(73) Aldersey of Aldersey Hall

Aldersey of Aldersey

A tenacious county gentry family, who acquired a moiety of the manor of Aldersey (Cheshire) in 1281/82 and the remainder in the late 17th century.  William Aldersey (fl. mid 15th cent.) married the daughter and heir of John Stalker of Lower Spurstow (Cheshire), and for four hundred years the family owned both estates.  Lower Spurstow Hall, the usual residence of the family in the 16th and 17th centuries, was recorded in 1816 as a half-H shaped timber-framed house, of which one wing had been demolished c.1760; it was apparently rebuilt in the 19th century, but was never a country house within my definition.  The squires were seldom of particular note in the county or on a wider stage, but over several generations there was a tradition of younger sons going into trade as merchants, first in Chester and later in London, and a number of them became successful and prominent citizens.  In the 16th and 17th centuries the family was divided in its religious beliefs; Randel Aldersey (d. 1600) was fined repeatedly for Recusancy in the 1590s, while his nephew, Samuel Aldersey of London (d. 1633), was a prominent Puritan and a founder member of the Massachusetts Bay trading company.  Randle’s son, John Aldersey (c.1569-1647) was succeeded by his son Thomas (1600-75), who was a Crown escheator in Cheshire, and he was succeeded by his son Thomas (1635-1715), a barrister and godly Christian who debated points of doctrine with his son, Rev. Samuel Aldersey (1673-1742).  Samuel was rector of Wigan (Lancs), but is said to have rebuilt Aldersey Hall as a country house, presumably on inheriting the estate.  His great-grandson, Samuel (1776-1855) further enlarged and remodelled the house in about 1807-11; nothing is known of the form of its predecessor.  This Samuel was High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1816 and 1830, and his son Thomas (1830-99) held the same office in 1862.  Thomas’ elder son, Hugh Aldersey (1858-1931) sold Lower Spurstow early in the 20th century, but retained the manors of Aldersey and Handley.  His son, Ralph (1890-1976) was at the time of his inheritance agent to the Stubton Hall (Lincs) estate. He move back to Cheshire but occupied a house called 'The Crooke', formerly used as a dower house, rather than Aldersey Hall. The Hall was let and served briefly as a ladies horticultural college from 1931 until it was requisitioned for military use in 1939.  During the War, the whole of the central staircase and landings were destroyed by fire and the roof was damaged, and although the staircase was reinstated only temporary repairs were made to the roof. When these failed in 1951, the house was rapidly damaged by water penetration and in 1958 it was demolished and replaced by a group of small houses. Most of the estate was sold after the death of Ralph Aldersey except for the family memorial and some houses in the village. Ralph's surviving children by his first marriage, Michael (b. 1928), Hugh (b. 1931) and Rose (b. 1934) had emigrated to Australia in the 1950s, but their half-brother, William Ralph Aldersey (b. 1950) still lives nearby and has two sons to continue the family connection with Cheshire.  

Aldersey Hall, Cheshire

Aldersey Hall: the house in the late 19th century, photographed by Augustus Kellham.
Image: Historic England BB89/3574 & R. Dennis.

A new house is said to have been built on this site in the early 18th century for the Rev. Samuel Aldersey (1673-1741), who was rector of Wigan (Lancs), but is said to have rebuilt Aldersey Hall as a country house, presumably soon after inheriting the estate in 1715. Nothing seems to be known about the appearance of this house, but some elements of it, including the handsome timber staircase with turned balusters, survived until the house was demolished. 

Aldersey Hall: the early Georgian staircase in 1958, reinstated after wartime fire damage. Image: Historic England AA58/4251.

The Rev. Samuel's great-grandson, also Samuel Aldersey (1776-1855), further enlarged and remodelled the house in about 1807-11, creating a plain three-storey stuccoed house of five bays by six, with a Doric porch. The main early 19th century rooms across the front of the house were the entrance hall, the 'salon' (probably originally the dining room) to its left, with a screen of columns across one end, and a room of similar dimensions to the right of the hall, which was presumably the original drawing room. These rooms had simple Classical decoration.

Aldersey Hall: the early 19th century salon (probably originally the dining room) in 1958. Image: Historic England AA58/4252

When Ralph Aldersey inherited the house in 1931 he was working in Lincolnshire, and although he returned to Cheshire to manage the estate he did not occupy the hall, which was leased out as a ladies' horticultural college. The house was requisitioned in 1939 and occupied by an RASC Driver Training School until 1943, when a fire destroyed the staircase, leaving just a charred void. The staircase was reinstated and temporary repairs were made to the roof above, allowing the house to be used as a hostel for displaced persons employed on local farms. This use continued until about 1950, when the house was returned to the family and leased to a boys' boarding school. In 1951, however, the wartime roof repair failed and the house was rapidly badly damaged by water penetration. With the post-war shortage of building materials it was not possible to repair the damage sufficiently to make the house habitable, and this led to it being abandoned and eventually demolished in 1958. A small housing development now occupies the site, while the former parkland is used for grazing. 

Aldersey Hall: the house in 1958 on the eve of demolition. Image: Historic England AA58/4248.

Descent: William Aldersey (fl. 1446/7); to son, Henry Aldersey (fl. 1474-94); to son, John Aldersey (c.1494-1528/54); to son, John Aldersey (c.1520-82); to son, Randle Aldersey (c.1539-1600); to son, John Aldersey (c.1569-1648); to son, Thomas Aldersey (1600-75); to son, Thomas Aldersey (1634-1715); to son, Rev. Samuel Aldersey (1673-1741); to son, Rev. Samuel Aldersey (1714-1802); to son, Robert Aldersey (1738-1802); to brother, Samuel Aldersey (1742-1803); to son, Samuel Aldersey (1776-1855); to son, Thomas Aldersey (1830-99); to son, Hugh Aldersey (1858-1931); to son, Ralph Aldersey (1890-1976), who demolished the house in 1958.

Aldersey family of Aldersey

Aldersey, Henry (fl. 1474-94), of Aldersey Hall.  Son of William Aldersey (fl. 1446/7) and his wife Margaret, daughter and heir of John Stalker of Lower Spurstow (Cheshire).  He married Jane, daughter of John Hockenhull of Hockenhull (Cheshire), and had issue:
(1) John Aldersey (c.1494-1554?) (q.v.);
(2) Robert Aldersey (fl. early 16th cent.), alderman of Chester by 1528; married Anne Malbon of Malpas (Cheshire) and had issue; ancestor of the Alderseys of Kent and Stafford;
(3) Hugh Aldersey (fl. early 16th cent.), alderman of Chester; married Margaret, daughter of Randel Bamville of Gawsworth (Cheshire) and had issue;
(4) Richard Aldersey (fl. early 16th cent.) of Picton (Cheshire); married Margaret, daughter of James Colgrave and had issue one son and one daughter; his grandson, William Aldersey (1543-1613/4) was mayor of Chester and a celebrated antiquary;
He inherited the Aldersey and Lower Spurstow estates from his father.
His date of death is unknown.

Aldersey, John (c.1494-1554?), of Aldersey Hall. Eldest son of Henry Aldersey (fl. 1474) and his wife Jane, daughter of John Hockenhull of Hockenhull (Cheshire), born about 1494.  He married Anne, daughter and eventual heir of Thomas Bird alias Delbird of Clutton (Cheshire) and had issue:
(1) John Aldersey (d. 1582) (q.v.);
(2) Thomas Aldersey (1522-98) of London, merchant; educated at Bunbury School (Cheshire); apprenticed to Thomas Bingham of London, 1541; made free of the Haberdashers Company, 1548 and established a large-scale trade with Spain and the Low Countries; a leading Protestant in London; elected to the corporation, 1571 (auditor, 1571-72; sheriff's serjeant, 1576); MP for London, 1579-92; endowed Bunbury School and placed it under the stewardship of the Haberdashers' Company, 1575 and 1594; married Alice, daughter of Richard Calthrop of Antingham (Norfolk) but had no issue; died at Aldersey, 4 February, and buried at Berden (Essex), 18 February 1598; will proved in Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 23 February 1598;
(3) Catherine Aldersey, married Ralph Pike of Worcester;
(4) Ralph Aldersey;
(5) Hugh Aldersey.
He inherited the Aldersey and Lower Spurstow estates from his father.
He is usually said to have died in 1554, but there is evidence that he was dead by 1534 and he may in fact have died in 1528, the year in which his will was written (see the comments at the end of this article).

Aldersey, John (c.1520-82), of Aldersey Hall.  Eldest son of John Aldersey (c.1494-1554?) and his wife Anne, daughter of Thomas Bird alias Delbird of Clutton (Cheshire); born about 1520. Acted as a lawyer in London.  He married Anne (fl. 1582), daughter of Hugh Aston of Aston Green (Cheshire) and had issue:
(1) Randle Aldersey (c.1539-1600) (q.v.);
(2) John Aldersey (b. c.1541) (q.v.);
(3) Alice Aldersey, married Thomas Moulston of Hargrave;
(4) Elinor Aldersey, married William Bebington of Chorley;
(5) Anne Aldersey, married William Bickley or Brickley;
(6) Katherine Aldersey, married 5 February 1574, Edward Cotton (d. 1602) of Cotton;
(7) Elizabeth Aldersey, married John Egerton of Christelton.
He inherited the Aldersey and Lower Spurstow estates from his father in 1554.
He died and was buried at Bunbury, 17 October 1582. His widow's date of death is unknown.

Aldersey, John (c.1541-1616) of London.  Second son of John Aldersey (c.1520-82) and his wife Anne, daughter of Hugh Aston of Aston Green (Cheshire), born about 1541.  Merchant in London.  He married Anne, daughter of Simon Lowe of London and sister of Sir Thomas Lowe, and had issue:
(1) Samuel Aldersey (d. 1633) of London, haberdasher; a leading Puritan and founder member of the Massachusetts Bay Trading Co.; Treasurer of the Feoffees of Impropriations; married 1st, Mary, daughter of Philip van Oyrl of Nornberg and Antwerp and had issue seven children; obtained an Act of Parliament for the naturalisation of his children born abroad, 1627;
(2) William Aldersey;
(3) Anne Aldersey, married Thomas Thomson;
(4) Dorothy Aldersey, married 1st, Sir Thomas Hodgkyns or Hoskins, kt. and 2nd, Sir Henry Capel, kt. of Hadham;
(5) Margaret Aldersey, married Charles Hodgkyns of London;
(6) Mary Aldersey, married 1st, Thomas Westron or Westrow, alderman of London; 2nd, Sir Norton Knatchbull (d. 1636) of Kent; and 3rd, Sir Thomas Scot of Scot's Hall and Nettlestead;
(7) Elizabeth Aldersey (fl. 1610), married 1st, William Pitchford, and 2nd, 1610 as his second wife, Sir Thomas Coventry (1578-1640), kt & 1st Baron Coventry, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, and had issue four sons and four daughters.
From 1593 he rented the large Christs Hospital estate at Berden and Clavering (Essex).
He died in 1616.

Aldersey, Randel (c.1539-1600) of Aldersey Hall.  Elder son of John Aldersey (c.1520-82) and his wife Anne, daughter of Hugh Aston of Aston Green (Cheshire), born about 1539. Recorded as a Recusant in 1590, 1592, 1593 and 1598.  He married Anne (d. 1590), daughter of Robert Cowper and widow of John Dod of Cholmondeley (Cheshire), and had issue:
(1) John Aldersey (c.1569-1648) (q.v.);
(2) Frances Aldersey, married William Allen (b. c1560) of Brindley;
(3) Thomas Aldersey, died without issue;
(4) Mary Aldersey (d. 1593); died unmarried and without issue; buried at Bunbury, 25 November1593.
He inherited the Aldersey and Lower Spurstow estates from his father in 1554.
He died and was buried at Bunbury (Cheshire), 25 May 1600.  His wife was buried at Bunbury, 25 September 1590.

Aldersey, John (c.1569-1648) of Aldersey Hall.  Only surviving son of Randel Aldersey (c.1539-1600) and his wife Anne, daughter of Robert Cooper, born about 1569. Educated at Brasenose College, Oxford (matriculated 1588/9). He married Anne (d. 1646), daughter of Richard Ward of Coton (Salop) and had issue:
(1) Anne Aldersey (b. 1598), baptised 9 September 1598; married William Raven of Elworth;
(2) Thomas Aldersey (1600-75) (q.v.);
(3) Mary Aldersey (b. 1602), baptised 7 November 1602; married George Huxley of Brindley;
(4) John Aldersey (b. 1604) of London, merchant; baptised 17 February 1604; married Frances Burton of Shropshire;
(5) Grace Aldersey, (b. c.1606); married about July 1642 Richard Barrett of Eaton (Denbighs);
(6) Frances Aldersey (b. 1609); baptised 28 May 1609; married Thomas Edwards of Kilhendre (Salop);
(7) Elizabeth Aldersey (b. 1611), baptised 7 July 1611; died unmarried.
He inherited the Aldersey and Lower Spurstow estates from his father in 1600, but transferred control to his son Thomas c.1641.
He died in 1648.  His wife was buried 19 January 1646.

Aldersey, Thomas (1600-75) of Aldersey Hall.  Elder son of John Aldersey (c.1569-1648) and his wife Anne, daughter of Richard Ward of Coton (Salop), baptised 11 or 14 June 1600. Educated at Queens College, Cambridge (admitted 1619) and Grays Inn (admitted 1622); appointed Crown escheator for Cheshire, 1629.  He married, about 7 May 1632, Elizabeth (1612-92), daughter of John Robotham of Newland, St. Albans (Herts) and had issue:
(1) Thomas Aldersey (1634-1715) (q.v.);
(2) Elizabeth Aldersey (b. 1637), baptised 30 May 1637;
(3) Rebecca Aldersey, m. John Travis of Horton-cum-Peele (Cheshire);
(4) John Aldersey (b. 1638; fl. 1690), baptised 24 May 1638;
(5) Robert Aldersey (b. 1642; fl. 1705), baptised 25 September 1642; salter of London; responsible for improving Shrewsbury water supply, 1705; married and had issue;
(6) Mary Aldersey (b. 1648), baptised 10 December 1648;
(7) William Aldersey (b. 1651), baptised 4 September 1651;
(8) Martha Aldersey (b. 1653), baptised 28 February 1653;
(9) Alban Aldersey (b. 1657), baptised 29 April 1657.
He received the Aldersey and Lower Spurstow estates from his father in about 1641.
He died and was buried, 19 October 1675.

Aldersey, Thomas (1634-1715), of Aldersey Hall. Eldest son of Thomas Aldersey (1600-75) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of John Robotham of Newland, St. Albans (Herts), born 25 February or 1 March 1633/4.  Educated at Brasenose College, Oxford (matriculated 1653) and Grays Inn (admitted 1654; called to bar, 1663); practiced as a barrister.  He belonged to the Puritan faction in the county and his notebooks of sermons heard, 1653-89, survive in the Bodleian Library.  He married Margaret (1635-1722), daughter of Thomas Lee of Dornhall (Cheshire) and had issue:
(1) Frances Aldersey (d. 1691); died in childhood, 25 December 1691;
(2) Robert Aldersey (1670-1730), born 22 August 1670; educated at Grays Inn (admitted 1690); DL for Cheshire; captain in Cheshire militia; married about 26 March 1698, Jane, daughter and co-heir of Thomas Webb of Middlewich (Cheshire); died without issue, 30 January 1730;
(3) Rev. Samuel Aldersey (1673-1741) (q.v.);
(4) Mary Aldersey (d. 1714), married - Edwards of Rurrington and had issue;
(5) Anne Aldersey (d. 1676), died in infancy and buried 3 May 1676;
(6) John Aldersey (1677-1730), baptised at Tarporley, 7 October 1677;
(7) Elizabeth Aldersey (d. 1683); died young; buried 5 February 1683.
He inherited the Aldersey and Lower Spurstow estates from his father in 1675.
He died and was buried at Bunbury, 20 May 1715.  His widow died in April 1722.

Aldersey, Rev. Samuel (1673-1741) of Wigan and Aldersey Hall.  Second but eldest surviving son of Thomas Aldersey (1634-1715) and his wife Margaret, daughter of Thomas Lee of Dornhall (Cheshire), born 4 December 1673.  Educated at Brasenose College, Oxford (matriculated 1691; BA 1694; MA 1700); ordained deacon, 1696 and priest, 1700 in the diocese of Chester; curate of Bunbury (Cheshire), 1708-15; rector of Wigan (Lancs), 1714-42.  He married, 8 October 1702, Henrietta (d. 1756), daughter of Rt. Rev. Henry Bridgeman DD, Dean of Chester 1660-82 and Bishop of Sodor & Man 1671-82, and had issue: 
(1) Thomas Aldersey (b. & d. 1703); baptised 3 August 1703; died in infancy;
(2) Thomas Aldersey (1704-42), physician; baptised 5 August 1704; educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1720/1; BA 1724, MA 1729, MB 1731, MD 1733); married Mary, daughter and co-heir of Cornelius Hignett of Darland, but died without issue; buried at Bunbury, 12 July 1742;
(3) John Aldersey (b. 1705); baptised 21 November 1705; educated at Brasenose College, Oxford (matriculated 1720); traditionally said to have died unmarried in 1730, but this may be a confusion with the death of his uncle of the same name; possibly the John Aldersey who married, 27 August 1737 in Chester Cathedral, Jane Carr of Broreton; presumably died before his father (or he would have inherited Aldersey Hall);
(4) Anne Aldersey (b. 1706), baptised 8 November 1706; married 1st, Mr Kynaston and had issue; and 2nd, Mr Holt; 
(5) Elizabeth Aldersey (b. 1707), baptised 4 January 1707; died unmarried after 1737; 
(6) Robert Aldersey (1709-c.1735); baptised 24 May 1709; died unmarried and without issue between 1732 and 1736;
(7) Henry Aldersey (b. 1710), born April 1710; died unmarried and without issue; 
(8) Rev. Samuel Aldersey (1714-1802) (q.v.); 
(9) Orlando Arlesey (b. 1715); 
(10) Bridgeman Aldersey (b. c.1716; fl. 1749), apprenticed to Sherman Wall of London, apothecary, 1734; married Nancy, daughter of Foote Gower MD and had issue a daughter; 
(11) Jane Aldersey, m. Mr. Lancaster; 
(12) Margaret Aldersey, m. Mr. Hesketh and had issue one son; 
(13) Randal Aldersey, probably died young; 
(14) Mary Aldersey, probably died young; 
(15) Henrietta Arlesey, probably died young.
He inherited the Aldersey and Lower Spurstow estates from his father in 1715, and is said to have rebuilt Aldersey Hall as a country house.  At his death the estates passed briefly to his son Thomas, who died the following year, and then to his next surviving son, Samuel.
He died in Wigan, 18 April and was buried there, 20 April 1741.  There is a transcript in the family papers of a monument to his memory erected in Wigan church, which was no longer to be seen in 1891.

Aldersey, Rev. Samuel (1714-1802), of Bunbury and Aldersey Hall.  Sixth son of Rev. Samuel Aldersey (1673-1741) and his wife Henrietta, daughter of Rt. Rev. Henry Bridgeman, Bishop of Sodor & Man, born 29 November 1714.  Educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1731) and Trinity College, Cambridge (admitted 1734; LLB 1738); ordained deacon 1736/7 and priest 1738 in the diocese of Lincoln; domestic chaplain to the Dowager Countess of Kerry, 1740; curate of Malpas (Cheshire), 1740-47; vicar of Bunbury (Cheshire), 1760-82.  He married 1st, Margaret (d. 1783), youngest daughter and co-heir of Cornelius Hignett of Darland, and 2nd, 5 May 1785 at Walcot, Bath (Somerset), Charles Catherine (c.1748-1828), daughter of Sir Charles Erskine bt. of Alva (Clackmannan) and had issue, with other children who died in infancy: 
(1.1) Robert Aldersey (1738-1802); born April 1738; educated at Inner Temple (bencher); died unmarried, 19 November 1802 and was buried in Temple Church, London;
(1.2) Samuel Aldersey (1742-1803) (q.v.); 
(1.3) Catherine Aldersey (d. 1757), died unmarried; buried at Bunbury, 30 August 1757.
He inherited the Aldersey and Lower Spurstow estates from his elder brother in 1743.  At his death they passed in turn to his two surviving sons, who both died within 18 months of his own death.
He died 12 February and was buried at Bunbury, 15 February 1802.  His widow was buried at Bunbury, 13 March 1828, aged 80.

Aldersey, Samuel (1742-1803), of Aldersey Hall.  Younger surviving son of Rev. Samuel Aldersey (1714-1802) and his first wife, Margaret, daughter of Cornelius Hignett of Darland, born 4 and baptised at Malpas, 30 June 1742.  Educated at Queens College, Oxford (matriculated 1758; BA 1762; MA 1764).  Married 23 October 1772 at Coleshill (Warks), Elizabeth (d. 1841), daughter and heir of William Wotton of Haddenham (Bucks) and had issue: 
(1) Catherine Aldersey (c.1774-1835); died unmarried; buried at Coddington, 24 June 1835;
(2) Samuel Aldersey (1776-1855) (q.v.); 
(3) Thomas Aldersey (d. 1824); died unmarried, 4 January 1824; commemorated by a monument in Bunbury church;
(4) Margaret Maria Aldersey (d. 1779); died in infancy;
(5) Margaret Aldersey (d. 1818); died 8 April 1818; administration granted 16 September 1818 (estate under £4,000)
(6) Elizabeth Aldersey (1794-1836); baptised 25 May 1794; died unmarried; buried at Tarporley (Cheshire), 23 November 1836.
He inherited the Aldersey and Lower Spurstow estates from his elder brother in 1802.
He died intestate, 24 or 25 August 1803 and was buried at Bunbury, 29 August 1803.  His widow died 14th and was buried at Coddington, 19 May 1841.

Aldersey, Samuel (1776-1855) of Aldersey Hall.  Elder son of Samuel Aldersey (1742-1803) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of William Wotton of Haddenham (Bucks), born at Broomsgrove (Sussex), 17 September 1776 and christened at Tardebigge (Worcs). High Sheriff of Cheshire, 1816 and 1830. Obtained an Act of Parliament for selling part of the settled estates of the family in Aldersey, Ashton, Bunbury, Tarporley, Tiverton and Spurstow, Tarvin and Coddington, and buying alternative lands to be settled to the same uses, 1816.  He married, 9 August 1824 at Tilston (Cheshire), Lucy (1799-1868), daughter of George Baylis of Shifnal (Salop) and had issue: 
(1) Susan Mary Aldersey (1826-89), m. 1850 Augustus Kelham (d. 1897) of Manchester; 
(2) Lucy Anne Aldersey (1827-71), baptised at Coddington, 5 June 1827; married, 30 November 1854 at Coddington, Charles James Trevor-Roper (1824-93), son of Charles Blayney Trevor-Roper of Plas Teg (Flints); died 4 March 1871; administration of goods granted, 4 August 1893 (effects £23);
(3) Hugh Robert Aldersey (1828-48), born 19 November 1828; educated at Rugby and Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1848); died 24 December 1848; 
(4) Thomas Aldersey (1830-99) (q.v.).
He inherited the Aldersey and Lower Spurstow estates from his father in 1803, and remodelled or rebuilt the house in 1811.
He died 17 July 1855 and was buried at Coddington (Cheshire), where he is commemorated by a memorial window.  His widow died 26 or 28 May 1868; her will was proved at Chester, 1 July 1868 (estate under £1000).

Aldersey, Thomas (1830-99) of Aldersey Hall.  Younger but only surviving son of Samuel Aldersey (1776-1855) and his wife Lucy, daughter of George Baylis of Shifnal (Salop), born 30 March 1830.  Captain in 1st Royal Cheshire Militia; High Sheriff of Cheshire, 1862. He married, 5 February 1856 at Stevenage (Herts), Rose Sidney (d. 1887), second daughter of Canon George Becher Blomfield, rector of Stevenage and canon of Chester Cathedral, and had issue: 
(1) Constance Aldersey (1856-1940), born 6 December 1856; died unmarried; 
(2) Hugh Aldersey (1858-1931) (q.v.); 
(3) Thomas Aldersey (1860-1935), born 28 January 1860; educated at Haileybury; married, 19 April 1887, Annie Augusta (d. 1931), daughter of Rev. William Bishton Garnett-Botfield of Decker Hill, Shifnal (Salop) and had issue two sons and one daughter; died 11 November 1935; will proved 27 January 1936 (estate £1,672);
(4) Rose Frances Aldersey (1861-1933), born 17 November 1861; died unmarried, 13 June 1933; will proved 22 August 1933 (estate £3,272);
(5) Ida Mary Aldersey (1865-1923), born 11 April 1865; married, 28 September 1886, Rev. Charles Ramsey Garnett-Botfield MA (d. 1932), vicar of Moreton (Salop) and had issue; died 13 May 1923; will proved 2 July 1923 (estate £853).
He inherited the Aldersey and Lower Spurstow estate from his father in 1855.
He died 1 October 1899, aged 69; his will was proved 12 December 1899 (estate £3,227). His wife died 25 September 1887.

Aldersey, Hugh (1858-1931), of Aldersey Hall.  Elder son of Thomas Aldersey (1830-99) and his wife Rose Sidney, daughter of Rev. George Becher Blomfield, born 2 February 1858. Educated at Eton, Trinity College, Cambridge (admitted 1877; BA 1882) and Lincolns Inn (admitted 1879).  JP for Cheshire; a well-known horticulturalist and winner of several RHS awards for new flowering plants.  He married, 3 April 1888, Evelyn (1863-1952), daughter of Rev. Canon Francis Coulman Royds, rector of Coddington (Cheshire) and had issue: 
(1) Capt. Hugh Aldersey (1888-1918), born 28 December 1888; educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge (BA); served WW1 as Captain in Cheshire Yeomanry; killed in action in Palestine, 10 March 1918, aged 29; will proved 20 November 1918 (estate £1,441);
(2) Ralph Aldersey (1890-1976) (q.v.); 
(3) Mark Aldersey (1897-1917), born 28 October 1897; educated at Eton and RMC Sandhurst; served in WW1 as 2nd Lt, Cheshire Regiment; killed in action at Ypres (Belgium), 1 November 1917, aged 20; will proved 6 April 1918 (estate £193).
He inherited the Aldersey and Lower Spurstow estates from his father in 1899, but sold Lower Spurstow.
He died 4 January 1931 and an obituary was published in The Times, 6 January 1931.  His will was proved 25 April 1931 and 2 January 1932 (estate £50,705).  His widow died 18 June 1952; her will was proved 15 June 1952 (estate £1,445).

Ralph Aldersey

Aldersey, Ralph (1890-1976), of Aldersey Hall.  Second but only surviving son of Hugh Aldersey (1858-1931) and his wife Evelyn, daughter of Canon Francis Coulman Royds, born 20 March 1890.  Educated at Radley and Reading University (BA in horticulture); established a nursery business at Kingsbridge (Devon).  Served in WW1 as Captain in 3rd battalion, Cheshire Regiment, and was wounded twice and mentioned in despatches; after the war he was land agent to his uncle, Sir Edmund Royds, in Lincolnshire until he inherited the Aldersey estate, when he resumed horticulture at Aldersey; Fellow of Land Agents' Society; JP for Cheshire, 1936. He married 1st, 30 April 1927 in France, (Emilia) Rachel Loftus (d. 1948), daughter of Cdr. Herbert Ponsonby Loftus Gaussen RN of Brookmans Park (Herts) and Vasey, Victoria, Australia, and 2nd, 8 January 1949, Beatrice Maude (d. 1997), eldest daughter of Charles Stonor and had issue: 
(1.1) Michael Aldersey (1928-2017), born 23 December 1928; educated at Radley; served as 2nd Lt. in Cheshire Regt.; emigrated to Australia and farmed at Kieth, South Australia (retired); served on rural development and protection organisations in South Australia; married 1st, 24 April 1954, Sybella Helen (1932-60), daughter of Craig McNeile McCormick of Knocknattin, Cultra (Down) and had issue one son, and 2nd, Dr. Alison Gazzard and had issue three daughters; died 15 October 2017;
(1.2) Primula Aldersey (1930-67), journalist, worked for Chester Chronicle and British Travel & Holidays Association; married, 1954, David P. Powell of Twickenham (Middx), son of G. Powell of Wrexham, and had issue two sons; died 8 March 1967;
(1.3) Hugh Aldersey (b. 1931) of Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia; educated at Radley and Birkenhead Technical College; served as 2nd Lt. in Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, 1953-55; emigrated to Australia, 1955; worked in heavy engineering and plastics marketing (retired); author of two historical novels, Irregular safari and Know your enemy, partly based on family diaries and experiences; married 1st, 1955, Elizabeth Ann (Judy), youngest daughter of John Walter Goss of Exeter and had issue one son and one daughter; married 2nd, 1 December 2001, J. Jocic;
(1.4) Rose Aldersey MCSP (b. 1934); chartered physiotherapist; emigrated to Australia, 1956 and established her own practice at Port Lincoln, South Australia (retired);
(2.1) William Ralph Aldersey (b. 1950), born 14 March 1950; educated at Oswestry School; lives at Bickerton (Cheshire); married, 21 February 1975, Sheila Griffiths, and has issue two sons.
He inherited the Aldersey Hall estate from his father in 1930, but let it soon afterwards. It was requisitioned during the war and fire damaged, and although repairs were effected these failed in the 1950s and the house was rapidly damaged by water penetration. It was abandoned c.1951 and demolished c.1958. He retained the estate and lived at The Crooke, Aldersey. The estate was mostly sold after his death.
He died 12 December 1976.  His first wife died 22 March 1948.  His widow died 1 January 1997; her will was proved 26 February 1997.

Sources

E. Twycross, Mansions of England & Wales, vol. 1 (1850), p. 39; J.B. Burke, Visitation of Seats & Arms, vol. 1 (1852), p. 120; J.M. Robinson, A guide to the country houses of the North-West, 1991, p. 6; Garden History, (31:1), 2003, p. 68; Oxford Dictionary of National Biography entry on Thomas Aldersey (1522-98); http://www.geneagraphie.com/getperson.php?personID=I269933&tree=1

Location of archives

Aldersey family of Aldersey: deeds, family and estate papers, 1215-1938 (Cheshire Archives & Local Studies, DAL, DWC, ZCR 469, D8178)
Aldersey, Thomas (1635-1715): notebooks on sermons heard, 1657-89 (Bodleian Library, Oxford, MSS. Don. e. 155-163); accounts, 1666-1713 (Bodleian Library, Oxford, 6720)

Coat of arms

Gules, on a bend engrailed Argent, between two cinquefoils Or, three leopards' faces Vert.

Revision & Acknowledgements

This post was first published on 15 September 2013 and was revised 24 August 2014, 19 July 2015, 5-19 April 2016, 15 June 2017, 26 January 2018, 13 December 2019, 4 January and 29 May 2020. I am grateful to Hugh and Rose Aldersey, Andrew Jones, Paul Jones and Gina Ambridge for additional information and corrections.