(440) Bate of Kelsterton Hall

Bate of Kelsterton

Thomas Bate (1769-1833) is said to have been born in Leeds but evidently moved from that city to south-west Lancashire in the late 18th century. He is recorded on his marriage as a cooper, but his brewery business is said to have been established in 1793, and he evidently prospered sufficiently to allow him to buy a substantial estate around Kelsterton and Northop (Flints) in 1816. The estate included a 'mansion house' which had been the residence of the previous owner, John Edwards, a former High Sheriff of Flintshire, but the fact that the sale particulars are silent about its charms and size suggests that it was small and old-fashioned. Having acquired the estate, Bate transferred his brewery to Kelsterton, where new premises were built in 1818, and either at the same time or later he built the present house on the opposite side of the road. The house and brewery descended in turn to his son, Edward Bate (1805-76) and grandson, Thomas Bate (1849-1910). The latter converted the brewery business into a limited company in 1890 and sold it to the Chester Northgate Brewery Co. (of which he became a director) in 1899. The brewery at Kelsterton later closed and some of the stone from the building was used to construct a vestry at Connah's Quay church in 1933. Thomas also made alterations and additions to the house at Kelsterton, perhaps funded by capital released from the brewery business.

Thomas Bate had two sons. The elder, Roger Whitley Bate (1882-1901) volunteered for the Royal Welsh Fusiliers during the Boer War, and was killed in an incident near Boshof (South Africa). The younger, Thomas Bate (1889-1917) spent four years travelling in Australia and North America between 1908 and 1912, during which time his father died. When he returned to England he did not immediately take control of the estate as it was administered by a trustee until he reached the age of 25. Just a month later, on 4 August, the First World War began and Thomas joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers on the same day. Unfortunately, he too was killed in 1917, and the Kelsterton estate passed to his sister Gwendoline (1879-1967) and her husband, John William Charlton (1873-1945), a Liverpool corn factor.

Plas Bellin, Northop

They occupied the house for a few years but sold it in the 1920s and moved to the rather smaller Plas Bellin at Northop, where their family remained until the 1970s, when the house was acquired by the National Coal Board.  By 1985 the house was derelict, but it was then leased (and later sold) to the charity 'Save the Family' which secured the funds to restore it as accommodation for vulnerable homeless families. It continues to serve this purpose today. 

Kelsterton Hall, Connah's Quay, Flintshire

Kelsterton Hall: the house of c.1820 was altered, perhaps in the 1890s, when the single-storey corridor was built on the front
and additions were made at the rear.

A two-storey house of pale pink brick, built about 1820 for Thomas Bate (1769-1835) on the site of an earlier 'mansion house' about which nothing seems to be known. The entrance front has a four-bay centre between slightly projecting one-bay wings, while the rear originally had a series of four low-pitched gables. Later in the 19th century, a single-storey corridor with a glazed roof was built between the wings on the front, with five windows and a front door awkwardly crammed into the four bays. Presumably at the same time, a darker red brick service wing was added at the rear and the interior was much refitted with panelling, a new staircase with a balustrade formed of a panel of twisted balusters, and heavy stone chimneypieces. In the 1960s and 1970s the house was used as a hostel for young men, and fell into disrepair. It is now once again in private ownership, but period features are now largely confined to the hall and staircase, and the dining room, following further extensive remodelling in the late 20th and 21st centuries. 

Descent: John Edwards (d. 1816); sold 1816 to Thomas Bate (1769-1833); to son, Edward Bate (1805-76); to son, Thomas Bate (1849-1910); to son, Thomas Bate (1889-1917); to sister, Gwendoline Mary Owen Bate (b. 1870), wife of John William Charlton (d. 1945); leased or sold to Ralph Currey Dawson (d. 1935) and then Mr & Mrs Harry Nicholls (fl. 1939-53)...

Bate family of Kelsterton Hall

Bate, Thomas (1769-1833). Son of Thomas Bate (d. 1795) of Leeds (Yorks WR) and his wife Anne, daughter of John Dawson, born 28 March 1769. A cooper and later a brewer in Prescot (Lancs) from 1793 and proprietor of the Kelsterton Brewery from 1818. He married, 15 March 1797 at Rainford (Lancs), Mary (1775-1861), daughter of Ralph Cooke of Prescot (Lancs), and had issue:

(1) Anne Bate (1801-53), born 17 February and baptised at St. Helens (Lancs), 19 February 1801; married, 7 July 1830 at Northop, William Medley (1801-73) of Liverpool, woollen draper (who m2, 26 April 1855 at St Catherine, Liverpool, Elizabeth Luccock (1808-87), daughter of Thomas Griffith), son of Guy Medley, and had issue three sons and one daughter; died 10 October and was buried in Liverpool Cemetery, 13 October 1853;

(2) Edward Bate (1805-76) (q.v.);

(3) Mary Bate (b. 1809), born 25 June and baptised at St Helens, 6 August 1809; married, 8 September 1840 at Connah's Quay, Ven. Edward Smart (c.1816-89), rector of Henllan (Denbighs) and archdeacon of St Asaph, son of Edward Smart of Llanwfrog (Denbighs.); living in 1889 but death not traced.

He acquired the Kelsterton estate (Flints) in 1816 from the executors of John Edwards, and probably rebuilt the house soon afterwards.

He died 25 May and was buried at Everton Nonconformist Burial Ground, Liverpool, 28 May 1833. His widow died 16 March and was buried at Henllan, 22 March 1861.

Bate, Edward (1805-76). Only son of Thomas Bate (1769-1833) and his wife Mary, daughter of Ralph Cooke of Prescot (Lancs), born 5 April and baptised at St Helens (Lancs), 1 May 1805. Proprietor of Kelsterton Brewery, 1833-76; JP for Flintshire. He married, 12 September 1845, Martha (1814-92), only daughter and eventually sole heiress of Rev. Edward Whitley, vicar of Berse Drelincourt (Denbighs) and rector of Bodfari, and had issue:

(1) Mary Jane Bate (1848-1928), born 11 May 1848; married, 4 May 1893 at Guilsfield (Montgomerys.), Edward Dallas Annesley (1855-1927) of Oxford, fifth son of Arthur Annesley of Lee (Kent) and Haseley (Warks), but had no issue; died 19 August 1928; will proved 7 November 1928 (estate £3,702);

(2) Thomas Bate (1849-1910) (q.v.);

(3) Anna Maria Bate (1852-1913), born 23 September and baptised at Connah's Quay, 25 November 1852; married, 23 December 1879 at Connah's Quay, John Alexander Sinclair-Maclagan (1834-1911) of Glenqueich (Angus), but had no issue; died 29 June 1913; will confirmed 29 August 1913 (estate £6,623);

(4) Emily Martha Bate (1855-1947), born 20 July and baptised at Connah's Quay, 12 October 1855; married, 18 October 1881 at Gresford (Denbighs), Canon James Sculthorpe Lewis (c.1848-1925), vicar of Guilsfield and later of Ruabon (Denbighs), only son of Rev. Evan Lewis of Whittington (Shrops.), and had issue five sons and one daughter; died aged 91 on 18 March 1947; will proved 29 October 1947 (estate £9,312).

He inherited Kelsterton Hall from his father in 1833.

He died intestate, 25 June and was buried at Connah's Quay, 29 June 1876; administration of his goods was granted to his son, 4 September 1876 (effects under £16,000). His widow died in Chester, 28 April 1892; her will was proved 30 May 1892 (effects £1,710).

Bate, Thomas (1849-1910). Only son of Edward Bate (1805-76) and his wife Martha, only daughter and eventual heiress of Rev. Edward Whitley, vicar of Berse Drelincourt and Minera (Denbighs), born 13 November 1849 and baptised at Northop (Flints), 15 January 1850. Educated at Queen’s College, Magdalen Hall and Hertford College, Oxford (mat. 1868; BA 1873; MA 1875), and Inner Temple (admitted. 1874). An officer in the Denbighshire Hussars (Lt., 1882); JP and DL for Flintshire; High Sheriff of Flintshire, 1887-88. Proprietor of the Kelsterton Brewery Co, 1876-90, and later chairman of the Kelsterton Brewery Ltd., 1890-99,  and a director of the Chester Northgate Brewery Co., 1899-1910. He married, 11 July 1878 at Blessington (Co. Wicklow), Perenna (1858-1920), fourth daughter of William Owen of Blessington, and had issue:

(1) Gwendoline Mary Owen Bate (1879-1967) (q.v.);

(2) Dorothy Bate (1880-1938), born 17 September and baptised at Connah's Quay, 16 October 1880; married, 24 April 1907 at Yazor (Herefs), Vivian Burchall Latham Helme (1882-1960) of The Old House, Wormelow (Herefs) (who m2, 1934, Winifred F. Jenney), second son of Harold Helme of Broadfield Court and King's Thorne (Herefs), but had no issue; divorced on grounds of her adultery with Frederick H. Nixey, 1934, and lived subsequently at Lambourn (Berks); died 2 February 1938; administration of goods granted to her elder sister, 25 April 1938 (estate £6,217);

(3) Roger Whitley Bate (1882-1901), born 12 October and baptised at Connah's Quay, 13 November 1882; educated at Eton; served with 3rd battn, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (2nd Lt., 1899) in Boer War and was killed at Rustpan, near Boshof (South Africa), 7 December 1901; administration of his goods granted to his father, 26 May 1902 (effects £551);

(4) Gladys Annie Bate (1884-1978), born 21 January and baptised at Connah's Quay, 26 February 1884; Roman Catholic convert who in 1939 was an unpaid assistant and catechist in Capel Curig (Caernarvons.); died aged 94 at Nazareth House, Wrexham (Denbighs.), 23 April 1978, and was buried at Bridell (Pembs.), 28 April 1978; her burial at Bridell suggests she may have been a nun in the Carmelite convent there for a time;

(5) Marjorie Perenna Bate (1888-1966), born 8 January and baptised at Connah's Quay, 16 February 1888; married, 1 March 1932 at Connah's Quay, Cmdr. Hubert George Morgan Hill RN (1888-1961), son of Vice-Adm. George William Hill of Stoney Stretton Hall, Yockleton (Shrops.); died 9 June 1966; will proved 13 September 1966 (estate £15,283);

(6) Thomas Bate (1889-1917) (q.v.);

(7) Pauline Janet Whitley Bate (1899-1979), born 25 January 1899; married, 21 November 1934, Stewart Edward Benson (1912-2004); died 20 November 1979; will proved 12 February 1980 (estate £45,160).

He inherited Kelsterton Hall from his father in 1876 and probably remodelled it in the 1890s.

He died 13 December and was buried at Connah's Quay, 16 December 1910; his will was proved 28 March 1911 (estate £75,633). His widow died in London, 11 February, and was buried at Connah's Quay, 14 February 1920; her will was proved 30 March 1920 (estate £11,236).

Bate, Thomas (1889-1917). Second, but only surviving son of Thomas Bate (1849-1910) and his wife Perenna, daughter of William Owen of Blessington (Co. Wicklow), born 1 July and baptised at Connah's Quay, 4 August 1889. Educated at Shrewsbury School. He travelled in Australia, the USA and Canada, 1908-12, and was thus away at the time of his father's death. An officer in the 5th battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (2nd Lt., 1913; Lt., 1914), who was mentioned in despatches, 1917. He was unmarried and without issue.

He inherited Kelsterton Hall from his father in 1910, but it was administered by his uncle, Thomas Owen, as trustee, until he came of age at 25 in 1914. After his death the estate passed to his eldest sister, Gwendoline.

He was killed in action at Gaza (Palestine), 26 March 1917.

Bate, Gwendoline Mary Owen (1879-1967). Eldest daughter of Thomas Bate (1849-1910) and his wife Perenna, daughter of William Owen of Blessington (Co. Wicklow), born 17 June and baptised at Connah's Quay, 29 July 1879. She married, 9 January 1906 at Connah's Quay, John William Charlton (1873-1945), corn merchant and chairman of the Chester Northgate Brewery Co., eldest son of John Charlton of Huntingdon (Dumfries.), and had issue:

(1) Maj. John Roger Owen Charlton (1908-42); educated at Shrewsbury School; a director of Charlton & Bagshaw of Liverpool, corn merchants, and later of the Chester Northgate Brewery Co.; an officer in 5th (Territorial) Battn, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (2nd Lt., 1928; Lt., c.1930; Capt., 1938; Acting Maj. by 1940) who served with the Royal Horse Artillery in the Second World War; awarded MC, 1940; died on active service at Tobruk (Libya), 29 May 1942; will proved 9 February 1943 (estate £18,853);

(2) Perenna Isabel Charlton (1909-90), born 20 September and baptised at Connah's Quay, 28 October 1909; married 1st, Apr-Jun 1942 (div. 1946), Anthony Stewart Linney (1914-84) and 2nd, Apr-Jun 1951, William David Douglas Evans (1910-94), and had issue one daughter; died 12 August 1990; will proved 29 October 1990 (estate £147,787);

(3) Thomas Patrick Charlton (1911-91), of Horseley Farm, Bruton (Som.); corn broker; served in Second World War as an officer in the Cheshire Yeomanry and 10th Royal Hussars (Capt.); married, January 1944 at Ashton Hayes (Ches.), Evelyn Mary (1909-2004), daughter of Maj. Philip Durning Holt of Bulkeley (Ches.); died 30 January 1991; will proved 24 May 1991 (estate £775,410);

(4) John Eugene Charlton (1914-2010), baptised at Connah's Quay, 20 February 1914; served in Second World War with Royal Artillery (Maj.); married, 21 September 1946 at Chester Cathedral, Betty Crook (b. 1925) of New Pale Lodge, Manley (Ches.), and had issue one son and two daughters; died 20 December 2010; will proved 18 February 2011;

(5) twin, Gwendoline Nancy Charlton (1918-2009), baptised at Northop (Flints), 3 August 1918; married, 14 June 1956 at the Savoy Chapel, London, John Oswald Colin Beazley (1921-2015), joint master of the Cheshire Beagles Hunt, son of Capt. J.R. Beazley, and had issue two sons; died 16 or 21 July 2009; will proved 4 December 2009;

(6) twin, Michael James Charlton (1918-22), baptised at Northop (Flints), 3 August 1918; died 14 February 1922; administration of goods granted to his father, 26 April 1922 (effects £454);

(7) Mary Dorothy Charlton (1921-79); married, 25 August 1951 at Northop, John Richard Baldwyn Williams-Ellis (1923-89) of Carrigfelen, Portmadoc (Caernarvons.), son of Lt-Col. Martyn Ivor Williams-Ellis of Wern, Portmadoc, and had issue one son and two daughters; died at Backnamullagh House, Dromore (Co. Down), 2 July 1979;

(8) Angela Charlton (b. 1923), born Oct-Dec 1923; married, July-Sept 1953, Roger George Elton (1929-2014) (who m2, Jul-Sept 1970, Christine J. Stevenson), but had no issue.

She inherited Kelsterton Hall from his brother in 1917, but let or sold it and lived subsequently at Plas Bellin, Northop (Flints.). She lived latterly at Lake House, Knowsley Park, Prescot (Lancs).

She died 26 June 1967; her will was proved 5 March 1968 (estate £8,956). Her husband died 28 July 1945; his will was proved 6 November 1945 (estate £76,578).

Principal sources

Burke's Landed Gentry, 1925, p. 96; J.J. Howard & F.A. Crisp, The visitation of England & Wales, vol. 4, 1896, pp. 173-74; E. Hubbard, The buildings of Wales: Clwyd, 1986, p. 340;

http://breweryhistory.com/wiki/index.php?title=Kelsterton_Brewery_Co._Ltd. 

Location of archives

No significant accumulation is known to survive.

Coat of arms

Sable, on a fesse cottised argent, between four dexter hands couped at the wrist, three in chief and one in base, bendwise or, an arrow fessewise proper.

Can you help?

• Does anyone know more about the late 20th century ownership of Kelsterton Hall?
• I should be most grateful if anyone can provide photographs or portraits of people whose names appear in bold above, and who are not already illustrated.
• Any additions or corrections to the account given above will be gratefully received and incorporated. I am always particularly pleased to hear from members of the family who can supply recent personal information for inclusion.

Revision and acknowledgements

This post was first published 15 December 2020.