(601) Best of Donnington Grove

Best of Elmswell and Donnington Grove 

This family originated in the North Riding of Yorkshire, where the Rev. Christopher Best was a chantry priest at Wath in 1546. Robert Best (whose relation to Christopher is unclear) obtained a lease of Jervaulx Abbey's grange at Middleton Quernhow (in the parish of Wath) in 1555, and by the death of Henry Best in 1630 the family owned both the grange and manor of Middleton Quernhow. That estate was sold in 1661, but the family retained the manor of Elmswell (Yorks ER), which Henry Best had purchased in 1597 and sold the following year to his brother, James Best (d. 1617). James' eldest son, Paul Best, was an officer in the Swedish army and later in Lord Fairfax's Parliamentarian forces, and being out of England he sold Elmswell to his brother, Henry Best (d. 1645), who is remembered today for his 'farming book' of detailed notes on contemporary agricultural practice, which was published by the Surtees Society in 1857.

Elmswell Hall, before it fell into disuse and dereliction

It was Henry who, about 1634, built a new manor house at Elmswell, some remains of which survive today (and have become a conservation cause célèbre). The house at Elmswell was never a country house in the terms of this project, and later generations seem to have gravitated to urban centres and to have let the property to farmers. It descended from Henry Best to his eldest son, John Best (1621-69), who became a Quaker, and thence to Charles Best (1656-1719) of Pocklington (Yorks ER) and his son Francis Best (1699-1779) of Beverley (Yorks ER), who was a collector of customs for the port of Hull. Francis and his wife produced five sons (two of whom died young) and one daughter, but his eldest son, the Rev. Francis Best (1728-71), who was a Fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge and later vicar of South Dalton (Yorks ER) died during his father's lifetime, and the Elmswell estate thus descended in 1779 to Francis' eldest grandson, the Rev. Francis Best (1775-1844), who also succeeded his father as vicar of South Dalton; it was sold after his death. Francis (d. 1844) had a younger brother, Dr. Charles Best (1779-1817), who became physician to the York Lunatic Asylum, where the treatment of the inmates was repeatedly a matter of controversy. Dr. Best had two daughters, of whom the younger was the artist, Mary Ellen Best (1809-91), whose accomplished watercolours provide an intimate window into 19th century domestic life.

Elmswell Hall: watercolour of the kitchen by Mary Ellen Best, 1834. Image: Victoria & Albert Museum P.11-1983.

This was the background of the family which is the subject of this post. The genealogy below begins with Charles Best (1732-1813), who was the youngest son of Francis Best (1699-1779). He settled in London, but he was neither a clergyman nor a barrister, and there is no evidence that he was apprenticed to a trade, so what took him to the city and how he supported himself is something of a mystery. In 1764 he married the daughter and heiress of a Dorset gentleman farmer, William Light of Baglake Manor, Litton Cheney. The coupled lived at first in Bromley (Kent), but later in Bath, and had three sons and one daughter, although there may have been other children whose baptism records have not been traced. The eldest son died young, but the other two both took holy orders, although the elder, the Rev. Charles Best, may have remained in deacon's orders and never been priested. In 1804, the Rev. Charles married Mary Elizabeth Race Godfrey, the daughter of a local clergyman, and they had one son (who emigrated to the United States of America) and one surviving daughter. She married the author and Catholic convert, John Richard Digby-Beste (1806-85), who between 1833 and 1860 owned Botleigh Grange (Hants), which they largely rebuilt c.1838, although they spent much time travelling in Europe and America.

Botleigh Grange, c.1900, from the Charles Hind Postcard Collection. Some rights reserved.

Charles Best's younger son, the Rev. James Wilkes Best (1777-1852), served various Berkshire curacies in the early 19th century before settling in Bath with his wife, Eliza Head Pottinger (1787-1863), the daughter of the vicar of Compton (Berks). They had one child, Head Pottinger Best (1808-87), who was educated at Oxford and then lived for some years at Farthinghoe Lodge (Northants), which he probably rented because of its location in prime hunting country. After his first marriage in 1839 to Maria Duffield, the daughter of the MP for Abingdon, he moved back to Berkshire, where he first rented and later purchased the Donnington Grove estate, which became the family seat for several generations. He also purchased the manors of Alton Priors (Wilts) and Bagnor (Berks), so he evidently had access to plenty of capital, but there is a mystery about the source of his wealth. Head and Maria had two daughters (one of whom died in infancy) before Maria died in 1845, and the following year Head married again, this time to Jane Stratton, the daughter of an Indian civil servant. She provided her husband with an heir, Marmaduke Head Best (1847-1912), who inherited the Donnington Grove estate at his father's death. Marmaduke was married to Mary Leigh Bennett (1851-1926), the daughter of a Surrey squarson, but they had no children. At his death in 1912, therefore, he bequeathed the estate to his widow absolutely, and it subsequently passed to her nephew, Henry Wolley Leigh-Bennett (1880-1951), who sold it in 1936.

Donnington Grove, Berkshire

An account of this house was given in a previous post.

Best of Donnington Grove

Best, Charles (1732-1813). Fifth and youngest son of Francis Best (1699-1779) of Elmswell Hall (Yorks ER), and his wife Rosamond (1701-87), daughter of Yarburgh Constable of Wassand (Yorks ER), baptised at St Mary & St Nicholas, Beverley (Yorks ER), 1 July 1732. He married, 7 April 1764 at St Paul, Covent Garden, Westminster (Middx), Henrietta Harriet (1743-1816), daughter of William Light of Baglake Manor (Dorset), and had issue:

(1) Francis Best (1765-82), baptised at St George, Bloomsbury (Middx), 17 June 1765; said to have died unmarried, 1782;

(2) Catherine Best (b. 1766; fl. 1813), born 21 June and baptised at St Katherine Coleman, London, 21 July 1766; living, unmarried, in 1813;

(3) Rev. Charles Best (1773-1819), born 1773; educated at Winchester, Peterhouse and Emmanuel College, Cambridge (matriculated 1793; SCL); ordained deacon, 1802; curate of East Shefford (Berks), 1802; married, 4 February 1804 at St Swithin, Walcot, Bath, Mary Elizabeth Race (1784-1837) (who m2, 29 November 1826 at St John, Clerkenwell (Middx), James Collins), daughter of Rev. Dr. Race Godfrey DD of Bath, and had issue one son and two daughters; died at Constance (Switzerland), 7 June 1819;

(4) Rev. James Wilkes Best (1777-1852) (q.v.).

He inherited Baglake Manor (Dorset) in right of his wife, but they evidently lived in Bromley (Kent) and later at Bath.

He died at Bath (Som.), 13 May and was buried at St Swithin, Walcot, Bath, 2 June 1813; his will was proved in the PCC, 12 June 1813. His widow died 5 May and was buried at St Swithin, Walcot, Bath, 10 May 1816; her will was proved in the PCC, 12 June 1816.

Best, Rev. James Wilkes (1777-1852). Third son of Charles Best (1732-1813) of Baglake Manor (Dorset) and his wife Henrietta Harriet, daughter of William Light of Baglake Manor, born 7 March and baptised at Bromley (Kent), 10 May 1777. Educated at Trinity College, Oxford (matriculated 1795; BA 1798; MA 1801). Ordained deacon, 1800, and priest, 1801. Curate of Chieveley (Berks), 1801, Compton (Berks), 1818 and Peasemore (Berks), 1819. He married, 30 July 1807 at Compton, Eliza Head (1787-1863), daughter and sole heir of Rev. Head Pottinger (d. 1829), vicar of Compton (Berks), and had issue:

(1) Head Pottinger Best (1808-87) (q.v.).

He lived at Chieveley (Berks) and later in Bath (Som.).

He died at Bath (Som.), 21 July 1852; his will was proved in the PCC, 3 September 1852. His widow died 14 November 1863.

Best, Head Pottinger (1808-87). Only son of Rev. James Wilkes Best (1777-1852) and his wife Eliza Head, daughter and sole heir of Rev. Head Pottinger of Compton (Berks), born 18 July and baptised at Compton, 29 September 1808. Educated at University College, Oxford (matriculated 1826; BA 1830). An officer in the Bloxham & Banbury Troop of Yeomanry Cavalry (Cornet, 1830) and later in the Berkshire Yeomanry Cavalry (2nd Lt., 1831). JP (from 1841) and DL (from 1852) for Berkshire; High Sheriff of Berkshire, 1853-54; Chairman of the Hampshire and Berkshire Railway. Master of the Craven Hounds, 1851-56. He married 1st, 11 June 1839 at St Marylebone (Middx), Maria (1817-45), second daughter of Thomas Duffield of Marcham Park (Berks), MP for Abingdon, and 2nd, 22 September 1846 at Ryde (IoW), Jane (1818-85), eldest daughter of George Stratton HEICS of Madras (India), and had issue:

(1.1) Caroline Eliza Best (b. & d. 1840), born prematurely and baptised at Farthinghoe (Northants), 10 January 1840; died in infancy and was buried at Farthinghoe, 23 January 1840;

(1.2) Rosamond Head Best (1844-77), born 12 May 1844; married, 15 April 1869 at St George, Hanover Sq., Westminster (Middx), Lt-Col. William Lewis Stucley (1836-1911) (who m2, 5 February 1879 at Fulbeck (Lincs), Marion Elizabeth (1851-1934), daughter of Henry Edward Hamlyn-Fane of Clovelly Court (Devon)), eldest son of Sir George Stucley, 1st bt., of Affeton Castle (Devon), but had no issue; died 29 September 1877, leaving her estate to her husband for life and then to her half-brother;

(2.1) Marmaduke Head Best (1847-1912) (q.v.).

He lived at Farthinghoe Lodge (Northants) until about 1840. He then leased the Donnington Grove (Berks) estate, and in 1850 purchased the manor of Alton Priors, Overton (Wilts) and the Donnington Grove (Berks) estate. From 1861 he leased the manor house of Bagnor and in 1871 he bought the freehold of Bagnor Manor. He settled Alton Priors on his daughter and her husband, and at his death left Donnington and Bagnor to his son.

He died 14 December 1887; his will was proved 7 February 1888 (effects £39,667). His first wife died at Torquay (Devon), 5/6 January 1845; administration of her goods (with will annexed) was granted to her husband in the PCC, 20 February 1845. His second wife died 1 October 1885; her will was proved 3 November 1885 (effects £6,726).

Best, Marmaduke Head (1847-1912). Only son of Head Pottinger Best (1808-87) and his second wife, Jane, eldest daughter of George Stratton, born 27 June 1847. Educated at Christ Church, Oxford (matriculated 1865). An officer in the Berkshire Yeomanry Cavalry (Lt., by 1872). JP for Berkshire (from 1871; Chairman of Newbury Petty Sessions); County Alderman for Berkshire. President of the South Berkshire Conservative Association. A trustee of Donnington Hospital from 1900. He pursued a legal dispute with the Wawanda Paper Mill at Bagnor near Newbury about the pollution of the section of the River Lambourn passing through his land, which led to the closure of the mill. He married, 1 August 1877 at Thorpe (Surrey), Mary Leigh (1851-1926), daughter of Rev. Henry Leigh Bennett (1795-1880) of Thorpe Place, but had no issue.

He inherited Donnington Grove from his father in 1887 and the Alton Priors estate on the death of his brother-in-law in 1911. At his death they passed to his widow absolutely. She sold Alton Priors to New College, Oxford in 1912, while Donnington Grove passed to her nephew, Henry Wolley Leigh-Bennett (1880-1951).

He died 3 January 1912; his will was proved 20 March and 21 May 1912 (estate £106,362). His widow died 11 April 1926; her will was proved 6 July 1926 (estate £157,508).

Principal sources

Burke's Landed Gentry, 1914, p. 146; J. Foster, Yorkshire pedigrees: vol. 3 - the North and East Ridings, 1874, 4th pedigree (Best of Elmswell & Middleton Quernhow); VCH Wiltshire, xi, pp. 181-203.

Location of archives

Head, Best and Pottinger families of Compton and Donnington Grove: deeds and papers, 1652-1938 [Royal Berkshire Archives, D/EZ198]

Coat of arms

Best of Donnington Grove: Gules, a Saracen's head couped at the neck proper navally crowned or, between eight lions' gambs chevronways in pairs paws inwards of the second.

Can you help?

• Can anyone explain what took Charles Best (1732-1813) to London, or where the money came from that enabled Head Pottinger Best (1808-87) to buy three estates in the mid 19th century?
• 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 3 May 2025.