Hawkswick, St Michaels, near St Albans

Old Herts St Albans St Michaels

WHITTINGSTALL, George F	Head		M	41	1830	Magistrate	Watford, Hertfordshire
WHITTINGSTALL, Anne M H	Wife		F	43	1828		Liverpool, Lancashire
WHITTINGSTALL, Edmund G H	Son		M	15	1856	Scholar	Aldenham, Hertfordshire
WHITTINGSTALL, William G H	Son		M	14	1857	Scholar	St Michaels, Hertfordshire
WHITTINGSTALL, Herbert O H	Son		M	12	1859	Scholar	St Michaels, Hertfordshire
WHITTINGSTALL, Maud M F	Daughter		F	10	1861	Scholar	St Michaels, Hertfordshire
WHITTINGSTALL, Beatrice M F	Daughter		F	8	1863	Scholar	St Michaels, Hertfordshire
VICKERS, Angela			F	34	1837	Governess	Middlesex
STONE, Eleanor	Servant		F	48	1823	Ladysmaid	Kent
PIKE, Theophilus	Servant		M	27	1844	Butler	Devon
COTTIER, Adeline	Servant		F	21	1850	Ladysmaid	Switzerland
KING, Sarah	Servant		F	28	1843	Cook	Somerset
WIGGINS, Sarah	Servant		F	25	1846	Housemaid	Middlesex
BUTTER, Ellen	Servant		F	18	1853	Housemaid	Middlesex
NEWTON, Eliza	Servant		F	19	1852	Housemaid	Middlesex
MAINE, Emma	Servant		F	24	1847	Kitchen Maid	Hertfordshire
SMEDLEY, Charles	Servant		M	23	1848	Footman	Hertfordshire
(Coachman & Groom "associated")

The 1873 Return of Owners of Land recorded that Major George F. Whittingstall, of Hawkswick, owned 101 acres of land with a rental value of £1,520 10s. However  he was on the move, to London, as an advert appeared in the Herts Advertiser of 19 April 1873.  The property apparently did not sell as another advert appeared in The Times of 13th July, 1872. It again did not sell, and on the 2nd August it was announced that it was for sale by private treaty.

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George Checkland

Iron Master & Colliery Owner - at Hawkswick 1873-1879

George Checkland was born in Leicester in 1824, the son of Edward and Mary Checkland. He married Mary Ann Crofts in 1841 and by the time of the 1851 census was described as a Coal Merchant employing 6 Men & 1 Boy and had one resident domestic servant. Mary Ann died in  1854 and the following year George  married Millicent Taylor. By 1861 he was a coal merchant, now with three resident domestic servants. His business clearly continued to grow significantly as in 1871 he was described as an Iron Master & Colliery Proprietor, living at Park Road House, Kingston Leicestershire, with domestic servants to match:

 

George purchased Hawkswick and it seems likely that he decided to retire to Hertfordshire, leaving his son George Edward Checkland (who married Agnes Aked Claye at St Lawrence, Long Eaton, Derbyshire in 1873) in charge of the business, although he kept in touch as the following news item, from the Burton Chronicle of 8 July 1875 shows:

On arrival in St Albans George started to take an interest in local affairs. The Herts Advertiser reported his involvement in the the first vegetable and flower show to be held in Sandridge in September 1875, while in May 1876 he was listed as one of the proposed shareholders in the St Albans Public Baths. He is also listed as living at Hawkswick in the 1878 Post Office Directory.

In January 1879 he purchased cotton cake and linseed cake from Jacob Reynolds of Bernards Heath but the bill was not paid until October 1880 because George died on 25 May 1879. His estate was not proved until 21 September 1880, the executors being Millicent Checkland (widow), George Edward Checkland (son) and George Griffiths Williams.  Another receipt, dated 24 November 1880 for £18 17s, probably refers to clothing he brought before he died, and later paid for by the estate.  His well-stocked cellar, sold off in October, included 100 dozen fine old Port, 30 dozen Claret, four dozen Maderia, two dozen Chateau d'Yquem, six dozen sparkling Moselle, three dozen Champagne, five dozen sparkling Johnannisberg and two dozen sparkling Schwartsberg (Luton News, 22nd October 1880).

At the time of the 1881 census an unnamed property, believed to be Hawkswick, was occupied by John Miles (a 53 year old housekeeper), his wife, and Jane Hutchins (a 24 year old domestic servant). There was also a gardener in Hawkswick Cottage. George's widow, Millicent, was living at 41 Thistle Grove, Kensington, London, W. It is not known if the house was sold at the auction, or later by private treaty.

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John Sheriff Hill

Merchant & Ship Owner - at Hawkswick 1881-1897

John Sherriff Hill was born on 13th August 1836 at No 30, York Place, City Road, Islington, the son of John Hill (a merchant, born in Scotland in about 1796) and Elizabeth (born Scotland about 1796) and was baptised at the Scotch Church, River Terrace, [Islington?] on 27th December 1836. In 1871 John S Hill, J.P. (merchant and shipowner, born Islington, 1837) was living with his wife Julia Skipper (33, born Bloomsbury - married 1861), six children, and seven living in staff, at Long Ditton, Surrey. He was still at Long Ditton in 1881, described as an Australian merchant ship owner, with one new child, born in 1872, a new wife, Amy Fitz-Gerald (born in India in 1858), and six resident staff. John and Amy married in 1877.

John Sheriff Hill came to Hawkswick in 1881, almost immediately became a magistrate and started taking an interest in activities in St Albans. For this reason there are many mentions of him in the Herts Advertiser - especially when he was on the Bench in the Magistrates' Court, but also on various subscription lists. As there is was comprehensive obituary I am only mentioning a few news items here.

The Times of 15th October, 1883, carried an advert for a Resident Governess  for two children of 12 and 14. Thorough English, French, German and music indispensable A liberal salary will be paid and a comfortable home may be relied on. The favour of any lady's recommendation would be much valued. Apply, by letter, to Mrs J. S. Hill, Hawkswick, St Albans.

The 1891 census shows the family in residence, with the normal bevy of resident domestic staff.

HILL, John S	Head	Married	M	54	1837	Australian Merchants & Ship Owner	Islington, Middlesex
HILL, Amy	Wife	Married	F	33	1858		East Indies
HILL, Elizabeth M	Daughter	Single	F	21	1870		Long Ditton, Surrey
HILL, Walter F	Son		M	9	1882		St Michaels
HILL, Amy F	Daughter		F	8	1883		St Michaels
HILL, Winifred M	Daughter		F	7	1884		St Michaels
HILL, Elsie F	Daughter		F	5	1886		Kensington, Middlesex
HILL, Edith F	Daughter		F	3	1888		St Nicholas
RAMSEY, Lilian A	Governess	Single	F	21	1870	Governess	East Indies
MILD, Agnes M	Servant	Single	F	24	1867	Ladys Maid	Scotland
BARRETT, Eliza P	Servant	Single	F	47	1844	Nurse	St Pancras, Middlesex
LANGFORD, Fanny	Servant	Single	F	28	1863	Cook	Lyndhurst, Hampshire
JENKINS, Esther M	Servant	Single	F	23	1868	Housemaid	London, Middlesex
ARKELL, Annie M	Servant	Single	F	22	1869	Housemaid	Hartley, Gloucestershire
MARKWELL, Florence E	Servant	Single	F	17	1874	Under Nurse	Bishops Stortford
MASON, Annie M	Servant	Single	F	21	1870	Kitchen Maid	Ramsey, Hampshire

However it is not clear whether the family was in continual residence as the Herts Advertiser  of 13 August 1892 reported at length that Mr. Hill's house at Hawkswick, now temporarily occupied by Mrs Seligman, of 3 Moreton Gardens, South Kensington, was the scene of a robbery last Friday night, or early Saturday morning ... [The 1891 census shows Elemore Seligman (an American citizen born in Germany in 1845) at 3 Moreton Gardens with a large family born in America or Germany, the eldest son being a banker.]

In 1893 John Blundell Maple, of Childwickbury, purchased the adjacent Hawks Wick Estate from the J. S. Hill family for £10,000 and agreed to them remaining as tenants for an annual rent of £400. (Christine Aitken's Childwickbury)

DEATH OF MR. J. S. JILL OF HAWKSWICK

During the present week the relentless hand of Death has removed from our midst a figure which in county circles has become very familiar of late years. We refer to the demise of Mr. John Sheriff Hill, of Hawkswick, who after a protracted and painful illness passed away on Sunday at this picturesque country home, on the outskirts of St. Albans, at the age of sixty years. During his fifteen years residence in Hertfordshire, Mr Hill and his family have been closely identified with the public [???] of the county, and he, by his large-hearted beneficence, and truly noble demeanour, had won a prominent place in the estimation and affection of all those whom he chanced to meet in the fulfilment of his various engagements.

The deceased gentleman was a son of the late Mr. John Hill, originally of Montrose, Scotland, and afterwards of Portland Place, London, and his mother, nee Miss Elizabeth Duke, was sister of Sir James Duke, Bart., M.P., who was for many years was member of Parliament for Boston, Lincolnshire, and afterwards was representative for the City of London. The gentleman whose regrettable death we now record, was born in London, and was educated at Brighton, King's College, London, and abroad. At the age of sixteen or seventeen he entered his father's firm in London, now styled as Messrs. Nicholas Wood and Company, and connected with the Coal Exchange, During the year 1848-50, Mr. J. S., Hill resided at the Mansion House, his uncle, Sir James Duke, being Lord Mayor of London for that year. In 1861 he married Miss Julia Skipper, daughter of Mr. Charles Skipper, of Russell Square, London, who, however, died in 1874. Mr Hill remained an active member of his father's firm up to the time of his marriage, when he removed to Shelton, near Burslem, in Staffordshire, for which county he was appointed a magistrate. He remained at Shelton until the end of 1864, when he went to Long Ditton, in Surrey. In 1865 he took a voyage to Australia, mainly for the benefit of his health, and while staying there, he became connected with Australian affairs. Upon his return he joined the firm of Messrs. Young, Elders and Company, Australian Merchants, of Great St. Helens. In 1874 the death of Mrs. Hill took place, and three years later the deceased gentleman was married to Miss Amy Fitzgerald, daughter of Major C. M. Fitzgerald. In 1881 he took up his residence at the handsome mansion, Hawkswick, previously occupied by Mr. Checkland, and in the first instance by Major Whittingstall, the builder. Mr. Hill had not been long resident at Hawkswick when he was appointed upon the Commission of the Peace for the County, and he was frequently seen adjudicating upon the Bench, as a member of which he was very highly esteemed. In all projects for the benefit of his fellow-men, the deceased took a lively and whole-hearted interest, and his assistance, always freely and ungrudgingly given, was very much valued. He was, for a number of year, a member of the St Albans Public Library Committee, and although not a regular attendant, he took a deep interest in the work carried on at that institution, and the School of Science and Art. At their meeting on Tuesday evening, the Library Committee unanimously passed a resolution of condolence with Mrs. Hill and family. For more than twenty years Mr. Hill was on the Board of the Union Bank of Australia, and took a great interest in its operations, and he was also a director of the Imperial Fire and Life Insurance Companies, having, for some time, acted as Chairman of both. As a governor of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, in London, too, he was very much respected.

During his residence in Staffordshire, Mr. J. S. Hill devoted a great deal of time and interest to the project for the foundation of the Wedgewood Institute, which was erected as a memorial to "the Father of English Pottery," at Burslem, and which received the cordial support of Mr. W. E. Gladstone, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Earl Granville, the Chief on the Committee of Council on Education, the Right Hon. Robert Lowe, vice-president of the same committee, Sir James Duke and many other leading gentlemen. Mr. Hill was untiring in his efforts as chairman of the committee by which the proposal was advanced and brought to a very successful issue, in the erection of one of the most valuable institutions in Staffordshire.

The affliction from which the deceased gentleman suffered was sarcoma, for which he was attended by Mr. H. Leslie Bates, of St. Albans, together with London physicians. In January of last year it was found necessary to perform a surgical operation, upon recovery of which he went abroad for a time, but in April it was found necessary to again operate upon him, and although he seemed to be better, his recovery was regarded as a matter of great uncertainty. During the summer he stayed at Eastbourne for his health, and although under medical, he continued until October to move about here and there discharging various public duties, giving his attention and influence to those institutions which had the honour of his genial patronage.

Mr. Hill leaves a widow and twelve children, four sons and eight daughters, for whom the sincere sympathy of all will go out in their sad bereavement. Among the children by the first marriage are the Rev. Charles Hill, rector of Halesowen, Staffordshire, Mr. Herbert J. Hill, who has been closely identified with cricket in St. Albans, now in Australia, and Lieut. E. R. Hill of the Highland Light Infantry, at present at Malta, while among his daughters are Mrs. Darlington and Mrs. Law, both of Harrow.

[Continues with details of the funeral at St Michael's Church.]

Herts Advertiser , 23 January, 1897

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Dowager Countess of Limerick

at Hawkswick c1898-1900

The St Albans Street Directory lists the occupant of Hawkswick between 1898 and 1900 to be the Dowger Countess of Limerick - but I have found no other local references, apart from the observation that the Countess of Limerick (gardener J. T. Ryder) won prizes for black grapes, peaches, melons, cucumbers, fuchsias, and table flowering plants at the Harpenden Horticultural Show in 1899 (Luton Times, 25th August, 1899). However William Hale John Charles Pery, 3rd Earl of Limerick died on 8 August 1896, leaving a widow, Isabella, the daughter of James Charles Henry Colquhoun, who he married in 1877. Following his death Isabella married Major Sir Edmund Halbert Elliot on 22 February 1898. It therefore seems she may have rented the house sometime in 1897 but only lived there for a short time.

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Walter Reynolds

Provision Merchant - at Hawkswick 1900-1924

Walter Reynolds was born in 1847 in St Luke's, Finsbury, the son of William Reynolds (provision merchant, born 1815 in Nottingham) and Emlyn, his wife. In 1871 Walter was a provision merchant living at Pemberton Gardens, St Mary's, Islington with his wife Kate Cooper Harris (born Windsor, in 1848, married 1869) and an infant child. Ten years later he, and the growing family were at Lynton House, Hampstead Lane, Hornsey, an in 1891 he was still a provision merchant, living with the family at 9, The Grove, St Pancras, Highgate. The family appears to have moved to Hawkswick in the Summer of 1900.

STABLE-HELPER WANTED for country: must be well up in his work; wages £1 weekly, with room. - Apply stating height, age and experience, Caulkitt, the stables, Hawkswick, St Albans, Herts.

Morning Post, 10 August, 1900

WANTED, a Thorough PARLOURMAID for country house where two are kept: must have excellent references. - Apply Mrs. R., Hawkswick, St Albans.

Morning Post, 3 October, 1900

EXPERIENCED PARLOURMAID WANTED for country house where two are kept: must have excellent references. - Apply Mrs. Reynolds, Hawkswick, St Albans.

Morning Post, 16 October, 1900

He was in definitely in residence, with resident domestic staff in place, by the time of the 1901 census.

REYNOLDS, Walter	Head	Married	M	54	1847	J P Provision Merchant	Finsbury, London
REYNOLDS, Kate C	Wife	Married	F	53	1848		Windsor, Berkshire
REYNOLDS, Walter H	Son	Married	M	30	1871		Islington, London
BEGLISE, Catharine M	Daughter	Married	F	25	1876		Islington, London
REYNOLDS, Cecil H	Son	Single	M	22	1879	Undergraduate	Highgate, London
REYNOLDS, Margaret D	Daughter	Single	F	18	1883		Highgate, London
BARKER, Alexander J	Nephew	Single	M	34	1867	Tea Merchant	Enfield, Middlesex
ROBINSON, Josslyn A	Visitor	Single	M	22	1879	Land Agent	Cockermouth, Cumberland
SNOWDON, Annette	Servant	Single	F	34	1867	House Maid Domestic	St Pancras, London
WELLS, Fanny E	Servant	Single	F	39	1862	Parlourmaid Domestic	Bethel Green, London
DEVLIN, Eliza J	Servant	Widow	F	36	1865	Cook Domestic	St Pancras, London
CARTER, Edith	Servant	Single	F	26	1875	Parlourmaid Domestic	Horton, Oxfordshire
MOBBS, Florence M	Servant	Single	F	24	1877	Housemaid Domestic	Westminster, London
SMITH, Ethel T	Servant	Single	F	21	1880	Kitchen Maid Domestic	Rickling, Essex
NICKOLLS, Alice	Servant	Single	F	15	1886	Scullery Maid Domestic	Leytonstone, Essex

On 13th January 1905 the Luton Times reported that Mr Walter Reynolds, of Hawkswick, St Albans, who has resigned the chairmanship of the Highgate Bench of Magistrates, is an elder brother of Sir Alfred Reynolds, of Digswell, and succeeded as resident at Hawkswick the Dowager Countess of Limerick.

Walter Reynolds was a tenant, and an advert in the Herts Advertiser of 1 December 1906 announces the sale of the estates of the late Sir J. Blundell Maple, of Childwick, which included: The Hawkswick Estate (two miles from St Albans) and comprising an Imposing Mansion, Stabling, Model Farm, Two Lodges, Pleasure Grounds, and an undulating Park, in all 75 acres. Vacant possession Lady Day next.

Christine Aitken's book Childwickbury reports that on 17th April 1907 Hawkswick was conveyed to J. B. Joel, the new owner of Childwickbury, and the lease on the house and gardens was renewed with Walter Reynolds continuing as tenant at a quarterly rent of £143 15s.

Miss Margaret D Reynolds, of Hawkswick, took the part of Boadicea in the 1907 St Albans pageant.

In 1911 the occupants of Hawkswick were listed as:

REYNOLDS, Walter	Head	Married	M	54	1847	J P Provision Merchant	Finsbury, London
REYNOLDS, Kate C	Wife	Married	F	53	1848		Windsor, Berkshire
REYNOLDS, Walter H	Son	Married	M	30	1871		Islington, London
BEGLISE, Catharine M	Daughter	Married	F	25	1876		Islington, London
REYNOLDS, Cecil H	Son	Single	M	22	1879	Undergraduate	Highgate, London
REYNOLDS, Margaret D	Daughter	Single	F	18	1883		Highgate, London
BARKER, Alexander J	Nephew	Single	M	34	1867	Tea Merchant	Enfield, Middlesex
ROBINSON, Josslyn A	Visitor	Single	M	22	1879	Land Agent	Cockermouth, Cumberland
SNOWDON, Annette	Servant	Single	F	34	1867	House Maid Domestic	St Pancras, London
WELLS, Fanny E	Servant	Single	F	39	1862	Parlourmaid Domestic	Bethel Green, London
DEVLIN, Eliza J	Servant	Widow	F	36	1865	Cook Domestic	St Pancras, London
CARTER, Edith	Servant	Single	F	26	1875	Parlourmaid Domestic	Horton, Oxfordshire
MOBBS, Florence M	Servant	Single	F	24	1877	Housemaid Domestic	Westminster, London
SMITH, Ethel T	Servant	Single	F	21	1880	Kitchen Maid Domestic	Rickling, Essex
NICKOLLS, Alice	Servant	Single	F	15	1886	Scullery Maid Domestic	Leytonstone, Essex

Vacant 1924-1931

Possession Claim. - At St Albans County Court, on Thursday, Childwick Stud Ltd., applied for the possession and mesne profits of the lodge at "Hawkswick," occupied by James Palmer, and the stables, Hawkswick, occupied by Frank Woodhouse. An order for possession was made for the day after the September Court, in both cases, and for payment of the mesne profits by instalments.

Herts Advertiser, 21st March 1925

Christine Aitken's book Childwickbury reports that the house remained vacant until 1931 when it was demolished by E. C. Jarvis of Harpenden for £400.

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