Above: Francis Gaskell (third from left), was Margaret Elizabeth Grimshawe’s son, and a regular visitor to Errwood Hall.
Bridget Franklin writes: I live in Rainow and have been researching the Gaskells of Ingersley Hall for some time. Although the family has not died out, most old letters and photos etc were destroyed after the last permanent resident Anne Theodora Gaskell died in 1923.
I have visited your website before but am now really pleased to see the hunting party photographs which include F Gaskell (third from left above). This is John Francis (1852-1929), always known as Francis, son of Margaret Elizabeth Grimshawe who married John Upton Gaskell.
The Gaskells and Grimshawes socialised a lot together – and they went on holiday together in the Marquita (the Grimshawe’s ocean-going yacht).
I am wondering if there are any more photographs which might reasonably be assumed to include Gaskells. Thanks for all the effort that has gone into the website.
Thanks for the information, Bridget. I don’t have any more photos of John Francis, apart from the others in the hunting party series (click to view). But I’ll let you now if I find any in the future. David
I asked Bridget how the Elizabeth Grimshawe she mentions was related to the Grimshawes of Errwood Hall. It turns out she was the aunt of the last Samuel Grimshawe – his father’s sister. Bridget writes:
John Upton Gaskell (1804-1883) married Margaret Elizabeth Grimshawe (1813-1887) on 13th December 1843 at Taxal Church. She was the sister of Samuel III (1808-1883) and is buried at Prestbury Church.
John and Margaret’s children were Anne Theodora (1844-1923) and John Francis Upton (1852-1929) (he of the hunting party). Anne inherited Ingersley Hall and lived there unmarried until her death in 1923. Francis went to Eton and Sandhurst and eventually became a lieutenant then Captain in the army.
He married firstly Juliana Reed and thereby acquired East Brent Manor in Somerset. But he mainly lived in London. By Juliana he had Margaret Violet (1880-1921) Maud Ethel (1884-1965) John Upton (1886-1967). He married secondly Ursula Louise Sidley who had been the children’s governess.
Ingersley Hall was built by John Gaskell in 1775 and was sold in 1933 with all its contents. It is now known as Savio House and occupied by the Catholic order of Salesians who run it as a retreat and educational centre for young people.