(456) Batt of Gresham Hall

This family can be traced in and around the southern marches of Wales for several generations before William Forster Batt (1813-78), with whom the genealogy below begins, became a solicitor in Abergavenny in 1837. He evidently became the leading lawyer in the town, acting as clerk to most of the local public bodies and having an extensive private practice, and lived at a semi-detached villa called Cae Kenfy on the Monmouth Road in Abergavenny. He did not marry until 1854, when he was in his mid-30s, but he then made a socially and financially advantageous match with a daughter of Henry Crawshay of Oaklands Park (Glos), the owner of the Cinderford ironworks. Unfortunately his wife died without issue two years later, and he did not marry again until 1861, so the seven children of his second marriage were all still minors when he died suddenly in 1878, apparently of a ruptured blood vessel brought on by a coughing fit.

William Forster Batt left two sons and four daughters (one son had died in infancy), and his elder son, William Ferdinand Batt (1862-95) seems to have had no need to pursue a profession. He became an officer in the local militia and a justice of the peace, but in the 1890s his health deteriorated, and he went travelling with a friend in Mexico, where he died unexpectedly in 1895. After his death, his mother seems to have sold Cae Kenfy and moved with her unmarried daughters to Surrey, where she died in 1918. Her only surviving son, Reginald Cossley Batt (1872-1952) had embarked on a military career in the regular army, retiring with the rank of Captain in 1907. By then he had bought an estate at Gresham in north Norfolk, an area with which he had no doubt become familiar while visiting his sister, Katherine, who was married to a Windham of Felbrigg Hall from 1886-96. It is not clear exactly when he bought the property at Gresham, but it was probably in 1900 or 1901: shortly before his first marriage in 1903 to Violet Knowles. Over the next six years they produced four sons, and to accommodate this growing family, in 1907-08 Reginald asked E.T. Boardman of Norwich to build him a new house on his land at Gresham, which became known as Gresham Hall. After losing his first wife in 1910, Reginald married again in 1913, and at much the same time he returned to the army as Lt-Col. of a special reserve battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. He served until 1917, when he retired on health grounds and returned to Norfolk to develop his estate for farming and fruit growing. His second wife died in 1924 and he married for a third time in 1931, but he had no further issue. During the Second World War, Gresham Hall was apparently not requisitioned for military use, but the war took a terrible toll on Lt-Col. Batt's family, for his three younger sons were all killed in action or died of wounds received. 

After the war, management of the Gresham Hall estate was taken over by the only surviving son, Maj. William Frederick Batt (1904-90), who made his home at Gresham Hall with his wife and four children. He was High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1963-64, and was a JP and Deputy Lieutenant for the county. He remained at Gresham Hall until his later years, but sold it in about 1983, moving to Chaucer's Farm, a smaller property on the estate.

Gresham Hall (Norfolk)

An Edwardian house designed by Edward Thomas Boardman (1861-1950) of Norwich and built on a greenfield site in 1907-08 for Lt-Col. Reginald Cossley Batt (1872-1952). The house is built of mellow red brick with a pantiled roof in a stripped down neo-Jacobean style, with shaped Dutch gables on the entrance front, the service wing and the porch, and tall diagonal chimneystacks rising from the roof. 

Gresham Hall: entrance front. Image: Gresham Hall Estate

Gresham Hall: garden front. Image: Gresham Hall Estate

The porch leads directly into an Edwardian living hall with panelling to picture rail height and a large but sober fireplace. The main dining and drawing rooms are on the garden front and face south; the drawing room is a delightfully airy room with a large mullion and transomed window but is otherwise of rather Georgian character, with an elaborate plaster ceiling, deep frieze and simple chimneypiece. 

Gresham Hall: drawing room. Image: Gresham Hall Estate

The generous staircase rises to the left of the hall and is a simple and robust construction of oak. On the other side of the hall is a single-storey, flat-roofed addition containing a single room (now a bedroom); it must always have been chilly and one wonders what its intended original function was? The house was restored and divided into one large and several small apartments for holiday letting in 2017-18.

Descent: built for Lt-Col. Reginald Cossley Batt (1872-1952); to son, Maj. William Frederick Batt (1904-90); sold c.1983 to Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (b. 1953), kt.

Batt family of Gresham Hall

Batt, William Forster (1813-78). Son of Thomas Batt (1784-1848) of Brecon, army surgeon, and his wife Cartarette Dumaresq, born in Guernsey, 6 October 1813. Articled clerk to Thomas Davis of Abergavenny (Mon.), solicitor, 1832, and to James Gilbert George of Monmouth (Mon.), solicitor, 1835. He was admitted a solicitor in 1837 and set up in practice in Abergavenny (Monmouthshire), where he remained for the rest of his life, becoming Clerk to the Abergavenny County Court, Petty Sessions, Poor Law Union and Turnpike Trust. He married 1st, 3 October 1854 at Awre (Glos), Sarah Louise (c.1835-56), daughter of Henry Crawshay of Oaklands Park (Glos), and 2nd, 11 October 1861 at St Andrew, Clifton, Bristol (Glos), Wilhelmina Margaret (1832-1918), youngest daughter of Capt. William Edwards, and had issue:

(2.1) William Ferdinand Batt (1862-95) of Great Hardwick, Abergavenny, born 26 July and baptised at Abergavenny, 20 September 1862; an officer in the Royal Monmouthshire Militia (2nd Lt., 1881; Lt., 1881; Capt. 1884); JP for Monmouthshire; he was unmarried and without issue; after a period of poor health he went travelling with a friend in Mexico, but died suddenly of paralysis, 14 October 1895 at Chihuahua (Mexico); his body was returned to Wales for burial at Llanwenarth (Mon.), 18 December 1895; will proved 2 March 1896 (effects £1,285);

(2.2) Katherine Eveleigh Batt (1864-1941), baptised at Abergavenny, 23 February 1864; married 1st, 8 August 1886 at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster (Middx), Frederick Howe Lindsay Bacon Windham (1864-96) of Hanworth Hall (Norfk), only son of William Frederick Windham of Felbrigg Hall (Norfolk), and 2nd, 21 September 1897 at Christ Church, Mayfair, Westminster (Middx), Robert Edward Blakeney (1858-1926) of Abbert, Castle Blakeney (Co. Galway), second son of John Blakeney, but had no issue by either marriage; died at Quinta de Ribeiro, Madeira (Portugal), 22 September 1941; will proved 21 December 1942 (estate in England, £5,484);

(2.3) Ethel Dumaresq Batt (1866-1953), baptised at Abergavenny, 8 February 1866; died unmarried, 23 March 1953; will proved 20 August 1953 (estate £9,902);

(2.4) Amy Isabel Batt (1867-1961), born 21 October and baptised at Abergavenny, 24 November 1867; Vice-President of Guildford division of Red Cross, 1914-19; appointed OBE, 1918; married, 24 July 1890, as his second wife, Sir George Charles Erskine Rowley (1844-1922), 3rd bt., and had issue three sons (two of whom were killed in action in the First World War); died aged 93 on 24 August 1961; will proved 1 January 1962 (estate £1,225);

(2.5) Frederic Milman Batt (1869-70), born 10 June and baptised at Abergavenny, 14 July 1869; died in infancy, 25 December 1870;

(2.6) Florence Caroline Batt (1870-1946), born 10 December and baptised at Abergavenny, 23 December 1870; died unmarried, 16 January 1946; will proved 1 July 1946 (estate £17,151);

(2.7) Lt-Col. Reginald Cossley Batt (1872-1952) (q.v.).

He lived at Cae Kenfy, Abergavenny. His widow lived latterly at Guildford (Surrey).

He died suddenly, 25 August 1878 and was buried at Abergavenny; his will was proved 11 January 1879 (effects under £35,000). His first wife was buried at St John, Cinderford (Glos), 27 May 1856. His widow died 16 November 1918; administration of her goods was granted to her daughter Ethel, 21 February 1919 (estate £456).

Batt, Lt-Col. Reginald Cossley (1872-1952). Third and youngest son of William Foster Batt (1813-78) and his second wife, Wilhelmina Margaret, youngest daughter of Capt. William Edwards, born 29 October and baptised at Abergavenny, 13 December 1872. Educated at Wellington College and RMC Sandhurst. An officer in the Royal Fusiliers (2nd Lt., 1892; Lt., 1896; Capt., 1899; retired 1907; Lt-Col. of Special Reserve Battn, 1913; retired 1917), who served in the First World War and was appointed MVO, 1906 and CBE, 1919. Landowner, farmer and fruit grower. After the Second World War he was involved in a dispute with the Anglo-Catholic vicar of Gresham about the decoration of the parish church, which was decided in his favour by a consistory court. He married 1st, 26 May 1903 at St Luke, Chelsea (Middx), Violet Millington (1880-1910), youngest daughter of Robert Millington Knowles of Colston Bassett Hall (Notts); 2nd, 22 January 1913 at Holy Trinity, Brompton (Middx), Eileen Augusta (1877-1924), daughter of Henry William Russell Domvile of Pentre Cottage, Abergavenny; and 3rd, 8 January 1931 at St Michael, Chester Sq., Westminster (Middx), Violet Frances Mary Owen (1873-1951), only daughter of Capt. Francis Burton Owen Cole of Llys Meirchion, and had issue:

(1.1) Maj. William Frederick Batt (1904-90) (q.v.);

(1.2) Maj. Edgar Cossley Batt (1905-40), born 30 March 1905; educated at Harrow and RMA Woolwich; an officer in the Royal Horse Artillery who served in the Second World War and died unmarried of wounds received in action, 7 October 1940 and was buried at Alexandria (Chatby) Military Cemetery (Egypt); administration of goods granted to his father, 30 August 1941 (estate £40,289);

(1.3) Robert Windham Batt (1907-44), born 30 August 1907; educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge; served in Second World War with Royal Army Ordnance Corps (Capt.); married, 23 June 1931 at St Paul, Knightsbridge (Middx), Felicity Mary (1910-90), younger daughter of Philip Wyndham Cobbold of Tattingstone Park (Suffk) and had issue one son and one daughter; died on active service, 21 August 1944; will proved 28 June 1945 (estate £35,899);

(1.4) Maj. Thomas Reginald Dumaresq Batt (1909-44), born 28 August and baptised at Gresham, 3 October 1909; educated at Westminster School and RMC Sandhurst; an officer in the Coldstream Guards (2nd Lt., 1929; Lt., 1932; Capt., 1938; Maj., 1941), who was ADC to the Governor of Madras, 1932-35; killed in action, 3 August 1944; will proved 26 March 1945 (estate £36,973).

He bought lands in several villages in north Norfolk in about 1901 and built Gresham Hall in 1907-08.

He died 30 December 1952; his will was proved 15 April 1953 and 19 January 1954 (estate £193,338). His first wife died of pneumonia, 23 February 1910. His second wife died 16 August 1924; administration of her goods was granted to her husband, 5 November 1924 (estate £3,225). His third wife died 8 August 1951; administration of her goods was granted 17 November 1951 (estate £12,616).

Batt, Maj. William Frederic(k) (1904-90). Eldest and only surviving son of Lt-Col. Reginald Cossley Batt (1872-1952) and his first wife Violet Millington, youngest daughter of Robert Millington Knowles of Colston Bassett Hall (Notts), born 4 April 1904. Educated at Winchester and RMC Sandhurst. An officer in the Coldstream Guards (2nd Lt., 1924; Lt. 1926; retired 1929; Capt., 1930; returned to service 1939-45; Maj., 1941), who served on the General Staff, 1924-29 and in the Second World War, 1939-45, and was appointed MBE, 1945. JP (from 1946) and DL (from 1950) for Norfolk. High Sheriff of Norfolk, 1963-64. He was an active Christian, and in the 1960s was extensively engaged in home missionary work, especially amongst the young. He married, 12 July 1928, Hon*. Elizabeth Noel (1908-88), elder daughter of Capt. the Hon. Charles Henry Stanley Monck and sister of Henry Wyndham Stanley Monck, 6th Viscount Monck, and had issue:

(1) Christopher Windham Batt (1929-73), of Abbey Farm, East Beckham (Norfk), born 24 August 1929; educated at Winchester College; an officer in the Coldstream Guards (2nd Lt., 1949; Lt., 1951); married, 18 May 1963, Eva Bjorg, daughter of Einar Engelsen of Bergen (Norway) and had issue one son and one daughter; he was one of five people killed in a light aircraft crash near Shipdham (Norfk), 23 January 1973 and was buried at Gresham, where he is commemorated by a monument; will proved 18 April 1973 (estate £1,177,106);

(2) Simon William Batt (b. 1931) of Great Maplestead (Essex), born 6 September 1931; educated at Winchester College; an officer in the Coldstream Guards (2nd Lt., 1952; Lt., 1954; retired 1957); married, 28 October 1963 at St Michael, Chester Sq., Westminster (Middx), Julia Katherine (b. 1938), daughter of R.H.M. Clayton of London, and had issue two sons;

(3) Caroline Mary Batt (b. 1934), born 11 October 1934; married, Oct-Dec 1957, Capt. Edward Brewster Taylor of Kingole, St. Veep (Cornwall), and had issue two sons and two daughters;

(4) Sarah Elisabeth Batt (b. 1938), born 30 October 1938; educated at Royal College of Music; married, 5 July 1958, Capt. Peter Thomas Thistlethwayte (1933-2020) of East Donyland Hall (Essex), son of Arthur Donald Claude Thomas Thistlethwayte of Temple Usk, Twyford (Hants), and had issue three daughters.

He took over the management of the Gresham Hall estate after leaving the army in 1945, and sold it about 1983 to Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.

He died 27 January 1990 and was buried at Gresham, where he and his wife are commemorated by a monument; his will was proved 3 May 1990 (estate £322,163). His wife died 27 April 1988; her will was proved 9 August 1988 (estate £99,036).

* She was granted the style and precedence of the daughter of a Viscount by Royal Warrant 1928

Principal sources

Burke's Landed Gentry, 1972, p. 48; https://greshamhallestate.com/. 

Location of archives

Batt family of Gresham Hall: miscellaneous deeds and estate papers, 1540-1954 [Norfolk Record Office, MC19]

Coat of arms

None recorded.

Can you help?

• I should be most grateful if anyone can provide photographs or portraits of people whose names appear in bold above.
• Any additions or corrections to the text above will be gratefully received and incorporated. I am always particularly pleased to hear from descendants of the family who can supply information from their own research for inclusion.

Revision and acknowledgements

This post was first published 11 May 2021.