i>Victoria County History</i>, which mistakenly shows the estates descending to his younger brother, Maj-Gen. Richard Bendyshe (1700-77), who in fact was a career army officer and only inherited them when Thomas died in 1775. When the General died, also unmarried, in 1777, the properties passed to his nephew, Richard Bendyshe (1753-1825), who was one of the parties to the inclosure of Barrington in 1798. He outlived his two elder sons, so on his death the Barrington estate passed to his youngest son, John Bendyshe (1790-1855), who had entered the Royal Navy as a volunteer in 1805 and retired as a Lieutenant in 1819. He largely rebuilt the Georgian house at Barrington in 1827-28, apparently on a smaller scale than before, and was the only member of the family to serve as High Sheriff (of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire). His first wife was Catherine Matcham, the niece of Admiral Lord Nelson (a fact of which succeeding generations of the family were remarkably proud). They had nine children in eleven years, and the Barrington estate was inherited in turn by his sons John Bendyshe (1821-65) and the Rev. Robert Bendyshe (1822-1914), both of whom died unmarried. Next in line was their nephew, Lt-Col. Richard Nelson Bendyshe (1866-1915), a career army officer who had been born in Canada but brought up in England. He inherited in 1914 but was killed in a tragic but bizarre 'friendly fire' incident at Gallipoli just a few months later. The estate thus came unexpectedly to John Nelson Bendyshe (1894-1962), who in the early 1920s remodelled and enlarged the house at Barrington but soon afterwards decided, for reasons which are unclear, to sell it and move to Devon, buying Broomford Manor, Jacobstowe in 1929. Broomford remained his home until his death, after which his widow Margaret (1907-88) made it her home until her death. By then the house was in poor condition due to lack of maintenance and it was sold soon afterwards by her heirs, bringing the family's lengthy record as landowners to a close.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Barrington Hall, Cambridgeshire</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The manor house of Bendyshe manor, which was occupied by the Bendyshe famiily from the 15th-20th centuries. Almost nothing seems to be known of their first house here, which was taxed on seven hearths in 1664. It probably occupied a partially moated site (384 ft x 184 ft) north-east of the present building, although this could have been a garden feature associated with the later house. The manor house was rebuilt in 1702 by Richard Stacey, master bricklayer to William III, for his son-in-law, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thomas Bendyshe (1670?-1710), and it is said to be the seven bay, three storey house of brick with stone dressings, featured in the background of a portrait of Richard Bendyshe (1753-1824) and his favourite hunter by Sawrey Gilpin and Henry Walton</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4TJm1t6MksU_K9lQ3zEweft1GXUpk6uOeeQrPMNg68EUxPcdUifh1XUEGQYNICB4paLsHwfl3uQNma61DIx3wZHn4z1MAWzfntQGt5KvyhBBIHVZhFg8DRWuAY22wbegvlu_5oB-OsJ4p6NWEuIl6mbUprSsFifpMghXtLb8bTuJmutggQzGa1nKEL6b/s606/Barrington%20Hall,%20Cambs%209.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="606" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4TJm1t6MksU_K9lQ3zEweft1GXUpk6uOeeQrPMNg68EUxPcdUifh1XUEGQYNICB4paLsHwfl3uQNma61DIx3wZHn4z1MAWzfntQGt5KvyhBBIHVZhFg8DRWuAY22wbegvlu_5oB-OsJ4p6NWEuIl6mbUprSsFifpMghXtLb8bTuJmutggQzGa1nKEL6b/w640-h540/Barrington%20Hall,%20Cambs%209.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Barrington Hall: the new house built c.1700 is said to be the building depicted in this portrait of Richard Bendyshe (1753-1825) and his favourite hunter by Sawrey Gilpin & Henry Walton.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Some of the structure of this early Georgian house was retained when the house was again rebuilt in 1827, as a villa with a three-bay entrance front framed by rusticated quoins, with a service wing to its right. Surviving 18th century details include the principal and back staircases and a chimneypiece in an upstairs room with a pulvinated frieze. In about 1920 the house was yet again remodelled, this time by Kieffer & Fleming for Capt. John Nelson Bendyshe (1894-1962). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbC9EDx7s1aUgkrn-Mz6xVtGuQ2r9xKr2ORpmh3HzcSOmH1yvK0w0oV4tlSMoECQZBZFdqfXHOxIZu124bw6OLNbmNprNUdIxcnhN8KdGa0D8XxMd1DmE2f0gNVnGtX4jX74DIUbJn1yvW3qxCJwA6V4JAzdrfQzx6NofPr2RJl7kZII-7IkvKsAIKnYOu/s971/Barrington%20Hall,%20Cambs%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="971" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbC9EDx7s1aUgkrn-Mz6xVtGuQ2r9xKr2ORpmh3HzcSOmH1yvK0w0oV4tlSMoECQZBZFdqfXHOxIZu124bw6OLNbmNprNUdIxcnhN8KdGa0D8XxMd1DmE2f0gNVnGtX4jX74DIUbJn1yvW3qxCJwA6V4JAzdrfQzx6NofPr2RJl7kZII-7IkvKsAIKnYOu/w640-h428/Barrington%20Hall,%20Cambs%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Barrington Hall: the entrance front today is largely a creation of the 1920s.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SkwmaRqcWBXecpDpyBFv3pRO3JFfkKesJFAuPv6Y6JczRYgL8Rx89r3ov5LKufT4C48zbzqzqeRMxx8x7_RjTqg1sL7Vlsg4sNKkes0SmxCvxmoPZ_tMrNNKe1WHpLgjdbDI6hgrUbdHSnamHN4A1U-CBuSBOaKu_LwUqUYQRhXXM0ChYdKinPJ7GPaE/s1440/Barrington%20Hall,%20Cambs%208.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="1440" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SkwmaRqcWBXecpDpyBFv3pRO3JFfkKesJFAuPv6Y6JczRYgL8Rx89r3ov5LKufT4C48zbzqzqeRMxx8x7_RjTqg1sL7Vlsg4sNKkes0SmxCvxmoPZ_tMrNNKe1WHpLgjdbDI6hgrUbdHSnamHN4A1U-CBuSBOaKu_LwUqUYQRhXXM0ChYdKinPJ7GPaE/w640-h426/Barrington%20Hall,%20Cambs%208.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Barrington Hall: garden front, as altered and enlarged in the 1920s.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">They added the canted bays on the entrance front and extended the house to the rear, creating the garden front at right-angles to the entrance front, with two rectangular bays linked by a loggia. The house was sometimes let after 1900 and the Bendyshes moved to Devon in 1928, before selling their Cambridgeshire lands in 1937 to Sir Charles Davis, managing director of a local cement company. After his death the hall was used by his company as offices, and it is now a wedding venue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: Thomas Bradfield (d. c.1413); to son-in-law, Thomas Bendyshe (d. c.1447), who gave it to his son Edmund Bendyshe (d. 1474); to son, William </i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Bendyshe (d. 1492); to son, Thomas </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">Bendyshe (d. 1520); to son, William </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">Bendyshe (d. 1546); to son, Thomas </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">Bendyshe (d. by 1577); to son, Andrew </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">Bendyshe (c.1560-1615); to son, Thomas </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">Bendyshe (1602-84); to son, Robert </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">Bendyshe (1638-87); to son, Thomas </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">Bendyshe (1670?-1710); to son, Thomas Bendyshe (1699-1775); to brother, Maj-Gen. Richard </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">Bendyshe (1700-77); to nephew, Richard </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">Bendyshe (1753-1825); to son, John </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">Bendyshe (1790-1855); to son, John </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">Bendyshe </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">(1821-65); to brother, Rev. Richard </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">Bendyshe (1822-1914); to nephew, Lt-Col. Richard Nelson </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">Bendyshe (1865-1915); to son, John Nelson </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">Bendyshe (1894-1962), who sold 1937 to Sir Charles Davis (d. 1950), kt.; to Eastwoods Ltd., cement manufacturers; sold 1962 to Rugby Portland Cement Co.; sold by 2005 to Cemex UK Properties Ltd, which closed the adjoining cement works in 2008.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Broomford Manor, Jacobstowe, Devon</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">There was evidently a manor house at Broomford before the present house was built, but very little is known about it. The present house was built on a new site for Col. Sir Robert White-Thompson (d. 1924), who commissioned George Devey to design it in 1871. The result was a large and roughly square neo-Jacobean stone-built house with determinedly asymmetrical elevations and an extremely complex roofscape. It has two storeys with attics, with groups of tall brick chimneystacks to give the facades vertical emphasis, while the north-east front has a pedimented Dutch gable over the entrance. A </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">large service wing is attached a</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">t the south-west corner. Even before construction of the shell was complete, White-Thompson began to run out of money, and the planned tile-hanging and external semi-timbering were curtailed, while the interiors were minimally finished with plain plate glass windows, no window shutters or cornices, and a standard design used for the chimneypieces in the reception rooms. The staircase was minimally decorated with turned balusters and square newel posts, while upstairs the six principal bedrooms were equally spartan.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwSIzaJvfOYwi0shId7fzNtkT0NTeLREwO8dlhc3Nv9aXvAIBiE7_E8uRRB03C1f138-TcgDWrpRLQRThmNiX9U37IrSV0FUIHlYCWG2SqqmGt_ufpT-486_AkYhQy5NUgbgFfrHRro1Ti3HRva20AA6Ww99lf-5sDixXdmyjk00dhlhF7FtWixfYg54q/s885/Broomford%20Manor%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="885" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwSIzaJvfOYwi0shId7fzNtkT0NTeLREwO8dlhc3Nv9aXvAIBiE7_E8uRRB03C1f138-TcgDWrpRLQRThmNiX9U37IrSV0FUIHlYCWG2SqqmGt_ufpT-486_AkYhQy5NUgbgFfrHRro1Ti3HRva20AA6Ww99lf-5sDixXdmyjk00dhlhF7FtWixfYg54q/w640-h454/Broomford%20Manor%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Broomford Manor: the entrance front.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house was left in this state, as something of a blank canvas inviting a sensitive scheme of enhancements, for more than a century, for neither White-Thompson nor his successors, the Bendyshes, ever made any significant improvements to the interior. Indeed, after the Second World War the house slowly decayed, so that when it was sold in 1989 it was described as 'in need of modernisation and improvement' - so often a chilling phrase. It was taken on by the television personality, disc jockey and businessman, Noel Edmonds (b. 1948), who undertook a conservative restoration of the exterior and a more radical internal remodelling with 'an unconvincing muddle of Edwardian pastiche fittings', including new chimneypieces and decorative plaster ceilings, and a repositioned imperial staircase. In 2005, Edmonds' much-publicised financial and other difficulties forced the sale of the estate.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: built for Col. Sir Robert White-Thompson (d. 1924); to son, Rt. Rev. Leonard White-Thompson, bishop of Ely, who sold 1929 to John Nelson Bendyshe (1894-1962); to widow, Margaret Elliott Bendyshe (1907-88); sold 1989 to Noel Edmonds (b. 1948); sold 2005 to James Michael Egan (b. 1941).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendyshe family of Barrington Hall and Broomford Manor</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendyshe, Thomas (d. 1448). </b>Son of Edmund Bendyshe (d. 1392) of Radwinter (Essex) and his wife Alice, daughter and heir of John de Bennington. He married 1st, Alice (d. by 1413), daughter and co-heir of Thomas Bradfield (d. c.1413) of Barrington (Cambs), and 2nd [name unknown], and had issue including:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Edmund Bendyshe (d. 1474) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Thomas Bendyshe (d. 1485) [for whom see my previous post on the <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2023/08/552-bendish-of-bower-hall-baronets.html">Bendish family of Bower Hall</a>]</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Steeple Bumpstead (Essex). He inherited in right of his deceased first wife, his father-in-law's property at Barrington (Cambs).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died in 1448. His first wife had died before 1413. His second wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendyshe, Edmund (d. 1474). </b>Son of Thomas Bendyshe (d. 1448) and his first wife, Alice, daughter of Thomas Bradfield of Barrington (Cambs), born before 1413. He married Elinor St. George, and/or Isabella [surname unknown], and had issue, possibly amongst others:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) William Bendyshe (d. 1492) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Isabella Bendyshe (fl. 1474).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>His father gave him the Barrington estate by the 1430s.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died in 1474; his will was proved in the PCC, 2 May 1474. His widow's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendyshe, William (d. 1492). </b>Son of Edmund Bendyshe (d. 1474) of Barrington (Cambs) and his wife Elinor St. George or Isabella [surname unknown]. He married Alice [surname unknown] and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Thomas Bendyshe (d. 1520) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Barrington estate from his father in 1474.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 4 December 1492. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His widow's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendyshe, Thomas (d. 1520). </b>Son of William Bendyshe (d. 1492) and his wife Alice. Educated at Thavies Inn, London. Escheator for Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, 1511. He married Alice, daughter of Sir F. Farrington of Farrington (Lancs), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) William Bendyshe (d. 1546) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Barrington estate from his father in 1492.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Barrington, 18 December 1520. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendyshe, William (d. 1546). </b>Son of Thomas Bendyshe (d. 1520) and his wife Alice, daughter of Sir F. Farrington of Farrington (Lancs). He married [forename unknown] Freville of Cambridgeshire, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Thomas Bendyshe (d. by 1577) (<i>q.v.</i>)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Barrington estate from his father in 1520.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died in 1546. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendyshe, Thomas (d. by 1577). </b>Son of William Bendyshe (d. 1546) and his wife [forename unknown], daughter of [forename unknown] Freville of Cambridgeshire. Perhaps the man of this name educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge (matriculated 1548). He married Joyce, daughter of Thomas Skeffington (d. 1543) of Skeffington (Leics), and had issue*:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Andrew Bendyshe (c.1560-1615) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Margaret Bendyshe; married, 1586 at Barrington, Thomas Brady and had issue at least one son;</span> </div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Rev. William Bendyshe (c.1566-1626); educated at Jesus College, Cambridge (matriculated 1584; BA 1588; MA 1591; BD 1598); Fellow of Jesus college, 1590-1606; vicar of Ugley (Essex), 1596-1600 and All Saints, Cambridge, 1603-06; vicar of Bishops Stortford (Herts), 1604-16 and rector of Elton (Hunts), 1615-26; married, c.1606, Elizabeth [surname unknown] (d. 1631), and had issue two sons and five daughters; died 13 May and was buried at Elton, 8 June 1626;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Rev. Thomas Bendyshe (c.1572-1633); educated at Jesus College, Cambridge (matriculated 1590; BA 1594; MA 1597); ordained deacon and priest, 1597; vicar of Thriplow (Cambs), 1599-1612, Bishops Stortford (Herts), 1616-32 and Arkesden (Essex), 1617-32; married, 19 July 1608 at Cambridge, Jane Halfhead, and had issue at least one son; died 14 July 1632; will proved at London, 1633;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Francis Bendyshe (c.1575-1618); educated at Jesus College, Cambridge (matriculated c.1594; BA 1598; MA 1601); married, 1595, Joan How, and had issue two sons and three daughters; buried at Barrington, 18 September 1618; will proved in the PCC, 27 November 1618.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Barrington estate from his father in 1546.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died in or before 1577. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* The will of Francis Bendyshe proved in 1618 appears to refer to another daughter,then called Margaret Reynolds, and implies the existence of another son, then deceased, whose widow Thomasine Bendyshe was living at the time.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendyshe, Andrew (c.1560-1615). </b>Eldest son of Thomas Bendyshe (d. by 1577) and his wife Joyce, daughter of Thomas Skeffington of Skeffington (Leics), born about 1560. Educated at Ely and Jesus College, Cambridge (matriculated 1578; BA 1582; MA 1585); Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, 1583-90. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Halfhead of Histon (Cambs), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Dorothy Bendyshe (1600-44), baptised at Barrington, 15 June 1600; married, 15 June 1620 at Hauxton (Cambs), Rev. Cuthbert Dale (d. 1638?)*, vicar of Branston (Lincs), and had issue; buried at Barrington, 5 October 1644;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Thomas Bendyshe (1602-84) (</span><i style="font-family: georgia;">q.v.</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) William Bendyshe (d. 1603), buried at Barrington, 5 September 1603;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Jane Bendyshe (1605-16), baptised at Barrington, 17 November 1605; died young and was buried at Barrington, 14 January 1615/6;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Francis Bendyshe (1609-16), baptised at Barrington, 13 March 1608/9; died young and was buried at Barrington, 17 February 1615/6;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Elizabeth Bendyshe (b. 1610), baptised at Barrington, 30 September 1610; possibly the woman of this name who married, 1635 at Grimston (Norfk), Henry Boyton;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Joyce Bendyshe (b. 1613), baptised at Barrington, 5 September 1613; perhaps the woman of this name who married, 21 October 1645 at St Nicholas, Cole Abbey, London, Agricola Waylett of Springfield (Essex).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Barrington estate from his father by 1577 and came of age about 1581.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Barrington, 8 April 1615. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His widow's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* The Clergy of the Church of England Database has, I think, conflated Cuthbert's biography with that of his son of the same name (d. 1668).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia;">Bendyshe, Thomas (1602-84). </b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Eldest son of Andrew Bendyshe (c.1560-1615) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Halfhead of Histon (Cambs), baptised at Barrington, 12 September 1602. Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1620) and Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1625). He married, 16 September 1628 at Chesterton (Cambs), Constance (1607-41), daughter of Robert Castell of East Hatley (Cambs), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Thomas Bendyshe (b. 1629), baptised at East Hatley, 21 June 1629; died in the lifetime of his father;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Elizabeth Bendyshe (b. 1630), baptised at Barrington, 4 November 1630;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Constance Bendyshe (c.1633-64); married, 29 August 1654 at Barrington, Rev. Thomas Gyles (fl. 1660), rector of Downham (Cambs); died 3 February, and was buried at Barrington, 24 February 1663/4, where she is commemorated by a monument;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Robert Bendyshe (1638-87) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Andrew Bendyshe (1641-42), baptised at Barrington, 19 June 1641; died in infancy and was buried at St Margaret, Westminster (Middx), 26 December 1642.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Barrington estate from his father in 1615.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Barrington, 1 May 1684, where he and his wife are commemorated by a monument. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His wife was buried at Barrington, 15 September 1641.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendyshe, Robert (1638-87). </b>Second, but only surviving, son of Thomas Bendyshe (1602-84) and his wife Constance, daughter of Robert Castell of East Hadley (Cambs), baptised at Barrington, 10 April 1638. Educated at Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1660; called 1667). Barrister-at-law. He married 1st, 23 August 1664 at Great Oakley (Northants), Margaret (d. 1673), daughter of Thomas Brooke of Great Oakley; 2nd, 4 May 1674 at St Dunstan-in-the-East, London, Frances (c.1646-75), daughter of Francis Pochin of Barkby (Leics); and 3rd, 19 May 1676 at Holy Trinity, Minories, London, Elizabeth (d. 1698), daughter of Thomas Harding, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Margaret Bendyshe (b. & d. 1665), born 26 June and baptised at Great Oakley, 2 July 1665; died in infancy and was buried at Great Oakley, 20 August 1665;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Margaret Bendyshe (1668-1704), born 18 February and baptised at Great Oakley, 15 March 1667/8; died unmarried and was buried at Barrington, 28 April 1704;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.3) Thomas Bendyshe (1670?-1710) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.4) Elizabeth Bendyshe (1672-73), baptised at St James, Clerkenwell (Middx), 12 March 1671/2; died in infancy and was buried at St Martin, Ludgate, London, 12 February 1672/3;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3.1) Elizabeth Bendyshe (b. 1677), baptised at St Bride, Fleet St., London, 1 May 1677; possibly the woman of this name who married, 1699 at Barrington, William Webb;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3.2) Edmund Bendyshe (1678-80), baptised at Barrington, 10 October 1678; died in infancy and was buried at St Margaret, Westminster (Middx), 24 September 1680;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3.3) Frances Bendish (b. 1681), baptised at St Margaret, Westminster (Middx), 12 July 1681.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Barrington estate from his father in 1684.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Barrington, 23 June 1687, where he and his first wife are commemorated by a monument. His first wife was buried at Barrington, 6 May 1673. His second wife was buried at Barrington, 6/8 March 1674/5; administration of her goods was granted in the PCC, 13 March 1674/5. His widow was buried at Barrington, 10 February 1697/8.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendyshe, Thomas (1670?-1710). </b>Only son of Robert Bendyshe (1638-87) and his first wife, Margaret, daughter of Thomas Broke of Great Oakley (Northants), said to have been born in 1670. He was sometimes described as 'of Lincolns Inn' but as his name does not appear in the register of admissions to the inn he may have simply lived in chambers there inherited from his father. He married, 28 May 1696 at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster (Middx), Catherine (1679-1750), daughter of Richard Stacey, master bricklayer to King William III, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Katherine Bendyshe (1697-1735), baptised at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster (Middx), 21 February 1696/7; died unmarried and was </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">buried at Barrington, 14 June 1735;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Margaret Bendyshe (1698-1780), born 2 November and baptised at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, 13 November 1698; died unmarried and was buried at Barrington, 18 September 1780; will proved in the PCC, 25 September 1780;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Thomas Bendyshe (1699-1775) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Maj-Gen. Richard Bendyshe (1700-77) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Elizabeth Bendyshe (1702-03), born 16 June and baptised at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, 14 July 1702; died in infancy and was buried at St Martin-in-the-Fields, 12 February 1702/3;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Ralph Bendyshe (1703-04), born 3 July and baptised at St Martin-in-the Fields, 23 July 1703; died in infancy and was buried at St Martin-in-the-Fields, 22 July 1704;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Ralph Bendyshe (1704-66) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Rev. Robert Bendyshe (1707-83), born 14 June and baptised at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, 18 June 1703; educated at Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1725; BA 1729; MA 1732; BD 1750); Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, 1731; ordained deacon, 1735 and priest, 1737; vicar of Shalford (Surrey), 1745-55 and rector of Dickleburgh (Norfk), 1755-83; died unmarried and was buried at Barrington, 26 March 1783; will proved in the PCC, 4 April 1783;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Martha Bendyshe (1709-85), baptised at Barrington, 9 October 1709; died unmarried and was buried at Barrington, 15 October 1785; will proved in the PCC, 14 October 1785;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) <i>twin, </i>Elizabeth Bendyshe (b. & d. 1710), born posthumously and baptised at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, 2 October 1710; died in infancy and was buried at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster, 25 October 1710;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(11) <i>twin, </i>Henry Bendyshe (b. & d. 1710), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">born posthumously and baptised at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, 2 October 1710; died in infancy and was buried at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster, 25 October 1710</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Barrington estate from his father in 1687 and came of age in 1691. He expanded the Barrington estate and also bought the manors of Mortimers in Foxton and Orwell (Cambs). His father-in-law built a new house for him at Barrington by 1702. At his death he left the house to his widow for life.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried in the south chapel of St Peter, Cornhill, London, 31 May 1710. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His widow was buried at Barrington, 12 October 1750; her will was proved in the PCC, 13 November 1750.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span>Bendyshe, Thomas</span> </span>(1699-1775). </b>Eldest son of </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thomas Bendyshe (1670?-1710) and his wife Catherine, daughter of Richard Stacey, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">born 26 September and baptised at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, 12 October 1699. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was evidently unmarried and without issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Barrington estate from his father in 1711 and came of age in 1720. He gained control of Barrington Hall on the death of his mother in 1750.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Barrington, 11 November 1775; no will has been traced.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendyshe, Maj-Gen. Richard (1700-77). </b>Second son of Thomas Bendyshe (1670?-1710) and his wife Catherine, daughter of Richard Stacey, baptised at Barrington, 29 September 1700. An officer in the army and later the marines (Ensign, 1721; Cornet, 1722; Capt., 1733; Maj., 1745; Lt-Col., 1755; Col., 1762; Maj-Gen, 1770), who commanded the bodyguard of King George II at the Battle of Dettingen. He was unmarried and without issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Barrington estate from his elder brother in 1775.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 14 April 1777 and was buried at Barrington, where he is commemorated by a monument; his will was proved in the PCC, 15 July 1777.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendyshe, Ralph (1704-66). </b>Fourth </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">son of Thomas Bendyshe (1670?-1710) and his wife Catherine, daughter of Richard Stacey, born</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 15 November and baptised at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster (Middx), 3 December 1704. An officer in the army and later the marines (2nd Lt., 1720; 1st Lt., 1730; Capt. after 1740; retired on half-pay, 1748/9). He married, 21 October 1729 at St Benet, Paul's Wharf, London, Mary (1707-66), daughter of John Ayleff, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Mary Ann Bendyshe (1744-45), baptised at East Dereham (Norfk), 9 October 1744; died in infancy and was buried at East Dereham, 20 March 1744/5;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Ralph Bendyshe (1745-72), baptised at St Mary, Dover (Kent), 20 November 1745; an officer in the Marines (Lt.); died unmarried, 28 March 1772;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Catherine Bendyshe (d. 1818), born before 1752; married, 27 November 1782 at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster (Middx), as his third wife, Rev. Alleyne Walter LLD (c.1724-1806), rector of Bisley and Chobham (Surrey), 1748-79 and Crowcombe (Som.), 1779-1806, but had no issue; died at Bath (Som.), 26 September 1818;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Richard Bendyshe (1753-1825) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He seems to have lived at different times at East Dereham (Norfolk), Dover (Kent) and Chester (Ches.).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at St Martin, Chester (Ches.), 13 November 1766. His widow was buried at St Martin, Chester, 24 November 1766. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendyshe, Richard (1753-1825). </b>Second son of Ralph Bendyshe (1704-66) and his wife Mary, daughter of John Ayleff, born August and baptised at Holy Trinity, Chester (Ches), 21 September 1753. An officer in the Royal Engineers (2nd Lt., 1772) and later in the Cambridgeshire provisional cavalry (Capt., 1797). He received a faculty in 1784 for the establishment of a family vault in Barrington church. He married, 17 February 1783 at St Swithin, Walcot, Bath (Som.), Jane (1759- 1824), daughter of John Jervis of Darlaston (Staffs), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Richard Bendyshe (1784-1806), born 19 February and baptised at St Swithin, Walcot, 13 April 1784; educated at Rugby, Eton and St John's College, Cambridge (admitted 1802 but did not matriculate); an officer in the 1st Foot Guards (Ensign, 1803); died at Chatham Barracks, 21 April, and was buried at St Mary, Chatham (Kent), 25 April 1806;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Robert Bendyshe (1785-1807), born 14 January and baptised at St Swithin, Walcot, 11 February 1785; an officer in the Royal Navy (Lt., 1806); died unmarried when he drowned in the wreck of HMS Blenheim, 1 March 1807;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Mary Anne Elizabeth Jane Bendyshe (1787-1863), baptised at Barrington, 12 February 1787; married, 15 September 1821 at Eling (Hants), Capt. William Stewart RA of Weedon (Northants); died at Pau (France), 6 January 1863; will proved 14 April 1863 (effects under £4,000).</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) John Bendyshe (1790-1855) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Barrington estate from his uncle, Gen. Richard Bendyshe, in 1777, but lived at Bath (Som.).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at his house in Bath (Som.), 30 January 1825, and was buried at Woolley (Som.). His wife died 16 March and was buried at Woolley, 24 March 1824.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendyshe, John (1790-1855). </b>Third, but only surviving, son of Richard Bendyshe (1753-1825) and his wife Jane, daughter of John Jervis of Darlaston (Staffs), born 10 April and baptised at St Swithin, Walcot, Bath (Som.), 9 May 1790. He joined the Royal Navy in 1805 (Midshipman, 1806; Lt. 1811; retired on half-pay, 29 November 1819). In the early 1820s he spent several years travelling on the continent with his wife. One of the Conservators of the River Cam (resigned 1850). JP and DL for Cambridgeshire; High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, 1831-32. A Conservative in politics. He married 1st, 10 August 1820 at the British Embassy in Paris (France), Catherine (1792-1831), eldest daughter of George Matcham of Ashfield Lodge (Sussex) and niece of Admiral Lord Nelson, and 2nd, 21 October 1833 at West Wratting (Cambs), Anna Maria (1795-1864), third daughter of Sir Charles Watson, 1st bt., of Wratting Park, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) John Bendyshe (1821-65) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Rev. Richard Bendyshe (1822-1914) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.3) Nelson Bendyshe (1823-77) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.4) Caroline Bendyshe (1824-1908), baptised at Bathwick (Som.), 13 October 1824; married, 28 January 1864 at St James the Less, Westminster (Middx), Rev. John Gibson (1816-92), Dean of Jesus College, Cambridge and rector of Kings Stanley (Glos), 1857-86, son of John Gibson, but had no issue; died 22 July 1908; will proved 9 September 1908 (estate £5,453);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.5) Laura Bendyshe (1825-1910), baptised at Bathwick (Som.), 24 December 1825; married, 18 April 1855 at Affpuddle (Dorset), Rev. Charles Richard William Waldy (1825-1901), poet and vicar of Gussage All Saints (Dorset), 1857-75 and later rector of Sutton-on-Derwent (Yorks), 1875-1901, son of Richard Waldy, and had issue two sons and three daughters; died 22 October and was buried at Southminster (Essex), 26 October 1910;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.6) <span style="background-color: white;">Thomas</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span>Bendyshe (1827-86), born 7 July and baptised at Bassingbourn (Cambs), 6 August 1827; educated at Eton, King's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1845; BA 1849; MA 1852) and Inner Temple (admitted 1848; called 1857), and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">visited the United States of America, 1848</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">; a Fellow of King's College, Cambridge, 1848-86, where he proved a reactionary colleague who obstructed necessary financial reforms for nearly 20 years; as a barrister-at-law he practised for some years on the Northern Circuit; in the 1860s he became a director of the Victoria Hotel, Ramsgate (Kent) and the London & Provincial Mortgage Bank and purchased a failing periodical called </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">The Reader</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">, which he</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> edited, 1866-67; he was a vice-president of </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">the Anthropological Society of London, for which he </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">edited and translated several anthropological works in European languages including </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">The Anthropological Treatises of Johan Friedrich Blumenbach (</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">1865); his writings, including an article 'On the extinction of races' in the <i>Anthropological Journal</i>, show that he held racist views, although he stopped short of supporting the view that Africans were a different species of human, held by some of his colleagues at the society; he was </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">a member of the Conservative Club until he was expelled for voting for his friend, the Liberal John Stuart Mill, at the Westminster election in 1865; a friend of Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837-1909); died unmarried at Dover (Kent), 21 July 1866; administration of goods granted to his elder brother, 8 June 1887 (effects £60);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.7) Susanna Bendyshe (1829-1915), baptised at Bassingbourn, 14 July 1829; married, 14 April 1855 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), Rev. William Crowther (c.1821-1915), perpetual curate of Claines (Worcs), 1855-70 and vicar of Norton near Faversham (Kent), 1870-1901, son of Rev. Thomas Crowther, and had issue seven sons and two daughters; died at Bournemouth (Hants), 26 December 1915; will proved 1 April 1916 (estate £2,683);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.8) George Bendyshe (1830-38), baptised at Bassingbourn, 30 July 1830; died young and was buried at Barrington, 30 August 1838.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.9) Catherine Bendyshe (1831-1904), born 3 November and baptised at Bassingbourn, 8 December 1831; lived at Claines (Worcs); died unmarried, 1 August 1904; administration of her goods was granted 3 December 1904 (estate £7,894);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Anna Maria Bendyshe (1836-76), baptised at Bassingbourn, 20 December 1836; married, 27 July 1874 at St Paul, Wilton Place, Westminster (Middx), as his second wife, Col. Robert Gregory Wale (1820-92) of Little Shelford (Cambs), son of Gen. Sir Charles Wale, kt., but had no issue; died 11 June 1876; administration of goods granted to her husband, 26 July 1876 (effects under £450).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He inherited the Barrington estate from his father in 1825 and remodelled the house in 1827-28, but seems to have lived first at Bathwick (Som.) and later at Kneesworth Hall (Cambs), which he rented for some years from 1827.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 17 December 1855, and was buried at Barrington; his will was proved in the PCC, 18 April 1856. His first wife died following childbirth, 3 November 1831. His widow died 23 December and was buried at Barrington, 28 December 1864; her will was proved 25 January 1865 (effects under £2,000).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendyshe, John (1821-65). </b>Eldest son of John Bendyshe (1790-1855) and his first wife, Catherine, eldest daughter of George Matcham of Ashfield Lodge (Sussex), born at Sorrento (Italy), 10 May and baptised in Paris (France), 19 June 1821. An officer in the army (Ensign, 1846; Lt., 1850; retired 1851) and later in the Cambridgeshire militia (Capt., 1852). JP for Cambridgeshire. He was unmarried and without issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Barrington Hall estate from his father in 1855.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 1 November 1865; administration of his goods was granted to his brother and heir, 10 January 1866 (effects under £8,000).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendyshe, Rev. Richard (1822-1914). </b>Second </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">son of John Bendyshe (1790-1855) and his first wife, Catherine, eldest daughter of George Matcham of Ashfield Lodge (Sussex), born at Nantes (France), 8 September and baptised at Paris (France), 26 October 1822. Educated at Shrewsbury and Harrow Schools and Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1843; BA 1847; MA 1850). Ordained deacon, 1848 and priest, 1849. Curate of Eltisley (Cambs), 1848-50, Winnall (Hants), 1850-53, Denham (Bucks), 1853-58 and Harbridge (Hants), 1862-68, but never received (and probably never sought) a benefice. He was unmarried and without issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Barrington Hall estate from his elder brother in 1865.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died aged 92 on 24 September 1914; his will was proved 10 July 1915 (estate £132,459).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendyshe, Nelson (1823-77). </b>Third </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">son of John Bendyshe (1790-1855) and his first wife, Catherine, eldest daughter of George Matcham of Ashfield Lodge (Sussex), born 17 October 1823 and baptised at Walcot, Bath (Som.), 10 January 1824. Educated at Harrow School. He emigrated to Canada, where he was living and farming at Woodstock, Ontario in 1861, but returned to England soon afterwards. He married, 29 October 1863 at Seend (Wilts), Charlotte (c.1830-78), youngest daughter of Capt. Henry Brodrick of 29th Foot, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Lt-Col. Richard Nelson Bendyshe (1866-1915) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) <span style="background-color: white;">Edmund</span> Alan Bendyshe (1867-84), born in Canada, 1867; educated at King's School, Canterbury; drowned while serving as midshipman on a sailing vessel, the <i>Simla</i>, which collided with the <i>City of Lucknow</i> in the English channel, January 1884;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) John Montague Bendyshe (1869-c.1960), baptised at Bramshaw (Hants), 5 July 1869; educated at Clifton College, Bristol; emigrated to Australia, where he was involved in mineral prospecting, and lived latterly at Eastwood, Parramatta, New South Wales; married, 11 September 1911, Isabelle May, second daughter of George Pillar of Melbourne, Victoria (Australia); living in 1958;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) George Schomberg Bendyshe (1873-1943), baptised at Halberton (Devon), 24 February 1873; emigrated to Australia where he worked as a stockman and served in the New South Wales Artillery (deserted, 1893) and Australian Imperial Force, 1915-17 (Sergeant; discharged due to age and hernia); he also claimed five years military experience in South Africa, presumably during the Boer War; married, 1919 at Waterloo, New South Wales, Hilda J. Short and had issue at least one daughter; died at Sydney (Australia), 28 August 1943.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Easton House, Bigbury (Devon).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Ramsgate (Kent), 14 June 1877; his will was proved 5 July and 29 August 1877 (effects £200), and a further administration of his goods (with will annexed) was granted 4 March 1893 (effects £1,721). His widow died 11 December 1878.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EGSW_jCDnyAzaV3J60Q9WAtnSmmnypWAsFHrxeVI9OPuQ1sunF6F4EtLOE6FvKHueBUqAeQa71FmvylLxoEHlAA8ZotFQz7Ui_KQcnNBEKr0C87BGc5YhvbxRqfU_znIWFzarw9bvKvQBb4HKaXMNdo5iSCAWYiAl57Gd2RGj7dqTFW6CHmpTwD9Vz2H/s800/Bendyshe,%20Richard%20Nelson%20(1866-1915).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="614" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EGSW_jCDnyAzaV3J60Q9WAtnSmmnypWAsFHrxeVI9OPuQ1sunF6F4EtLOE6FvKHueBUqAeQa71FmvylLxoEHlAA8ZotFQz7Ui_KQcnNBEKr0C87BGc5YhvbxRqfU_znIWFzarw9bvKvQBb4HKaXMNdo5iSCAWYiAl57Gd2RGj7dqTFW6CHmpTwD9Vz2H/w154-h200/Bendyshe,%20Richard%20Nelson%20(1866-1915).jpg" width="154" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lt-Col. R.N. Bendysh (1866-1915) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bendyshe, Lt-Col. Richard Nelson (1866-1915). </b>Eldest son of Nelson Bendyshe (1823-77) and his wife Charlotte, youngest daughter of Maj. Henry Brodrick, born at Woodstock, Ontario (Canada), 18 January 1866. Educated at King's School, Canterbury and Royal Military Academy. An officer in the Royal Marines Light Infantry (Lt., 1885; Capt. 1895; Maj., 1903; Br. Lt-Col., 1910; retired 1910; recalled 1914). He married, 15 August 1893 at Bekesbourne (Kent), Eleanor Margaret (1867-1949), daughter of Rev. Henry John Wardell, vicar of Bekesbourne (Kent), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) John Nelson Bendyshe (1894-1962) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Margaret Charlotte Bendyshe (1900-75), born 1 November and baptised at East Stonehouse (Devon), 30 November 1900; married, 6 September 1924 at Barrington, Clifford Walter Cronin (1900-51) of Thelbridge Hall Farm, Witheridge (Devon), son of Rev. Harry Stovell Cronin, and had issue two sons and one daughter; died 19 March 1975; will proved 6 November 1975 (estate £30,721).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Barrington Hall estate from his uncle, the Rev. Richard Bendyshe, in 1914.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was killed in a <a href="https://www.royalnavaldivision.info/personnel/rnbendyshe.htm">bizarre 'friendly fire' incident</a> at Gallipoli, 1 May 1915; his will was proved 26 October 1915 (estate £39,313). His widow died 4 March and was cremated at Plymouth, 9 March 1949; her will was proved 24 August 1949 (estate £5,966).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendyshe, John Nelson (1894-1962). </b>Only son of Lt-Col. Richard Nelson Bendyshe (1866-1915) and his wife Eleanor Margaret, daughter of Rev. Henry Wardell, born 29 July 1894 and baptised at East Stonehouse (Devon), 26 August 1894. Educated at Kelly College, Tavistock (Devon). Estate agent with Stallard & Meather of Worcester before First World War, when he was an officer in the Worcestershire Regiment (2nd Lt., 1914; Lt., 1915; retired as Capt., 1922 on account of health issues caused by wounds). He was ARP organiser for mid-Devon from 1936 and later served in the Devon Home Guard (with rank of Maj.) in the Second World War. He married, 20 December 1928 in New Zealand, Margaret Elliott (1907-88), eldest daughter of Herbert Elworthy of Craigmore, Timaru (New Zealand), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Janet Elizabeth Bendyshe (1929-2013), born 21 October 1929; married, 9 December 1952 at Jacobstowe, Gilbert J. Kennedy Bowling (b. 1927), son of G. Bowling of Poulton-le-Fylde (Lancs), and had issue three sons; died 14 March 2013; will proved 25 October 2013;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Richard Nelson Bendyshe (1932-99). born 29 November 1932; married, 16 November 1962 at St Aloysius RC Church, Oxford, Angela Geraldine Mary (b. 1935; fl. 2005), only daughter of His Honour E.G.H. Beresford of Long Crendon (Bucks), and had issue one son and one daughter; died 1999;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Jacoba Bendyshe (1936-2022), born 29 April 1936; married, Jul-Sept 1958, Brian S. Sherriff of Taunton, and had issue one son and three daughters; died 3 July 2022.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Barrington Hall estate in 1915 but sold it in 1937. In 1929 he moved to Devon, buying Broomford Manor, Jacobstowe. It was sold in 1989 </i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">after his widow's death</i><i style="font-family: georgia;">.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 26 December 1962 and was buried at Jacobstowe; will proved 1 February 1963 (estate £80,111). His widow died 3 May 1988 and was buried at Jacobstowe; her will was proved 5 July 1988 (estate £153,006).</span></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Landed Gentry</i>, 1952, pp. 154-55; J. Allibone, <i>George Devey</i>, 1991, pp. 99, 164; S. Bradley & Sir N. Pevsner, <i>The buildings of England: Cambridgeshire</i>, 3rd edn., 2014, p. 431; H. Meller, <i>The country houses of Devon</i>, 2015, pp. 188-89.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">No significant accumulation is known to survive, but some records may remain with the family.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Argent, a chevron azure between three rams' heads erased azure.</span></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia;">Can you help?</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone explain why Thomas Bendyshe (1699-1775) has left so few traces in the historical record, or why his brother James Bendyshe (1704-66) was married in 1729 but had no recorded children before 1744?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Does anyone know what prompted John Nelson Bendyshe (1894-1962) to relocate to Devon so soon after remodelling Barrington Hall?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide portraits or photographs of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 13 August 2023.</span></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-74216296451217865402023-08-03T15:56:00.004+01:002023-08-13T16:56:55.309+01:00(552) Bendish of Bower Hall, baronets<span style="font-family: georgia;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4xQd1_fKdFAc0j2Ysb-T8D8CVtr-VX0IsTQeim7k20yJu3tffBcpyhofSqxjZWvfsHHG9rPLYbE-_d9JDojMayFPknIu2nOUQ9NTqdi2bzdzk5XUDCyedjlgU3V2kxvPxsFd555hMQqndH1Sdz7j3SrzU4AhLTq3ifyx2bwYzjB8s1XUVCXu7UaEnpAq/s1200/Bendish%20of%20Bower%20Hall.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK4xQd1_fKdFAc0j2Ysb-T8D8CVtr-VX0IsTQeim7k20yJu3tffBcpyhofSqxjZWvfsHHG9rPLYbE-_d9JDojMayFPknIu2nOUQ9NTqdi2bzdzk5XUDCyedjlgU3V2kxvPxsFd555hMQqndH1Sdz7j3SrzU4AhLTq3ifyx2bwYzjB8s1XUVCXu7UaEnpAq/w167-h200/Bendish%20of%20Bower%20Hall.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;">Bendish of Bower Hall</span></td></tr></tbody></table>This family was a cadet branch of the <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2023/08/553-bendyshe-of-barrington-hall-and.html">Bendyshe family of Barrington (Cambs)</a>. Thomas Bendish (d. c.1342) seems to have been the first to acquire land at Steeple Bumpstead (Essex), but his great-great-grandson, Thomas Bendish (d. 1485), seems to have been the first to settle at Bower Hall. This Thomas, with whom the genealogy below begins, was the second son of Thomas Bendish (d. 1448) of Barrington, and the family's lands in Essex seem to have been separated from the property of the senior line in the mid 15th century to make provision for him. Thereafter, the property descended from father to son over many generations: this branch of the family seems fairly consistently to be have been called Bendish, whereas the senior line more frequently adopted the older spelling of Bendysh or Bendyshe. Thomas (d. 1485) married twice, but both of his wives were called Joan, and there is some uncertainty about which he married first. I have assumed below that Joan Fitzwilliams was his first wife, as it was their son, Richard Bendish (d. 1487), who inherited the Steeple Bumpstead estate. His son and heir, Richard Bendish (d. 1523), married Margaret Newport from Furneux Pelham (Herts), but the marriage may have been short-lived as only two children are recorded. Their son, John Bendish (c.1514-85) married Margaret Crawley of Wendon Lofts (Essex) before 1540 and had a sizeable family, of whom the eldest was Thomas Bendish (c.1540-1603).</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thomas Bendish (c.1540-1603) seems to have done his best to increase the wealth and social status of the family, and was no doubt helped by the fact that he was married four times. He both expanded the estate and paid for a monument in Steeple Bumpstead church to his father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and either he, or more probably his son and heir, Sir Thomas Bendish (c.1568-1636), 1st bt., is thought to have rebuilt or remodelled the house at Bower Hall. Sir Thomas received one of the second batch of baronetcies to be created by King James I in 1611, which speaks both of his social position and of his ability to afford the substantial fees required. He was twice High Sheriff of Essex, and his only surviving son, Sir Thomas Bendish (c.1607-74), 2nd bt. was educated at Cambridge and the Middle Temple. The second baronet is much the most interesting figure in the family. A Royalist in an overwhelmingly Parliamentarian county, at the outbreak of the Civil War he was one of a group of Essex gentlemen who attempted to promote a compromise between the two sides, and he was imprisoned and his estates sequestrated by Parliament for his pains. After some two years in the Tower of London, he was released and paid the composition fine to recover his estates. Although he later sent money to support the king's cause he did not take part in the fighting, and he was sufficiently rehabilitated in the eyes of the Parliamentary leaders to be acceptable as a compromise candidate when a new ambassador to Constantinople was sought in 1647. The merchants of the Levant Company, desperate to get rid of the existing Royalist ambassador, who was threatening to seize their goods in aid of the Royalist cause, asked to have Bendish, who had experience as a merchant trading with the eastern Mediterranean, as a replacement, and both Parliament and King were able to accept the suggestion. He accordingly made his way, with his family, to Constantinople, where he proved an effective although not always popular representative. There were several attempts to remove him, but distance from London and consummate political skills ensured his survival until the Restoration, when he returned to England.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sir Thomas was succeeded at Bower Hall by his second son, Sir John Bendish (c.1630-1707), 3rd bt., his eldest son having died at sea when the ship he was on was attacked by the French in 1649. Sir John was a merchant in London, acquired a plantation in Barbados (perhaps from his father-in-law, who had Barbadian interests). and was a farmer of taxes, but either he was unlucky or not sufficiently engaged with his enterprises, for he ended his life in bankruptcy and a debtor's prison. The family only retained the Bower Hall estate and the plantation in Barbados because they were entailed and Sir John was thus only a tenant for life, with no power to sell. He was succeeded by his only surviving son, Sir Henry Bendish (c.1677-1717), 4th bt., who seems mysteriously to have recovered the family's finances, for just a few years later he was able to rebuild Bower Hall. It seems most likely that his wife, the daughter of a former Lord Mayor of London, brought him a large dowry. The couple had no surviving children, and when Sir Henry died in 1717 the baronetcy became extinct and the Bower Hall estate passed to his widow, Dame Catherine Bendish (d. 1739) and then to his widowed sister, Sarah Pyke (1676-1752). Although it continued to pass by descent until 1888, Sarah was the last Bendish to be associated with the property.</span><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bower Hall, Steeple Bumpstead, Essex</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Almost nothing seems to be known about the Jacobean house which stood on this site, which was rebuilt by Sir Henry Bendish (d. 1717), 4th bt., but only completed in the year he died. This Georgian house was a tall, two-and-a-half storey block with a recessed five bay centre and projecting two-bay wings. Giant pilasters defined the angles and there was a shallow three-bay pediment over the centre, which was oddly without decoration or enrichment. The house bore a marked similarity to the new front added to Langleys, Great Waltham, in 1719, which was designed by the mason, William Tufnell, and he may also have worked here on a slightly smaller scale. Two 18th century bird's eye view paintings show the house almost exactly as it appears in later photographs.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmr9BbMjJEx7FNlRNAdNCuQu39CzSmbtBMEBSePW8oE1J1FSjUW_sTEHVbsdnGHut-lKT8uWSskUCBJBsKTGsFUsNaOHFDkXLb1R1RUPGGizR7znoEhzSwcr28UJMkHCAO3-acVRCd8BSDVS_3oIvL6mfnVkbbJ6uYva6YFNhfvjQVl2cg_GPLtjg_PGCN/s1244/Bower%20Hall,%20Steeple%20Bumpstead%206.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1244" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmr9BbMjJEx7FNlRNAdNCuQu39CzSmbtBMEBSePW8oE1J1FSjUW_sTEHVbsdnGHut-lKT8uWSskUCBJBsKTGsFUsNaOHFDkXLb1R1RUPGGizR7znoEhzSwcr28UJMkHCAO3-acVRCd8BSDVS_3oIvL6mfnVkbbJ6uYva6YFNhfvjQVl2cg_GPLtjg_PGCN/w640-h454/Bower%20Hall,%20Steeple%20Bumpstead%206.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bower Hall, Steeple Bumpstead: detail of bird's eye view attributed to Leonard Knyff. Image: Essex Archives.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpTGLY8OnquhXgRMcDhvRMfMBSZXDwbXcTnqv3FMgOcJbQMI_qWyhR6Hf0twRCq1luu3jo3nzPPKQ984HzOZk0MrA6CEHjiIj8Xf1LUNdiR6dRjK1Amg5FVwfdpvU_Haw-dC8aXUpSBiDBkZijUDTkqyJZ_GjTaRzyrJ8F74C8hQg5d5QBMcPlgOzIBoN/s800/Bower%20Hall,%20Steeple%20Bumpstead%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="800" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpTGLY8OnquhXgRMcDhvRMfMBSZXDwbXcTnqv3FMgOcJbQMI_qWyhR6Hf0twRCq1luu3jo3nzPPKQ984HzOZk0MrA6CEHjiIj8Xf1LUNdiR6dRjK1Amg5FVwfdpvU_Haw-dC8aXUpSBiDBkZijUDTkqyJZ_GjTaRzyrJ8F74C8hQg5d5QBMcPlgOzIBoN/w640-h260/Bower%20Hall,%20Steeple%20Bumpstead%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bower Hall, Steeple Bumpstead: a naive mid 18th century painting of the house. Image: Colchester & Ipswich Museums Service.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Inside, among the new panelling of the interior, fireplaces and woodwork from the previous house were reused, largely in less important rooms on the first and second floors, but including a dark marble chimneypiece in the hall with carvings of military trophies in the frieze and a panel painting of Audley End House in the overmantel, while a similar chimneypiece in the room over the hall was carved with a jungle scene, depicting monkeys, lions, a dragon, an elephant and squirrels. In 1887, when the house was offered for sale, it was described as having 20 bedrooms and 2 dressing rooms, a magnificent old staircase, lighted by a stained glass window, a large landing leading to a noble saloon and a pretty drawing room; a grand entrance hall, drawing or morning room, library, dining room, second dining room, breakfast room, gun or smoking room, and good domestic offices.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxc4zvjdZ1zTv5iu8lKuBBJIAAECURJNm1Hor2oSzE9RaCQHLuB9QszJf06JhR7D4N6088Qz_MS87RZ-7Zux_urhNivYDk6aHyUn4BvxQeBKSSu8dLL4eK9ALJasjp3xDpBcXsLFAMK4uh2T03OVYbIMYYc3oIRcIAeBVWKyEYPRORhB3CEeXhFxCjzRv/s500/Bower%20Hall,%20Steeple%20Bumpstead%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="500" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxc4zvjdZ1zTv5iu8lKuBBJIAAECURJNm1Hor2oSzE9RaCQHLuB9QszJf06JhR7D4N6088Qz_MS87RZ-7Zux_urhNivYDk6aHyUn4BvxQeBKSSu8dLL4eK9ALJasjp3xDpBcXsLFAMK4uh2T03OVYbIMYYc3oIRcIAeBVWKyEYPRORhB3CEeXhFxCjzRv/w640-h412/Bower%20Hall,%20Steeple%20Bumpstead%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bower Hall, Steeple Bumpstead: the house in the early 20th century, shortly before demolition.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The panelling and interior fittings were removed for sale before demolition and two general demolition sales of the building materials, including doors, stone paving, floor boards, windows and bricks were held in June and July 1926. An early Georgian room with giant fluted Corinthian pilasters flanking the chimneypiece was acquired by William Randolph Hearst in December 1926 but sold by the Hearst Foundation in 1955 and installed in the offices of an oil company at 460 Park Avenue, New York. Since demolition, much of the northern part of the park has been developed for suburban housing, but the actual site of the house remains unoccupied. A pretty brick and flint lodge survived the demolition of the principal house and has been incorporated into a late 20th century house.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: Thomas Bendish (d. 1485); to son, Richard Bendish (d. 1487); to son, Richard Bendish (d. 1523); to son, John Bendish (d. 1585); to son, Thomas Bendish (c.1540-1603); to son, Sir Thomas Bendish (c.1568-1636), 1st bt.; to son, Sir Thomas Bendish (c.1607-74), 2nd bt.; to son, Sir John Bendish (c.1630-1706), 3rd bt.; to son, Sir Henry Bendish (c.1677-1717), 4th bt.; to widow, Catherine, Lady Bendish (d. 1739); to sister-in-law, Sarah Pyke (1676-1752); to kinsman, Sir Stephen Anderson (1708-73), 3rd bt; to sister Anne (b. 1704), wife of Rt. Rev. Dr Anthony Ellis (1690-1761), bishop of St. Davids; to daughter, Frances Elizabeth (d. 1814), wife of John Stevens; to son, Ellys Anderson Stevens (c.1766-1845); to daughter, Mary Anne, wife of Maj. Charles Walton; to son, Bendyshe William Ellys Walton (1855-85); after his death sold 1888 to Edward Molyneux of Twickenham (Middx); sold c.1900 to W.B. Gurteen (d. 1913); sold? to G.R.C. Foster (fl. 1922) of Cambridge, banker, who demolished 1926.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendish family of Bower House, baronets</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendish, Thomas (d. 1485). </b>Son of Thomas Bendish (d. 1448) and his first wife, Alice or Margaret, daughter and co-heir of Thomas Bradfield of Barrington (Cambs). He married* 1st, Joan, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">daughter of [forename unknown] Fitzwilliams,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> and 2nd, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Joan, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">daughter of John de Thockledon, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">had issue:</span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Richard Bendish (d. 1487) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Thomas Bendish;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Ralph Bendish;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.2) John Bendish;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.3) Maud Bendish.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He inherited the Steeple Bumpstead estate (the manors of Bendish, Bowers Hall and Lacheleys) from his father in 1448.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died in 1484/5. His first wife's date of death is unknown. His widow married 2nd, [forename unknown] Bradbury of Wickham Bonhunt (Essex),</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* Some sources state that Joan Fitzwilliams was his second wife, but it seems most likely that his eldest son inherited his estate.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendish, Richard (d. 1487). </b>Elder son of Thomas Bendish (d. 1485) and his first wife, Joan, daughter of [forename unknown] Fitzwilliams. He married Anne, daughter of [forename unknown] Rawden or Roydon of Roydon Hall (Essex), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Richard Bendish (d. 1523) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Margaret Bendish.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Steeple Bumpstead estate from his father in 1485.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 27 February 1486/7 and was probably buried at Steeple Bumpstead. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendish, Richard (d. 1523). </b>Only known son of Richard Bendish (d. 1487) and his wife Anne, daughter of [forename unknown] Rawden or Roydon of Roydon Hall (Essex). He married Margaret, daughter and heir of James Newport of Furneaux Pelham (Herts), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) John Bendish (c.1514-85) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Margaret Bendish.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Steeple Bumpstead estate from his father in 1487.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 22 September 1523 and was buried near his father, probably at Steeple Bumpstead (Essex). </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendish, John (c.1514-85). </b>Only known son of Richard Bendish (d. 1523) and his wife Margaret, daughter and heir of James Newport of Hertfordshire, born about 1514. He married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Crawley of Wendon Lofts (Essex) and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Thomas Bendish (c.1540-1603) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Barbara Bendish (fl. 1592);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Margaret Bendish (fl. 1592);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Robert Bendish; married and had issue;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Rooke Bendish; died unmarried and without issue;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Francis Bendish;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Elizabeth Bendish; married John Huntingdon;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) John Bendish of Great Witchingham (Norfk); married Audrey, daughter of Thomas Harvey and widow of Francis Polstead, and had issue four sons.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Steeple Bumpstead estate from his father in 1523.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 20 August 1585 and was buried near his father and grandfather, probably at Steeple Bumpstead, where all three are commemorated on a monument. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendish, Thomas (c.1540-1603). </b>Eldest son of John Bendish (c.1514-85) and his wife Margaret, daughter of Thomas Crawley, born about 1540. Educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge (matriculated 1554) and Middle Temple (admitted 1557). He married 1st, Eleanor, daughter and co-heir of John Ford of Frating and Great Horkesley (Essex); 2nd, Thomasine (d. 1590?), daughter of John or Simon Fincham and widow of William Bryan (d. 1573) of Bolingbroke (Lincs); 3rd, 16 February 1590/1 at St Peter-le-Poer, London, Alice Colstone (d. 1591); and 4th, 1592 (licence 7 June), Margery, daughter of Richard Greene of Little Stamford (Essex), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Sir Thomas Bendish (c.1568-1636), 1st bt. (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Richard Bendish (fl. 1635), of Frating (Essex) and Congham (Norfk); married 1st, 5 November 1594 at Swannington (Norfk), Elizabeth, daughter of William Riches, and had issue four sons and one daughter; married 2nd, Margaret Golding, and had issue one further son; living in 1635;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.3) John Bendish; died unmarried and without issue;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.3) Barbara Bendish; married Thomas Smyth (who m2, Elizabeth, daughter of Jasper Tryce of Godmanchester (Hunts), and had further issue one son and one daughter), of Wolferton (Norfk), and had issue four sons and one daughter;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.4) Mary Bendish (d. 1599?); possibly the person of this name buried at Frating, 16 December 1599;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.5) Elizabeth Bendish (d. 1642); married 1st, John Pepys (d. 1604) of Cottenham (Cambs) and had at least three sons and one daughter; married 2nd, 8 December 1607 at Cottenham, Richard Creycroft (1578-1634) of Cottenham; buried at Cottenham, 3 May 1642;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.6) Eleanor Bendish (fl. 1635); married, by 1592, her step-brother (who was no blood relation), Robert Bryan (1568-1627) of Bolingbroke, and had issue at least three sons and one daughter; living in 1635;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.7) Margaret Bendish; probably died unmarried in her father's lifetime.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He inherited the Steeple Bumpstead estate from his father in 1585, and probably bought Great Waltons to add to the estate. He also had an estate at Leverington, Wisbech, Tydd St Giles and Tydd St Mary in Lincolnshire and the Isle of Ely (now Cambs), which he bequeathed to his second son.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 23 February 1603/4 and was buried at Frating (Essex); his will was proved in the PCC, 12 March 1603/4. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His first wife's date of death is unknown. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His second wife is said to have died in 1590 and been buried at Frating but there is no corresponding entry in the parish register. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His third wife died in her first year of marriage, 1591. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His fourth wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendish, Sir Thomas (c.1568-1636), 1st bt. </b>Eldest son of Thomas Bendish (c.1540-1603) and his first wife, Eleanor, daughter and co-heir of John Ford of Frating and Great Horkesley (Essex), born about 1568. He was created a baronet, 29 June 1611. High Sheriff of Essex, 1618-19, 1630-31. He married, 16 December 1587 at Debden (Essex), Dorothy (fl. 1649), youngest daughter of Richard Cutts of Arkesden (Essex), Debden and the Inner Temple, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) John Bendish; died in infancy before 1612;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Dorothy Bendish (b. c.1602), born about 1602; married, c.1625, Sir Thomas Hartopp (1600-61), kt. of Burton Lazars (Leics) and later of Normanton (Rutland) (who m2, before 1649, Mary Hopton), and had issue four sons and two daughters; perhaps died before 1635 as she is not mentioned in her father's will;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Eleanor Bendish (b. c.1604); married Miles Fernley of Sutton (Suffk) or John Fearnley of Creeting (Suffk) and had issue; probably living in 1635;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Sir Thomas Bendish (c.1607-74), 2nd bt. (<i>q.v.</i>)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He inherited the Steeple Bumpstead estate from his father in 1604 and enlarged it considerably. He probably built the Jacobean Bower Hall on the estate.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Bower Hall, 25 March 1636 and was buried at Steeple Bumpstead; his will was proved 26 May 1636. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">His widow was living in 1649 but her date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendish, Sir Thomas (c.1607-74), 2nd bt. </b>Only surviving son of Sir Thomas Bendish (c.1568-1636), 1st bt., and his wife Dorothy, daughter of Richard Cutts of Arkesden (Essex), born about 1607. Educated at St John's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1624) and Middle Temple (admitted 1626). He succeeded his father as 2nd baronet, 25 March 1636. JP for Essex, 1638. In the same year he accused one Henry Perry of 'scandalous and uncivill speeches' against him in the Court of Chivalry, and won his case: Perry was obliged to make a humble apology. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1642 he published a proclamation against the associating of counties, for which he was imprisoned by the Parliamentary faction in the Tower of London for nearly two years, and</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> his estate was sequestered, and only returned to him on payment of a fine of £800. His personal sympathies lay with the Crown and in 1646-47 he sent King Charles I £3,000 while he was imprisoned at Newcastle. In 1647 the merchants of Constantinople, desperate to get rid of the existing English ambassador there, requested his appointment as a replacement, and this was approved by both Parliament and the King, for whom he was probably a compromise candidate; he had a salary of £2,000 a year. He made a leisurely journey to Constantinople, with a long sojourn in Italy, where his eldest daughter was married. He proved to be an able administrator, serving the interests of both the Commonwealth and the Levant Company and doing much to improve the profitability of the latter by reducing corruption. Inevitably he was not universally popular, and had to evade several attempts both locally and from London to undermine or replace him, but he continued to act as the English representative until 1661, when he was recalled by Charles II. He married, 16 October 1627 at Barkway (Herts), Anne (d. 1649), daughter and co-heir of Henry Baker of South Shoebury (Essex), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Thomas Bendish (c.1628-49), born about 1628; educated at St John's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1646); drowned at sea when his ship, <i>The Talent</i>, was attacked by the French, 1649;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Sir John Bendish (c.1630-1707), 3rd bt. (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Richard Bendish (b. c.1632), born about 1632; </span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Henry Bendish (d. 1663); died unmarried; administration of goods granted to his brother John, 16 June 1663;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Andrew Bendish; employed by the Levant Company as a factor in Smyrna (Turkey) and perhaps later in Cairo (Egypt);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Dorothy Bendish (c.1628-1701?), born about 1628; married 1st, c.1647, at Livorno (Italy), Philip Williams (d. 1650) of Livorno, and 2nd, by April 1650, Henry Bowyer (d. 1675?) of London, merchant; living in 1684, and possibly the woman of this name buried at Willesden (Middx), 2 January 1701/2;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Abigail Bendish (b. c.1634), born by 1634; she and her husband were well-known for their lavish lifestyle at Smyrna (Turkey), hosting balls and concerts followed by feasts almost every night; she married Joseph Edwards (d. 1668), Levant Co. merchant at Smyrna (Turkey) and acting consul there in 1658, and had issue;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Anne Bendish (1643-1718); married Sir Jonathan Dawes (1633-72), kt., a director of the East India Co., the Royal Africa Co. and the Levant Co. (assistant treasurer) and merchant, citizen (Alderman, 1669-72) and fishmonger of London, and had issue at least one son and five daughters; lived latterly at Holborn (Middx); </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">buried at Great Bardfield (Essex), 20 February 1717/8; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">will proved 4 April 1718;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Elizabeth Bendish (c.1648-1713), born about 1648; married, 1667 (licence </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">10 July)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, Gervase Cartwright (1631-95) of London, merchant, son of Timothy Cartwright, and had issue at least two sons (of whom one died in infancy) and two daughters; died 2 December 1713 and was buried at Ash (Kent), where she is commemorated by a monument; will proved 12 January 1714/5;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) Diana Bendish (d. 1674); married, 17 May 1674 at St Mary Magdalene, Old Fish St., London, Sir Strensham Masters (1640-1724), kt. of Codnor Park (Derbys) (who m2, 25 September 1690, Elizabeth Legh (1666-1714), and had issue); died without issue, 20 November 1674 and was buried at Great Bardfield (Essex);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(11) Susan Bendish (d. 1709); married, 15? October 1673 at St James, Clerkenwell (Middx), as his second wife, Sir William Hooker (1612-97), kt., Lord Mayor of London in 1673-74; buried at Great Bardfield, 6 January 1708/9; her will was proved in the PCC, 17 January 1708/9.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Steeple Bumpstead estate from his father in 1636.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He is usually said to have died at Bower Hall in 1674, but a memorial brass at Steeple Bumpstead is said to give his date of death as 1672; his will has not been found. His wife died of plague in Constantinople in about November 1649 but her husband brought her body back to England for reburial at Steeple Bumpstead on his return from his embassy in 1661.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendish, Sir John (c.1630-1707), 3rd bt. </b>Second, but eldest surviving, son of Sir Thomas Bendish (c.1607-74), 2nd bt., and his wife Anne, daughter and co-heir of Henry Baker of Shoebury (Essex), born about 1630. Probably educated at St John's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1646). During the 1650s he was with his father in Constantinople and held a post at the embassy there, before returning to London to work for the Levant Company. He was appointed a commissioner of the militia for Suffolk, 1659. He succeeded his father as 3rd baronet, c.1674. Citizen (freeman, 1672) and draper of London. In 1677 he became one of the farmers of the Law Duties, for which he and his partners undertook to pay £20,000 a year. For reasons which are unclear, at the end of his life he was declared bankrupt and imprisoned for debt in the Fleet Prison. He married, 14 July 1663 at St James Garlickhythe, London, Martha (1641-1705), daughter and heir of Richard Batson (c.1607-67) of London, merchant and cutler, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Anne Bendish (b. 1664), baptised at St James Garlickhythe, London, 6 October 1664; died young*;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Thomas Bendish (b. 1668), baptised at St James, Clerkenwell, 17 December 1668; died young;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) John Bendish (b. 1670), baptised at St James, Clerkenwell (Middx), 2 February 1669/70; died young, presumably before 1675;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Richard Bendish (b. 1671), baptised at St James, Clerkenwell, 9 March 1670/1; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">died young;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Charles Bendish (b. 1672), baptised at St James, Clerkenwell, 1 June 1672; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">died young;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Martha Bendish (b. 1673), born 29 June and baptised at St James, Clerkenwell, 18 July 1673; died young;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Robert Bendish (b. 1674), baptised at St James, Clerkenwell, 13 June 1674; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">died young;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">John Bendish (b. 1675), baptised at St James, Clerkenwell, 3 August 1675; died young;</span></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) <b>Sarah Bendish (1676-1752)</b>, born 30 December 1676 and baptised at St James, Clerkenwell, 9 January 1677; married, 25 May 1710 at St Swithin, London Stone, London, John Crouch (later Pyke) (c.1669-1738) of Baythorne House, Birdbrook (Essex), but had no issue; by her will she bequeathed Bower Hall to </span><a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2014/06/127-anderson-of-eyeworth-manby-lea-hall.html" style="font-family: georgia;">Sir Stephen Anderson (1708-73), 3rd bt.</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">, of Eyeworth (Beds); buried at Steeple Bumpstead, 26 October 1752; will proved in the PCC, 21 October 1752;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sir Henry Bendish (c.1677-1717), 4th bt. (<i>q.v.</i>)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Bower Hall estate from his father in about 1674, and bought Bide Mill House plantation in Barbados in 1675. He had, however, interests in Barbados as early as 1671, perhaps inherited from his father-in-law.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died in the Fleet Prison, 22 April, and was buried at Steeple Bumpstead, 3 May 1707. His wife died 7 December and was buried 20 December 1705; her will was proved in the PCC, 14 January 1706.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* No burials have been traced for the members of this family who died young. It seems likely that they were buried at Steeple Bumpstead, where the registers do not begin until 1676 and appear incomplete in their early years.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendish, Sir Henry (c.1677-1717), 4th bt. </b>Seventh but only surviving son of Sir John Bendish (c.1630-1706), 3rd bt., and his wife Martha, daughter and heiress of Richard Batson of London, merchant and cutler, born about 1677*. JP and DL (from 1705) for Essex. He succeeded his father as 4th baronet, 22 April 1707. Appointed High Sheriff of Essex, 1710, but did not act. He married, 6 February 1706/7 at St Paul's Cathedral, London, Catherine (d. 1739), daughter of Sir William Gostlin, kt. of Ealing (Middx), sheriff of London in 1684-85, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Henry Bendish (1713-14), born 5 November and baptised at St Andrew, Holborn (Middx), 20 November 1713; died in the lifetime of his father and was buried at Steeple Bumpstead, 25 March 1714; commemorated on his father's monument.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Bower Hall estate and Bide Mill House plantation from his father in 1706, and rebuilt the house at Bower Hall in 1717. He bequeathed the Essex estate to his widow for life with remainder to his sisters, and the </i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">plantation in Barbados </i><i style="font-family: georgia;">to his cousin, Henry Roberts.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 4 September and was buried 11 September 1717 </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">at Steeple Bumpstead, where he is commemorated by a fine standing monument; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">his will was proved 1 October 1717. The baronetcy became extinct on his death. His widow was buried at Steeple Bumpstead, 6 March 1738/9; administration of her goods was granted to her brother, Charles Gostlin, 20 March 1738/9.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* His monument states that he died aged 43, but the spacing of his siblings baptisms mean that - unless he was a twin - he must have been born in the mid 1660s or late 1670s; the latter has been preferred here as giving an age nearer to what is recorded on his monument.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies</i>, 2nd edn, 1841, pp. 55-56; G.E. Cokayne, <i>Complete Baronetage</i>, vol. 1, 1900, p. 63; J. Kenworthy-Browne & P. Reid, 'Essex', in <i>Burke's & Savills Guide to Country Houses: vol. III - East Anglia</i>, 1981, p. 43; J. Bettley & Sir N. Pevsner, <i>The buildings of England: Essex</i>, 2007, p. 749.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bendish of Bower Hall: </b>manorial records, estate and family papers, including correspondence of 2nd baronet, 17th-18th cents [Essex Record Office D/DU 2200; D/DHf]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Argent, a chevron sable, between three rams' heads erased azure, armed or.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide portraits or photographs of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 3 August 2023.</span></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-33789644596148322462023-07-28T16:30:00.008+01:002023-08-16T10:33:43.834+01:00(551) Bence of Thorington Hall and Kentwell Hall<span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbzNG3Fj0ygdNCXZPJay7pbxjA-x21jSlLWn3uC5TenQo8qYbAphuP6OF662JJyxpSrkcTfl81O_715lSTk_JfW-2j9fiq8D2MIovkzx-uepLDT2PqxngAN4bFB3gn-O1Khzhfxcmz7xMivIz4JMuuj-6z4YbZJAodWNSyfWJ4bqyCqJLiXGTOIUj-3K_/s1200/Bence%20of%20Thorington%20and%20Kentwell.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbzNG3Fj0ygdNCXZPJay7pbxjA-x21jSlLWn3uC5TenQo8qYbAphuP6OF662JJyxpSrkcTfl81O_715lSTk_JfW-2j9fiq8D2MIovkzx-uepLDT2PqxngAN4bFB3gn-O1Khzhfxcmz7xMivIz4JMuuj-6z4YbZJAodWNSyfWJ4bqyCqJLiXGTOIUj-3K_/w167-h200/Bence%20of%20Thorington%20and%20Kentwell.jpg" width="167" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bence of Thorington and Kentwell</span></span> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Bence family had probably settled in Suffolk by the 14th century, when there was a family of that name at Bungay on the Norfolk border. The earliest certain ancestor, however, was Edmund Bence, who was living at the port of Aldeburgh by 1524, and was sufficiently prosperous to be included in the subsidy assessment for that year. By the Elizabethan period Edmund's son John was a thriving merchant and shipowner, and both he and his brother were assessed for the subsidy in 1568. By 1582 seven people of that surname feature in the tax roll and the family was evidently the wealthiest in the town. Alexander Bence (1547-1613), with whom the genealogy below begins, was bailiff (i.e. mayor) of the town on six occasions between 1586 and 1612, and was selected as one of its MPs in 1604, although pressure from the Howard family, who controlled the borough, meant that the return was amended to include their client instead of Bence, and he never sat in Parliament (although his younger brother had done so twice in the 1580s and 1590s). Alexander had a large family, with nine sons and only two daughters, only three of whom died before reaching maturity. Confusingly, the sons included two called Alexander who both survived to adulthood: clearly their father was determined to have a son to carry on his name! In fact, the eldest son, Thomas Bence (1574-1610) and the elder Alexander (1577-c.1608), both died in their father's lifetime, so it was John Bence (1581-1635) who succeeded his father in his core business interests at Aldeburgh. His surviving younger brothers, Robert Bence (1585-1656), Alexander the younger (fl. 1660) and Squire Bence (1597-1648), also inherited some of his shipping interests, but seem to have been largely based in London, where Robert was a salter and Alexander a grocer. They retained their Suffolk connections, however, and Alexander was MP for Aldeburgh, 1640-48 and for Suffolk, 1654-55, while Squire was MP for Suffolk in 1640. The family were Parliamentarian in their sympathies during the Civil War, and Alexander and Squire both served on the County Committee for Suffolk.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">John Bence (1581-1635) was a merchant like his father and a burgess of Aldeburgh from 1610 until his death: he served as Chamberlain in 1609-10 and Bailiff on four occasions (1611-12, 1617-18, 1619, 1625-6) and was MP for the town in 1624. Unfortunately, although the early parish registers for Aldeburgh survive from 1558, there is a missing volume covering the period 1600-91, so we know much less about his family than we do about his father's. Like many wealthy merchants at this time, he invested some of his capital in land, buying property at Ringsfield near Beccles (Suffk) (which passed to his eldest son, John Bence (d. 1681)) and at Benhall near Saxmundham (Suffk). The latter was inherited by his second son, Edmund Bence (c.1619-1702), and since there seems to be no evidence of his involvement in mercantile activities, Edmund was probably the first of the family to regard himself as a landed gentleman. Three of his sons were sent to Cambridge for an appropriate education, while Robert Bence (1675-1745) married an heiress and lived at Sibton and Henstead (both Suffolk). Edmund's eldest son, John Bence (1670-1718) bought the manors of Thorington in about 1691 and Heveningham in 1700, but since he died without a son to inherit his property he left Thorington to his brother, Alexander Bence (1672-1759) and directed his executors to sell Heveningham, which they did in 1719. Alexander Bence evidently pursued an academic career, becoming a Fellow of St Catherine's College in 1701, but after he inherited Thorington he took up his responsibilities in the county and was twice pricked as High Sheriff in 1733-34 and 1742-43. The expense of the shrievalty being considerable, his having to bear it twice in ten years occasioned some adverse comment in the press, and it is hard to believe that the burden could not have been more equitably distributed. Alexander outlived all his sons, so on his death Thorington passed to his daughter Ann (1714-94). A spinster of forty-five, she found that her inheritance transformed her prospects in the marriage stakes, and in 1762 she married a man ten years her junior, George Golding (c.1724-1803). Not surprisingly, in view of her age, they had no children, and at her death she left Thorington to her husband for life, with remainder to her first cousin once removed, the Rev. Bence Sparrow (1747-1826), on condition that he took the name Bence in lieu of Sparrow.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Rev. Bence Bence (as he became) was the second son of Robert Sparrow (1705-65) of <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2013/03/10-acheson-of-gosford-castle-baronets.html">Worlingham Hall (Suffk)</a> and his wife Anne (1708-76), the daughter of Robert Bence (1675-1745). Since his elder brother inherited Worlingham, Bence was sent into the church and became a notable pluralist, acquiring many livings in Suffolk through the generosity of relatives who presented him and the tolerance of his bishop. He actually resided at Beccles, and as soon as his only son, Henry Bence Bence (1788-1861), came of age, he handed the Thorington Hall estate over to him. In 1815, Henry married Elizabeth Starkie, a considerable heiress, and the young couple set about building a new house on the Thorington estate. It seems likely that the old hall, although large, had become very neglected, and Henry demolished it and built a new house in a fashionable neo-classical style on a different site on the estate in 1817-24. The architect was recorded as Thomas Hopper by a diarist who visited in 1820 while the house was under construction.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Henry and Elizabeth had three sons and a daughter, although only the two elder sons survived their parents. The eldest son, Henry Alexander Starkie Bence (1816-81), would inherit Thorington, but the second son, Edward Robert Starkie Bence (1823-89), was fortunate enough to inherit a fortune of £130,000 from Elizabeth Starkie, a cousin of his mother, while still a teenager. This enabled his trustees to purchase the recently remodelled Kentwell Hall at Long Melford (Suffk) as a suitable residence for him, and also enabled him to obtain commissions in the King's Dragoon Guards, one of the smartest regiments, for his military career in the 1840s. Edward married in 1850 and he and his wife produced one son and five daughters. Unfortunately, the son, Edward Starkie Bence (1862-1937), who remained unmarried, had no interest in living at Kentwell, and let it to a series of tenants. When he died, it passed to his nephew, Charles Douglas Bunbury Ross (1887-1970), on condition that he took the name Starkie-Bence, which he did in 1938. Charles had emigrated as a young man to British Columbia, where he farmed, although he returned to England to fight in the First World War, and again on receiving his inheritance. In contrast to his uncle's indifference to Kentwell, Charles was determined to take on the inheritance, largely for the benefit of his son, Richmond (1916-41), but the latter was killed in the Second World War. After the war, Charles remained at Kentwell, although it became increasingly clear that he could not afford to do so, and the place slid rapidly into disrepair. When he died in 1969, Kentwell passed to his widow, who could not wait to sell, and declared as she left that 'it was like leaving prison'. The purchaser was the barrister and amateur architect, Patrick Phillips (b. 1941), who has devoted more than fifty years to nursing the house back to health and good fortune.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Henry Alexander Starkie Bence (1816-81), who inherited Thorington Hall on his father's death in 1861, is said to have pursued a career in the diplomatic corps, although I have not been able to find any record of his postings. He married in 1850, but he and his wife had no sons, and at his death he left Thorington to his three surviving daughters as co-heirs. The youngest, Ida Millicent (1860-1951), married Col. Guy Lenox Lambert (1856-1930) in 1884, and they took the name Bence-Lambert by royal licence. It was actually they who occupied Thorington Hall, and Ida remained there after her husband's death, until the house was requisitioned for military use in 1940. When the property was returned to her in 1945 it seemed impossible for a widow of advanced years to live there in the social circumstances of the time, and after trying unsuccessfully to find a buyer for the house as a residence, she sold it to a demolition contractor and it was pulled down in 1949.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><b>Thoringto</b></span><b>n Hall, near Halesworth, Suffolk</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Very little seems to be known about the large Tudor or Jacobean manor house at Thorington, which was taxed on 18 hearths in 1674 and which was acquired by the Bence family in 1691 as part of their rapidly expanding property portfolio in east Suffolk. It is marked on Hodskinson's map of Suffolk in 1783, and stood about half a mile south of the later house, just south of the present Park Farm. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7REB6jIqCsxgrnVLR2ibIVCcuTQfqWw239MJXx5Pi-C1kSwG12ywLPm8KaIpd8oBJS-JbWutMnRaHK4L-y40xVKdxHEbUIQqZNcQd6XzYw7JbIIrsU83fJh3JPqDAtlsK94OKT-3Jr7gFRIQqd0F6XnhCSyNveuqeZX5YMLMtb6Xs_4_Gm3l8mpmZ1G0/s785/Thorington%20Hall%206%20Ipernity.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="785" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7REB6jIqCsxgrnVLR2ibIVCcuTQfqWw239MJXx5Pi-C1kSwG12ywLPm8KaIpd8oBJS-JbWutMnRaHK4L-y40xVKdxHEbUIQqZNcQd6XzYw7JbIIrsU83fJh3JPqDAtlsK94OKT-3Jr7gFRIQqd0F6XnhCSyNveuqeZX5YMLMtb6Xs_4_Gm3l8mpmZ1G0/w640-h362/Thorington%20Hall%206%20Ipernity.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Thorington Hall: the entrance front in the late 19th century. Image: Matthew Beckett<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75FG45SI7JhAlRocAs45pEiJZCEGvrk3bEe_ST8wQSJ9nR81dcFPFX6_ktM2DjMSSQxQGjOxLR3c0asrjSIsnlgDVMgl2zrvBa5KtDorzov5GyIcsywR3qz-YBhxbcSyhGUOP_hVnQr9O2V5wwytX7RydHwCuHkSIItL20H0dnjyeJdq64Ycm14VH6db8/s796/Thorington%20Hall%205%20Ipernity.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="796" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75FG45SI7JhAlRocAs45pEiJZCEGvrk3bEe_ST8wQSJ9nR81dcFPFX6_ktM2DjMSSQxQGjOxLR3c0asrjSIsnlgDVMgl2zrvBa5KtDorzov5GyIcsywR3qz-YBhxbcSyhGUOP_hVnQr9O2V5wwytX7RydHwCuHkSIItL20H0dnjyeJdq64Ycm14VH6db8/w640-h366/Thorington%20Hall%205%20Ipernity.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Thorington Hall: the side elevation in the early 20th century. Image: Matthew Beckett</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The new house was built in 1817-24 for Lt-Col. Henry Bence Bence (1788-1861) to the design of Thomas Hopper, and was a distinguished and excellently proportioned two storey building of white brick with a five-bay entrance front and seven-bay garden front. The east-facing entrance front was dominated by a massive pedimented Ionic portico that bears a notable similarity to that designed earlier by Hopper for Leigh Court (Somerset) on the model of that at Pythouse (Wiltshire), which in turn had been designed by the owner for himself. Hopper had a considerable practice in Suffolk (including work at Woolverstone Hall, Brome Hall, Melford Hall and - coincidentally - Kentwell Hall) and was also working at Gosford Castle in County Armagh for Bence's cousin and her husband, the Earl of Gosford, from about 1819. The south-facing garden front of Thorington had a three-bay centrepiece, with Doric pilasters at either end and two Ionic half-columns either side of the central window, all supporting a section of full entablature but no pediment. A lower service wing projected to the north side of the house and connected it to the surviving stable court. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house is said to have cost £16,000 to build, which seems surprisingly modest considering that it was richly finished inside, with mahogany doors, marble chimneypieces, and extensive decorative plasterwork. The entrance hall was stone flagged, and the principal apartments on the ground floor included a saloon, drawing room, dining room, library and smoking room. The saloon is said to have had a domed ceiling with a circular roof light, and the other rooms 'highly enriched plaster ceilings and cornices'. The staircase rose in two flights to a galleried landing on the first floor, which gave access both to the five principal bedrooms in the main block and to six secondary bedrooms above the north wing. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU18vLC0_Vym7Lc1J2in4aoC5YMIRKCS9ksW9fsg_aDCJY7HoN3yFd-AKfC3SdSCXaQzkyZ9eUmVtjG7Iq5mxnKVYpc-KGGNn7oOh1GzGmjaWR9PB10VvDBo_qZ6lCJyz4LPpeTnQSHZsaKBtKRq-Dv4CfZkUhywa6dni76uRva8d5Lcw8EaIvN4LVRt69/s1595/Thorington%20Hall%202%201883.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1595" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU18vLC0_Vym7Lc1J2in4aoC5YMIRKCS9ksW9fsg_aDCJY7HoN3yFd-AKfC3SdSCXaQzkyZ9eUmVtjG7Iq5mxnKVYpc-KGGNn7oOh1GzGmjaWR9PB10VvDBo_qZ6lCJyz4LPpeTnQSHZsaKBtKRq-Dv4CfZkUhywa6dni76uRva8d5Lcw8EaIvN4LVRt69/w640-h306/Thorington%20Hall%202%201883.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Thorington Hall: the footprint of the house in 1883, from the 1st edition 25" map.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFXkspbRGh6vxqYhtNO4qXr5fJk7eTTsy3tPfiscVTZK9Hkyk810QNLML2X6cqNPtA6aeNmhUfHamkQiUrSTQAe-JPrTxRsUQYkgwzgAi2bT13z56VErbSidPJzeA1hm63jG1eUUQKWBD4vrya79WpEVX5UvrF-ZTOsz0M0wB8GybJffY35z--mVCgGr7/s793/Thorington%20Hall%204%20lodge%20Ipernity.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="793" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFXkspbRGh6vxqYhtNO4qXr5fJk7eTTsy3tPfiscVTZK9Hkyk810QNLML2X6cqNPtA6aeNmhUfHamkQiUrSTQAe-JPrTxRsUQYkgwzgAi2bT13z56VErbSidPJzeA1hm63jG1eUUQKWBD4vrya79WpEVX5UvrF-ZTOsz0M0wB8GybJffY35z--mVCgGr7/w640-h420/Thorington%20Hall%204%20lodge%20Ipernity.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Thorington Hall: the gate lodge before restoration. Image: A Building Fan.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The main drive led south from the house to what is now the A12, where a lodge with tetrastyle Tuscan porticoes echoed the neo-classical sophistication of the house and was accompanied by cast-iron gate piers, modelled and painted to resemble stone, and massive gates and railings. The lodge, like the stable court, survives, and was restored and extended in about 2010. Further from the house, there were decorative estate buildings, including the thatched Round House (to the north-east), which was built as a gamekeeper's cottage, and the L-plan Stone Cottage, with Gothick glazing bars (to the south-west). In 1883 the house was still surrounded by open parkland, but twenty years later a broad terrace had been constructed below the south front, with flights of steps between low walls supporting large urns.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlualNR3_AlxeEVWtRe2XQHicfwx2dASw2tYALH3KH4VMiBFJ74xNYS86jJJ7HhoHcJfZqeYQphpsq5zPtNK5c6Sk1qAHtVaI9vPv24qW_EI4TJ5VIAHAVl9gKIYmm8RnEef4RNhhzR6P3kq8QH26tuaWPe5NnGejxrdG0Wm3BpQ2QHLZS0eGu-cxWUFX/s500/Thorington%20Hall%207%20dem%201949.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="500" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlualNR3_AlxeEVWtRe2XQHicfwx2dASw2tYALH3KH4VMiBFJ74xNYS86jJJ7HhoHcJfZqeYQphpsq5zPtNK5c6Sk1qAHtVaI9vPv24qW_EI4TJ5VIAHAVl9gKIYmm8RnEef4RNhhzR6P3kq8QH26tuaWPe5NnGejxrdG0Wm3BpQ2QHLZS0eGu-cxWUFX/w640-h410/Thorington%20Hall%207%20dem%201949.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Thorington Hall: demolition in progress, 1949. Image: Matthew Beckett.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFD3kRMhi15akeZF223C0ZrkvhcuY38ys6f8KppJe5RzXsAKm7227pYB7LRehW5V5_QSCCPf52tuHJQDGqR4PENZXwl20_CbMKH0fMs6LaEqRQbwG46yEMKKWVP92rFGaOw0LCNbu20EzdH3_7-zIaplCqfSqokuvkh0b1BUCz9bhUex4ihyICl14Y1EXg/s970/Thorington%20Hall%201.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="970" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFD3kRMhi15akeZF223C0ZrkvhcuY38ys6f8KppJe5RzXsAKm7227pYB7LRehW5V5_QSCCPf52tuHJQDGqR4PENZXwl20_CbMKH0fMs6LaEqRQbwG46yEMKKWVP92rFGaOw0LCNbu20EzdH3_7-zIaplCqfSqokuvkh0b1BUCz9bhUex4ihyICl14Y1EXg/w640-h482/Thorington%20Hall%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Thorington Hall: demolition in progress, 1949. Image: Matthew Beckett.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Bence family remained in occupation until the house was requisitioned for military use by the army in 1940. Although many houses were badly damaged during army occupation in the Second World War, this seems not to have been the case at Thorington, but when it was returned to the family in 1945 the difficulty and expense of recruiting servants to make it habitable again encouraged the elderly owner to sell up. The estate was put on the market in August 1945, but was unsold and soon afterwards the house was sold to a demolition contractor (Palmers of Saxmundham). It was pulled down in 1949, and the firm reputedly covered the costs of demolition from the sale of the mahogany doors alone. Much of the rubble was simply bulldozed into the cellars of the house, and the present owners report that fragments of moulded plasterwork and marble fireplaces occasionally surface on the site. Thorington was a particularly sad loss in a county which has lost so many important houses, partly because its elegance and apparently good condition at the time of demolition, and partly because with hindsight we can see how sought after it would have been in later decades if only it had been spared in the dire years after the Second World War.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: Henry Norris (fl. 1576); sold 1583 to Leonard Spencer; sold 1584 to Anthony Wingfield; sold 1593 to Sir Edward Coke (d. 1634); to fifth son, Henry Coke (d. 1661); to son, Richard Coke (d. 1670); to widow, Mary Coke (d. 1674); to son, Robert Coke (d. c.1679); to son, Edward Coke of Holkham, whose trustees sold c.1691 to John Bence (1670-1718); to brother, Alexander Bence (1672-1759); to daughter Ann (1714-94), wife of George Golding (c.1724-1803); to cousin, Rev. Bence Sparrow (later Bence) (1747-1824); who gave it in 1809 to his son, Henry Bence Bence (1788-1861); to son, Henry Alexander Starkie Bence (1816-81); to daughters, of whom Ida Millicent (1860-1951), wife of Col. Guy Lenox Lambert (later Bence Lambert) (1856-1930) occupied the house; sold c.1947 to Palmers of Saxmundham; demolished 1949.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Kentwell Hall, Long Melford, Suffolk</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">A romantic moated Tudor house of mellow red brick, set within a broad moat on a site about a mile north of the town of Long Melford. The estate belonged from 1404 to the Clopton family, who were closely associated with the building of Long Melford church, but the name Kentwell was originally attached to a house almost a mile further north-west which Sir William Clopton (d. 1446) abandoned in favour of a moated manor house called Lutons which stood on the present site. As far as is known, nothing of the original manor house survived successive phases of rebuilding in the 16th century, but it is thought that the walled garden north of the moat may be 15th century as it is on a slightly different axis to the present house. The detached building within the moat, known now as The Moat House, but probably built as a brewery or laundry, is also late 15th century.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93VRlNHh4GReFOSaGzzvRx2oItfS3N1T1EjU6B7_2gNOsHE6jtaGn5aPgFsLtTscxvWOgK1VhTcVwe25wNf2tCn8w4DpX84mt2E3uUgdHStKUSYQDJwAciglDvQcZvDBJRLP8AkDwPF4XYxwxaOJ1LfrvTr600_blUbgnH5zjUV_KOA1srtAZP-LIS9Sq/s5184/Kentwell%20Hall%2035.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2413" data-original-width="5184" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93VRlNHh4GReFOSaGzzvRx2oItfS3N1T1EjU6B7_2gNOsHE6jtaGn5aPgFsLtTscxvWOgK1VhTcVwe25wNf2tCn8w4DpX84mt2E3uUgdHStKUSYQDJwAciglDvQcZvDBJRLP8AkDwPF4XYxwxaOJ1LfrvTr600_blUbgnH5zjUV_KOA1srtAZP-LIS9Sq/w640-h298/Kentwell%20Hall%2035.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Kentwell House: the house from the south in 2017. Image: Nicholas Kingsley. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFXrsvierIdvINwvIot7rsWBIbugASzPw_baswjSJIvTyh2DyQGuN0t27r6T9HJceNTneIqQLEcKL3GqHcFEiZto7wVFrDjzvptPF9fby8MzckdyvBA_50ioxMCj1jtaB4dlh1UXkAhqnBlrpY7tuUVYAdshgMGe-PVsgyU19yOWUtaP90u-1scZSNe8G/s951/Kentwell%20Hall%2036.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="951" data-original-width="908" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFXrsvierIdvINwvIot7rsWBIbugASzPw_baswjSJIvTyh2DyQGuN0t27r6T9HJceNTneIqQLEcKL3GqHcFEiZto7wVFrDjzvptPF9fby8MzckdyvBA_50ioxMCj1jtaB4dlh1UXkAhqnBlrpY7tuUVYAdshgMGe-PVsgyU19yOWUtaP90u-1scZSNe8G/w612-h640/Kentwell%20Hall%2036.jpg" width="612" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Kentwell Hall: the ends of the wings and the south bridge over the moat. Image: ruth1066.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Work on the present house probably began soon after Sir William Clopton (1450-1530), kt., inherited in 1497, and proceeded slowly, as funds were available and successive owners had the time and energy for building, until about 1580. At the end of the process the house had become a fairly typical large U-plan mansion with an entrance front that gives a strong impression of symmetry, although the elevations are actually balanced rather than perfectly symmetrical. The centre (originally of two storeys) has a central porch with a straight gable and pinnacles, and rectangular bay windows to either side: that on the right lighting the hall. The long wings also have bay windows, gabled dormers, and ogee-capped turrets at the outer ends of their side elevations. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQsi_KCXeFfz9rgzsY9DSN1FnHjcnDkOCAb06PBCPF2g6ggKdotIgoRhG5TZHdAuIJNi1KHgTCUFqL2vcxgmedZz38Fp1aKtJl8hnJmsGPnnZfE-vFVaD6vknjOtmd--hvuYWtElowkMB4lDEY7fXeyzIoK6vS_S7lr4z-kw3yOgCtq2jlcVFyMibMfV2/s1200/Kentwell%20Hall%2020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1200" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQsi_KCXeFfz9rgzsY9DSN1FnHjcnDkOCAb06PBCPF2g6ggKdotIgoRhG5TZHdAuIJNi1KHgTCUFqL2vcxgmedZz38Fp1aKtJl8hnJmsGPnnZfE-vFVaD6vknjOtmd--hvuYWtElowkMB4lDEY7fXeyzIoK6vS_S7lr4z-kw3yOgCtq2jlcVFyMibMfV2/w640-h468/Kentwell%20Hall%2020.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Kentwell Hall: aerial view from the south-east, showing the moat and the U-plan of the house. Image: John Fielding. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Construction seems to have begun with the centre of the house, followed by the east wing, which was built in two stages and which contained the family apartments, and then the west wing, which contained lodgings and a large new kitchen: earlier there had been a detached kitchen to the north-west which may have been part of the previous house. The floor level of the hall was raised when the wings were built, which probably implies that the scheme evolved with successive phases of work. The west wing is thought to have been completed by about 1540, but the various phases of building are not yet more closely dated than that. Two bridges across the moat link the house to the surrounding landscape, and there is evidence that the south bridge was originally guarded by a gatehouse at its inner end, and by an outer gatehouse about halfway between the moat and the current gates. Work continued in the 1570s, when an extra floor was added to the central block to contain a fashionable Long Gallery in anticipation of a visit by Queen Elizabeth in the summer of 1578. The mason John Prynce received payments in 1571 'for all his worke done abowghte my new buyldinge' and in 1577; while the carpenter Richard Ward was paid in 1579, presumably for fitting up the new gallery. Although the entrance front was made as regular as possible, no attempt at symmetry was made on the other elevations, which have garderobes, chimneys and dormer windows placed where they were needed, and windows at several different heights.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjKfc41TtGKhePFb7eqNhrhT-Wjn08WEBsX1x4vyzMGnzXtb_GzpUXo475v89P9UVbXiDfM0pGyoFTzaa5b2pIm1xxNAkG55ol_93WiEAuChPShJXkmFxjCyJn5p0_MnDIvp7cLbgbiYAtVDnSwOG6DraN4Up89YdpfxOsFF9LzTU5LXIcHHdtRoBW-TD/s1511/Kentwell%20Hall%2023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="1511" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjKfc41TtGKhePFb7eqNhrhT-Wjn08WEBsX1x4vyzMGnzXtb_GzpUXo475v89P9UVbXiDfM0pGyoFTzaa5b2pIm1xxNAkG55ol_93WiEAuChPShJXkmFxjCyJn5p0_MnDIvp7cLbgbiYAtVDnSwOG6DraN4Up89YdpfxOsFF9LzTU5LXIcHHdtRoBW-TD/w640-h434/Kentwell%20Hall%2023.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Kentwell Hall: rear elevation in the 1970s, showing the absence of any effort to achieve symmetry. Image: Historic England.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLcKQaUDb9ygtQyd5FnWpLXU_lHt_yty3JojvKQL5x8XdhEf4HFzIWgRYUK-xQVsFi104BrJlB64HYPQ7yMn3o9Wz-ONqX_pgFPuhOSGoUKSaMdo0GpePeHiNytRTH7kV5ZZGnhoxhzF715JWHXCAIJE-1jTQML2kxJjkospLgm5kagp54lHNzBx7UT8G/s5184/Kentwell%20Hall%2028.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3888" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLcKQaUDb9ygtQyd5FnWpLXU_lHt_yty3JojvKQL5x8XdhEf4HFzIWgRYUK-xQVsFi104BrJlB64HYPQ7yMn3o9Wz-ONqX_pgFPuhOSGoUKSaMdo0GpePeHiNytRTH7kV5ZZGnhoxhzF715JWHXCAIJE-1jTQML2kxJjkospLgm5kagp54lHNzBx7UT8G/w480-h640/Kentwell%20Hall%2028.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Kentwell Hall: the staircase of c.1680 inserted in the east wing. Image: © <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/128178595@N03/51671924923">Talybibo</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sir Thomas Robinson, who bought the estate in 1676, was a successful lawyer, and in the brief period before he jumped to his death escaping from a fire at his chambers in London, he made some changes to the house and grounds, the most significant of which were the insertion of a fine open-well staircase of c.1680 and the planting in 1678 of the lime avenue which still forms the south approach to the house. There were further piecemeal changes to the interior of the house in the 18th century, including the insertion of some sash windows (a few of which survive on the west front); while outside, the moat was enlarged to bring part of the garden east of the house within it. A ground floor corridor has an elaborate plaster entablature with a triglyph frieze, which looks as though it dates from the second quarter of the 18th century, and the chimneypiece which survives in the hall also dates from c.1730. Richard Moore, the owner from 1782, inserted some further new chimneypieces, and may have undertaken more general redecoration, but much of what he did was probably swept away in a more comprehensive remodelling undertaken by Thomas Hopper in c.1825-27 for Robert Hart Logan (1772-1838), a Scot who had made a fortune as a timber merchant in Canada. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquFNIK-t1Tcg0YRTlIOa3WThjIytO_yuo9ck5oPbVJN_h7LI-hGyUdbOfo_0bvibWAFmknh2GnUf4IxZA-QHe9pOvqRi-3rGe1Q-lqzJCgOguOP5wdrwV4TsJTELEtkeYjFYdRzo5SDV_vjvwiDL42rx0PWO7bN4hnIxnS30vz4EWano2zMg7W26DT3iZ/s1200/Kentwell%20Hall%2014.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1200" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquFNIK-t1Tcg0YRTlIOa3WThjIytO_yuo9ck5oPbVJN_h7LI-hGyUdbOfo_0bvibWAFmknh2GnUf4IxZA-QHe9pOvqRi-3rGe1Q-lqzJCgOguOP5wdrwV4TsJTELEtkeYjFYdRzo5SDV_vjvwiDL42rx0PWO7bN4hnIxnS30vz4EWano2zMg7W26DT3iZ/w640-h420/Kentwell%20Hall%2014.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Kentwell Hall: the great hall, as remodelled by Thomas Hopper, c.1825-27.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0tsX8eAHb6An6JEr0TkZKy4yOpb2-s77Br13gI8FiLNtjhRVXYRO6iGXSIcDFVlXVrZHTxFNMcURz8mf6e3bxCqm9aXXMBCE8-nlCXRDVlbs5tqglFCTDiU4FPatxxbIkzcty9QaY_fEVxJ71g0zp2fn_L_qaNOHJsQ-KG-xksJLWWL3bo4vlyKSnvAw/s1181/Kentwell%20Hall%2032.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1181" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0tsX8eAHb6An6JEr0TkZKy4yOpb2-s77Br13gI8FiLNtjhRVXYRO6iGXSIcDFVlXVrZHTxFNMcURz8mf6e3bxCqm9aXXMBCE8-nlCXRDVlbs5tqglFCTDiU4FPatxxbIkzcty9QaY_fEVxJ71g0zp2fn_L_qaNOHJsQ-KG-xksJLWWL3bo4vlyKSnvAw/w640-h418/Kentwell%20Hall%2032.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Kentwell Hall: the dining room, created by Thomas Hopper, c.1825-27.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hopper did little to the outside, except for renewing the stucco surrounds to the mullioned and transomed windows, but the principal interiors are now largely his work. In the hall he introduced the Gothic panelling and the Jacobean-style roof with hammerbeams, pendants and wall-posts, which is actually all of plaster and merely painted to resemble wood. Across the screens passage he created a square double-height dining room, which is perhaps the most successful of his new interiors. It is dominated by a massive chimneypiece of grey marble, modelled on a 15th century one in the Bishop's Palace at Exeter. The walls have a high Jacobean-style dado of arches and pilasters, separated by a band of strapwork decoration from Gothic arcading around the upper part of the walls. On the other side of the hall is the parlour, again remodelled by Hopper, with a very pretty Gothic plaster cornice, although much of its present character comes from the rich terracotta paint on the walls and the late 20th century painted ceiling by Paul Dufficey, who also decorated the 'Roman bathroom' above. Beyond the staircase in the east wing are the billiard room and library, both created in their current form by Hopper, who intended them as a library and drawing room respectively. The present library has a Corinthian screen of cast iron scagliola columns.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0t1Ou6LzH2SFuAhX4Hngv_8ZTII-XWDE-Ol3D7_0FGQ9K6k63fE0uZaodpX5RqjrXdEknyq-w2Qm0QxoQ68lgJVtm3iyO8hZSyHSdnfPzLILkxIr8XpgqQtzNYi7oiHzVj01_X55rs1VlpD5bCVubxdxtMyRpdzse80yBdBrZ4FxCxu3phC2EiQW9QqB/s2501/Kentwell%20Hall%2021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1563" data-original-width="2501" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0t1Ou6LzH2SFuAhX4Hngv_8ZTII-XWDE-Ol3D7_0FGQ9K6k63fE0uZaodpX5RqjrXdEknyq-w2Qm0QxoQ68lgJVtm3iyO8hZSyHSdnfPzLILkxIr8XpgqQtzNYi7oiHzVj01_X55rs1VlpD5bCVubxdxtMyRpdzse80yBdBrZ4FxCxu3phC2EiQW9QqB/w640-h400/Kentwell%20Hall%2021.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Kentwell Hall: the parlour, remodelled by Thomas Hopper, c.1825-27.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house was requisitioned for military use in the Second World War, but the Bences were able to retain a flat in the building, and probably as a result it was less badly damaged than many houses. After the war, a shortage of funds, staff and materials led to Kentwell becoming increasingly neglected, and when Mrs. Starkie Bence finally sold it in 1971 she declared that she felt as though she was leaving prison! The purchaser who bravely stepped forward to buy and restore the house was the current owner, Patrick Phillips, who has combined a busy career as a barrister with the personal oversight of restoration work, and who has indeed acted as an amateur architect when need arose. His philosophy of minimal intervention rather than radical restoration has meant that little has changed at all obviously. Some of the more evident changes include repaving the courtyard between the wings on the entrance front with multi-coloured bricks in the form of a stylized Tudor rose (in 1984-85), and the building of two octagonal gatehouses with ogee roofs (in c.1993), which function as offices and public toilets, as well as the painted decoration referred to above. The house and gardens are open to the public on a generous basis in summer, with many activity days for schoolchildren and the general public, although attendance at the latter is advised only for those with a ready tolerance of costumed re-enactors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: Katherine Mylde (d. 1404), wife of Thomas Clopton and later of Sir William Tendring; to son, Sir William Clopton (d. 1446), kt.; to son, John Clopton (c.1420-97); to son, Sir William Clopton (1450-1530), kt.; to son, John Clopton (c.1475-1541); to son, William Clopton (1509-63); to son, Francis Clopton (1539-78); to brother, William Clopton (1541-89); to half-brother, Thomas Clopton (c.1565-96); to son, Sir William Clopton (1592-1616), kt.; to son, William Clopton (1616-22); to sister, Anne Clopton (1612-41), later wife of Sir Symonds d'Ewes (1602-50), kt.; to daughter, Sissilia (d. 1661), later wife of Sir Thomas D'Arcy, who sold 1676 to Sir Thomas Robinson (1618-83), kt. and 1st bt.; to son, Sir Lumley Robinson (d. 1684), 2nd bt.; to son, Sir Thomas Robinson (1681-1743), 3rd bt.; sold 1706 to John Moore (1658-1713); to nephew, John Mould (later Moore) (1697-1735); to son, Henry Moore (1730-73); to brother, Richard Moore (1734-82); to son, Richard Moore (1769-1826), whose creditors foreclosed and sold Kentwell in 1823 to Robert Hart Logan (1772-1838); to brother, who sold 1839 to Edward Robert Starkie Bence (1823-89); to son, Edward Starkie Bence (1862-1937); to nephew, Charles Douglas Bunbury Starkie Ross (later Bence) (1895-1969); to widow, who sold 1971 to Patrick Phillips (b. 1941). The house was let from 1616 until perhaps 1641 to Thomas Gardener, yeoman; and from 1889 to 1938 to a series of tenants including Sir John Aird, H. Turton Norton and Sir Connop Guthrie</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bence family of Thorington Hall and Kentwell Hall</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bence, Alexander (1547-1613). </b>Eldest son of John Bence (d. 1577) of Aldeburgh (Suffk) and his wife Joan (d. 1585), daughter of William Wignall, born 1547. Merchant and shipowner in Aldeburgh, and a member of the Virginia Company by 1609. He was Chamberlain of Aldeburgh borough, 1573-74 and Bailiff, 1586-87, 1592-93, 1598, 1606-07, 1611-12 and on one other occasion; elected MP for Aldeburgh, 1604, but was not returned owing to pressure on the borough from the Howard family, who controlled it. He married, 2 September 1571 at Aldeburgh, Mary, daughter of Thomas Squire (d. 1605) of Aldeburgh, and had issue, with one further son, who died in infancy:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Rose Bence (b. 1572), baptised 12 January 1572/3; married 1st, 22 August 1591 at Aldeburgh, Richard Atkinson (d. 1591), and 2nd, 15 June 1592 at Aldeburgh, Thomas Johnson of Aldeburgh, and had issue at least two sons and two daughters; living in 1612;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Thomas Bence (1574-1610), baptised at Aldeburgh, 21 December 1574; died unmarried after 3 July 1610; will proved 30 November 1610;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Alexander Bence the elder (1577-c.1608), baptised at Aldeburgh, 28 July 1577; married 1st, Mary [surname unknown] and had issue; married 2nd, 11 July 1600 at Aldeburgh, Rose Johnson, and had issue one daughter; died between 1605 and 1610; </span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) John Bence (1581-1635) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Robert Bence (1585-1656) of London, baptised at Aldeburgh, 28 February 1584/5; citizen and salter of London; married, about 1643, Elizabeth Kent? (d. 1696), and had issue four sons and two daughters; buried at St Benet, Gracechurch St., London, 20 March 1655/6; will proved 2 March 1656/7;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) William Bence (b. & d. 1587), baptised at Aldeburgh, 16 October 1587; died in infancy and was buried at Aldeburgh, 10 December 1587;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) William Bence (1591-97), baptised at Aldeburgh, 5 December 1591; died young and was buried at Aldeburgh, 27 May 1597;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Alexander Bence the younger (fl. 1660); born after 1588 as he was under the age of 24 in 1612; merchant and shipowner; citizen and grocer of London (alderman, 1653); </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">MP for Aldeburgh, 1640-48 (when he was excluded during Pride's Purge); </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Navy Commissioner, 1642;</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">a Parliamentarian who was a member of the Suffolk County Committee during the Civil War;</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">MP for Suffolk, 1654-55; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Master of Trinity House, 1659-60; married Anne Aylett of Rendham (Suffk) and had issue; living in 1660;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Mary Bence (b. 1597), baptised 17 April 1597; married John Base (fl. 1645) of Benhall (Suffk), and had issue;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(10) Squire Bence (1597-1648), baptised at Aldeburgh, 17 April 1597; MP for Suffolk, 1640; a Parliamentarian who was a member of the Suffolk County Committee during the Civil War; married 1st, 26 August 1617 at St Dunstan, Stepney (Middx), Elizabeth Pett, and had issue two children (who died young); married 2nd, 1644 at Stoke Newington (Middx), Mary Salby (d. 1678); died 27 November 1648 and was buried at Aldeburgh, where he was commemorated by a monument, now lost; will proved 23 February 1648/9.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He lived in Aldeburgh.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 27 January 1612/3 and was buried at Aldeburgh; his will was proved 25 February 1612/3. His wife predeceased him but her date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bence, John (1581-1635). </b>Third son of Alexander Bence (1547-1612) and his wife Mary, daughter of Thomas Squire, baptised at Aldeburgh, 30 April 1581. Merchant in Aldeburgh, and four times bailiff of that borough; MP for Aldeburgh, 1624. He married 1st, by 1612, Mary, daughter of Edmund French (d. 1619) of Kelsale (Suffk), and 2nd, 10 May 1627 at Rayleigh (Essex), Elizabeth Papworth (fl. 1635), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">widow, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Mary Bence (fl. 1635), born before 1612; married [forename unknown] Barkley and had issue at least one daughter;</span> </div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Elizabeth Bence (fl. 1635), born before 1612; married, William Smith of Parkfield, and had issue at least two sons and one daughter;</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.3) A son; died before 1635;</span> </div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.4) John Bence (d. 1681) of Ringsfield (Suffk); High Sheriff of Suffolk, 1664-65; married Anne (d. 1683), daughter of Christopher Layer of Norwich, but had no issue; died 20 February 1680/1; will proved 11 April 1681;</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.5) Edmund Bence (c.1619-1702) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.6) Alexander Bence (fl. 1635)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Aldeburgh and Benhall (Suffk).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died in London, 2 July 1635, and was buried at Aldeburgh, where he was commemorated by a monument; his will was proved in the PCC, 6 July 1635. His first wife's date of death is unknown, but she was buried at Aldeburgh. His widow was living in 1635; her date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bence, Edmund (c.1619-1702). </b>Second surviving son of John Bence (1581-1635) and his first wife Mary, daughter of Edmund French of Kelsale (Suffk), born about 1619. He married Mary (c.1648-1717), daughter of Sir Francis Yallop, kt., and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) John Bence (1670-1718), baptised at Benhall, 27 September 1670; educated at St Catherine's College, Cambridge (admitted 1685); MP for Dunwich, 1691-95 and for Ipswich, 1702-08; purchased Thorington Hall in about 1691 and Heveningham Hall (Suffk) in 1700; married, by 1692, Catherine (d. 1715), daughter and heir of Sir Sackville Glemham, kt. of Glemham (Suffk), and had issue one son (who died in infancy) and one daughter (who married <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2019/07/383-barker-of-grimston-hall-chantry.html">Sir William Barker (1680-1731), 5th bt.</a>, of Grimston Hall (Suffk)); died 18 October 1718 and was buried at Heveningham, where he and his wife are commemorated by a monument; by his will, proved in the PCC, 12 May 1719, he bequeathed Thorington, Kelsale and Carlton to his next brother and directed his executors to sell Heveningham; </span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Alexander Bence (1672-1759) (</span><i style="font-family: georgia;">q.v.</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Edmund Bence (b. 1673), baptised at Benhall, 25 May 1673; died in infancy;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Robert Bence (1675-1745) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Mary Bence (1676-1765), baptised at Benhall, 23 January 1675/6; died unmarried on 16 January 1765, and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">and was buried with her sister at Benhall (Suffk)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, where they are commemorated by a floor slab (on which her age is given incorrectly as 93);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Edmund Bence (1677-78), baptised at Benhall, 5 July 1677; died in infancy and was buried at Benhall, 23 October 1678;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) William Bence (b. & d. 1678), baptised at Benhall, 6 October 1678; died in infancy and was buried at Benhall, 10 October 1678;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Rev. Thomas Bence (1680-1757), baptised at Benhall, 20 January 1679/80; educated at St Catherine's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1696; BA 1700; MA 1703); ordained deacon and priest, 1704, rector of Kelsall and Carlton (Suffk), 1705 and of Thorington, 1722; married Margaret (d. 1737), daughter and heir of Robert Barker of Bredfield (Suffk) and had issue one son (who died in infancy) and two daughters; buried at Carlton</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, 27 September 1757;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Abigail Bence (1681-1751), baptised at Benhall, 5 August 1681; lived at Saxmundham (Suffk); died unmarried, 10 March 1750/1 and was buried at Benhall, 25 March 1751.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Benhall (Suffk).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 5 May, and was buried at Benhall, 7 May 1702; his will was proved in the PCC, 5 September 1702. His widow died 10 May and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">was buried at Benhall (Suffk), 25 May 1717.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bence, Alexander (1672-1759). </b>Second son of Edmund Bruce (c.1619-1702) and his wife Mary, daughter of Sir Francis Yallop, kt., baptised at Benhall (Suffk), 20 February 1671/2. Educated at St Catherine's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1688; BA 1691; MA 1694). Fellow of St Catherine's College, Cambridge, 1701. High Sheriff of Suffolk, 1733-34 and 1742-43. He married, 1 July 1708 at St Martin Outwich, London, Christian, daughter of Sir Anthony Deane, kt., of London, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) John Bence (b. 1710), baptised at Chediston (Suffk), 25 March 1710; probably died young;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Alexander Bence (1711-42), baptised at Chediston, 23 March 1710/1; educated at St Catherine's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1727) and Middle Temple (admitted 1729); buried at Thorington, 7 June 1742, where he is commemorated by a monument;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) William Bence (1712-13), baptised at Chediston, 12 June 1712; died in infancy and was buried at Chediston, 4 June 1713;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Edmond Bence (b. & d. 1713), baptised at Chediston, 1 July 1713; died in infancy and was buried at Chediston, 9 September 1713;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Ann Bence (1714-94) (<i>q.v.</i>)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. </span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Thorington Hall from his elder brother in 1718.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Thorington, 8 August 1759, where he is commemorated on his son's monument. His wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bence, Ann (1714-94). </b>Only daughter of Alexander Bence (1672-1759) and his wife Christian, daughter of Sir Anthony Deane, kt., of London, baptised at Chediston (Suffk), 31 December 1714. She married, 19 January 1762 at Thorington, George Golding (c.1724-1803) of Poslingford (Suffk), but had no issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>She inherited Thorington Hall from her father in 1759. She left it to her husband for life, and then to her cousin, the Rev. Bence Sparrow (1747-1824), on condition that he took the name Bence.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">She was buried at Thorington, 3 October 1794, where she is commemorated by a monument; her will was proved in the PCC, 17 October 1794. Her widower was buried at Thorington, 29 December 1803; his will was proved in the PCC, 16 January 1804.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">Bence, Robert</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span>(1675?-1745). </b>Third son </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">of Edmund Bruce (c.1619-1702) and his wife Mary, daughter of Sir Francis Yallop, kt.,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> said to have been born 1675. He married, 20 July 1704 at Henstead (Suffk), Mary (1683-1717), daughter and heir of the Rev. Lawrence Eachard of Henstead (Suffk), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Lawrence Bence (1706-47), baptised at Sibton, 8 October 1706; died unmarried, 31 March, and was buried at Henstead, 2 April 1747;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Anne Bence (1707-76) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Mary Bence (1709-92), baptised at Sibton, 30 September 1709; died unmarried and was buried at Henstead, 28 December 1792.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Sibton and Henstead (Suffk).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 19 December and was buried at Henstead, 22 December 1745; his will was proved in the PCC, 12 June 1746. His wife died 24 August and was buried at Sibton, 27 August 1717.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia;">Bence, Anne (1708-76). </b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Elder daughter of Robert Bence (1675?-1745) and his wife Mary, daughter and heir of Rev. Lawrence Echard of Henstead (Suffk), bapised at Sibton (Suffk), 31 January 1707/8. She married, 16 December 1740 at Henstead, Robert Sparrow (1705-65) of <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2013/03/10-acheson-of-gosford-castle-baronets.html">Worlingham Hall (Suffk)</a>, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Robert Sparrow (1741-1822) of Worlingham Hall, which he rebuilt c.1800 to the designs of Francis Sandys; baptised at Woodbridge, 24 October 1741; married, 8 July 1771 at St Marylebone (Middx), Mary (1745-1824), daughter and heir of Sir John Bernard (d. 1768), 4th bt., of Brampton Park (Hunts), and had issue one son and one daughter; buried at Worlingham, 18 March 1822;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Rev. Bence Sparrow (later Bence) (1747-1824) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) John Sparrow (b. 1748), baptised at Woodbridge, 12 February 1748; presumably died in infancy;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) John Sparrow (b. 1749), baptised at Kelsale, 5 February 1749; probably died young.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>She and her husband lived at Woodbridge (Suffk) until 1755, when they bought Worlingham Hall.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">She died 9 November and was buried at Henstead, 16 November 1776. Her husband died 15 September 1765 and was buried at Henstead; his will was proved in the PCC, 29 November 1765.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Sparrow (later Bence), Rev. Bence (1747-1824). </b>Second son of Robert Sparrow (1705-64) of Worlingham Hall (Suffk) and his wife Ann, elder daughter of Robert Bence of Henstead (Suffk), baptised at Woodbridge (Suffk), 18 October 1747. Educated at Norwich and Emmanuel College, Cambridge (matriculated 1765; LLB 1771). Ordained deacon and priest, 1774. A considerable pluralist, he was perpetual curate of Great Redisham (Suffk), 1774-1806; rector of Beccles (Suffk), 1774-1823; vicar of Endergate (Suffk), 1806-23; rector (and patron) of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kelsale-cum-Carlton (Suffk), 1806-10 and rector of Thorington, 1807-21</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. He took the surname and arms of Bence in lieu of Sparrow for himself and his family, 2 May 1804, after inheriting the Thorington estate. He married, 16 May 1786 at Beccles (Suffk), Harriet (1759?-1815), daughter and heir of William Elmy of Beccles, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Henry Bence Sparrow (later Bence) (1788-1861) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Anna Maria Sparrow (later Bence) (1787-1872), baptised at Beccles, 28 March 1787; married, 1 June 1809 at Beccles, Rev. Lancelot Robert Brown (1786-1868), rector of Kelsale and Carlton (Suffk), 1810-68, Thorington, 1821-50 and Saxmundham, 1826-68, son of Robert Brown, and had issue three daughters; died 17 March and was buried at Kelsale, 23 March 1872; will proved 1 May 1872 (effects under £12,000);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Matilda Sparrow (later Bence) (1791-1869), baptised at Beccles, 5 March 1791; married, 17 July 1811, Lt-Col. William Jones (c.1776-1843) of 5th dragoon guards, and had issue three sons; died 14 September and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, 20 September 1869; will proved 12 November 1869 (effects under £600).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Thorington Hall in 1803 after the death of his cousin's widower, but gave the estate to his son on his coming of age in 1809.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 2 September 1824; his will was proved in the PCC, 12 October 1824. His wife died 9 June and was buried at Beccles, 15 June 1815.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Sparrow (later Bence), Henry Bence (1788-1861). </b>Only son of the Rev. Bence Sparrow (later Bence) (1747-1824) and his wife Harriet, daughter and heir of William Elmy of Beccles (Suffk), baptised at Beccles, 12 March 1788. Educated at Charterhouse School and St John's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1806). An officer in the army (Cornet, 1808; Capt., 1811; retired 1814), who served in the Peninsula War (wounded at Talavera) and in the East Suffolk militia (Lt-Col., 1844). JP and DL for Suffolk and JP for Norfolk. He took the surname Bence in lieu of Sparrow with his father in 1804. He married, 5 May 1815, Elizabeth Susanna (1795-1862), second daughter and co-heir of Nicholas Starkie of Frenchwood (Lancs) and East Riddlesden Hall (Yorks WR), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Henry Alexander Starkie Bence (1816-81) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Marianne Katharine Starkie Bence (1817-33), born and baptised at Kelsale (Suffk), 3 November 1817; died unmarried at Bracondale (Norfk), 21 May, and was buried at Thorington, 25 May 1833;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Edward Robert Starkie Bence (1823-89) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Rev. Thomas Starkie Bence (1824-58), born 1 October and baptised at Thorington, 2 October 1824; educated at Charterhouse School and St John's College, Cambridge (matriculated 1843; BA 1848; MA 1851); ordained deacon, 1847 and priest, 1848; curate of Monks Eleigh (Suffk), 1847-49; rector of Thorington, 1849-58; married, 16 April 1857 at Boughton Monchelsea (Kent), Elizabeth Frances (1829-1917) (who m2, 21 September 1865, Capt. George Alexander Warburton (1828-91)), eldest daughter of Robert Cuninghame Taylor of Boughton Place (Kent), and had issue one daughter; died 14 July and was buried at Thorington, 20 July 1858, where he is commemorated by a memorial window; will proved 18 August 1858 (effects under £4,000).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He was given the Thorington Hall estate as a coming of age present by his father in 1809, and rebuilt the house to the designs of Thomas Hopper between 1817 and 1824.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 9 February and was buried at Thorington, 16 February 1861; his will was proved 13 April 1861 (effects under £16,000). His widow died at St. Leonards-on-Sea (Sussex), 19 December and was buried at Thorington, 27 December 1862; her will was proved 8 May 1863 (effects under £3,000).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bence, Henry Alexander Starkie (1816-81). </b>Eldest son of Henry Bence Sparrow (later Bence) (1788-1861) and his wife Elizabeth Susanna, second daughter and co-heir of Nicholas Starkie of Frenchwood (Lancs), born 15 May and baptised at Thorington, 16 May 1816. Educated at Charterhouse School and Balliol College, Oxford (matriculated 1835; BA 1839). Said to have been a member of the diplomatic corps. JP (from 1844) and DL for Suffolk; High Sheriff of Suffolk, 1872-73; Colonel of the East Suffolk Militia. He married, 22 August 1850 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), Agnes (1828-1904), second daughter of John Barclay of Devonshire Place, London, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Agnes Marian Bence (1852-1931), born 20 August and baptised at Duddingston (Midlothian), 2 September 1852; she and her husband took the name Bence-Trower on their marriage; she married, 6 July 1876 at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster (Middx), Percy Trower (later Bence-Trower) (1846-1908), wine merchant, second son of Henry Trower of London, wine merchant, and had issue six sons and two daughters; died at Shinfield Lodge (Berks), 21 April 1931; will proved 20 June 1931 (estate £3,270);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Edith Mabel Bence (1854-1931), born 8 February and baptised at Hove (Sussex), 3 April 1854; died unmarried at Thorington Hall, 27 August 1931; will proved 14 December 1931 (estate £28,663);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Millicent Bence (b. & d. 1855), baptised at Cathedine (Brecons.), 12 August 1855; died in infancy and was buried at Llangasty-Tallyllyn (Brecons.), 27 September 1855;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Ida Millicent Bence (1860-1951) (<i>q.v.</i>).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Thorington Hall estate from his father in 1861. At his death it passed to his daughters as co-heirs.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 30 May and was buried at Thorington, 3 June 1881; his will was proved 9 August 1881 (effects £11,411). His widow died 19 June and was buried at Thorington, 23 June 1904. Her will was proved 16 September 1904 (estate £8,216).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9iKRqEtSm8xOfH20lihfntAx66SOniwipi_9pW1NsdFqmukhjtVdsRWb3Snqu4iJ54RojpcCaM5gMT3CMFWFnYqxnJMMCBbQ1gLC3sySfUNqsVoOdom4TksTGcYTKGmF9um-EnW_RRz1zY_pddrprBbOLcI138XuNzVfVbV5GFj-8sWFORSVknG-dVl_/s2758/Bence-Lambert,%20Ida%20(1860-1951).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2758" data-original-width="2189" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9iKRqEtSm8xOfH20lihfntAx66SOniwipi_9pW1NsdFqmukhjtVdsRWb3Snqu4iJ54RojpcCaM5gMT3CMFWFnYqxnJMMCBbQ1gLC3sySfUNqsVoOdom4TksTGcYTKGmF9um-EnW_RRz1zY_pddrprBbOLcI138XuNzVfVbV5GFj-8sWFORSVknG-dVl_/w159-h200/Bence-Lambert,%20Ida%20(1860-1951).jpg" width="159" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ida Bence-Lambert (1860-1951) <br />Image: Marian Mollett</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bence, Ida Millicent (1860-1951). </b>Youngest but last surviving daughter of Henry Alexander Starkie Bence (1816-81) and his wife Agnes, second daughter of John Barclay, born 2 March and baptised at Cathedine (Brecons.), 6 May 1860. On her marriage, she and her husband took the name Bence-Lambert by royal licence. She married, 23 January 1884 at Thorington, Col. Guy Lenox Lambert CMG DL JP (1856-1930) of Dernasliggan, Leenane (Co. Galway), second son of Alexander Clendinning Lambert of Brookhill (Co. Mayo), but had no issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>She was one of the coheirs to the Thorington estate at her father's death in 1881, but outlived her sisters. She lived at the house until it was requisitioned in 1940, and sold it for demolition in about 1947.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">She died 19 October 1951; her will was proved 16 January 1952 (estate £49,331). Her husband died in Dublin, while travelling from his Irish estate to Thorington, 23 June 1930; his will was proved 3 October 1930 (estate £2,692).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bence, Edward Robert Starkie (1823-89). </b>Second </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">son of Henry Bence Sparrow (later Bence) (1788-1861) and his wife Elizabeth Susanna, second daughter and co-heir of Nicholas Starkie of Frenchwood (Lancs), born 27 August 1823. <span style="background-color: white;">An officer in the King's Dragoon Guards (Cornet, 1842; Lt., 1844; Capt., 1850; retired c.1850).</span> JP and DL (from 1853) for Suffolk; High Sheriff of Suffolk, 1861-62. He married, 30 July 1850 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), Eliza Charlotte Albinia (1831-1917), youngest daughter of Capt. George James Sulivan (1791-1858) of Wilmington, Ryde (IoW) and formerly of Melford Hall and Redgrave Hall (Suffk), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Isabel Elizabeth Starkie Bence (1851-1933), baptised at St Mary, Bryanston Sq., Westminster (Middx), 19 June 1851; married, 19 October 1880 at St Michael, Bath (Som.), George Smith (1847-1928), farmer, and had issue three sons and one daughter; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">disinherited by her father as she married without his consent; died 12 June 1933; administration of goods granted 8 August 1933 (estate £61);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Albinia Marian Starkie Bence (1854-1940), baptised at St Mary, Bryanston Sq., Westminster, 12 May 1854; married, 27 September 1887, Col. John Heathfield Stratton (1837-1925) of The Gage, Little Berkhamsted (Herts), but had no issue; died 29 June 1940; will proved 29 August 1940 (estate £49,898);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Leila Emily Catherine Starkie Bence (1858-1910) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Mabel Mary Starkie Bence (1861-93), baptised at Stanstead (Suffk), 2 May 1861; died unmarried, 20 February 1893; administration of her goods was granted 27 April 1893 (effects £8,626);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Edward Starkie Bence (1862-1937) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Alice Maude Mary Starkie Bence (1868-1916), born 29 April and baptised at Long Melford, 29 June 1868; died unmarried 1 July 1916; will proved 7 November 1916 (estate £2,886).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited a fortune of £130,000 from a maternal cousin, Elizabeth Starkie, and the legacy was used by his trustees to buy the Kentwell Hall (Suffk) estate in 1839, reputedly for £85,000.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 24 February 1889; his will was proved 23 May 1889 (effects £29,000). His widow died at Eastbourne (Sussex), 26 May 1917; her will was proved 19 September 1917 (estate £2,335).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bence, Edward Starkie (1862-1937). </b>Only son of Edward Robert Starkie Bence (1823-89) and his wife Eliza Charlotte Albinia, daughter of George James Sulivan of Wilmington, Ryde (IoW), born 4 July and baptised at Glemsford (Suffk), 2 September 1862. Educated at Magdalen College, Cambridge (matriculated, 1881). An officer in the 3rd battalion, Suffolk Regiment (2nd Lt., 1881; Lt. by 1883; Capt., 1885; retired 1889); JP (from 1885) and DL (from 1894) for Suffolk. He was unmarried and without issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Kentwell Hall from his father in 1889, but chose not to live there and let it to a succession of tenants. At his death it passed to his nephew, Charles Ross, on condition that he took the name Bence.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 4 April 1937, and was probably buried at Thorington, where he is commemorated by a monument; his will was proved 4 August and 13 September 1937 (estate £49,859).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bence, Leila Emily Catherine Starkie (1858-1929). </b>Third daughter </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">of Edward Robert Starkie Bence (1823-89) and his wife Eliza Charlotte Albinia, daughter of George James Sulivan of Wilmington, Ryde (IoW), baptised at Redgrave with Botesdale (Suffk), 18 September</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 1858. She married, 28 September 1886 at St Matthew, Bayswater (Middx), Charles Edmund Ross (1854-1910), banker, son of William Henry Drummond Ross of the Bengal Army, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Charles Douglas Bunbury Ross (later Starkie-Bence) (1887-1969) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Edmund Starkie Ross (1889-1962), baptised at Christchurch, Folkestone (Kent), 28 March 1889; married, Jul-Sept. 1927, Dorothy Mary Faber (c.1904-94), but had no issue; died at Como (Italy), 18 September 1962; will proved 10 December 1962 (estate £39,376);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Leila Gwendoline Ross (18</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">90-1967), born 7 November 1890*; served as a VAD nurse in First World War, 1916-19; died unmarried at St Andrews Mental Hospital, Northampton, 1 May 1967; will proved 26 July 1967 (estate £23,070);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Albinia Ivy Ross (1892-1977), born 28 April and baptised at Folkestone (Kent), 20 May 1892; served as a Red Cross volunteer nurse in First World War (mentioned in despatches); died 16 January 1977; will proved 28 February 1977 (estate £120,449).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>She lived latterly at Oxted (Surrey).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">She died 26 March 1929; her will was proved 5 July 1930 (estate £244). Her husband died 9 February and was buried at Charlton Cemetery, Greenwich (Kent), 12 February 1910; his will was proved 10 March 1910 (estate £742).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* In the 1939 register she gave her date of birth as 7 November 1897, but she appears on the 1891 census, aged 5 months.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Ross (later Starkie-Bence), Charles Douglas Bunbury (1887-1969). </b>Elder son of Charles Edmund Ross (1854-1910) and his wife Leila Emily Catherine Starkie, daughter of Edward Robert Starkie Bence, born 19 August 1887. Farmer. He emigrated to Vancouver Island, British Columbia (Canada) in 1906, but returned to England to serve in the First World War with the 48th Canadian Infantry (Sgt.) and the Royal Sussex Regiment (2nd Lt., 1915; Lt.); and again on inheriting the Kentwell estate in 1937. He took the name Starkie-Bence under the terms of his uncle's will in 1938. He married, 17 April 1915 at Chemainus, British Columbia, Maithal Gertrude Halhed (1890-1977) and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Richmond Douglas Starkie Ross (later Bence) (1916-41), born 1 July 1916; served in RAF Volunteer Reserve in Second World War and was killed in action, 5 September 1941; administration of his goods was granted to his father, 28 August 1942 (estate £32,715).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Kentwell Hall from his uncle in 1937. After his death it passed to his widow, who sold it in 1971.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 17 June 1969; administration of his goods was granted 12 March 1970 (estate £451,680). His widow died at Great Cornard (Suffolk), 13 May 1977 (estate £95,354).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Landed Gentry</i>, 1850, p. 81; G. Worsley, 'Kentwell Hall, Suffolk', <i>Country Life</i>, 20 February 1992, pp. 52-55; W.M. Roberts, <i>Lost country houses of Suffolk</i>, 2010, pp. 158-60; J. Bettley & Sir N. Pevsner, <i>The buildings of England: Suffolk - East</i>, 2015, pp. 545-46; J. Bettley & Sir N. Pevsner, <i>The buildings of England: Suffolk - West</i>, 2015, pp. 396-99; <i>History of Parliament </i>articles on the several 16th and 17th centuries members of the family who served as MPs for Suffolk constituencies;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://www.lostheritage.org.uk/houses/lh_suffolk_thoringtonhall.html">http://www.lostheritage.org.uk/houses/lh_suffolk_thoringtonhall.html</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Bence of Kentwell Hall:</i> deeds, manorial records, estate and family papers, 1394-20th century [Suffolk Archives, Bury St. Edmunds HA 505]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Bence of Thorington Hall:</i> </b>album of photographs, sketches etc., c.1850 [Suffolk Archives, Lowestoft 1798]; family papers relating to the Kelsale Trust, 1856-1931 [Suffolk Archives, Bury St. Edmunds HD 1547/3]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Argent, on a cross, between four frets gules, a castle of the first.</span></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></b></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia;">Can you help?</b></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I was unable to trace any interior photographs of Thorington Hall, or a plan of its layout. If anyone can supply such images, I should be most grateful.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Does anyone know anything about the reputed diplomatic career of Henry Alexander Starkie Bence (1816-81), which probably took place in the 1840s?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide portraits or photographs of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 28 July 2023 and was updated 29 July, 2 August and 16 August 2023. I am most grateful to Dr. James Bettley for furnishing contemporary evidence of Hopper's responsibility for Thorington Hall, and to Marian Mollett for a correction and a photograph.</span></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-49675999645857950192023-07-16T10:19:00.005+01:002023-08-26T06:57:05.121+01:00(550) Belt of Bossall Hall<span style="font-family: georgia;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-weight: bold;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIBdHPn0joWRJ6wvymRaqZ0Kv5UBDE6uXFyylMYV8wmrc_LCBCdmUmuTpq6h2RYPmODHHSsHnd48BMOdnyYMgbUxUo-uS1ZyqPYJTCFanV1D48Naj9me3zyTyaF8817UZ294PnZs7aEKXjfBqGoGIm6M30SCMLnVzEcYaqtq5_hULqU3xRTFYIrntJjP8/s1200/Belt%20of%20Bossall.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIBdHPn0joWRJ6wvymRaqZ0Kv5UBDE6uXFyylMYV8wmrc_LCBCdmUmuTpq6h2RYPmODHHSsHnd48BMOdnyYMgbUxUo-uS1ZyqPYJTCFanV1D48Naj9me3zyTyaF8817UZ294PnZs7aEKXjfBqGoGIm6M30SCMLnVzEcYaqtq5_hULqU3xRTFYIrntJjP8/w167-h200/Belt%20of%20Bossall.jpg" width="167" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Belt of Bossall</span></td></tr></tbody></table>This family came to prominence through their careers as merchants and public administrators in the city of York in the late 16th and early 17th century. Leonard Belt (c.1548-90), with whom the genealogy below begins, was town clerk of the city for nearly 20 years and died comparatively young, leaving a widow and at least six children. His two surviving sons, Sir Robert Belt (1576-1656), kt., and Sir William Belt (1582-1651), kt., followed in his footsteps, Robert serving as Sheriff in 1614 and Lord Mayor in 1628 and 1640 (in which year he was also knighted), and William being Recorder of York, 1625-38, in which capacity he was knighted in 1633. The two brothers both bought landed estates near the city, with Robert buying the Bossall estate jointly with his brother-in-law, James Boyes, in 1623 and rebuilding the house there by 1644, while William acquired a smaller property at Overton, north-west of the city, and also the Treasurer's House in the city in 1648. Sir Robert sided with the Royalists during the Civil War and was displaced from his position as an alderman after the city was captured by the Parliamentarians in 1644.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Subsequent generations seem to have kept a lower profile. Sir William's sons apparently disposed of his property soon after his death. Bossall Hall passed to Sir Robert's eldest son, Leonard Belt (1612-62), who died without surviving issue, and then to his brother, Daniel Belt (1615-97), who lived in Putney (Surrey) and never moved to Bossall (perhaps because his brother's widow was in occupation of the manor house). When he died without surviving sons, the estate passed to his great-nephew, Robert Belt (c.1686-1746), who came of age in about 1707 and was responsible for a major remodelling of Bossall Hall in the 1720s. Several of his nine children died young, but Bossall passed to his eldest son, Robert Belt (1723-80), and then to the latter's son, Robert Belt (1747-1826), who seems to have been the last of the family to actually live at Bossall, at least for part of the year. For many years he was an official of the Crown Office, and since his children were born in London he may have exercised his duties personally. One might expect that someone holding such a post would have had some legal training, but I cannot find any record of this. His eldest son, Robert Belt (1776-1839) was, however, a barrister, and became one of the Commissioners for Insolvent Debtors in 1820, as well as publishing law reports. He inherited Bossall in 1826 but let the house and lived full-time in London. His eldest son, Robert Wallis Belt (1815-70), apparently suffered a period of mental illness in the 1830s which led his father to bequeath his property in trustees, and although R.W. Belt recovered sufficiently to attend university and be ordained, he never became a beneficed clergyman and was made bankrupt in the 1860s. At his death, Bossall passed to his half-brother, William John Belt (1826-92), who like his father was trained as a barrister, and practiced as a conveyancer. He married in 1865 but had no children, and as he grew older (and particularly after his wife's death in 1878) became more eccentric and unpredictable. An ungoverned temper led him to appear several times in the magistrates' courts, and his history of Bossall seems to be unreliable. He sold some of the contents of Bossall Hall in 1885 and the estate itself in 1890, and was the last of his line to be a landed gentleman.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bossall Hall, Yorkshire (NR)</b></span></h3><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nT1VDeslynZkmQ3ZBKX5N6a4S11u3uwx7ArDr__tUD_IBZGdDF-QEQ1GQuSuq9p43aeCXlZZFZddbgJMUse85Pka972U3Brgyh77BqLnwcl4mbhOd37kRV5--iPZwkq85kTmq9KvPeVTf64eyvz9lMkqMkEZxvy4vWBnSQ_mflWXLmJVA3CKLKXKNafc/s1200/Bossall%20Hall%2012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="1200" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nT1VDeslynZkmQ3ZBKX5N6a4S11u3uwx7ArDr__tUD_IBZGdDF-QEQ1GQuSuq9p43aeCXlZZFZddbgJMUse85Pka972U3Brgyh77BqLnwcl4mbhOd37kRV5--iPZwkq85kTmq9KvPeVTf64eyvz9lMkqMkEZxvy4vWBnSQ_mflWXLmJVA3CKLKXKNafc/w640-h468/Bossall%20Hall%2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bossall Hall: the south and west fronts in 2021.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">A moated site, on which W.J. Belt claimed in 1885 that he had found the foundations of a double curtain wall with square and round towers and a barbican, but there is absolutely no documentary evidence of a medieval castle here, and it seems probable that he was simply misinterpreting the remains of a medieval manor house. Whatever the earlier building had been, it had been demolished and replaced before 1644, when a double-pile mansion house of brick had been built for Sir Robert Belt of York, who bought the estate in 1623. The present house is essentially the same building, though rather disguised by later alterations. The west front still preserves two early 17th century chimneybreasts, while the gables to their left and right have small 17th century pedimented windows, and the eight-bay south front has the ghosts of similar pediments. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLELUQemjgj9jxhxL0Wy-00X1DcPiMfJ5ZBr2XBd5TG7zYHeSMY5uCkMxOuBKc3N191SqlTDzNRX7dtOsh7rBE6z76_jTwaVLTJZxW7bo3Dm3DKB8gk5sne4EnGf4se-av9Ij-8_vqWz6ANjCCOyOeU5K9gmj6YoIhkud3ZEMJ9Bprh-2hzQEW54mjaVj/s711/Bossall%20Hall%207.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="475" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLELUQemjgj9jxhxL0Wy-00X1DcPiMfJ5ZBr2XBd5TG7zYHeSMY5uCkMxOuBKc3N191SqlTDzNRX7dtOsh7rBE6z76_jTwaVLTJZxW7bo3Dm3DKB8gk5sne4EnGf4se-av9Ij-8_vqWz6ANjCCOyOeU5K9gmj6YoIhkud3ZEMJ9Bprh-2hzQEW54mjaVj/w428-h640/Bossall%20Hall%207.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bossall Hall: staircase of c.1726</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipzUudquKTEhRKHsjqelX44S2opUq8g4a1pGPqpB37h8E5SAT2NS1fFW050TYOL9ctduN3Og9-XcpunpefVfqZIuWU4Eokniqe3VQ86BlnKwbPqBAuF4BtKkKUGnoPKrkwZXP7eqggUC4Jgc3mi7HYZbGvIqKRcMjNz9LkA3ljTKbwLIvXlehfQ5bfNH5U/s920/Bossall%20Hall%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="920" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipzUudquKTEhRKHsjqelX44S2opUq8g4a1pGPqpB37h8E5SAT2NS1fFW050TYOL9ctduN3Og9-XcpunpefVfqZIuWU4Eokniqe3VQ86BlnKwbPqBAuF4BtKkKUGnoPKrkwZXP7eqggUC4Jgc3mi7HYZbGvIqKRcMjNz9LkA3ljTKbwLIvXlehfQ5bfNH5U/w640-h428/Bossall%20Hall%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Bossall Hall: the drawing room as refitted in c.1726 and further altered in c.1793.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house was given a substantial refit, probably in 1726, the date on a rainwater head. Sash windows were introduced in place of the original fenestration, a fine new open-well staircase was constructed with turned balusters, dado panelling, and elaborate parquetry inlay on the half-landing, and the principal interiors were redecorated, although the earlier ceiling beams were retained but encased. A second rainwater head with the date 1793 probably refers to a further remodelling, when the sills of the drawing room windows were lowered, and a new chimneypiece and panelling were installed in the same room. The raising of a blind parapet above the south front may also date from that time. At the rear of the property are single-storey service ranges of the later 19th and 20th centuries, and the study has a fireplace with a repoussé brass canopy within an inglenook of the same period.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: Thomas Redmayne (d. 1514); to daughter Elizabeth, wife of William Thwaites and later of [forename unknown] Kirkby; to granddaughter Anne, wife of Sir William Ingleby for life then to her cousin, James Thwaites (d. 1603); to son, William Thwaites who sold 1613 to William Smithson; sold manor 1623 to Sir Robert Belt (1576-1656), kt. and James Boyes (d. 1623), on whose death the two halves of the property were apparently reunited; to son, Leonard Belt (1612-62); to brother, Daniel Belt (1615-97); to great-nephew, Robert Belt (c.1686-1746); to son, Robert Belt (1723-80); to son, Robert Belt (1747-1826); to son, Robert Belt (1776-1839); to son, Rev. Robert Wallis Belt (1815-70); to half-brother, William John Belt (1826-92), who sold 1890 to Sir James Walker (1829-99), 2nd bt.; to son, Sir James Heron Walker (1865-1900), 3rd bt.; to Sir Robert James Milo Walker (1890-1930), 4th bt.; to son, Sir James Heron Walker (1914-2003), 5th bt., who sold c.1960 to Brig. Ian Darsie Watson (1915-2001); to widow, Lady Susan Diana Watson (b. 1938); sold c.2021...</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Belt family of Bossall Hall</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Belt, Leonard (alias Lancelot) (c.1548-90). </b>Parentage uncertain, although he was possibly a son of Robert Belt of Stillingfleet (Yorks NR), born about 1548. Admitted a freeman of the city of York, 1570. Town Clerk of the city of York, 1571-90. He married, 9 September 1573 at St Crux, York, Mary (1554-1632), daughter of Alderman William Beckwith of York, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Alice Belt (1574-1606), baptised at St Crux, York, 27 June 1574; married, 12 June 1593 at St Crux, York, James Boyes (d. 1623) (who in 1623 joined with his brother-in-law in buying the manor of Bossall), and had issue one daughter; buried at St Crux, York, 3 August 1606;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Sir Robert Belt (1576-1656), kt. (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Ellen Belt (b. 1576), baptised at St Crux, York, 12 August 1576;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Mary Belt (1577-93), baptised at St Crux, York, 18 September 1577; died unmarried and was buried at St Crux, York, 11 August 1593;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Elizabeth Belt (b. 1578), baptised at St Crux, York, 2 January 1578/9;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Sarah Belt (b. 1580), baptised at St Crux, York, 9 April 1580; married, 5 June 1599 at St Crux, York, George Askwith (1575-1626), and had issue three sons and five daughters; living in 1618;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) Sir William Belt (1582-1651), baptised at St Crux, York, 27 March 1582; educated at Grays Inn (admitted 1598); recorder of the city of York, 1625-38; lessee of the tithes of Preston (Yorks ER); acquired an estate at Overton (Yorks NR) near York and for a brief period from 1648 owned the Treasurer's House, York; married 1st, 24 August 1624 at St Michael-le-Belfrey, York, Susan* (d. 1630), daughter of [forename unknown] Waterhouse and widow of Thomas Millington (d. 1624) of York, and had issue one son (who died young); married 2nd, 17 April 1631 at Carleton-in-Lindrick, Martha* (d. 1652), daughter of Maximilian Waterhouse of Wallingwells (Notts), and had further issue three sons and two daughters; buried at St Michael-le-Belfrey, York, 11 February 1650/1; will proved in central Probate Court, 11 May 1653;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Jane Belt (1584-1607), baptised at St Crux, York, 1 July 1584; died unmarried and was buried at St Crux, York, 20 June 1607;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) Leonard Belt (b. & d. 1588), baptised at Crux, York, 25 December 1588, but died in infancy and was buried at St Crux, York the same day.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He lived in York.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at St Crux, York, 5 August 1590; his will was proved at York, 16 December 1590. His widow died 14 December and was buried at St Crux, York, 16 December 1632.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* It seems possible that his two wives were sisters, but there are several Waterhouse families in Yorkshire at this time and it cannot be assumed.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Belt, Sir Robert (1576-1656), kt. </b>Eldest son of Leonard Belt (c.1548-90) and his wife Mary, daughter of William Beckwith of York, baptised at St Crux, York, 22 February 1575/6. He became a freeman of the city of York, 1599, and was an alderman of the city, 1623-45 (Sheriff, 1614; Lord Mayor, 1628, 1640); knighted at Bossall, 24 August 1640. In 1638, he contributed to the repair of the chancel of Pocklington church, where he had formerly leased the tithes, although he had no obligation to do so. He married 1st, 7 February 1602/3 at St Crux, York, Jane Hudson (d. 1608) and 2nd, 17 July 1609 at Halifax (Yorks WR), Grace (1592-1664), daughter of Daniel Foxcroft of Halifax, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Jane Belt (b. & d. 1608); buried at All Saints, Pavement, York, 20 June 1608;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Mary Belt (1610-27), baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 20 November 1610; died unmarried and was buried at Bossall, 11 April 1627;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.2) Leonard Belt (1612-62) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.3) Robert Belt (1614-15), baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 24 July 1614; died in infancy and was buried at All Saints, Pavement, York, 7 January 1614/5;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.4) Daniel Belt (1615-97) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.5) Grace Belt (b. 1616), baptised at </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">All Saints, Pavement, York,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">16 October 1616; presumably died young before 1620;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.6) John Belt (b. & d. 1619), baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 8 May 1619, but died and was buried at the same church the following day;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.7) Grace Belt (b. 1620), baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 6 June 1620; married, 9 September 1641 at Bossall, Richard Nelson; date of death unknown;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.8) <span style="background-color: white;">Sarah Belt</span> (1622-92), baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 10 February 1621/2; married 1st, 6 February 1648/9 at Bossall, Joseph Oley (d. 1655) of York, merchant; married 2nd, 1659 (licence), William Ibson (d. 1659) of Belsteads, York; and married 3rd, 23 January 1661/2 at Newton-on-Ouse (Yorks), Alderman Thomas Bawtry of York; said to have been buried at Bossall, 22 March 1691/2;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.9) Ann Belt (b. & d. 1623), baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 23 March 1622/3; died in infancy and was buried at All Saints, Pavement, York, 27 July 1623;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.10) John Belt (1624-32), baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 28 June 1624; died young and was buried at Bossall, 31 July 1632;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.11) Jasper Belt (1625-62) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.12) William Belt (1628-31), baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 22 December 1628; died young and was buried at Bossall, 6 October 1631;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.13) Robert Belt (1630-65), baptised at Bossall, 30 November 1630; said to have married Thomasine [surname unknown] (d. 1680), but this is probably a confusion with his nephew and namesake; buried at Bossall, 17 January 1664/5.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived in York and bought the Bossall estate in 1623 jointly with his brother-in-law, James Boyes (d. 1623). After the latter's death the property seems to have been reunited in his ownership, and by 1644 he had rebuilt the house. The estate was sequestered after the Civil War, but the family rented it back until the Restoration.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Flaxton (Yorks NR), 4 September 1650 and was buried at Bossall, where he is commemorated by a monument erected by his daughter Sarah; his will was proved at York, 9 October 1656. His first wife died following childbirth and was buried at All Saints, Pavement, York, 29 June 1608. His widow died 11 August 1664 and was buried at Bossall where she is commemorated on her husband's monument.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Belt, Leonard (1612-62). </b>Eldest son of Sir Robert Belt (1576-1656), kt. and his second wife, Grace, daughter of Daniel Foxcroft of Halifax, baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York, 1 April 1612. Educated at Grays Inn (admitted 1641). He married 1st, 2 June 1630 at Bossall, Ann (d. 1631), daughter of [forename unknown] Atkinson and 2nd, Mary [surname unknown], and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Susanna Belt (1631-36), baptised at Bossall, 23 August 1631; died young and was buried at Bossall, 14 June 1636.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Bossall Hall, which he inherited from his father in 1656.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Bossall, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">4 April 1662</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. His first wife died following childbirth and was buried at Bossell, 26 September 1631. His second wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Belt, Daniel (1615-97). </b>Third </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">son of Sir Robert Belt (1576-1656), kt. and his second wife, Grace, daughter of Daniel Foxcroft of Halifax, baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 6 August 1615. He married, 1649 (licence 30 August), Anne (1629-1711?), daughter of Francis West, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Anne Belt (b. 1654), born 27 February and baptised at All Hallows, Bread St., London, 16 March 1653/4; married, 24 November 1677 at Bromley-by-Bow (Middx), Mr. Whefield [<i>recte</i> Whitfield]; living in 1696;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Francis Belt (d. 1661); died young and was buried at St Mary, Putney (Surrey), 24 July 1661;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Henry Belt (d. 1674); died in the lifetime of his father and was buried at Woolwich (Kent), 11 October 1674.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Bossall Hall from his brother Leonard in 1662, but lived at Putney (Surrey).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Putney, 7 July 1697; his will was proved in the PCC, 8 July 1697. His widow was living in 1696 and may be the Ann Belt buried at St Margaret, Westminster, 21 November 1711.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Belt, Jasper (1625-61). </b>Sixth </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">son of Sir Robert Belt (1576-1656), kt. and his second wife, Grace, daughter of Daniel Foxcroft of Halifax, baptised at All Saints, Pavement, York,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 31 July 1625. He married, 11 January 1654/5 at Holme-upon-Spalding-Moor (Yorks ER), Jane (d. 1703), daughter of Thomas Crosby of Holme, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Robert Belt (1655-90) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Sarah Belt (1657-90), born 7 November and baptised at Pocklington (Yorks ER), 11 November 1657; married, 19 October 1676 at Bridlington (Yorks ER), William Bower (d. 1707) of Bridlington, merchant, and had issue four sons and four daughters; died 23 April 1690 and was buried at Bossall, where she is commemorated on the same monument as her brother.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He apparently lived at Pocklington (Yorks ER).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Pocklington, 31 December 1661; his will was proved 11 June 1662. His widow died 20 May 1703; her will was proved 20 July 1703.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Belt, Robert (1655-90). </b>Only son of Jasper Belt (1625-62) and his wife Jane, daughter of Thomas Crosby of Holme-upon-Spalding-Moor (Yorks ER), born 30 November and baptised at Pocklington (Yorks ER), 4 December 1655. He probably married 1st, 8 November 1677 at Pocklington, Thomasine Bower (d. 1681), and 2nd, 30 November 1684 at Birdsall (Yorks ER), Goodith (c.1660-1718*), daughter of Edward Pegge of Beauchief Abbey (Derbys), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Robert Belt (c.1686-1746) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.2) Leonard Belt (1688-1723), baptised at Bossall, 18 January 1687/8; apprenticed to George Ludlum of London, wax chandler, 1702; became a wax chandler and drysalter in London; married, 1714 (licence 26 April), Mary Hammond (b. c.1688) and had issue two sons and one daughter; buried at All Hallows the Great, London, 23 May 1723;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.3) Elizabeth Belt (c.1689-1723), born about 1689; died unmarried, 15 March 1723/4 and was buried at Bossall, where she is commemorated by a monument.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He is said to have been heir to his uncle Daniel Belt (1615-97) but predeceased him.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was killed when a pair of compasses were stuck into his neck, 25 March 1690, and was buried at Bossall where he is commemorated by a monument; his will was proved 13 October 1690. His first wife was buried at Bossall, 16 February 1680/1. His widow died 1 January and was buried at Bossall, 3 January 1717/18.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* Her date of birth is estimate from her stated age at marriage (24); however, her tombstone at Bossall says she was then in her 64th year, implying a date of birth in 1663.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Belt, Robert (c.1686-1746). </b>Elder son of Robert Belt (1655-90) and his second wife Goodith, daughter of Edward Pegge of Beauchief, Sheffield (Yorks WR), born about 1686. Educated at Middle Temple (admitted 1702). He married, 8 October 1722 at Yapham-cum-Meltonby (Yorks ER). Mary (1697-1753), daughter of William Overend of Pocklington (Yorks ER), and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Robert Belt (1723-80) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) George Belt (1725-26), baptised at Bossall, 19 April 1725; died in infancy and was buried at Bossall, 17 January 1725/6;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Daniel Belt (1726-87), baptised at Bossall, 26 April 1726; apprenticed to David Burton of Yarm (Yorks NR), attorney, 1742, but did not take to the law and became an officer in the Marines (2nd Lt., 1756; Lt., 1761; retired on half-pay as Capt. by 1784); lived latterly in York; died unmarried, 9 September and was buried at Bossall, 11 September 1787; will proved in the PCC, 19 February 1788;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) <span style="background-color: white;">Goodith Belt</span> (1727-1807), baptised at Bossall, 7 August 1727; married, 1 May 1773 at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster (Middx), as his second wife, Samuel Pegge FSA (1733-1800), composer, author, antiquarian and groom of the Privy Chamber, 1762-1800, but had no issue; died 17 October and was buried at Bossall, 23 October 1807;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Mary Belt (1728-1807), baptised 5 December 1728; died unmarried at York, 24 December, and was buried at Bossall, 27 December 1807; will proved 1 March 1808 (effects under £200);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Leonard Belt (1730-40), baptised at Bossall, 22 September 1730; died young and was buried at Bossall, 19 December 1740;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(7) John Belt (1732-1800), baptised at Bossall, 28 April 1732; a surgeon in York; died, apparently unmarried, 23 January and was buried at Bossall, 27 January 1800;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(8) Jane Belt (1734-60), baptised at Bossall, 24 January 1733/4; died unmarried and was buried at Bossall, 12 February 1760;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(9) William Belt (1735-36), baptised at Bossall, 11 December 1735; died in infancy and was buried at Bossall, 22 April 1736.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He inherited the Bossall estate from his great-uncle Daniel in 1697 and came of age in about 1707.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 7 April 1746 and was buried at Bossall, where he is commemorated on a family monument; his will was proved at York, 10 September 1746. His widow died 27 October 1753 and was buried at Bossall, where she is commemorated on the family monument.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Belt, Robert (1723-80). </b>Eldest son of Robert Belt (c.1686-1746) and his wife Mary, daughter of William Overend of Pocklington (Yorks ER), baptised at Bossall, 30 November 1723. He married, 13 November 1746, Elizabeth (1725-1805), daughter of James Wallis of Hull (Yorks ER), merchant, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Robert Belt (1747-1826) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) James Belt (1748-79?), baptised at Bossall, 9 September 1748; a merchant at Bencoolen, Sumatra (Indonesia); apparently married and had issue at least one daughter; said to have died April 1779;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Leonard Belt (1750-1814), of Pickering (Yorks NR), baptised at Bossall, 1 August 1750; married, 30 November 1789 at Middleton-by-Pickering (Yorks NR), Sarah Bedford (1766-1819), but had no issue; he did, however, have an illegitimate son (William Bunce* (fl. 1805)) named in his mother's will; buried at Middleton-by-Pickering, 17 June 1814; will proved in the PCY, 1814</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Bossall estate from his father in 1746.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 21 June 1780 and was buried at Bossall, where he is commemorated by a monument; administration of his goods was granted to his widow, 23 May 1781. His widow died 3 February 1805 and was also buried at Bossall, where she is commemorated by a monument; her will was proved in the PCC, 11 March 1805.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* Surname uncertain.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Belt, Robert (1747-1826). </b>Eldest son of Robert Belt (1723-80) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of James Wallis of Hull (Yorks ER), baptised at Bossall, 10 September 1747. Employed from at least 1775 at the Crown Office in the Court of King's Bench, London, although in what capacity is unclear. He married, 15 May 1775 at Beauchief (Derbys), Frances (c.1747-1822), daughter of Strelley Pegge of Beauchief Hall, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Robert Belt (1776-1839) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Christopher Pegge Belt (b. 1778), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn (Middx), 22 July 1778; probably died young, as he is not mentioned in his father's will;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Elizabeth Mary Belt (1781-1833), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn, 13 December 1781; married 7 December 1826 at Bathwick (Som.), Capt. Thomas Emery of Banwell (Som.); died 20 April 1833; will proved in the PCC, 9 July 1833;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) <span style="background-color: white;">Peter Belt</span> (1782-1804), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn, 19 December 1782; employed at the Crown Office like his father; died unmarried, 'of a decline', presumably tuberculosis, at Bristol Hot Wells, 19 August, and was buried in the new burial ground at St Andrew, Clifton (Glos), 24 August 1804; commemorated by monuments at Clifton and Bossall;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) James Belt (1784-1856), born 2 December 1783 and baptised at St Andrew, Holborn, 11 March 1794; married, c.1810, at Bordeaux (France), Elizabeth (c.1789-1820), daughter of Simon Segny, advocate, of Bordeaux; died at Bordeaux, 10 October 1856;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) <span style="background-color: white;">William Belt</span> (1789-1882), baptised at St Andrew, Holborn, 15 April 1789; Russia merchant; married, 12 August 1815, Elizabeth (1793-1860), daughter of Marmaduke Langdale of New Ormond St., London, and had issue two sons and three daughters; died 6 March 1882 and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery; will proved 14 April 1882 (estate £2,595).</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">He inherited the Bossall estate from his father in 1780. After his death the contents of the house were sold by his son.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 19 March and was buried at Bossall, 25 March 1826; his will was proved in the PCC, 27 July 1826. His wife died 17 August and was buried at Bossall, 23 August 1822.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Belt, Robert (1776-1839). </b>Eldest son of Robert Belt (1747-1826) and his wife Frances, daughter of Strelley Pegge of Beauchief Hall (Derbys), baptised at Beauchief, 1 November 1776. Educated at the Inner Temple (admitted 1794; called 1802). Barrister-at-law; Insolvent Debtors Commissioner, 1820. He edited several volumes of law reports in the 1810s and 1820s. He married 1st, 22 September 1812 at Overton (Hants), Mary (d. 1822), daughter of Bryan Troughton of Overton, and 2nd, 3 June 1824 at Islington (Middx), Margaret (d. 1872), daughter of Capt. Peter Gordon, mariner, missionary and reformer, and had issue:</span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Frances Mary Belt (1814-64), born 4 January and baptised at St Clement Danes, London, 14 January 1814; married, 3 September 1840 at Tunbridge Wells, Alfred John Beeching (1812-62) of Tunbridge Wells, solicitor, son of Thomas Beeching, banker, and had issue two sons and three daughters; died 17 June 1864; administration of goods granted April 1865 and 18 March 1869 (effects under £600);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) <b>Rev. Robert Wallis Belt (1815-70)</b>, baptised at St Clement Danes, London, 2 August 1815; suffered from a period of illness which rendered him incompetent to manage his affairs, 1834, but recovered and was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge (matriculated 1839; BA 1845); curate of Hope (Derbys), 1846-47 and of Studley (Warks), 1848; a published poet and author of reminiscences, 1852; imprisoned for debt in Fleet Prison and declared bankrupt, 1861 (annulled, 1864); married, 27 July 1841 at St Cuthbert, Edinburgh, Mary Ann Collinson, daughter of William Smith of Edinburgh, WS; died 20 April 1870; administration of goods granted 23 June 1871 (effects under £1,000);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.3) George Peter Belt (1817-24), baptised at St Clement Danes, London, 15 March 1817; died young and was buried at Islington, 13 December 1824;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.4) Charles Belt (1818-44), born 12 September and baptised at Overton (Hants), 18 October 1818; gentleman farmer; died unmarried and was buried at Suffield (Norfk), 28 December 1844; will proved in the PCC, 7 January 1845;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.5) James Strelley Belt (1820-45), baptised at St Clement Danes, London, 23 June 1820; an officer in the merchant marine (Mate); died unmarried; will proved 1 November 1843;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.6) Catherine Belt (b. 1822), baptised at St Clement Danes, London, 26 May 1822; possibly the child of this name buried at Ridge (Herts), 31 July 1830;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Margaret Ann Belt (1825-99), born 10/18 February and baptised at St George-the-Martyr, Bloomsbury (Middx), 31 March 1825; married, 12 November 1863 at St Nicholas, Brighton (Sussex), Rev. Bury Capel (1825-1915), vicar of Abergavenny (Mon.) and canon of Llandaff Cathedral (who m2, 2 January 1901 at Christ Church, Clifton (Glos), Fanny Edith (1865-1938), daughter of John White), son of James Durnford Capel, steam engine manufacturer, and had issue one daughter; died 4 November. and was buried at Arnos Vale Cemetery, Bristol, 8 November 1899;</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.2) William John Belt (1826-92) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.3) Jane Belt (1828-71), born 7 March and baptised at St George-the-Martyr, Bloomsbury, 11 April 1828; died unmarried at Brighton (Sussex), 12 November 1871.</span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Bossall estate from his father in 1826 but as he lived in London he sold the contents of the house (which was presumably rented out) later that year. At his death the estate passed to trustees for the benefit of his eldest son, on whose death in 1870 it passed to his youngest son. His widow lived latterly at Brighton (Sussex).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 22 December and was buried </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">at Tunbridge Wells (Kent),</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 30 December </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">1839; his will was proved in the PCC, 12 February 1840. His first wife died in childbirth, 19 May 1822. His widow died 27 May 1872; her will was proved 5 July 1872 (effects under £600).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Belt, William John (1826-92). </b>Fifth son of Robert Belt (1776-1839) and his wife Margaret, born 14 June 1826 and baptised at St George-the-Martyr, Bloomsbury, 14 July 1827. Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1847; BA 1851; MA 1855) and Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1858; called 1861). Barrister-at-law; equity draughtsman and conveyancer. A Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, he was the author of <i>The story of Bossall Hall</i> (1885). In later life, he was </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">charged with several offences of assault, possibly as a result of drunkenness.</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> He married, 28 November 1865 at Hove (Sussex), Sibella Marianne (1825-78), only daughter of William Albin Garratt of Hampstead (Middx), Brighton (Sussex) and Lincoln's Inn, barrister-at-law, but had no issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Bossall estate after the death of his half-brother in 1870, but let it and lived in London and at Westcott Hill, Dorking (Surrey). He sold the Bossall estate in 1890.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 3 February 1892 and was buried at Highgate Cemetery (Middx); administration of his goods was granted 15 March 1892 (effects £1,334). His wife died 15 February 1878 and was also buried at Highgate Cemetery.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">J.W. Clay (ed.), <i>Dugdale's Visitation of Yorkshire, with additions</i>, vol. 2, 1907, pp. 61-64;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~akrb61/genealogy/people/belt/d1.htm#g1">https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~akrb61/genealogy/people/belt/d1.htm#g1</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Belt family of Bossall: </i>deeds and miscellaneous papers, 12th cent-1826 [Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York, MOR]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Gules, on a chevron argent between three bezants a cross pattée fitchee between two mullets pierced azure</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide portraits or photographs of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 16 July 2023 and updated 26 August 2023.</span></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-27596546820518097882023-07-02T16:07:00.003+01:002023-07-18T09:44:32.603+01:00(549) Belshes of Invermay House and Balmanno Castle<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOMj9_DjYioFnWyN11avnuMkCfW5PYHBrYpV41lJokJeMlhXflYXtQOzDBXaCvpGIfO5FXbpD8tl9vvS1Wv8IK8e6m-QqgO9xFIQhnUHFSQ-KNEOaAUq-BsgWl06AqIZHKvhf198AfFqYeOFM8tZwQrQlrhgTZDomdIF4O8zEum_B6TdWhO_p4SwrqMXI/s480/Belshes%20of%20Tofts%20and%20Invermay.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="436" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOMj9_DjYioFnWyN11avnuMkCfW5PYHBrYpV41lJokJeMlhXflYXtQOzDBXaCvpGIfO5FXbpD8tl9vvS1Wv8IK8e6m-QqgO9xFIQhnUHFSQ-KNEOaAUq-BsgWl06AqIZHKvhf198AfFqYeOFM8tZwQrQlrhgTZDomdIF4O8zEum_B6TdWhO_p4SwrqMXI/w182-h200/Belshes%20of%20Tofts%20and%20Invermay.jpg" width="182" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Belshes of Tofts and Invermay</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Belshes family (the name is also spelled Belsches, Belses and Belchis among other variants, but is standardised as Belshes for the purposes of this account) first appear in the historical record in 1606, when John Belshes (d. 1631) was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates. In the 1620s, he acquired lands at Stitchell (Roxburghs.) and Tofts (Berwicks.), which descended to his son, Sir Alexander Belshes (d. 1656), who was an advocate like his father. He became MP for Berwick-on-Tweed in 1644 and was knighted by King Charles I in 1646 on becoming one of the Senators of the College of Justice in Scotland, where he took the title Lord Tofts. He married in 1632 but had no issue, so on his death his estate at Tofts passed to his younger half-brother, John Belshes (c.1610-93), with whom the genealogy below begins. John also inherited his brother's debts, however, and over the next few years much of the estate had to be sold off to repay them, with the majority being sold in 1673 to Sir William Purves, the solicitor general for Scotland, who renamed the property as Purves Hall. The little of the estate which escaped sale passed to John's eldest son, John Belshes (fl. 1718).</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It was, however, the elder John's second son, Alexander Belshes (d. 1745), who founded the branch of the family discussed here. Although there is no record of him being admitted to the Faculty of Advocates or becoming a Writer to the Signet, he was clearly trained as a lawyer as he was appointed Principal Sheriff Clerk of Midlothian, a post in which he was assisted by two of his sons, the elder of whom eventually succeeded him. The role required his routine presence in Edinburgh, which is where he normally resided, but in 1717 he bought the Invermay estate in Perthshire as a summer residence. He may have been responsible for some formal landscaping south of the house which is shown on General Roy's map of 1750, but it possible that this was already in place when he bought the estate. He seems not to have altered the old house on the estate, but his son, John Belshes (c.1700-77), set about replacing it soon after he inherited the estate in 1745. He chose a new site south of the old house, which would have required the clearance of the formal plantations shown on the 1750 map, and new informal planting was begun in the grounds soon afterwards.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">On John's death in 1777, the estate passed to his son, John Hepburn Belshes (c.1745-1819), who had married earlier that year Mary Murray (1752-1823) of Balmanno Castle (Perths.), an estate which she had inherited on the death in America of her soldier brother, Sir Alexander Murray, 5th bt. in 1774. The couple seem to have lived principally at Invermay, where improvements were made c.1780 and again, on a much larger scale, in 1802-10, but they also undertook work at Balmanno, which was made more habitable by the installation of sash windows and new staircases, and the addition of a service wing. The couple had two sons, Alexander Hepburn Murray Belshes (1778-1864) and John Hepburn Murray Belshes (1782-1863). The latter forged a career in the army, retiring on half-pay as a Major in about 1820, but continuing to rise through the ranks by seniority so that he ended up as a Lieutenant-General. After his retirement he returned to Perthshire, and lived at Balmanno Castle, while his elder brother occupied Invermay (and owned both estates). Both brothers took an active part in public affairs and local charitable initiatives, but they were unmarried, so on Alexander's death the estates devolved on a distant kinsman, Sir John Stuart Hepburn Forbes (1804-66), 8th bt., of Monymusk, Fettercairn and Pitsligo, the great-great-great-grandson of John Belshes (d. 1693). He and his successors owned many other properties, and both Invermay and Balmanno seem to have been let for periods in the late 19th century, before finally being sold in 1898 and 1915 respectively.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Invermay House, Forteviot, Perthshire</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">When Alexander Belshes bought the Invermay (or Innermay) estate in 1717, the mansion house was a rubble-built tower house, now known as The Old House of Invermay. The tower house occupied an easily defensible site above the Water of May, and seems to have begun as a two-storey 16th century house, raised to three storeys in the early 17th century. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrg5w9mBNnsOj19_7oKwGZk0rJO1j_otD8HVxLLyQ-OavbwnU1axMEIYN7WjLVk9qxr6h4yUy-TgpC4slOlglcNDI0_HLwxn3I1m1cQQ0sIB7PkZfAsMN2sBNtI79T4KnMQ8JZOB9V1pnXLVn-zvqqL5Lrf5dW3rV9CQfTBVv2Hi9rGNrzzwMjrSUD9VV/s5078/Invermay%20Old%20House%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3594" data-original-width="5078" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrg5w9mBNnsOj19_7oKwGZk0rJO1j_otD8HVxLLyQ-OavbwnU1axMEIYN7WjLVk9qxr6h4yUy-TgpC4slOlglcNDI0_HLwxn3I1m1cQQ0sIB7PkZfAsMN2sBNtI79T4KnMQ8JZOB9V1pnXLVn-zvqqL5Lrf5dW3rV9CQfTBVv2Hi9rGNrzzwMjrSUD9VV/w640-h452/Invermay%20Old%20House%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Old House of Invermay: the house from the south-west in 2016, after recent restoration. Image: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/62445171@N00/29727585192">arjayempee</a>.</span> </td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the middle of the south side is a tapering bowed tower with a couple of slit windows, that now has a sloping cap. Above the entrance is a triangular panel with the Drummond coat of arms, the initials of David Drummond and his wife Elizabeth Abercrombie, and the date 1633. On the north side is a stair tower, rising above the surrounding roofs to a crowstep-gabled cap. At the west end of the house is a crowstep-gabled coachhouse wing, perhaps added in the early 18th century, with a large segmental-arched opening in the gable end. After the present Invermay House was built, the old house was allowed to fall into decay and some of its outbuildings were apparently demolished. The house has been restored for occupation in recent years.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: georgia; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In 1686 James and David Drummond of Invermay agreed a contract for the building of a new house on the estate which was to be designed by Sir William Bruce or [blank] Mill 'or any other relevant architector that the lairds shall think fit', but this never seems to have happened. Instead, a </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">formal landscape was laid out around the old house in the early 18th century, which is recorded on General Roy's map of 1750. This shows six rectangular blocks of woodland with rides between them. The design presumably incorporated the two mid 17th century sundials which were recorded at Invermay in the 19th century. One of these (having been moved to Pitcairn and then to Wemyss Castle) is now back at Invermay and stands on a corniced pillar between the old house and its successor. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2yRHjJGA2rTpTbWJuBEfrPndf1vpDRW6J9NeW6z4PxoRfYajJRlt0yozu2odFqoTqZ4U2rT8mUim--EzeXZB3undUU4pHPG6E-OJyBGEc--n3TPQytJCGPLwfH6_gdV3oFllWdiUiqUAbejfFpeclM_Izv1CyUuPlbToWN2PMRwNwclN40jo4rNaXd0M/s1047/Invermay%20House%205%20Roy%201750.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="1047" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2yRHjJGA2rTpTbWJuBEfrPndf1vpDRW6J9NeW6z4PxoRfYajJRlt0yozu2odFqoTqZ4U2rT8mUim--EzeXZB3undUU4pHPG6E-OJyBGEc--n3TPQytJCGPLwfH6_gdV3oFllWdiUiqUAbejfFpeclM_Izv1CyUuPlbToWN2PMRwNwclN40jo4rNaXd0M/w640-h430/Invermay%20House%205%20Roy%201750.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Old House of Invermay: extract from General Roy's map of the Scottish Highlands, 1750,<br />showing the Invermay estate and the formal planting south of the house.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">The present Invermay House was built in about 1750 for John Belshes (c.1700-77). As first built it consisted of a hipped-roofed main block of three storeys above a basement. The main front was of five bays, with a wider and slightly projecting central bay, while the garden front has six windows on the top floor. The lower floors on the garden side now have two windows either side of a semi-circular bow which is usually assumed to be part of the original design but might well be a fashionable addition of the 1770s or 1780s or even be one of the additions of 1806, when t</span>he house was altered by Robert Burn (1752-1815) - father of the more famous William Burn. At that time, single-storey bow windows and a Roman Doric porch were added to the ground floor of the entrance front, and he may also have created the tripartite first floor window above the porch. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGXZsNkD1IzXixMJypwtNsX_BG_pJ6zLACpA7rrn8Wby-o42pl9X0Y4MrYoGX-JGfqB_3kYj39XZcGw4XEBuhqvJuBbUxaUSI7OchfPMG8_gHljihavNGAChA6k1ypKib8IbyAJWzT_2FM-iMc2DhnzOKISoF8DxjecTEQ7-KRo410WYqiwSc0wkMtw3J/s1397/Invermay%20House,%20Perthshire%201.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="1397" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGXZsNkD1IzXixMJypwtNsX_BG_pJ6zLACpA7rrn8Wby-o42pl9X0Y4MrYoGX-JGfqB_3kYj39XZcGw4XEBuhqvJuBbUxaUSI7OchfPMG8_gHljihavNGAChA6k1ypKib8IbyAJWzT_2FM-iMc2DhnzOKISoF8DxjecTEQ7-KRo410WYqiwSc0wkMtw3J/w640-h362/Invermay%20House,%20Perthshire%201.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Invermay House: the house from the south-west in the early 20th century (after 1904).</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKogZAOh1EXxHINzdZlZu1zearr6hEBlGZ9-tfOmOg_AVBqwr0DzSTwF2teWRLn3ZRjAWS9ytRRHH3tUKXeqAl2CiwKBIgNMJwB9BJ5yZQLNC4Ec49FPt9dhhn08GL6z1jCQ4gd9RmrDN0AS4Q_eAqd8PpZ_5G3LToK2ZJulzAyC0bozlv3aqgRK6hhK0O/s1507/Invermay%20House%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="1507" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKogZAOh1EXxHINzdZlZu1zearr6hEBlGZ9-tfOmOg_AVBqwr0DzSTwF2teWRLn3ZRjAWS9ytRRHH3tUKXeqAl2CiwKBIgNMJwB9BJ5yZQLNC4Ec49FPt9dhhn08GL6z1jCQ4gd9RmrDN0AS4Q_eAqd8PpZ_5G3LToK2ZJulzAyC0bozlv3aqgRK6hhK0O/w640-h390/Invermay%20House%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Invermay House: aerial view of the garden front, 2012. Image: RCAHMS.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Further alterations were made in about 1904, when a single-storey over basement wing was added to the south side of the house, which has a canted bay window on the garden front. On the entrance side it is set back behind a terrace built over the basement area which formerly carried a conservatory. The approach to the house was changed at the same time, when a drive from the north was substituted for the original axial western approach. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Inside, the house retains a mid 18th century staircase with turned wooden balusters, but otherwise the interiors were all altered later. The principal rooms essentially retain their early 19th century decoration, but were enriched with additional decorative plasterwork in the style of the late 18th century as part of the remodelling of 1904. The house has been well restored in recent years.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The formal landscape shown by General Roy was presumably destroyed soon after his map was drawn, as the new house stands on the site of the formal plantations. New informal planting of trees began in the later 18th century, and the octagonal doocot and an ice house to the east of the house are referred to in the 18th century and were presumably part of the 18th century landscaping. A more comprehensive landscaping scheme was carried out under the direction of Walter Nicol between 1800 and 1808 for Col. John Hepburn Belshes (c.1745-1819), which exploited the picturesque potential of the natural gorge (the Humble Bumble) formed by the Water of May as it flows through the estate. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-0H1amlwv5OZbep2peqHNKbH5qZ27Jx-Pu2UFEtdJLWhDne_RMcXlYf2NEqt64ziel2KXU48J_nujeBjOqJejDUxpd1cxuTP2TCkX51AjGXeiuIJFguR8Ys2Igq15n6wXLQT2QXpO0VRIih70JZC9hMcD-PDt25u1UiT6hQ5CeWHyzwsLjbMACSNRsJh/s667/Invermay%20House%207%201845%20Scotland%20Illus.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="667" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-0H1amlwv5OZbep2peqHNKbH5qZ27Jx-Pu2UFEtdJLWhDne_RMcXlYf2NEqt64ziel2KXU48J_nujeBjOqJejDUxpd1cxuTP2TCkX51AjGXeiuIJFguR8Ys2Igq15n6wXLQT2QXpO0VRIih70JZC9hMcD-PDt25u1UiT6hQ5CeWHyzwsLjbMACSNRsJh/w640-h438/Invermay%20House%207%201845%20Scotland%20Illus.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Invermay House: engraving of the Humble Bumble gorge on the estate with the house behind, from <i>Scotland Illustrated</i>, 1845.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In places the cliff faces of the gorge rise nearly a hundred feet above a narrow channel just a few feet wide, and paths were cut along both sides, linked by a rustic bridge just east of the gorge. The dramatic scene was a favourite place of Sir Walter Scott and has changed little since his day, except for the loss of the elm trees which formed an important element in the landscape but were a casualty of Dutch Elm Disease in the 1970s. At the same time, new estate buildings designed by Nicol, the architect Alexander Laing (1752-1823), and others were built, including a gazebo (now lost), dairy and game larder. The west lodges (of 1803) were designed by B.D. Hodge, and two sides of an intended U-shaped stable court (now a house called Hill of Invermay), the walled garden (designed in 1802 by Walter Nicol), and the Home Farm were also built at this time, while the policies were enclosed by a new wall. Nicol designed new peach and grape houses, and proposed the construction of a domed and battlemented Gothick temple and a two-storey classical tea house attached to a greenhouse, which sadly remained unbuilt.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GjaolvgWJlNRdrXPZAYh3bKPCM09IvOvgRCP9deBogK83pdhH5uXDUKzwWfq3uQ929KTCnIafgHaZvKn5XdpwoxPth1VwyyrbYM9CI6LYrf07xJon8t9FGjydUfOrr-LxyR65N_2QtiJEcyjssKSOdvaFlCcvrBmIhdgNMM9fJ7SdTc1-fUAqGEQkQgU/s2686/Invermay%20House%208.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2081" data-original-width="2686" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GjaolvgWJlNRdrXPZAYh3bKPCM09IvOvgRCP9deBogK83pdhH5uXDUKzwWfq3uQ929KTCnIafgHaZvKn5XdpwoxPth1VwyyrbYM9CI6LYrf07xJon8t9FGjydUfOrr-LxyR65N_2QtiJEcyjssKSOdvaFlCcvrBmIhdgNMM9fJ7SdTc1-fUAqGEQkQgU/w640-h496/Invermay%20House%208.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Invermay House: unexecuted design by Walter Nicol for a tea house on the estate, c.1802. The location of the original drawing is unknown.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><i style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="font-family: georgia;">Descent: purchased 1717 by Alexander Belshes (d. 1745); to son, John Belshes (c.1700-77); to son, John Hepburn Belshes (c.1745-1819); to son, Alexander Hepburn Belshes (1778-1864); to kinsman, Sir John Stuart Hepburn Forbes (1804-66), 8th bt.; to daughter, Harriet Williamina Hepburn-Forbes (1835-69), wife of </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: georgia;"><i>Charles Henry Rolle Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis (1834-1904), 20th Baron Clinton</i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">, who sold 1898 to John McLaren Fraser (c.1846-1941), auctioneer; requisitioned in Second World War for use as an evacuation hostel; sold c.1946 to Capt. David Wemyss (1920-2005); to son, Charles John Wemyss (b. 1952).</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Balmanno Castle, Dron, Perthshire</b></span></h3><span style="font-family: georgia;">A tall harled four-storey late 16th century L-plan tower house, built for George Auchinleck in about 1575-80, after he bought part of the lands of Balmanno from Alexander Balmanno. It has crowstepped gables and a taller square tower in the angle between the two ranges. The tower in turn has a stair-turret corbelled out in the re-entrant angle between the tower and the south range, which is crowned by a small turret with an ogee roof. As first built, the castle was surrounded by a rectangular moat which was largely intact in 1901 but has now mostly been infilled.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHq4xr_NmnMXSzjehuINU84p1f22K-3dUaARY3fxgr8__eNaa2UnwAakaVtDEAxGe2TUu9cYGRBmY6TFe77UVlt2F8SZg9y0COZAmDW2HcpP-4088rMseeO5d__2c209UshQCRmSjuGbVTScc0OPZ37qoWD91PdP966H9Rmt_ussFs51z-60sboZ5Btsk/s900/Balmanno%20Castle%2018%20plans%20Macgibbon%20&%20Ross%201889.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHq4xr_NmnMXSzjehuINU84p1f22K-3dUaARY3fxgr8__eNaa2UnwAakaVtDEAxGe2TUu9cYGRBmY6TFe77UVlt2F8SZg9y0COZAmDW2HcpP-4088rMseeO5d__2c209UshQCRmSjuGbVTScc0OPZ37qoWD91PdP966H9Rmt_ussFs51z-60sboZ5Btsk/w311-h207/Balmanno%20Castle%2018%20plans%20Macgibbon%20&%20Ross%201889.jpg" width="311" /></a><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Balmanno Castle: ground and first floor plans from Macgibbon & Ross, 1889</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDu_lpXDzpkRQ0j6zrp4JDqbbtF8lrkBw_5uV3Y8tPIhrVIacMjRrfqYEnzhpX3mkhSiCrfZyEoLJggJ3T0ntzzdA6xPFbVHWY7yt9G4S7FLioq5336brS8YPd4ijb4lV7QmyxsUsgP9dC1kkTUq2Bty2_0L_W7Baqi-GtYc3mf4-X6pt-EJCgt7lk0IPj/s900/Balmanno%20Castle%2017%20Macgibbon%20&%20Ross.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDu_lpXDzpkRQ0j6zrp4JDqbbtF8lrkBw_5uV3Y8tPIhrVIacMjRrfqYEnzhpX3mkhSiCrfZyEoLJggJ3T0ntzzdA6xPFbVHWY7yt9G4S7FLioq5336brS8YPd4ijb4lV7QmyxsUsgP9dC1kkTUq2Bty2_0L_W7Baqi-GtYc3mf4-X6pt-EJCgt7lk0IPj/w308-h205/Balmanno%20Castle%2017%20Macgibbon%20&%20Ross.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Balmanno Castle: engraving from Macgibbon & Ross, 1889</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGN_aNgI0R4JaRnfhRMQxflxaFbgmT4oIsoNLIxB3Ps_RdtIOZY3LaJy3zXhGjZga-QzeKWLMOes_Burcvlr_g3Yp6LM9j9jw5GWntnnDjW20dCMkI09UD-SuFJpQMSD31fJUBcxiM9bxNnKjHnxNme5hV4jESDdMN2xurs4RrRXql31H4mDCh6JqVjMh/s900/Balmanno%20Castle%2019%201901.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGN_aNgI0R4JaRnfhRMQxflxaFbgmT4oIsoNLIxB3Ps_RdtIOZY3LaJy3zXhGjZga-QzeKWLMOes_Burcvlr_g3Yp6LM9j9jw5GWntnnDjW20dCMkI09UD-SuFJpQMSD31fJUBcxiM9bxNnKjHnxNme5hV4jESDdMN2xurs4RrRXql31H4mDCh6JqVjMh/w640-h426/Balmanno%20Castle%2019%201901.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Balmanno Castle: site plan from Ordnance Survey 25" map, 1901, <br />showing the then largely intact moat and the position and extent of the service wing of c.1800.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The castle came to John Hepburn Belshes (d. 1819) by marriage in 1777, and soon afterwards alterations were carried out. Almost all the window openings were enlarged and new sash windows were inserted. The central window on the first floor of the south front was converted into a door approached by a newly-built external stair. Inside, a new staircase was inserted between the two rooms of the first floor, leading up to the second floor, and on the north side of the castle a low extension was added to provide service accommodation. The Castle Steading was also built around this time to the east of the castle and tree-planting took place across the estate, as at Invermay.</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the later 19th century, the castle became a farmhouse, but in 1906, when the estate was inherited by Lord Clinton, he asked the leading Scottish architect Sir Robert Lorimer to make plans for the remodelling of house, though nothing was done at that time. However, after the house was sold in 1915 to the Glasgow shipbroker, William S. Miller, Lorimer was once more consulted and in 1916-21 he undertook a tactful but thorough reworking of the house that turned it from a slightly dour laird's house into a quintessentially Scottish country house. It was, in fact, one of Lorimer's favourite projects, and he later said that of all the houses he had worked on, it was the one he would most like to live in. Lorimer's work largely respected the external appearance of the tower, although he did replace the external forestair, make some changes to the fenestration and add a storey to the stair-turret to create a more dramatic silhouette. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlObso5JDwJTSH2dfNCTk7mDCKC9UatBj2x8mqaaPZDqhZ95BoatOSeOqhn69ENR2aIomMITfdVq6E6f27wYklA7PTHl-u8mg523K4M6vKGZ4zO9mb5qeD2nqo8nyc53rLS0TPnOffQ1tqUYsWwBMkpP6D9MerhzZtteApEgcAxBqBoHIAP4RdJ1RH20q/s909/Balmanno%20Castle%2016.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="909" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlObso5JDwJTSH2dfNCTk7mDCKC9UatBj2x8mqaaPZDqhZ95BoatOSeOqhn69ENR2aIomMITfdVq6E6f27wYklA7PTHl-u8mg523K4M6vKGZ4zO9mb5qeD2nqo8nyc53rLS0TPnOffQ1tqUYsWwBMkpP6D9MerhzZtteApEgcAxBqBoHIAP4RdJ1RH20q/w640-h474/Balmanno%20Castle%2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Balmanno Castle: the house from the east in recent times. Image: Travel Scotland.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Inside, he made extensive alterations to create a series of more formal and elaborately decorated rooms; and he also replaced the existing north service wing with a more extensive gabled and harled service range of a single storey and attics; and built a crowstep-gabled gatehouse range to the east of the castle, which artfully conceals the house from the approach. The additions effectively created an enclosed courtyard with the original tower at its south-west corner. The external face of the gatehouse has a central Gothic-arched entrance under a crowstepped gable, and short wings to either side which stand at a slight angle to the entrance, visually funnelling the visitor towards the archway. On the courtyard side, the gateway again stands under a crowstepped gable, which is flanked by two slightly lower gables which connect the gatehouse to the forecourt walls. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0N1Lok_osjyWoZbh-6ebE-JC1rXy4hizVorq4q_DRN-PgftQvEY-w2tRiqnGW_e5F-aXtkNcYuAaxFm-Ux8PPSvdQORkeyoxut1eTy_NOcsgVOi_aPLfNpsbRi0IGVdy5gA5huxMn7oUpJb9aLNxx6CO99RPnBFuKot_1xZOfhslr4G_T7JeHgyoz_1j/s1000/Balmanno%20Castle%206%20CL%201931.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="1000" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0N1Lok_osjyWoZbh-6ebE-JC1rXy4hizVorq4q_DRN-PgftQvEY-w2tRiqnGW_e5F-aXtkNcYuAaxFm-Ux8PPSvdQORkeyoxut1eTy_NOcsgVOi_aPLfNpsbRi0IGVdy5gA5huxMn7oUpJb9aLNxx6CO99RPnBFuKot_1xZOfhslr4G_T7JeHgyoz_1j/w640-h424/Balmanno%20Castle%206%20CL%201931.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Balmanno Castle: the external face of the gatehouse range in 1931. Image: <i>Country Life.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6gwrWQF7CYyQYGuuLJWHLwr0yXO-JsK5WLA1MqK2yf4sMbmcH-Tq-VnKTm81h4k-3_VbUY8XJtNm75bSpVniyYQT2fcRhjlxgUAreiALrTKNn6t8PoS_7g126itVc38PV5Cj8c09CPGtQT_qWP8wM-g4FEe1wWS0GQO-V79AwtM77VAgIVJm5Djt2VcT/s1016/Balmanno%20Castle%209%20CL%201931.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1016" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6gwrWQF7CYyQYGuuLJWHLwr0yXO-JsK5WLA1MqK2yf4sMbmcH-Tq-VnKTm81h4k-3_VbUY8XJtNm75bSpVniyYQT2fcRhjlxgUAreiALrTKNn6t8PoS_7g126itVc38PV5Cj8c09CPGtQT_qWP8wM-g4FEe1wWS0GQO-V79AwtM77VAgIVJm5Djt2VcT/w640-h476/Balmanno%20Castle%209%20CL%201931.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Balmanno Castle: the gatehouse range from the courtyard in 1931. Image: <i>Country Life.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">There was always a doorway in the base of the tower, and this became Lorimer's main entrance. It leads into an entrance passage, with on its left a new hall, which Lorimer created from two vaulted basement storage rooms and gave a plaster tunnel-vault, while straight ahead was the former kitchen, which Lorimer repurposed as the dining room, although it preserves much of its original character, with a low tunnel-vault and massive fireplace. The generous spiral staircase in the tower provides access to the first and second floors, and its windows are decorated with stained glass panels of the months by Walter Camm, 1921. Over the staircase is a plaster ceiling designed by Lorimer in an early 17th century style with floral motifs modelled by either Samuel Wilson or Thomas Beattie, who were responsible for all the early 20th century plasterwork in the house. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0rQRPk_KMMIjihMUlennn_Zgpq8HLP7MjXgson1CMygWRGFJJvOI-A2jvfoeLc1HCxMymlscHZ_OM85OgsP3YVaA07L_Dn_1ciPAsyxlLKBUTS4IsZNMY5SCS_UX33x1LHboqaJxdOskDXdjQKGW-0yazDq25zSMr33X0BKrHLLfMj2Cv4Miv58-9Aqf/s852/Balmanno%20Castle%2011%20CL%201931%20drawing%20rm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="852" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0rQRPk_KMMIjihMUlennn_Zgpq8HLP7MjXgson1CMygWRGFJJvOI-A2jvfoeLc1HCxMymlscHZ_OM85OgsP3YVaA07L_Dn_1ciPAsyxlLKBUTS4IsZNMY5SCS_UX33x1LHboqaJxdOskDXdjQKGW-0yazDq25zSMr33X0BKrHLLfMj2Cv4Miv58-9Aqf/w640-h468/Balmanno%20Castle%2011%20CL%201931%20drawing%20rm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Balmanno Castle: the drawing room in 1931. Image: <i>Country Life.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">On the first floor, Lorimer created three rooms with panelling in the late 17th century style of Holyroodhouse. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The billiard room (formed from the 16th century hall) has a beamed ceiling enriched with fruiting vines, and flowers in the panels between the beams. The drawing room ceiling has a heavily moulded central roundel surrounded by vine branches, all contained within a rectangular border, with three further panels with floral motifs beyond the border at either end. The smaller parlour has a coved ceiling, with large reliefs of baskets of flowers set against the coving. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKuJnQgnNf-JUhN1XPfgYGUghkSwdUK2vEj7_eSlPvgWzNy-eA8yq_uKeH0y_Wa7pIwRsLCwQpdhryoGUAJYXu_6v-e3CxQxxF3kwSbS4sIyaq1MxK0cMCOhn_1oQgxfoNkWylvLQEb6OfuoQaTa7aOsxKdGMdw0aFAg1-iaRBBPG_R3IfLCrCfDAb87Z/s740/Balmanno%20Castle%2013%20CL%201931%20bedroom.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="559" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKuJnQgnNf-JUhN1XPfgYGUghkSwdUK2vEj7_eSlPvgWzNy-eA8yq_uKeH0y_Wa7pIwRsLCwQpdhryoGUAJYXu_6v-e3CxQxxF3kwSbS4sIyaq1MxK0cMCOhn_1oQgxfoNkWylvLQEb6OfuoQaTa7aOsxKdGMdw0aFAg1-iaRBBPG_R3IfLCrCfDAb87Z/w303-h400/Balmanno%20Castle%2013%20CL%201931%20bedroom.jpg" width="303" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Balmanno Castle: bedroom at top of the tower, 1931. <br />Image: <i>Country Life. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The second and third floors are devoted to bedrooms, all decorated in the same manner as the first-floor rooms, with 17th-century style plaster ceilings and panelling, albeit more simply treated here than in the reception rooms. The Hunter's Bedroom has a frieze depicting a medieval hunting scene, and the bedroom at the top of the tower has a particularly charming plaster tunnel vault decorated with with floral motifs in roundels and curly ribbing.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: Alexander Balmanno; sold before 1575 to George Auchinleck (d. 1596); to son, Sir George Auchinleck (d. c.1639), a lord of session as Lord Balmanno; to son, Sir William Auchinleck (d. 1672); to son, Sir Archibald Auchinleck (d. c.1695), who sold to Sir Thomas Murray (d. 1684), 1st bt. of Glendoick; to son, Sir Thomas Murray (d. 1701), 2nd bt.; to brother, Sir John Hepburn Murray (d. 1714), 3rd bt.; to brother, Anthony Murray (d. 1746); to nephew, Sir Patrick Murray (d. 1756), 4th bt.; to son, Sir Alexander Hepburn Murray (c.1754-74), 5th bt.; to sister, Mary (1752-1823), wife of Col. John Hepburn Belshes (c.1745-1819); to son, Alexander Hepburn Murray Belshes (1778-1864), who let it to his brother, Lt-Gen. John Belshes (1782-1863); to kinsman, </i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Sir John Stuart Hepburn Forbes (1804-66), 8th bt.; to nephew, Sir William Stuart-Forbes (1835-1906), 9th bt., who lived in New Zealand; to </i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>kinsman, Charles Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis (1863-1957), 21st Baron Clinton</i></span><i style="font-family: georgia;">; sold 1915 to William Scott Miller (1865-1937); given, c.1934, to son, William Scott Miller jun. (1904-76); sold 1950 with 1,000 acres to Thomas Coats (1894-1971), 2nd Baron Glentanar, who gave it to his daughter, the Hon. Jean Coats (1928-2007), wife of Hon. James Michael Edward Bruce (1927-2013); to son, John Edward Bruce (b. 1958).</i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Belshes family of Invermay and Balmanno</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Belshes, John (c.1610-93). </b>Younger son of John Belshes (c.1580-1631) of Tofts (Berwicks), advocate, and his first wife Janet (d. 1623), third daughter of Sir Thomas Craig of Riccarton, king's advocate, born about 1610. He married, 27 September 1666 at Dunfermline (Fife), Ann (1634-1713), daughter of Sir David Aytoun of Kinglassie (younger son of <a href="https://landedfamilies.blogspot.com/2017/05/263-aytoun-of-inchdairnie-house.html">Robert Aytoun (d. 1595) of Inchdairnie</a>), and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) John Belshes (b. c.1668; fl. 1718), of Tofts; succeeded his father at Tofts in 1693 and was served heir general to him, 21 October 1699; married Janet (d. 1740), daughter of Sir Alexander Swinton of Mersington, Lord Mersington, and had issue three sons and three daughters; living in 1718;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Alexander Belshes (c.1670-1745) of Invermay (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) William Belshes; died unmarried and without issue in Jamaica;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Ann Belshes; married, 22 February 1701 at Eccles, Patrick Nisbet of Eastbank;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) Mary Belshes; died unmarried.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Tofts estate in Berwickshire from his elder brother in 1656, and was infeft in these lands, 20 March 1657. Much of the estate had to be sold to meet his brother's debts, with the bulk of the property being sold in 1673 to Sir William Purves, who renamed it Purves Hall.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Greyfriars, Edinburgh, 18 March 1693. His widow died 11 February and was buried at Edinburgh, 13 February 1713.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Belshes, Alexander (c.1670-1745). </b>Second son of John Belshes (c.1610-93) of Tofts and his wife Ann, daughter of Sir David Aytoun of Kinglassie, born about 1670. Principal Sheriff Clerk of Midlothian. After buying the Invermay estate, he became an elder of the kirk at Forteviot, 1725. He married 1st, 27 February 1696 at Edinburgh, Emelia, daughter of Sir Thomas Murray (d. 1684), 1st bt. of Glendoick, a Lord of Session as Lord Glendoick and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lord Clerk Register, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">1674-80</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">; married 2nd, c.1723, Margaret, daughter of Sir John Clerk MP (d. 1722), 1st bt., of Penicuik, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) John Belshes (c.1700-77) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Thomas Belshes (1702-83), born at Edinburgh, 1 October 1702; deputy Sheriff Clerk for Edinburgh; admitted a burgess of the city of Edinburgh, 1739; married 1st, 8 November 1741 at Edinburgh, Margaret (d. c.1755), daughter of Robert Hepburn (1698-1756) of Baads and had issue three sons; married 2nd, 18 July 1756, his cousin, Helen (d. 1789), daughter of John Belshes of Tofts; buried at Edinburgh, 2 July 1783;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.3) Alexander Belshes (b. 1703), born at Edinburgh, 27 November 1703;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.4) William Belshes (1705-07); born at Edinburgh, 8 May 1705; died young and was buried at Edinburgh, 22 June 1707;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.5) Emilia Belshes (b. 1706), born at Edinburgh, 15 August 1706;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.6) Mary Belshes (b. 1707), born at Edinburgh, 3 October 1707;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.7) Elizabeth Belshes (b. 1709), born at Edinburgh, 28 April 1709;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.8) Anthony Belshes (b. 1711), born 4 May 1711; said to have died without issue in Bengal before 1780;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) James Belshes (b. 1725), born at Edinburgh, 20 November 1725;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.2) William Belshes (b. 1726), born 3 December 1726.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He purchased the Invermay estate in 1717, but lived chiefly in Edinburgh, using the Old House of Invermay as a summer residence.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Invermay, 19 April 1745. His first wife probably died c.1712. His second wife's date of death is unknown.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Belshes, John (c.1700-77). </b>Eldest son of Alexander Belshes (c.1670-1745) and his first wife, Emelia, daughter of Sir Thomas Murray, 1st bt., of Glendoick, born about 1700. Admitted an advocate, 1720. Succeeded his father as Sheriff Clerk of Midlothian, 1745. He married 1st, c.1722, Mary (d. 1740), daughter and eventual heiress of Daniel Stewart (d. 1708) of Fettercairn and 2nd, 29 May 1743, Margaret (d. 1785), daughter of Sir William Stewart of Castlemilk, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Margaret Belshes (b. 1727), born in Edinburgh, 11 December 1727; probably died young;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Alexander Belshes (b. 1728), born in Edinburgh, 17 November 1728; probably died young;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.3) Emelia Stuart Belshes (1729-1807), born in Edinburgh, 27 December 1729; married, 22 December 1751 at Edinburgh, her cousin, William Belshes (c.1717-53), surgeon and director of the hospital at Fort St. David (India) and later of Tofts, and had issue one son (Sir John Wishart-Belshes (later Stuart) (c.1752-1821), 3rd bt.*); died 3 April 1807;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) John Hepburn Belshes (c.1745-1819) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.2) Margaret Belshes (c.1746-71), born about 1746; married, 31 January 1768, as the second of his three wives, Henry Wedderburn (1722-77) of Gosford (East Lothian), second son of Charles Wedderburn of Gosford, but had no surviving issue; died in childbirth at Calcutta (India) and was buried there, 28 July 1771;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.3) Mary Belshes (1748-84), born in Edinburgh, 15 December 1748; married, 1 December 1783, as the second of his three wives, Rev. Dr. Thomas Snell Jones (1754-1837), Presbyterian minister of Lady Glenorchy's Church, Edinburgh (who m3, 30 June 1787, Anne (1752-1822), daughter of George Gardner of the Custom House, Edinburgh, and had issue two sons and one daughter); she died without issue and was buried at St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, 31 May 1784.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Invermay estate from his father in 1745 and was served heir to him, 1 August 1746. He built a new mansion house at Invermay c.1750, as well as commencing the landscaping of the policies.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 29 December 1777 and was buried at Edinburgh, 1 January 1778. His first wife was buried at Edinburgh, 16 January 1740. His second wife died at Thistle Court, Edinburgh, 14 December 1785.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* He assumed the baronetcy on the death of his great-uncle, Sir William Stuart (d. 1777), 2nd bt., but some accounts state that his mother Emilia was recognised as a baronetess (with the title of Dame) and that he should be regarded as 4th baronet; the title became dormant on his death.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Belshes, John Hepburn* (c.1745-1819). </b>Only son of John Belshes (c.1700-77) and his second wife, <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Margaret, daughter of Sir William Stewart of Castlemilk,</span>, born about 1745. Educated at Edinburgh University, where he was one of five founders of its Speculative Society, 1764. An elder of Forteviot kirk. Lieutenant-Colonel of the Drummond Fencibles, 1794-1802. He married, 30 May 1777 at Queensferry, Mary (1752-1823), daughter and eventual heir of Sir Patrick Hepburn Murray (1706-56), 4th bt., of Balmanno and Blackcastle, and had issue:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Alexander Hepburn Murray Belshes (1778-1864) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) John Hepburn Murray Belshes (1782-1863) of Balmanno (Perths.), born 13 August 1782; an officer in the army (2nd Lt, 1804; Lt, 1805; Capt. 1812; Maj. 1817; retired on half-pay about 1820; Lt-Col. 1837; Col., 1851; Maj-Gen. 1855; Lt-Gen., 1862) and in the Perthshire Yeomanry Cavalry (Cornet, 1820; Lt. 1821; Capt. 1822; retired 1825); a Commissioner of Supply and JP for Perthshire; a Conservative in politics; a director of the Perth City and County Infirmary, to which he bequeathed £1,000; died unmarried and without issue at Edinburgh, 12 January 1863, and was buried in the family burying place at Muckersie chapel; his will was confirmed, 3 April 1863.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Invermay estate from his father in 1777 and was served heir to him, 6 April 1778. He was responsible for much of the landscaping and the construction of ancillary buildings in the policies, c.1800-10. His wife inherited the Balmanno estate from her brother in 1774 and brought it to the Belshes; some alterations were made to Balmanno Castle c.1800.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died in Edinburgh, 24 July 1819. His widow died 12 January 1823.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* He took the additional name Hepburn after his marriage in 1777.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Belshes, Alexander Hepburn Murray (1778-1864). </b>Elder son of John Hepburn Belshes (c.1745-1819) and his wife Mary, daughter and eventual heir of Sir Patrick Hepburn Murray of Balmanno, born 22 June 1778. JP for Perthshire and East Lothian and DL (from 1819) for Perthshire. An officer in the Perthshire Yeomanry Cavalry (Capt.; Maj. 1821; disbanded 1828) but also described as Major in 1813. Convenor of Perthshire; a Commissioner of Supply (from 1812), JP and DL (from 1819) for Perthshire. A director of the Perth City and County Infirmary and a supporter of many other charitable endeavours. A Conservative in politics. He was unmarried and without issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited the Invermay estate from his father in 1819, and the Balmanno estate from his mother in 1823, although Balmanno Castle was occupied by his brother. After his death his estates passed to his heir general, Sir John Stuart Hepburn Forbes (1804-66), 8th bt., of Monymusk, Fettercairn and Pitsligo, the great-great-great-grandson of John Belshes (d. 1693).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Invermay, 17 January 1864, and was buried in the family burying place at Muckersie chapel; his will was confirmed, 26 April 1864.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Principal sources</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">G. MacGregor, <i>The Red Book of Scotland</i>, 2nd edn, 2018, vol. 1, pp. 482-88; A. Wedderburn, <i>The Wedderburn Book</i>, 1898, pp. 383-85; N. Meldrum, <i>Forteviot: the history of a Strathearn parish</i>, 1926; A.A. Tait, <i>The landscape garden in Scotland, 1735-1835</i>, 1980, pp. 140-43; J. Gifford, <i>The buildings of Scotland: Perth and Kinross</i>, 2007, pp. 181-84, 433-34;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/GDL00227">http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/GDL00227</a>;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://www.stravaiging.com/history/castle/balmanno-castle/">http://www.stravaiging.com/history/castle/balmanno-castle/</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Belshes of Invermay: </i>papers of Robert Peddie WS of Perth as factor to Invermay estate, 1795-1826 [Perth & Kinross Archives </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">B59/38/5/23]</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Belshes of Tofts and Invermay: </i>Or, three pallets gules, a chief vair.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Hepburn Belshes of Invermay: </i>Quarterly, 1st and 4th, gules, on a chevron argent, a rose between two lions combatant of the field; in base a buckle in the shape of a heart of the second (for Hepburn); 2nd, or, three pallets gules, a chief vair (for Belshes); 3rd, azure a cross pattée between three mullets, all within a double tressure flory counterflory gules (for Murray).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide portraits or photographs of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 2 July 2023 and was updated 4 July and 18 July 2023.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-704095971276575721.post-74961801071457491502023-06-25T11:21:00.004+01:002023-12-27T10:36:49.293+00:00(548) Bellville of Tedstone Court, Papillon Hall and Fermyn Woods Hall<span style="font-family: georgia;"> According to <i>Burke's Landed Gentry</i>, the first English forebear of this family was John Bellville, a French émigré who came to England at the time of the French Revolution and was the father of John Benjafield Bellville (c.1793-1847), with whom the genealogy below begins. The only certain reference to the first John which I have been able to trace, however, occurs in the apprenticeship indenture of his son in 1807, where the father is described as 'John Bellville of Codford St. Peter' (Wilts). There seems to be no evidence that the first John had any long association with Codford, however, and I have been unable to trace either his burial or his son's baptism (he is said to have been born in Bath). Although the story of John's origin as a French émigré seems perfectly plausible, it bears a slightly suspicious similarity to that of the well-known astronomer, John Henry Bellville (1795-1856), who was baptised at St Pancras (Middx) but was apparently the child of French refugees who settled at Westbury (Wilts) - less than ten miles from Codford - and came under the patronage of Lady Pulteney of Bath. This might be a coincidence, or the two families might be connected, but it also possible that the mercantile Bellvilles quietly copied the background of their namesake when they grew rich and wanted to suggest an obscure but potentially romantic lineage.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">John Benjafield Bellville (c.1793-1847) was apprenticed to Matthias Archibald Robinson (1775-1838) as a needlemaker, but in 1823 the two men established the firm of Robinson & Bellville to manufacture patent barley and groats drinks - the ancestor of the modern-day Robinson's Lemon Barley Water. With the death of Robinson in 1838 and J.B. Bellville in 1847, the business was carried on by John's son, William John Bellville (1830-91), who in 1862 merged the business with Thomas Keen & Son, mustard manufacturers. By 1876 he was the sole proprietor of the merged firm of </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Keen, Robinson & Bellville</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, and he died an extremely wealthy man, leaving property valued at over £600,000. William left four sons but they had been educated as gentlemen and not for business, and he bequeathed the goodwill of the company to his widow, who sold it to J. & J. Colman of Norwich, a rival mustard manufacturer, in 1903. A connection was maintained with the business as Frank Ashton Bellville (1870-1937), became a director of Colmans at that time.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The four sons of William John Bellville all acquired country houses. Henry Archibald Bellville (1866-1930) bought Tedstone Court (Herefordshire) in 1908, while the other three all bought seats in the prime foxhunting country of the East Midlands, where they could indulge their shared passion for hunting. William's widow bought Papillon Hall (Leics) for Frank Ashton Bellville (1870-1937) in 1901, and he then employed Sir Edwin Lutyens to greatly enlarge and remodel it from 1903. William John Bellville (1868-1937) bought Kibworth Hall (Leics) in 1918 and George Ernest Bellville (1879-1967) acquired Fermyn Woods Hall (Northants) in 1922.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jc5KVTLNNiwGzP4cByNUikOrZr7mAwJ19z-aYTm-jNwAc-Sq3e7QK1iVzSCkkHsIJ3_i-EPcTDucQ27iyRNnTiCbTh0XXVsM9wptTwLC6zpc_QRozmMH08A_O_eYsCwg57NSf-K-0RzT8QUDHpz_7fUMe5rQH1aS2c6bIYAui3cVONaqm3cA-9KCVSRt/s798/Kibworth%20Hall%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="798" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jc5KVTLNNiwGzP4cByNUikOrZr7mAwJ19z-aYTm-jNwAc-Sq3e7QK1iVzSCkkHsIJ3_i-EPcTDucQ27iyRNnTiCbTh0XXVsM9wptTwLC6zpc_QRozmMH08A_O_eYsCwg57NSf-K-0RzT8QUDHpz_7fUMe5rQH1aS2c6bIYAui3cVONaqm3cA-9KCVSRt/w640-h396/Kibworth%20Hall%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Kibworth Hall: the early 19th century house acquired by William John Belville in 1918 and sold by his nephew in about 1942, from an old postcard.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The sale of the family business in 1903 took place just at the moment when changes in social legislation and taxation were beginning to make it impossible to transmit inherited wealth from one generation to the next in an unimpaired fashion. As the 20th century developed, it was increasingly essential for a country house and the lifestyle associated with it to be actively supported by earned income and for inherited wealth to be husbanded with care and good fortune if it was not to be seriously depleted by capital and other taxes. The legacies left by William John Bellville were big enough to support the next generation without too many cares, but some of the successors of Henry, William, Frank and George Bellville were less fortunate. Miles Aubrey Bellville (1909-80), an Olympic sailor and wartime officer in the Royal Marines, inherited Tedstone Court in 1930. He was able to remain there throughout his life, but his son, Richard John Bellville (1945-2000) sold it in 1996. William John Bellville (1868-1937) had no surviving children, and left Kibworth Hall to his nephew, Anthony Seymour Bellville (1902-70), who sold it and moved to a smaller house on the Isle of Wight. Because Anthony received this inheritance, Frank Ashton Bellville left Papillon Hall to his younger son, Rupert Bellville (1904-62), who tried to sell it almost at once and eventually pulled down the house in 1950 before finally finding a buyer for the estate. He also inherited £105,000 from his father, but in less than twenty years had spent it and been declared bankrupt. George Ernest Bellville (1879-1967) lived for thirty years longer than any of his brothers, but had no sons to inherit Fermyn Woods, which he bequeathed to his divorced elder daughter, Dodo Maxwell (1919-2002). She reduced the size of the house soon afterwards and lived in the surviving part until her death, by which time it was in very poor condition. It was sold after her death to a local architect who was able to finance a thorough restoration thanks to being one of the heirs to a construction industry fortune. In less than a hundred years, therefore, the family have acquired and sold four significant country houses.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Tedstone Court, Tedstone Delamere, Herefordshire</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">A large and essentially U-shaped building, given its present form by Richard Wight after he inherited the estate in 1805, with the main fronts looking east and south towards the parish church and the wooded valley of the Sapey Brook. Between the house and the church stood a long-deserted medieval village, and the present house seems </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">to stand on the site of, and perhaps to incorporate elements of, the earlier manor house, which was the seat of the Wyshams from the 14th to the 17th centuries. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSvPWP30H4-8PpycHb79iuGpYpDE79y5WpdgLsJT2pX_88kV_0KPH9LzazCIxaVqUQXJUemXzhvPhkU6q4TnHiP57j1AH3jxbY7ysOXFv5BHrX0Ap74uHD96k8npy6vBJv3iWZIRvXLGdblWQwF7xD_hp9E1XGqKyx-YOKgXUPff7lgD6cMFmlPrw0afR/s1542/Tedstone%20Court%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="1542" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSvPWP30H4-8PpycHb79iuGpYpDE79y5WpdgLsJT2pX_88kV_0KPH9LzazCIxaVqUQXJUemXzhvPhkU6q4TnHiP57j1AH3jxbY7ysOXFv5BHrX0Ap74uHD96k8npy6vBJv3iWZIRvXLGdblWQwF7xD_hp9E1XGqKyx-YOKgXUPff7lgD6cMFmlPrw0afR/w640-h370/Tedstone%20Court%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Tedstone Court: the south and east fronts. Image: John Burrows/Historic England IOE01/07479/25</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">The south and east fronts are rendered and of two-and-a-half storeys, and have sash windows with stone architraves, but the fenestration is irregular, which is strong evidence that Wight remodelled rather than rebuilt the earlier house. The east front has a central Doric porch, mostly tripartite windows, and a two-storey canted bay at the northern end. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUIFeJabVt_9ZV29zdYS38_8Bz5DfsqX_bPlZxR3U30qcC8PrJfdpbXekQeHGbi57eVmlJJQFOkHZ7gCjw7w9du0N2H76Rf0w82foO4VoL8_VIdXVuItC5SDiRaR111jC1Fd_qUU8-yQLWP_PZuhzxajCBp_povAOi4zkOvBkKg4qHWSCihRmw8n5ZffC/s1050/Tedstone%20Court%206%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="1050" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUIFeJabVt_9ZV29zdYS38_8Bz5DfsqX_bPlZxR3U30qcC8PrJfdpbXekQeHGbi57eVmlJJQFOkHZ7gCjw7w9du0N2H76Rf0w82foO4VoL8_VIdXVuItC5SDiRaR111jC1Fd_qUU8-yQLWP_PZuhzxajCBp_povAOi4zkOvBkKg4qHWSCihRmw8n5ZffC/w640-h424/Tedstone%20Court%206%202022.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Tedstone Court: west front in 2022.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">On the west side the house is partly of brick, and has a three-bay centre under a big pedimental gable. In the 20th century, this part of the house became a separate dwelling (known as Gracefields), but by 2023 the two properties had been reintegrated as one dwelling.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: Robert Mason (d. 1684); to son; to son, Robert Mason (d. 1738)... James Moore (d. 1805) of Shelsley Beauchamp (Worcs); to Richard Wight (c.1780-1821); to widow, Mary Maria (d. 1838), later the wife of Thomas Philip Paine Wight (d. 1834) of Collington (Herefs); to son by her first marriage, James Lane Wight (c.1818-85); to son, Edgar Wight (1845-1918); sold 1908 to Henry Archibald Bellville (1866-1930); to son, Maj. Miles Aubrey Bellville (1909-80); to son, Richard John Bellville (b. 1945); sold 1997 to Stennard Harrison, who divided the property between himself and his daughter, who sold Gracefields in 2013; main house sold 2015 and Gracefields sold 2022 to Andrew and Louise Jones.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Papillon Hall, Lubenham, Leicestershire</b></span></h3><span style="font-family: georgia;">The original house on the site of Papillon Hall, which stood on a hillock near the western boundary of Lubenham parish, was built by David Papillon (1581-1659), a French Huguenot architect and military engineer who had prospered as a property speculator in the London area and who later also made designs for Lamport Hall (Northants). He bought the site in 1627 but it was not a manor house and was never associated with a large estate. No doubt under the influence of his military experience, Papillon built an extraordinary octagonal moated two storey house of stone, with a cross-shaped slated roof that had tall gables on the axes. The walls were treated in a remarkable manner, with broad bands in the stonework by which a few courses were alternately raised and recessed to create a primitive and Brobdingnagian rustication. The house was surrounded by a rectangular moated enclosure approached through a single central gatehouse, which is shown on a rather stark drawing that seems to be the only record of its first appearance.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBiVkrJ2TLeOIiTMbAV_LXs2k9veIN3O-WtRXHEZR0LF_O7-JHoJuzhi-FHlKxMMngwWRzWlQZb9a5AhqmPqipo_sqng1p47GaC8vYPtD4ZouFlwRtoCx10_5soBdig-jR7KxVIF1w0002gmLNMy9A8ZNVu8lCKeUCmPDRpENFR5DVwh0B8xmjFjtdHEZ/s637/Papillon%20Hall%2019%20before%20alts%20c1780%20LeicsRO%20DE2221.59.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="637" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBiVkrJ2TLeOIiTMbAV_LXs2k9veIN3O-WtRXHEZR0LF_O7-JHoJuzhi-FHlKxMMngwWRzWlQZb9a5AhqmPqipo_sqng1p47GaC8vYPtD4ZouFlwRtoCx10_5soBdig-jR7KxVIF1w0002gmLNMy9A8ZNVu8lCKeUCmPDRpENFR5DVwh0B8xmjFjtdHEZ/w640-h488/Papillon%20Hall%2019%20before%20alts%20c1780%20LeicsRO%20DE2221.59.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Papillon Hall: a mid 18th century view of the house with its encircling moat and gatehouse. <br />Image: Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland DE2221/59.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the years after 1780 the house was altered by George Bosworth, who installed the arched sash windows shown in later records of the building, entirely altered the ground floor layout, and added a service wing at the north-west corner. He probably also altered the surrounding landscaping, for there is no trace in later records of the encircling moat.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKW_oLQ2VBe_7_r0MlWu_8FfHS0sVCFLACVzU3K_Vtyg0wN7WEqKk1tO_R8WFzc8N3rAl2tFOInE_tdM9zJuX9B10DrBdtKZZMEfcjxh3HtZbI2twrBl3sCzJQfnJ7XFylD69mJwCs34gXZDmK3V6RKC7oSRRmmqr4DgKOzS1c2PlEPy36ZW4_W_zM8Non/s614/Papillon%20Hall%2018%20Nichols%201798.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="614" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKW_oLQ2VBe_7_r0MlWu_8FfHS0sVCFLACVzU3K_Vtyg0wN7WEqKk1tO_R8WFzc8N3rAl2tFOInE_tdM9zJuX9B10DrBdtKZZMEfcjxh3HtZbI2twrBl3sCzJQfnJ7XFylD69mJwCs34gXZDmK3V6RKC7oSRRmmqr4DgKOzS1c2PlEPy36ZW4_W_zM8Non/w640-h436/Papillon%20Hall%2018%20Nichols%201798.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Papillon Hall: engraving of 1798 showing the house as altered for George Bosworth in the 1780s.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbbAmBIHy0xhCuNvzBf2BItRvGGAc2VAV4krNn5EIOldlJb5fH6Z97V7zu65LbL8FxB-oMj1CWvY12c7-zsrkUAzVEI0ivTWyhy0AKuFj-bEZNhxsHjKZgJoQAq2lfZBHwkVUFzxrFnTUps_KpGa6mh2m9YyPazQERpTA2e_RBi212XGfmgzh4fOMoggL/s519/Papillon%20Hall%204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="519" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbbAmBIHy0xhCuNvzBf2BItRvGGAc2VAV4krNn5EIOldlJb5fH6Z97V7zu65LbL8FxB-oMj1CWvY12c7-zsrkUAzVEI0ivTWyhy0AKuFj-bEZNhxsHjKZgJoQAq2lfZBHwkVUFzxrFnTUps_KpGa6mh2m9YyPazQERpTA2e_RBi212XGfmgzh4fOMoggL/w640-h480/Papillon%20Hall%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Papillon Hall: this photograph seems to be the only one showing the house before Lutyens' alterations.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1901 Mrs. Emma Bellville of Stoughton Grange bought the house for her son, Capt. Frank Ashton Bellville (1870-1937), who was heir to the Keen's Mustard fortune (hence the phrase, "as keen as mustard"), but who 'did little else but hunt'. He brought in Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1903 to extend the house. Since visiting Norman Shaw's Chesters (Northbld) a few years earlier, Lutyens had always wanted the chance to design a butterfly-plan house as he thought he could improve on the essays of his Arts & Crafts contemporaries. The fact that the existing house was a flattened octagon and had been built for a Papillon (which means butterfly in French) gave him the perfect opportunity. The plan was based on Chesters, which Lutyens much admired, but for the elevations he abandoned the Baroque of Chesters for a more cottagey style, influenced particularly by E.S. Prior's house, The Barn at Exmouth (1893-97), a choice which sits rather oddly with the very formal and rather mannered planning.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EeHpNmjpkbA-qhfk9WSEs04cc8zCeHbcXYtN8fD7nh8rYWvXiKGuQ_-9EphoxXTqmcPVybmILyBgYCoazokIsDPpA7ESB0niD8nMmzNscfjiPc4HSdK5TWWUNgMQsvlCh1tngoR-HflnsxdNWLHh1svv6axcgkgp1qn02ai85plG4usHngexKLRNuEyu/s1024/Papillon%20Hall%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="1024" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EeHpNmjpkbA-qhfk9WSEs04cc8zCeHbcXYtN8fD7nh8rYWvXiKGuQ_-9EphoxXTqmcPVybmILyBgYCoazokIsDPpA7ESB0niD8nMmzNscfjiPc4HSdK5TWWUNgMQsvlCh1tngoR-HflnsxdNWLHh1svv6axcgkgp1qn02ai85plG4usHngexKLRNuEyu/w640-h490/Papillon%20Hall%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Papillon Hall: ground floor plan as remodelled by Lutyens.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6Z38QQNiQWQlrpytU49ZRRB2zBOi81opvQuhll2ZngoYLX1Kz5E-ltQklMhiit-vQerbB_GaHFji4ow3_-R6009WOU59PZ9YkiSa2VQMfA59SiuVPEtZz7a6rdA62oo5XG5xHUVaZYAVeE4wzLGL2VFhpSgS6vDOxRJhWMZRNV28Q61jChBR5DRNm7cw/s959/Papillon%20Hall%2014.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="755" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6Z38QQNiQWQlrpytU49ZRRB2zBOi81opvQuhll2ZngoYLX1Kz5E-ltQklMhiit-vQerbB_GaHFji4ow3_-R6009WOU59PZ9YkiSa2VQMfA59SiuVPEtZz7a6rdA62oo5XG5xHUVaZYAVeE4wzLGL2VFhpSgS6vDOxRJhWMZRNV28Q61jChBR5DRNm7cw/w504-h640/Papillon%20Hall%2014.jpg" width="504" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Papillon Hall: the south front with the lily pond in 1912. Image: <i>Country Life.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lutyens added new radiating wings projecting to the NE, SE and SW to the old house containing a dining room, drawing room and billiard room, while the fourth axis on the NW was occupied by an existing service wing. Between the billiard room and service wing Lutyens created a circular open Basin Court connecting the new main entrance with the vestibule within the original octagon. This plan produced some interesting conjunctions of forms, where the single-storey circular court abutted the gabled polygon of the house behind. And there are deliberately shocking conjunctions of style too: while the main building was in a simple vernacular manner, with roughcast walls and a central half-timbered gable, he responded to the formal geometry of the Basin Court with a ring of Tuscan columns, and he also made the entrance itself a powerful classical composition with chunky rustication and a broad three-bay pediment, but cheekily tucked this into the ground floor of an otherwise vernacular block.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXncSOkyZ5CSKUznvy_FDq4alJVkazy3jNqM8TNkzrOtEjbaXHW-9pagkQdHYUebZ1bptkT7fTfXpOzpX4q27cg7ICS_IlLShxVbkVyiGoIPzWNtwE8XiQbW8Kgl75Y7FaKZ6k2glZZxgSoy79p5syJQIT1ATEEgEn0gq1nMgcfY3bMf6paqr8WO2HTFHk/s944/Papillon%20Hall%205.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="944" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXncSOkyZ5CSKUznvy_FDq4alJVkazy3jNqM8TNkzrOtEjbaXHW-9pagkQdHYUebZ1bptkT7fTfXpOzpX4q27cg7ICS_IlLShxVbkVyiGoIPzWNtwE8XiQbW8Kgl75Y7FaKZ6k2glZZxgSoy79p5syJQIT1ATEEgEn0gq1nMgcfY3bMf6paqr8WO2HTFHk/w640-h534/Papillon%20Hall%205.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Papillon Hall: the Basin Court between the wings on the west side in 1912. Image: <i>Country Life.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42X1f_sip_WR2IvHJfeKq2jh1-eci2kxJuC34vpzMBy1KudgIyiN1MWWbCE2mYJqZZt_24NhJ-qp54um8qaITk7UVcFI0rLQnyY_XuaVbXh97ofgvkYLR81woXdjlghmfw6pQcFJLW7uonRyPAr7vIwG_Ro-IP9dFv7ZaNaEnhAmcJ6kJTi4lZkVIf-tU/s599/Papillon%20Hall%207.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="599" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42X1f_sip_WR2IvHJfeKq2jh1-eci2kxJuC34vpzMBy1KudgIyiN1MWWbCE2mYJqZZt_24NhJ-qp54um8qaITk7UVcFI0rLQnyY_XuaVbXh97ofgvkYLR81woXdjlghmfw6pQcFJLW7uonRyPAr7vIwG_Ro-IP9dFv7ZaNaEnhAmcJ6kJTi4lZkVIf-tU/w640-h528/Papillon%20Hall%207.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Papillon Hall: the entrance arcade created by Lutyens. Image: <i>Country Life.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEids2U4Z2ANgwdBc1k96PAMWOTOGzPYKBrTN0Ff0s4-cKdaWpgTdzS53ck1u7gygEJMuHkMCB385OStZhIJnOLM4Q3eYeardBQXJqtJFW_R4N9LbfW-IFCy9mppOWkrOQGCmO1pvLNc4NtjZVdTgGsd990vHLylvkXY91GwzZ0Htwcla_TDmhHCMEnsrRY5/s949/Papillon%20Hall%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="949" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEids2U4Z2ANgwdBc1k96PAMWOTOGzPYKBrTN0Ff0s4-cKdaWpgTdzS53ck1u7gygEJMuHkMCB385OStZhIJnOLM4Q3eYeardBQXJqtJFW_R4N9LbfW-IFCy9mppOWkrOQGCmO1pvLNc4NtjZVdTgGsd990vHLylvkXY91GwzZ0Htwcla_TDmhHCMEnsrRY5/w640-h522/Papillon%20Hall%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Papillon Hall: the drawing room in 1912. Image: <i>Country Life.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1937 the house passed to Rupert Bellville (1904-67), who put the house up for sale the following year, but a buyer was not found before the house was requisitioned during the Second World War, when it housed American airmen. After it was returned to the family, Rupert Bellville again tried to sell it, but in post-war conditions he failed to find a buyer and it was therefore demolished in 1951. Some of the outbuildings were converted into a farm and a small fragment of the old house was rescued and installed in the gardens of Blagdon Hall in Northumberland.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />Finally, an uncanny tale for those who like ghost stories. When Frank Belville moved into Papillon Hall in 1901 he found a tiny cupboard with a padlocked metal grille in the lintel of an internal window over the hall fireplace, containing an early 18th century pair of green brocade women's shoes. The title deeds stated that 'on no account to permit them to be removed from the house, or ill-fortune would assuredly befall the owner'. Despite this warning, the shoes were taken to Belville's solicitors for safe keeping during the remodelling of the house. Work on the contract went slowly, accidents happened on site and a workman was killed, the first contractor abandoned the contract, and the skeleton of a woman was found walled up in the attics of the old house (this was said to be the Spanish mistress of an early 18th century Papillon who had mysteriously disappeared in 1715). In 1905 Bellville himself was in a motor accident and fractured his skull. He recovered, but in 1908 his chauffeur was killed in another accident. During the Second World War, there were two occasions on which American airmen who had removed the shoes from their resting place did not return from missions over enemy territory. The 'cursed shoes' are now in Market Harborough Museum.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">Descent: </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">David Papillon (1581-1659); to son?, George Papillon (d. 1684); David Papillon (fl. 1717); to son, who sold 1764 to William Stevens...</span></i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Charles Bosworth (fl. 1798) of Brampton (Northants); to George Bosworth (d. 1830); to widow, Mary (fl. 1863), later wife of John Breedon; sold 1866 to Lord Hopeton; sold 1872 to Thomas Halford; sold to C.W. Walker (fl. 1892) of Burwash (Sussex); sold to A.C. Isham (d. 1897);... sold 1901 to Mrs Emma Bellville for use of her son, Frank Ashton Bellville (1870-1937), kt.; to son, Rupert Bellville (1904-67), who demolished it in 1951. </i></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Fermyn Woods (aka Farming Woods) Hall, Brigstock, Northamptonshire</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house began as a hunting lodge in Rockingham Forest, built or remodelled between 1651 and 1656 for Sir John Robinson, 1st bt., who was Lord Mayor of London in 1662. The main front faced south and had a sequence of five gables, perhaps representing a hall range and two cross-wings of the traditional form, but only the porch and a portion of the facade to the right of it are now of the 17th century, due to successive later alterations, additions and contractions.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxNZ2RrO_AGowBFhlaccJFPFFebNceU5lfS0Aov13_733FUVkTXEA3k9aY4vwKpWOzo1xJfNJrhTBxUSVqphyLGDxMJbS4MmgqQQ1TE8qgci0EnAm3ePtbcYTZGXJKHJ346ml_U_67wimUo5z5f8r_jOSRYWUSKKkulwilVytB1qKCG7s2bSzmlsJSisQ/s1600/Fermyn%20Woods%20Hall%205%20Neale.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxNZ2RrO_AGowBFhlaccJFPFFebNceU5lfS0Aov13_733FUVkTXEA3k9aY4vwKpWOzo1xJfNJrhTBxUSVqphyLGDxMJbS4MmgqQQ1TE8qgci0EnAm3ePtbcYTZGXJKHJ346ml_U_67wimUo5z5f8r_jOSRYWUSKKkulwilVytB1qKCG7s2bSzmlsJSisQ/w640-h480/Fermyn%20Woods%20Hall%205%20Neale.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Fermyn Woods Hall: engraving of the house by J.P. Neale, 1826., showing it before the mid 19th century additions.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the late 18th century the house was a hunting lodge belonging to the 2nd Earl of Upper Ossory, whose principal seat was at Ampthill in Bedfordshire. He added a dining room and library, and a long, rather plain wing at the west end in two phases of work, in 1777 and 1788. The end elevation of his new range is visible on the left in Neale's engraving above.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">There were further alterations in the 1830s for Lady Anne and Lady Gertrude Fitzpatrick, and after the house passed to their illegitimate half-sister Emma, the wife of Robert Vernon Smith, 1st Baron Lyveden, Edward Browning of Stamford undertook a radical remodelling and enlargement of the house, giving it most of its later neo-Elizabethan character. His efforts were concentrated especially on remodelling the Georgian west wing, which emerged with two-storey canted bays on the west and south sides, an attic storey with gables and tall chimneystacks, and mullioned and transomed windows.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLSFP2hoVhDQHA0w52vS6YVpdXuE25cXWMGhTL4g-i_u05OS0Y7lWnYIWu2NBB8vzKaZCXhsIZTatcqnWIrV42upkQf2ZTSO1wk2nlo0rZT-xeS9XPr1IEjA1tQk92poiRL7h2dM8O5iHV-_uWQ-KEFxTzAMHKILORVtWNafdTeJNKlyQJKsJHuyrJdGG/s1024/Fermyn%20Woods%20Hall%207.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLSFP2hoVhDQHA0w52vS6YVpdXuE25cXWMGhTL4g-i_u05OS0Y7lWnYIWu2NBB8vzKaZCXhsIZTatcqnWIrV42upkQf2ZTSO1wk2nlo0rZT-xeS9XPr1IEjA1tQk92poiRL7h2dM8O5iHV-_uWQ-KEFxTzAMHKILORVtWNafdTeJNKlyQJKsJHuyrJdGG/w640-h400/Fermyn%20Woods%20Hall%207.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Fermyn Woods Hall: the west wing as remodelled by Edward Browning, from an old postcard.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nBMSgycHkbBf_g6phWGaOFkPeyC-Yd0ZDJKH02AllC-Ow27CK-ukswZloi7dlTmJzLFXNyg1BKG8fD6ms-f1x6T4HQESUR5RCdhStt0PcM4e3iQIXmKPz3dLdWFSBkKskssqpPOaLZvK1lHFsaVeWLbl1awxJD1PlY5WcNBpOZ8W9WmBY7jUIKM2DRDw/s1039/Fermyn%20Woods%20Hall%206.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1039" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nBMSgycHkbBf_g6phWGaOFkPeyC-Yd0ZDJKH02AllC-Ow27CK-ukswZloi7dlTmJzLFXNyg1BKG8fD6ms-f1x6T4HQESUR5RCdhStt0PcM4e3iQIXmKPz3dLdWFSBkKskssqpPOaLZvK1lHFsaVeWLbl1awxJD1PlY5WcNBpOZ8W9WmBY7jUIKM2DRDw/w640-h394/Fermyn%20Woods%20Hall%206.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Fermyn Woods Hall: the house from the north-west in the early 20th century, from an old postcard.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">Inside, the entrance hall has an elaborate tiled centrepiece with the arms of Lord Lyveden, and his shield also appears on the newels of the staircase, which is said to be a copy of that formerly at Lyveden Old Bield. A 17th century gateway from Lyveden Old Bield, built for Sir Lewis Tresham but part of the Fermyn Woods estate until 1908, was moved in the 19th century to form a grand entrance to the stable court, which was built in 1740 but altered later.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCAYsYq9kmc0RRgp3rv3nl-__LVPHedBTUycuTEZHvaXePrw7haN8wP48J1wSin7tX9C0I7yldmYG5t0ogZUbIkoVPk_ZwHsLBKPi3hg1WB2DQuuYlQ7WyAniIwolfh9AML8fu4gmd1DnXZ8zhTV4hjchU0dxu3q9bcj_F-sCpnH8iFhrqUl3mcWL7dkA/s2675/Fermyn%20Woods%20Hall%209.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="2675" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCAYsYq9kmc0RRgp3rv3nl-__LVPHedBTUycuTEZHvaXePrw7haN8wP48J1wSin7tX9C0I7yldmYG5t0ogZUbIkoVPk_ZwHsLBKPi3hg1WB2DQuuYlQ7WyAniIwolfh9AML8fu4gmd1DnXZ8zhTV4hjchU0dxu3q9bcj_F-sCpnH8iFhrqUl3mcWL7dkA/w640-h274/Fermyn%20Woods%20Hall%209.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">Fermyn Woods Hall: the stable court from the south-east, showing the gate from Lyveden Old Bield.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The descendants of the Earls of Upper Ossory finally sold Fermyn Woods in 1897, and over the next twenty-five years it changed hands frequently, and was shorn of most of its 4,000 acre estate by the notorious asset-stripper, T.F. Hooley, who claimed to have made a profit of £70,000 from buying the estate, breaking it up and selling the farms separately, and felling much of the estate timber. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1919-20, Blackwell & Riddey of Kettering (Northants) remodelled some of the interiors for Maj. Aubrey Wallis-Wright, creating new panelling with Ionic pilasters in the dining room (now the drawing room). More permanent new owners arrived in 1922 with the sale to Capt. George Bellville (1879-1967), who lived here until his death and left the house to his daughter 'Dodo'. They found the house dauntingly large, however, and pulled down the west wing in 1968. The remainder was in poor condition by the time of Dodo's death in 2002, but was lovingly restored as his home by the architect David Laing (b. 1945), later Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, over the next few years.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JRkgl0U7SlWsZsFgc3Sy5kRRHiBAYt8zvcU_RzbZDvstl8IJupv8BICAjSLHTw6EPgO9lDRlye4weIptkb-SDRPUR69LR3MIo7nKSkSx4-ANN67dAqtAFAStD9DYTa5a3Yy1nCHtpSiJgqmvYGxtQD6IvAwNeDIdVvNIGFG6yDPBIIV6OfVbvxVonmMb/s640/Fermyn%20Woods%20Hall%203%20CC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JRkgl0U7SlWsZsFgc3Sy5kRRHiBAYt8zvcU_RzbZDvstl8IJupv8BICAjSLHTw6EPgO9lDRlye4weIptkb-SDRPUR69LR3MIo7nKSkSx4-ANN67dAqtAFAStD9DYTa5a3Yy1nCHtpSiJgqmvYGxtQD6IvAwNeDIdVvNIGFG6yDPBIIV6OfVbvxVonmMb/w640-h480/Fermyn%20Woods%20Hall%203%20CC.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Fermyn Woods Hall: the reduced house in 2009. Image: Michael Trolove. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">Some rights reserved</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Descent: Crown sold 1641 to John Mordaunt (1599-1644), 5th Baron Mordaunt and 1st Earl of Peterborough; to son, Henry Mordaunt (1621-97), 2nd Earl of Peterborough; leased 1651 and later sold to Sir John Robinson (1615-80), 1st bt.; to son, Sir John Robinson (1660-93), 2nd bt.; to daughter Anne (d. 1744), wife of Richard Fitzpatrick (c.1662-1727), 1st Baron Gowran; to son, John Fitzpatrick (1719-58), 2nd Baron Gowran and 1st Earl of Upper Ossory; to son, John Fitzpatrick (1745-1818), 2nd Earl of Upper Ossory; to daughters, Lady Anne and Lady Gertrude Fitzpatrick (d. 1841); to half-sister, Emma Mary Wilson (d. 1882), wife of Robert Vernon Smith (later Vernon) (1800-73), 1st Baron Lyveden; to son, Fitzpatrick Henry Vernon (1824-1900), 2nd Baron Lyveden, who sold 1897 to John Gardiner Muir (d. 1913); sold 1908 to T.F. Hooley; let and later sold 1912 to Maj. Aubrey Wallis (later Wallis-Wright then Wallis) (d. 1926); sold 1922 to Capt. George Ernest Bellville (1879-1967); to daughter, Dorothy Vivien Bellville (d. 2002), formerly wife of Maj. Eustace Maxwell (1913-71); sold 2003 to David Laing (b. 1945); sold 2012 to James Michael Ruston Broadbent (b. 1965). </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bellville family of Tedstone Court</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bellville, John Benjafield (c.1793-1847). </b>Son of John Bellville (who in 1807 was of Codford St Peter (Wilts) but who reputedly fled from France at the time of the French Revolution), said to have been born at Bath, 1793*. Apprenticed to Matthias Archibald Robinson of London, needle maker, 1807, and was made free of the Needlemakers Company, 1817. He and his former master established the firm of Robinson & Bellville, manufacturers of a patent barley drink, in 1823. He married 1st, 22 April 1827 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), Mary (1804-42), probably daughter of William Bird of Westwell House, Wellington (Som.), farmer, and 2nd, 15 February 1843 at Milton-by-Gravesend (Kent), Ann (1815-80), daughter of William Clark, an official of the East India Company, and had issue:</span></div></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) William John Bellville (1830-91) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Archibald George Belville (1831-32), baptised at St Mark the Evangelist, Clerkenwell (Middx), 21 October 1831; died in infancy and was buried at the same church, 23 March 1832;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.3) Emma Bellville (1834-1906), baptised at St George-the-Martyr, Bloomsbury (Middx), 18 February 1834; married, 2 June 1863 at Christ Church, Lancaster Gate, Paddington (Middx), Henry Farrance (1824-65) (who had been one of her father's apprentices), son of Thomas Farrance, confectioner, but had no issue; as a widow, lived latterly at Dorking (Surrey); died 13 August 1906; will proved 29 October 1906 (estate £13,060);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.4) Frederick Bellville (1836-1922), born 6 September and baptised at St George-the-Martyr, Bloomsbury, 26 October 1836; died unmarried, 14 August and was buried at Dorking, 17 August 1922; administration of goods granted 22 November 1922 (estate £7,589);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) Alfred Bellville (1843-85), born 18 March and baptised at St Alfege, Greenwich (Kent), 5 May 1843; an officer in the merchant marine (indentured apprentice, 1859; second mate, 1863; first mate, 1867, 1870), who settled in Africa around 1870 and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society; he </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">joined Lt. Faulkner's ivory hunting expedition to Central Africa, 1868, and a combined Universities' Expedition to Magila and Zanzibar, 1875, after which he published two papers in the RGS transactions; in 1877 he moved to Natal and was ordained deacon in 1880, serving in various Natal parishes; he married, 25 April 1877 at Durban (South Africa) Emma Mary, daughter of T.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Crowder, and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">had issue two sons and three daughters; he died at Sand Hill, Belair, Durban (South Africa), 19 March 1885;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;">(2.2) Frances Mary Bellville </span>(1844-1917), born 11 November 1844 and baptised at St George-the-Martyr, Bloomsbury, 9 January 1845; married, 22 September 1875 at St Luke, West Holloway (Middx), John Pears Walton (1838-1915) of Alston (Cumbld.) and Acomb High House (Northbld.), mine owner, son of Jacob Walton, and had issue two sons and four daughters; died 7 July 1917; will proved 2 November 1917 (estate £4,931);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.3) Rosa Hamilton Bellville (1845-1909), born 14 December 1845 and baptised at St George-the-Martyr, Bloomsbury, 18 February 1846; died unmarried at Southend-on-Sea (Essex), 27 November 1909; will proved 26 May 1910 (estate £739);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.4) Ada Elizabeth Bellville (1847-1926), born 10 April 1847 and baptised at St George-the-Martyr, Bloomsbury (Middx), 2 May 1848; married, 2 November 1869 at St Luke, West Holloway (sep. 1890), Rowland John Atcherley (b. c.1848), analytical chemist, son of Rowland Atcherley MD, and had issue two sons and one daughter; died 12 October 1926; will proved 24 November 1926 (estate £976).</span></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery (Middx), 13 September 1847; his will was proved in the PCC, 15 December 1847. His first wife died Apr-Jun 1842 and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery. His widow died in Holloway (Middx), 28 April 1880; her will was proved 28 May 1880 (effects under £200).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;">* However, his baptism has not been traced.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bellville, William John (1830-91). </b>Elder son of John Benjafield Bellville (1793-1847) and his first wife Mary Bird, born February and baptised at St Mark the Evangelist, Clerkenwell (Middx), 23 April 1830. Educated at the University of Bonn (Germany). Freeman of the City of London, 1866. Partner in Robinson & Bellville of Holborn (Middx), manufacturers of a patent barley drink (and ancestor of Robinson's Barley Water), which merged in 1862 with Thomas Keen & Son, an old-established mustard manufacturer; he was sole proprietor of the merged firm by 1876. At his death, the goodwill of the company passed to his widow, who sold it in 1903 to J. & J. Colman of Norwich, another mustard manufacturer. He married, 4 July 1865 at Howe with Little Poringland (Norfk.), Emma (1846-1925), daughter of John Magor of Newton Abbot (Devon), hotel keeper, and had issue:</span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Henry Archibald Bellville (1866-1930) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) William John Bellville (1868-1937), born 4 August 1868; educated at Harrow and Jesus College, Cambridge (matriculated 1887; BA 1891); served with the Duke of Cambridge's Special Corps in the Boer War, 1900; purchased </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kibworth Hall (Leics), 1918, which he bequeathed to his nephew Anthony (1902-70);</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> with his brothers Frank and George he was a famous horseman and rider to hounds, a pursuit to which he devoted much of, and ultimately sacrificed, his life; he married, 14 November 1907 at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster (Middx), Jessie Bousfield (1871-1921), daughter of James Steains of Westminster, gent., and formerly wife of Sidney Arthur Wolton (c.1870-1940), hop merchant, and had issue one daughter who died in infancy; died from injuries received in a hunting accident, 25 February 1937; will proved 17 June 1937 (estate £393,709);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Frank Ashton Bellville (1870-1937) [for whom see below, Bellville family of Papillon Hall]</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(4) Emma Maud Elizabeth Bellville (1875-1952), born 18 May and baptised at All Saints, Clapton Park, Hackney (Middx), 4 July 1875; married, 13 April 1901 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), Lt-Col. Cyril Godfrey Martyr DSO (1860-1936) of Ablington Manor, Bibury (Glos), son of Godfrey Martyr of Melbourne (Australia), and had issue two sons and one daughter; died 10 August 1952; will proved 20 November 1952 (estate £26,608);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(5) George Ernest Bellville (1879-1967) [for whom see below, Bellville family of Fermyn Woods Hall];</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(6) Dorothy Mary Bellville (1883-1914), born 4 March and baptised at All Saints, Clapton Park, Hackney, 12 June 1883; married, 3 July 1906 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, Maj. Philip Alexander Francis Spence (1876-1960) of Oatleys Hall, Brackley (Northants) (who m2, 23 June 1923 at St Mark, North Audley Street, Westminster, Sybil May (1896-1968), daughter of Sir John Latta (1867-1946), 1st bt.), son of Col. John Spence, and had issue one daughter; died 29 November 1914 and was buried at Turweston (Bucks); administration of her goods was granted to her husband, 3 March 1915 (estate £6,748).</span></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He lived at Porchester Terrace, Hyde Park, London and Stoughton Grange (Leics), which he leased from the Powys-Keck family; his widow gave up the lease in about 1913.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Eastbourne (Sussex), 7 August 1891; his will proved 14 September 1891 (effects £631,583). His widow died 8 August 1925; her will was proved 29 December 1925 (estate £177,063).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bellville, Henry Archibald (1866-1930). </b>Eldest son of William John Bellville (1830-91) and his wife Emma, daughter of John Magor of Newton Abbot (Devon), born 2 November 1866 and baptised at Christ Church, Lancaster Gate, Westminster (Middx), 1 January 1867. Educated at Harrow. An officer in the 3rd battalion, East Surrey Regiment (Lt., 1886; Capt., 1896; retired 1898). He married 1st, 24 September 1896 at Whittingham (Northbld.) (div. 1903 on the grounds of her adultery with Capt. Walter Neilson), Phyllis Mary (1878-1967), third daughter of Alexander Henry Browne of Callaly Castle (Northbld.) and 2nd, 27 October 1906 at St Peter, Harrogate (Yorks WR), his first cousin, Ethel Mary (1878-1950), eldest daughter of John Pears Walton of Acomb High House (Northbld.), and had issue:</span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Lucy Monica Bellville (1898-1991), born 18 March 1898; married, 9 December 1922 at Holy Trinity, Brompton (Middx), Oswald Stuart Thompson MRCS LRCP (1892-1971) of London, anaesthetist, son of Sidney Thompson of Farnaby, Sevenoaks (Kent), solicitor, and had issue one son; died 26 July and was buried 2 August 1991; will proved 24 September 1991 (estate under £125,000);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Colin Guy Archibald Bellville (1901-58), born 27 December 1901; educated at Harrow; steam plough engineer; Fellow of the Geological Society; married, 27 July 1928, Kathleen (1903-93), daughter of Norman John Beastall of Church Gresley (Derbys), but had no issue; died 14 July 1958; will proved 7 November 1958 (estate £36,461);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.1) George Dennis Arthur Bellville (1907-25), born in New Zealand, 1907; educated at Harrow; died unmarried in a motor accident, 8 October 1925;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.2) Miles Aubrey Bellville (1909-80) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2.3) Florence Audrey Emma Bellville (1914-2003), born 26 January and baptised at Tedstone Delamere, 15 March 1914; married, Oct-Dec. 1946, Col. Douglas Robert Beaumont Kaye DSO (1909-96) of Brinkley Hall (Suffk.), son of Robert Walter Kaye of Warren's Gorse, Daglingworth (Glos), and had issue one son and one daughter; died 1 March 2003.</span></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He purchased Tedstone Court in 1908.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 30 September 1930; his will was proved 22 January 1931 (estate £181,006). His first wife married 2nd, Apr-June 1904, Maj. Walter Neilson (1866-1941) of Charlton Hall (Northbld), the co-respondent in her divorce, and had further issue two sons and one daughter; she died in Scotland, 8 June 1967 and her will was proved 14 November 1967. His widow died 13 October 1950; administration of her goods was granted 24 January 1951 (estate £13,758).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89_ClG-NUDdhUQRvoeOUtiizAJh4NZV6HBHscfnMGlhWjfNL0qWl8gz_vDsJryVbndgqA6kSKLm0joElVDQT9KrAAY5VixstIUjCG_D5nRT_bHsMwRtjF2vusfpx-IUFYTJL8juU6gWjrkmYRnl3ybn_pr44Vg3pDUTuV6eBKc5ggSCe8ipBtqjbtun1E/s260/Bellville,%20Miles%20Aubrey%201909-80.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="254" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89_ClG-NUDdhUQRvoeOUtiizAJh4NZV6HBHscfnMGlhWjfNL0qWl8gz_vDsJryVbndgqA6kSKLm0joElVDQT9KrAAY5VixstIUjCG_D5nRT_bHsMwRtjF2vusfpx-IUFYTJL8juU6gWjrkmYRnl3ybn_pr44Vg3pDUTuV6eBKc5ggSCe8ipBtqjbtun1E/w195-h200/Bellville,%20Miles%20Aubrey%201909-80.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Maj. Miles Aubrey Bellville (1909-80) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bellville, Miles Aubrey (1909-80). </b>Younger son of Henry Archibald Bellville (1866-1930) and his second wife, Ethel Mary, eldest daughter of John Pears Walton of Acomb High House (Northbld.), born 28 April 1909. Educated at Malvern College and Jesus College, Cambridge (BA), where his prowess as an oarsman led to his being elected to the Leander Club. He was a keen sailor who was a member of the </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Royal Corinthian Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club, and<span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">competed in the Americas Cup in 1934 and at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, where he was a crew member of the boat </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Lalage</i><span style="font-family: georgia;"> which won gold in the six metre class. He served in the Second World War as a</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">n officer in the Royal Marines (2nd Lt, 1940; Lt., 1940; Capt., 1945; T/Maj., 1945) and was awarded the MC, 1942 and MBE, 1943. High Sheriff of Herefordshire, 1969-70; a DL for Herefordshire. He married, April-June 1945, Nancy Catherine MBE JP (1912-96), who served as a First Officer in the Women's Royal Naval Service in the Second World War, second daughter of John Deans of Christchurch (New Zealand), and had issue:</span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Richard John Bellville (1945-2000) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Lalage Jane Bellville (b. 1947), born 17 March 1947; married, Apr-Jun 1975, Thomas Joseph Hawksley (b. 1945), schoolmaster, and had issue two daughters;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3) Susan Catherine Bellville (b. 1948), born 18 August 1948; schoolteacher; member of Oxfordshire County Council, 2005-09; married, 1973 (div. 1977), Professor John Charles Robert Haffenden FBA FRSL (b. 1945), but had no issue.</span></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Tedstone Court from his father in 1930.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 27 October 1980; his will was proved 30 January 1981 (estate £205,636). His widow died 3 February 1996; her will was proved 29 April 1996.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Bellville, Richard John (1945-2000). </b>Only son of Miles Aubrey Bellville (1909-80) and his wife Nancy Catherine, second daughter of John Deans of Christchurch (New Zealand), born 21 August 1945. Educated at Malvern College. He married, May 1989, Gail H. (b. 1942), daughter of Godfrey Temple Butler (1907-78) and formerly wife of Dudley Michael Kibble-White (1939-2016), but had no issue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Tedstone Court from his father in 1980 but sold it in 1996.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 3 October 2000; his will was proved 22 February 2001. His widow is now living.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bellville family of Papillon Hall</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4iat2JjNgqgu8KBJy9cfqz8XfLyIR0vUE13wYOVFKVTMPjA-NJzkVkQ0BL8yy6HgP2JhInfu7pITR-GB-D1RsUzWxMhMGOh9UqOMDFm_VEV9HM7eMDEiVh-3Qjf1dyGP-7gicKw-xOdPXmBo4TjxaOmw3UW3eiXZuPIckxofSQWU3Xl9U2Dis0aKq9Gv/s447/Bellville,%20Frank%20Ashton%20(1870-1937).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="399" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4iat2JjNgqgu8KBJy9cfqz8XfLyIR0vUE13wYOVFKVTMPjA-NJzkVkQ0BL8yy6HgP2JhInfu7pITR-GB-D1RsUzWxMhMGOh9UqOMDFm_VEV9HM7eMDEiVh-3Qjf1dyGP-7gicKw-xOdPXmBo4TjxaOmw3UW3eiXZuPIckxofSQWU3Xl9U2Dis0aKq9Gv/w179-h200/Bellville,%20Frank%20Ashton%20(1870-1937).jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Frank Ashton Bellville (1870-1937) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bellville, Frank Ashton (1870-1937). </b>Third son </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">of William John Bellville (1830-91) and his wife Emma, daughter of John Magor of Newton Abbot (Devon), born 25 November 1870 and baptised at St Matthew, Bayswater (Middx), 18 January 1871. Educated at Harrow. An officer in the Leicestershire Yeomanry (2nd Lt., 1898; Lt., 1900; retired 1902; returned to colours, 1914; Capt. 1916; retired 1921), who served in the Boer War and First World War. In 1903 he joined the board of J. & J. Coleman of Norwich, mustard manufacturers, which had bought his family firm. He became a freemason in 1910. He was such a keen foxhunting man that it was said 'he did little else but hunt', but he was also the owner and breeder of racehorses. He married 1st, 19 October 1901 at St Mary's RC Church, Cadogan St., Chelsea (Middx) (div. 1910), Gladys Hermione (1883-1962), daughter of Dr. Arthur Cornewall Chester-Master (1854-1900); 2nd, 2 August 1915 (div. 1926 on grounds of her adultery with Nicolano Rhodes), Joan Isobel Margaret (1888-1954)*, third daughter of the Hon. Ernest Bowes-Lyon and widow of Capt. Alfred Ernest Parker (1880-1914); and 3rd, 15 August 1929, Barbara Bertha Mary (1900-80), second daughter of Maj. Herbert Marmaduke Joseph Stourton OBE and formerly wife of Capt. Eric Charlton Tunnicliffe OBE MC (c.1898-1953), and had issue**:</span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.1) Anthony Seymour Bellville (1902-70), born 10 August 1902; educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge; an officer in the Grenadier Guards (Lt.); inherited Kibworth Hall from his uncle, William John Bellville, in 1937, but sold it a few years later and moved to The White House, Bembridge (IoW); married 1st, 9 April 1929 at St Margaret, Westminster (Middx) (div. 1947), Audrey Dorothy Campbell (1906-97) (who m2, Oct-Dec 1947, Peter Pleydell-Bouverie of Landford Lodge (Wilts)), daughter of Capt. Archibald Glen Kidston, and had issue one son and two daughters; married 2nd, 30 September 1947 at St Mary, Bryanston Sq., Marylebone, Diana Mary Cameron (1915-2010) (who m2, Jan-Mar 1973, Lt.-Col. Arthur Christopher Grey (1911-82) and m3, 9 October 1984, Rt. Rev. Edward James Keymer Roberts (1908-2001), formerly Bishop of Ely), elder daughter of Ewen Cameron Bruce DSO MC, and had further issue one son and one daughter; died 2 August 1970; will proved 9 October 1970 (estate £71,727);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1.2) Rupert Bellville (1904-67) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(3.1) Patricia Barbara Bellville (1931-2015), born 15 April 1931; married, 31 December 1965, (Alfred) Charles Gladitz (1923-2014), and had issue one son; died 26 July 2015.</span></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>His mother bought Papillon Hall for him in 1901 and he employed Sir Edwin Lutyens to enlarge and remodel it from 1903. He also kept a summer residence at Tyne Hall, Bembridge (IoW).</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died at Tyne Hall, 22 July 1937; his will was proved 26 August 1937 (estate £394,397). His first wife volunteered as a Red Cross nurse throughout the First World War and was painted in her uniform by de Laszlo; after the war she opened a shop near Portman Sq. called Sydalg, which sold antiques and Paris fashions; she married 2nd, Oct-Dec 1923, Henry Gordon Leith (1879-1941), banker, but had no further issue, and died 6 January 1962. His second wife married 3rd, N. Grogan, and died at St Helier (Jersey), 6 July 1954; administration of her goods was granted 28 October 1954 (effects in England, £1,485). His widow married 3rd, 20 September 1946, as his third wife, Capt. Henry Stewart Macnaghten Harrison-Wallace DSO RN (1883-1963), and died 2 May 1980; her will was proved 11 July 1980 (estate £31,025).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><span>* She was a cousin of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900-2002), who in 1923 married the future King George VI.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: xx-small;"><span><i>** Burke's Landed Gentry </i>also mentions three daughters (Effie, </span>Joan and Tina) by his second wife, but I can find no evidence to support their existence and family sources say this marriage was childless.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-wDZY5E_PRIz2HvmQzPFPsCqDyr0duVWASDLN73PHV71FRtTw0zWQ9PXtY0PYvJ1pUN7_HzuOlhatonA-D1MbZgORQriVoxblOa8TnIZL3QsDIGeWZdiqELx5y1WYGHE5dTOhT-1sZAQWMvMDXAM69Zy394Ul2g_gSk69oEN5mYGv4nSDPrBraG3ISPX/s713/Bellville,%20Rupert%20(1904-62).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="533" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-wDZY5E_PRIz2HvmQzPFPsCqDyr0duVWASDLN73PHV71FRtTw0zWQ9PXtY0PYvJ1pUN7_HzuOlhatonA-D1MbZgORQriVoxblOa8TnIZL3QsDIGeWZdiqELx5y1WYGHE5dTOhT-1sZAQWMvMDXAM69Zy394Ul2g_gSk69oEN5mYGv4nSDPrBraG3ISPX/w149-h200/Bellville,%20Rupert%20(1904-62).jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Rupert Bellville (1904-62) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bellville, Rupert (1904-62). </b>Second son of Frank Ashton Bellville (1870-1937) and his first wife, Gladys Hermione, daughter of Arthur Chester-Master, born 28 December 1904. Educated at Eton. He first joined Schroder's as a clerk, but soon quit the company for a more exciting life as a pilot. He was engaged as secretary and pilot to Rupert Byass, and in 1934 took Venetia Montagu (1887-1948) on a journey across Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Persia (where they crashed, but escaped unhurt). A profile in <i>The Bystander</i> in 1937 described him as "a bizarre young man. He has absolutely no fear, not much imagination, and... practically never laughs... He gambles on most things, has a real wanderlust, always looks for trouble and usually finds it". He first went to Spain as a young man to learn the language and fell in love with the country, becoming an amateur bullfighter and participating in the Spanish Civil War on behalf of General Franco's Nationalists: he arranged for all the gates on the Papillon Hall estate to be painted in Franco's colours. He was captured at Santander by the Republican Government's forces and briefly imprisoned before being released after an intervention by the Foreign Office and returned to England at considerable expense in a Royal Navy destroyer. He wrote an account of his experiences for the <i>Leicester Evening Mail</i>. He was a</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">n officer in the Royal Air Force Reserve from 1926 (Flying Officer, 1933) and during the Second World War became a test pilot</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. He was a considerable linguist, speaking French, German and Italian as well as fluent Spanish. He was unusually tall for the period, at 6ft 4in, and his talents included being one of the best backgammon players in Europe. A good swimmer, he is said once to have swum the River Seine in a dinner jacket, but generally took better care of his clothes, being noted as a dapper dresser when in England, although more informally attired abroad. He was twice challenged to a duel, but never fought. Despite inheriting £105,000 from his father in 1937, he was declared bankrupt in 1955. He married, 1 October 1938 in Paris (France) (div.), Jeanette (1907-95), daughter of General Stephen O. Fuqua, US military attaché in Spain, and had issue:</span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) (Rupert) Hercules Fuqua Bellville (1939-2009), born 18 June 1939 in San Diego, California (USA); educated at Ampleforth and Christ Church, Oxford; a leading film producer, working as assistant to Roman Polanski in the 1960s and 1970s and then with Michaelangelo Antonioni (1912-2007) before finishing his career with Jeremy Thomas London's Recorded Picture Co.; he lived in London and Los Angeles, California (USA) at different times, and his obituarists all remarked on his talent for personal friendships; he married, 19 February 2009 (two days before his death), his long-term partner, Ilana Shulman; died of cancer, 21 February 2009, and was buried at Highgate Cemetery (Middx), where he is commemorated by a monument; will proved 21 October 2009.</span></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He inherited Papillon Hall from his father in 1937, twice tried unsuccessfully to sell it (before and after the Second World War) and pulled it down in 1951. The estate was subsequently sold.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 23 July 1962; his will was proved 14 September 1962 (estate £7,449). His widow died in London, 23 August 1995; her will was proved 22 August 1996.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia;"><b>Bellville family of Fermyn Woods Hall</b></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-UZRgZhUEnLLnuFIgQ9M67r6oxmLHdTy62zXLVcQff53x_FQXRxWRRbSO7r2Q_Fz-eDlJwC4O0gnzwbK4uZxwIuOVlJ7qv_R27WLibJnKM9qCohgfqpPUkoYN80_Dj8ks0XtzFJ0iNnFv3-dWapjFLvfCYTld9wlEn76xFBwN8vl6ZI5blSegdgiXHHBu/s476/Bellville,%20George%20Ernest%20(1879-1967).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="327" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-UZRgZhUEnLLnuFIgQ9M67r6oxmLHdTy62zXLVcQff53x_FQXRxWRRbSO7r2Q_Fz-eDlJwC4O0gnzwbK4uZxwIuOVlJ7qv_R27WLibJnKM9qCohgfqpPUkoYN80_Dj8ks0XtzFJ0iNnFv3-dWapjFLvfCYTld9wlEn76xFBwN8vl6ZI5blSegdgiXHHBu/w138-h200/Bellville,%20George%20Ernest%20(1879-1967).jpg" width="138" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">George Ernest Bellville (1879-1967) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bellville, George Ernest (1879-1967). </b>Fourth son </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">of William John Bellville (1830-91) and his wife Emma, daughter of John Magor of Newton Abbot (Devon), born 10 December 1879 and baptised at All Saints, Clapton Park, Hackney (Middx), 18 February 1880. Educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1897). An officer in the 16th Lancers (2nd Lt., 1900; Lt. 1900; Capt., 1904), who served in the Boer War (wounded) and First World War; adjutant of 2nd County of London Imperial Yeomanry, 1907. JP for Northamptonshire, 1927; High Sheriff of Northamptonshire, 1941-42; DL for Northamptonshire, 1946 (Vice-Lord Lieutenant, 1951). As a young man he was an accomplished polo and rugby player and like his brothers he became a prominent foxhunting man; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Master of the Woodland Pytchley Foxhounds, 1920-32</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. He married, Oct-Dec. 1922, Madeline Henriette Ghislaine MBE (1884-1967), daughter of Count Rodolph de Kerchove de Denterghem of Belgium, and formerly wife of Baron Edouard de Crombrugghe de Looringhe (1874-1961), and had issue:</span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Dorothy Vivian Bellville (1919-2002) (<i>q.v.</i>);</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Evelyn Hazel Rosemary Bellville (1924-2009), born Oct-Dec 1924; married, 13 December 1947, Sir John Hatherley David Page-Wood (1921-55), 7th bt., and had issue one son and one daughter; living in 1965.</span></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>He purchased Fermyn Woods Hall in 1922.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">He died 28 June and was buried 3 July 1967; his will was proved 15 December 1967 (estate £85,680). His widow died 24 August 1967; her will was proved 6 February 1968 (estate £57,731).</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HpSd_Ab2LYDKgLeSdK85_87S__tJWnrQ-Qz7AZ0hXFcDFWN-zmX-SFgxbCzIsxlXLc5-d5Dzu-GGOfJGtvnuHgyZV2mGzhhbk-kjK4p9l-LsKYbwb_5ARnjTESF1BS1P-tqeeU3ynFYa3K3a4X_ZE2DQMOtoasi5il6ElO1SEfpzYyESObJWgZ6u1MAY/s526/Bellville,%20Dorothy%20Vivian%20(d.%202002).jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="452" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HpSd_Ab2LYDKgLeSdK85_87S__tJWnrQ-Qz7AZ0hXFcDFWN-zmX-SFgxbCzIsxlXLc5-d5Dzu-GGOfJGtvnuHgyZV2mGzhhbk-kjK4p9l-LsKYbwb_5ARnjTESF1BS1P-tqeeU3ynFYa3K3a4X_ZE2DQMOtoasi5il6ElO1SEfpzYyESObJWgZ6u1MAY/w172-h200/Bellville,%20Dorothy%20Vivian%20(d.%202002).jpg" width="172" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dodo Maxwell (1919-2002) </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Bellville, Dorothy Vivian (k/a Dodo) (1919-2002). </b>Illegitimate daughter of George Ernest Bellville (1879-1967) and his future wife Madeline, daughter of Count Rodolph de Kerchove of Belgium, born before the marriage of her parents, 4 February 1919. She married, May 1940 (div. 1949), Maj. Eustace Maxwell (1913-71), second son of Lt-Col. Aymer Edward Maxwell of Monreith (Wigtowns.), and had issue:</span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(1) Diana Mary Maxwell (b. 1942), born 10 January 1942; partner of Patrick Helmore, by whom she had issue twin daughters;</span></div></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">(2) Sir Michael Eustace George Maxwell (1943-2021), 9th bt, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">of Monreith</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> House (Wigtowns.), </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">born 28 August 1943; educated at Eton and London University; Assoc. of Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors; succeeded uncle as 9th baronet, 8 July 1987; died unmarried, 28 December 2021, when he was succeeded in the baronetcy by a distant cousin.</span></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>She inherited Fermyn Woods Hall from her father in 1967 and demolished part of the house in 1968. It was sold after her death.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">She died 20 July 2002; her will was proved 17 January 2003. Her ex-husband died in Edinburgh, 11 April 1971; his will was proved in London, 28 June 1971 (estate £15,835).</span></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: georgia;">Principal sources</b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Burke's Landed Gentry</i>, 1945, pp. 55-56; C.J. Robinson, <i>A history of the mansions and manors of Herefordshire</i>, 1872, reprinted 2009, pp. 301-02; <i>Country Life Architectural Supplement, </i>4 May 1912; J.A. Gotch, <i>Squires' homes and other old buildings of Northamptonshire</i>, 1939, pp. 7-8; D. Whitehead, <i>A survey of historic parks and gardens in Herefordshire</i>, 2011, pp. 353-54; A. Brooks & Sir N. Pevsner, <i>The buildings of England: Herefordshire</i>, 2nd edn., 2012, p. 622; B. Bailey, Sir N. Pevsner & B. Cherry, <i>The buildings of England: Northamptonshire</i>, 3rd edn., 2013, pp. 272-73; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">M. Airs, 'David Papillon: Architect, military engineer, developer, author and jeweller', </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">The Georgian Group Journal</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">, 2017, pp. 1-14; </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">N. Lyon, </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">Useless anachronisms?: a study of the country houses and landed estates of Northamptonshire since 1880</i><span style="font-family: georgia;">, 2018, </span><i style="font-family: georgia;">passim;</i></div><div><span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://letslookagain.com/2016/02/keen-as-mustard-keen-robinson/">http://letslookagain.com/2016/02/keen-as-mustard-keen-robinson/</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Location of archives</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Bellville of Tedstone Court: </i>deeds and papers, 18th-20th centuries [Herefordshire Archive & Records Centre, AJ49]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Coat of arms</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">None recorded.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Can you help?</b></span></h4></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can throw light on the accuracy or otherwise of the story that John Benjafield Bellville's father John was a French émigré, I should be very pleased to learn more.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Can anyone provide portraits or photographs of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If anyone can offer further information or corrections to any part of this article I should be most grateful. I am always particularly pleased to hear from current owners or the descendants of families associated with a property who can supply information from their own research or personal knowledge for inclusion.</span></li></ul></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Revision and acknowledgements</b></span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This post was first published 25 June 2023 and was updated 24 October and 27 December 2023. I am most grateful to Patrick Bellville for his additions and corrections to my post, and to Andrew Jones for a correction.<br /></span></div></div></div>Nick Kingsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03588322361791532910noreply@blogger.com0