(513) Beauclerk of Winchfield House

Beauclerk of Winchfield

This family, like the Beauclerks of Little Grimsby and of St. Leonard's Lodge, was a cadet branch of the Beauclerks, Dukes of St. Albans. Lt-Gen. Lord George Beauclerk (1704-68) was the sixth son of the 1st Duke of St. Albans, and thus a grandson of King Charles II. He had a distinguished career in the army and was also an MP in the 1740s and 1750s, sitting for New Windsor where his family had considerable influence at this time. His army career culminated in his being commander-in-chief in Scotland, and on his retirement he bought an estate at Winchfield in Hampshire in 1767. Unfortunately he did not live to enjoy his new property, as he died the following year, leaving his widow Margaret (d. 1792) to build a new house on the estate. As the couple had no children, the property was left to Margaret absolutely, and she made a complex arrangement under which the property went first to her nephews, William Bainbridge (1775-1801) and George Bainbridge (1771-1841), and then, in the event of their dying without issue, to her husband's great-nephew, Admiral Lord Amelius Beauclerk (1771-1846), a younger brother of the 5th Duke of St. Albans. George and William were childless, so on George's death in 1841 the Admiral duly inherited the estate. He seems to have risen through the ranks on merit, and ended up as Principal Naval ADC to King William IV and Queen Victoria. The navy seems to have been his whole life, and, perhaps during the Napoleonic Wars, he is recorded to have built a habitable folly on his brother's Bestwood Lodge estate in Nottinghamshire in the form of a 'naval castle', which closely resembled a warship and had rooms inside modelled on ship's cabins: one would love to know what this looked like. He was unmarried, but had at least three illegitimate children, who could not inherit the Winchfield estate under the terms of Margaret Beauclerk's will. The two children he had by Ann Maria Whimper in 1814 and 1816 seem to have notably more successful in life than his later child, born in 1836: it may be that he was able to provide timely assistance to them as they approached maturity, in a way that he was not around to do for his younger son.

When the Admiral died at the end of 1846, Winchfield passed to his younger brother, Lord Frederick de Vere Beauclerk (1773-1850), who as a younger son with few expectations had become a clergyman as a way of making a living. He seems to have lacked any real vocation and performed his duties  in the most minimal way. Indeed, his real religion seems to have been cricket, which he played for some 35 years, becoming arguably the finest all-rounder of his time. But his attitude to the game was far from being the sportsmanlike approach of the Victorian gentleman player: he was out to win by fair means or foul because he would be betting on the outcome; his winnings from gambling on matches are said to have doubled his income. He was President of the MCC in 1826, but became unpopular in the game and as he got older became bitter and cantankerous. When he died in 1850, having owned Winchfield for just four years, the estate passed to his elder son, Charles Beauclerk (1816-63), who seems to have faced financial difficulties. In 1854 he let the house and moved to France with his family. After his death his widow and children returned to England, but Winchfield remained let until Charles' son and heir, Frederick Edward Beauclerk (1852-1919) sold it in 1908.

Winchfield House, Hampshire

Very little is known about the predecessor of the present house, known as Winchfield Court, except that it possessed a deer park in the 17th century and was 'suffered to fall into decay' during the early 18th century. It is not clear whether it stood on the present site or not. After Lord George Beauclerk purchased the estate in 1767, it was pulled down and replaced by the present house. Lord George having died in 1768, the new house was commissioned by his widow, Lady Margaret Beauclerk.

Winchfield House: the villa built c.1770 for Lady Margaret Beauclerk

It is a compact and severe Palladian villa, built about 1770 to the designs of an unknown architect and externally at least, little altered since. The house is built of painted brick and consists of two storeys over a basement. It is constructed on a square plan but has large two-storey canted bays in the centre of the east and west fronts lighting the dining room and drawing room respectively. The north and south side elevations have short pyramidally roofed towers with bull's eye windows in the centre instead. The entrance is now rather awkwardly placed at the south-west corner, and has a segmental pedimented doorcase.  This must be a later alteration, and the house was presumably originally entered through the doorway in the east bow. A new library was installed in the house in 1831, but the change to the doorway was probably made later: Ordnance Survey plans suggest the approach was to the west side of the house by 1871.

Descent: Crown granted 1552 to Sir John Mason... John Mason sold 1591 to James Rudyerd (d. 1611); to son, Lawrence Rudyerd (d. 1634); to brother James Rudyerd (d. 1638); to brother, Benjamin Rudyerd (d. 1675); to son, James Rudyerd (d. 1687); to grandsons, Benjamin Rudyerd (1710-42), James Rudyerd (1715-42) and Lawrence Rudyerd (1716-57); sold by the trustees of Benjamin Rudyerd in 1767 to Lord George Beauclerk (1704-68); to widow, Lady Margaret Beauclerk (d. 1792), who rebuilt the house; to nephews William Bainbridge (1775-1801) and George Bainbridge (1771-1841) and then to her great-nephew, Admiral Lord Amelius Beauclerk (1771-1846); to brother, Rev. Lord Frederick Beauclerk (1773-1850); to son, Charles William Beauclerk (1816-63); to son, Frederick Edward Beauclerk (1852-1919), who sold 1908 to Spencer Calmeyer Charrington (1854-1930); to son, Brig. Harold Vincent Spencer Charrington (1886-1965); to son, Maj. Gerald Charrington (1926-2013); to daughter, Henrietta Charrington (fl. 2022), wife of Daniel J. Farnham and later of Maj. Andrew Francis Clive Wigram (b. 1949), 3rd Baron Wigram; for sale in 2024. The house was let in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to tenants including Arthur Hardy Wood, the antiquary, Rev. Robert William Eyton (d. 1881) and Maj-Gen. David Makgill Crichton-Maitland (d. 1907).

Beauclerk of Winchfield House

Beauclerk, Lt-Gen. Lord George (1704-68). Sixth son of Charles Beauclerk (1670-1726), 1st Duke of St. Albans, and his wife Lady Diana de Vere, 1st Lady of the Bedchamber and Lady of the Stole to Queen Caroline, eldest daughter and eventually sole heiress of Aubrey de Vere, 20th Earl of Oxford, born 26 December 1704. An officer in the army (Ensign, 1723; Lt. 1726; Capt., 1736; Col., 1745; Maj-Gen., 1755; Lt-Gen., 1758); ADC to King George II, 1745; Col. of 8th Marines, 1745-48 and of 19th Foot, 1748; Lt-Governor of Gibraltar, 1749; Governor of Landguard Fort (Suffk), 1753-68; Commander in Chief in Scotland, 1758-67; a member of the Royal Company of Archers, 1761. MP for New Windsor, 1744-54, 1768. Ranger of Bagshot Rails Walk, Windsor Forest, and keeper of Bagshot Lodge, 1741. He married, 1728?, Margaret (d. 1792), daughter of Thomas Bainbridge of Slaley (Northbld), yeoman, but had no issue.

He bought Winchfield House (Hants) in 1767, and at his death the following year left it to his widow, who built the present house c.1770. At her death she bequeathed the property to her nephews, William and George Bainbridge, with remainder to her great-nephew, Adm. Lord Amelius Beauclerk, who inherited it in 1841.

He died 11 May and was buried at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, 17 May 1768. His widow died 23 October and was buried at Winchfield, 1 November 1792.

Adm. Lord Amelius Beauclerk
(1771-1846)  

Beauclerk, Admiral Lord Amelius Beauclerk (1771-1846). Third son of Aubrey Beauclerk (1740-1802), 2nd Baron Vere of Hanworth and 5th Duke of St Albans, and his wife Lady Catherine, daughter of William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough, born 23 May and baptised at St. Marylebone (Middx), 15 June 1771. He joined the Royal Navy, 1782 (Midshipman, 1782; Lt., 1790; Capt. 1793; Rear-Adm, 1811; Vice-Adm, 1819; Adm., 1830), and was a fine professional officer, although he owed his early promotion to his connections. He was Commander-in-Chief, Lisbon & Portuguese Coast, 1824-27 and of Plymouth, 1836-39, and Principal Naval ADC to King William IV and Queen Victoria, 1830-46. He was appointed KCB, 1815; GCB, 1835 and GCH, 1831, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, 1809. He was a Whig but played no active part in politics. He was unmarried but had illegitimate issue by Ann Maria Whimper:

(X1.1) Lt-Gen. Frederick Amelius Whimper (1814-80), baptised at Fareham (Hants), 27 February 1814; an officer in the 55th Foot (Ensign, 1835; Lt., 1838; Capt., 1841; Maj., 1853; Lt-Col., 1854; Col., 1860; Maj-Gen., 1873; Lt-Gen., 1877); Resident Governor of the Tower of London, 1857-70; appointed CB, 1873; retired to Isle of Wight; married, 1851 at St George's Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), Caroline Ann (c.1819-87), daughter of Rev. John Fisher, but had no issue; died 18 May 1880; will proved 29 June 1880 (effects under £7,000);

(X1.2) Amelia Caroline Beauclerk Whimper (1816-82), born 4 March and baptised at St James, Piccadilly, Westminster (Middx), 1 April 1816; married, 15 November 1837, Capt. Sir Alexander Collingwood Thomas Dickson (1811-84), 5th bt., of Wallington House, Fareham (Hants) and later of Gwydyr House, Ryde (IoW), but had no issue; died 27 July 1882.

By an unidentified later mistress, he also had an illegitimate son:

(X2.1) Charles Frederick Augustus de Vere Beauclerk (c.1836-82), born in Plymouth, c.1836; furniture dealer in Southampton and later insurance agent in Liverpool; married, 19 March 1859, Sarah Caroline Paul (c.1833-98), and had issue three sons and three daughters; died 11 April and was buried at Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool, 14 April 1882.

He is said to have built a habitable folly on the estate of his brother, the 5th Duke of St. Albans, at Bestwood Park (Notts): a 'strange architectural toy' in the form of a 'naval castle' which closely resembled a warship and was the exact length of a naval quarterdeck, with rooms inside modelled on ship's cabins. He  inherited Winchfield House under the will of Lady Margaret Beauclerk (d. 1792), on the death of her nephew.

He died 10 December and was buried at Winchfield, 16 December 1846; his will was proved in the PCC, 9 January 1847.

Rev. Lord Frederick Beauclerk (1773-1850) 

Beauclerk, Rev. Lord Frederick de Vere (1773-1850). Fourth son of Aubrey Beauclerk (1740-1802), 2nd Baron Vere of Hanworth and 5th Duke of St Albans, and his wife Lady Catherine, daughter of William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough, born at Hanworth, 8 May 1773. Educated privately and at Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1792; created MA 1792 and DD 1824). Ordained deacon, 1795, and priest, 1797. Curate of Groton (Suffk), 1795-97; vicar of Kimpton (Herts), 1797-1827 and of Redbourn (Herts) and St Michael, St. Albans (Herts), 1827-50. He was a reluctant recruit to the clergy, and frequently neglected his clerical duties (it was said that 'he ne'er preaches once a twelvemonth') in favour of sport*. He was an outstanding but controversial cricketer, who played first-class cricket for some 35 years, 1791-1825. Having first come to notice as an under-arm bowler, he improved his batting and for much of his career was regarded as an all-rounder. However, his attitude to the game was competitive to the point of being unsportsmanlike, and he was described as 'an unmitigated scoundrel'. He gambled on the outcome of matches and is said to have made £600 a year in this way, partly through buying and selling matches 'as though they were lots at an auction'. He was President of the MCC, 1826, but he was unpopular in the sport. As he grew older, he became 'cruel, unforgiving, cantankerous and bitter', and when he died in 1850 The Times declined to publish his obituary. He married, 26 June 1813 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), the Hon. Charlotte (c.1787-1866), third daughter of Charles Dillon (later Dillon-Lee), 12th Viscount Dillon, and had issue:

(1) Caroline Henrietta Frederica Beauclerk (1815-93), born 19 April and baptised at Kimpton, 28 May 1815; author, with her sister, of Tales of Fashion and Beauty (1836); married, 12 December 1851 at St Mary-le-Strand, London, Charles Eugene Leloup (c.1822-78) of Brussels (Belgium), engineer; died 21 September 1893; will proved 30 October 1893 (effects £20,092);

(2) Charles William Beauclerk (1816-63) (q.v.);

(3) Aubrey Frederick James Beauclerk (1817-53), born 3 May and baptised at Kimpton, 1 June 1817; educated at Charterhouse School (admitted 1826); an officer in the army (Lt., 1835; Capt., 1844; retired 1848); died unmarried, 3 January 1853; will proved in the PCC, 2 February 1853;

(4) Henrietta Mary Beauclerk (1818-87), born 1 July and baptised at Kimpton, 2 August 1818; author, with her sister, of Tales of Fashion and Beauty (1836); married, 2 August 1842 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster, Sir Edward Rokewode-Gage (1812-72), 9th and last bt. of Hengrave Hall (Suffk), but had no issue; died 6 January 1887; will proved 23 March 1887 (effects £10,538).

He inherited Winchfield House from his elder brother, Admiral Lord Amelius Beauclerk, in 1846.

He died 22 April 1850 and was buried at Winchfield; his will was proved in the PCC, 13 September 1850. His widow died 26 September 1866; her will was proved 26 October 1866 (effects under £10,000).

* He must have preached sometimes, however, for it is said that he fixed a saddle in the pulpit at Kimpton, sitting on which 'gave him confidence' when delivering his sermon.

Beauclerk, Charles William (1816-63). Elder son of Rev. Lord Frederick Beauclerk (1773-1850) and his wife the Hon. Charlotte, third daughter of Charles Dillon (later Dillon-Lee), 12th Viscount Dillon, born 7 May and baptised at Kimpton (Herts), 16 June 1816. Educated at Charterhouse School (from 1826) and Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1834; BA 1838). JP (from 1847) and DL (from 1852) for Hampshire. He married, 15 August 1844 at Boxley (Kent), Penelope (1823-90), daughter of Edward Thomas Day Hulkes of Chatham (Kent), and had issue:

(1) Caroline Elizabeth Beauclerk (1845-1915), born in London, 28 August, and baptised at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), 25 September 1845; married, 16 April 1868 at St Luke (Jersey), Rev. Francis William Hudson (1839-1901), vicar of Great Wilbraham (Cambs), and had issue two sons; died 29 June and was buried at St Andrew the Great, Cambridge, 2 July 1915; her will was proved 15 October 1915 (estate £949);

(2) Penelope Sarah Blanche Beauclerk (1846-86), born 25 October and baptised at Hartley Wintney (Hants), 26 November 1846; married, 20 October 1869 at Winchester Cathedral*, Sir St. Vincent Alexander Hammick (1839-1927), 3rd bt., (who m2, 7 January 1890, Eleanor (1855-1942), daughter of Rev. Sir Gilbert Frankland Lewis) and had issue one son and two daughters; died 2 March 1886;

(3) Charlotte Amelia Beauclerk (1848-92), born 8 July and baptised at Winchfield, 13 August 1848; died unmarried, 7 June, and was buried at Great Chesterford (Essex), 11 June 1892; administration of her goods (with will annexed) was granted 6 August 1892 (effects £3,554);

(4) Frederica Jane Beauclerk (1850-1926), born 17 November and baptised at Winchfield, 21 December 1850; married, 15 November 1870 at St Peter, Bournemouth (Hants), Col. John Ormsby Vandeleur CB (1839-1900) of Ballinacourty Castle, Stradbally (Co. Limerick), and had issue one son and four daughters; died at Winchester (Hants), 30 June 1926; will proved 8 October 1926 (estate £1,415);

(5) Frederick Edward Beauclerk (1852-1919) (q.v.);

(6) Charles St. John Beauclerk (1854-1921), born 10 October and baptised at Winchfield, 8 November 1854; educated at Marlborough; emigrated to the USA in 1875 and settled at Abercorn Colony, Amelia (Virginia), of which he became a Vice-President; farmer; married, 26 January 1885 at Amelia Courthouse, Kate Lee (c.1861-1931), second daughter of Edward Coleman esq. of The Glebe, Amelia; died 12 September 1921 and was buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery, Amelia;

(7) Henrietta Mary Beauclerk (1856-1932), born at Dieppe (France), 2 November 1856; married, 7 August 1877 at St Peter, Eaton Sq., Westminster (Middx), Edward Stisted Mostyn Pryce (1851-1932) of Gunley (Montgomerys), one of HM Inspectors of Schools, eldest son of Lt-Col. John Edward Harryman Pryce, and had issue one son and three daughters; died 28 September 1932; will proved 31 October 1932 (estate £17,329).

He inherited Winchfield House from his father in 1850, but let it from c.1854 and moved to France. After his death his widow lived at Wootton Lodge, Christchurch (Hants) and later at Ore (Sussex) and Crown House, Great Chesterford (Essex).

He died at Boulogne (France), 23 May, and was buried at Winchfield, 28 May 1863; his will was proved 25 June 1863 (effects under £1,000). His widow died 15 April 1890; her will was proved 6 June 1890 (effects £1,397).

* Remarkably, this is said to have been the first marriage performed in the Cathedral for over a hundred years.

Beauclerk, Frederick Edward (1852-1919). Elder son of Charles William Beauclerk (1816-63) and his wife Penelope, daughter of Edward Hulkes, born 3 July and baptised at Winchfield, 5 August 1852. Educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1871) and Inner Temple (admitted 1873). He was unmarried and without issue.

He inherited Winchfield House from his father in 1863 and came of age in 1873. He lived at 49 Thurloe Square, Kensington and after letting Winchfield for many years, sold it in 1908 to Spencer Charrington.

He died 17 November and was buried at Brompton Cemetery (Middx), 20 November 1919; his will was proved 3 February 1920 (estate £35,380).

Principal sources

Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 2003, pp. 3459-64; VCH Hampshire, vol. 4, 1911, pp. 109-12; P. Beauclerk Dewar & D. Adamson, The house of Nell Gwyn, 1974; ODNB biography of Lord Frederick Beauclerk (1773-1850)

Location of archives

Beauclerk family of Winchfield: deeds, manorial records and estate papers, 1621-1908 [Hampshire Archives & Local Studies, 7M83]

Coat of arms

Quarterly, 1st and 4th grand quarters, the arms of Charles II (1st and 4th, France and England quarterly, 2nd Scotland, 3rd, Ireland) all over a sinister baton gules, charged with three roses argent, barbed and seeded proper; 2nd and 3rd, quarterly, gules and or, in the first quarter a mullet argent.

Can you help?

• Does anyone know of an illustration of the 'naval castle' built by Lord Amelius Beauclerk at Bestwood Park?
• Can anyone provide photographs or portraits of the people whose names appear in bold above, for whom no image is currently shown?
• 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.

Revision and acknowledgements

This post was first published 26 March 2022 and was updated 30 June 2024.