Later Northey Family Alan Payne Family photos and research Diana Northey October 2020
The remaining Northey Estate should have passed to the children of George Edward: George Evelyn Anson Northey (known as Anson (1886-1914)), daughter Vere Wilbraham Northey (26 June 1888-1960) and Sir Armand Hunter Kennedy Wilbraham Northey (1897-1964). Anson died before his father and most of the properties went to Armand although Vere lived at St Christopher's, Ditteridge. The Northey estate was now reduced to just a few properties and land in Ditteridge.
Anson Northey (1886 – 1914)
George Evelyn Anson Northey was born on 10 November 1886 in Sydney, Australia but he followed his father to Box, living at Cheney Court, Ditteridge. He was an officer in the Essex Regiment and served as a Lieutenant in World War 1 in France where he lost his life in one of the first engagements of the war. His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the La-Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine et Marne. George Edward waited anxiously for news that Anson might have been captured or wounded but it wasn't to be and he accepted killed in action in 1916. The poor man never recovered the loss of his eldest son.
Vere Wilbraham Northey (1888 - 1960)
Vere was born on 26 June 1888 in Box and in 1910 she married Captain Austin Gardner MC of the Essex Regiment. The Gardner family came from Brentwood, Essex and Austin was probably a fellow-officer of her elder brother. The wedding ceremony was conducted by the rector of Ditteridge, Rev AB Gregoire. The list of presents ran to two columns in the newspaper including some odd gifts: crocodile leather blotter, pot-pourri pot, string box, paste buckle, pickle fork and silk cushion.[1]
Austin received the Military Cross for leading a bayonet charge under heavy fire in the First World War and he and Vere lived at St Christopher's, Ditteridge. They had three children, Joyce V (1911-16), Adrian H A (b 1914) and Gerald A (b 1922). Vere obtained a divorce, a decree nisi, in 1931 on account of Austin's adultery with Mrs Landers in London.[2]
Sir Armand Northey (1897 - 1964)
Armand was born on 16 January 1897 in London and he went to Balliol College, Oxford.[3] He was called up in both World Wars, in administrative positions rather in the front line. In the First World War he served in the Foreign Office and in the Second he was at the Admiralty, Bath. As a career, he was a practising barrister on the Western Circuit from 1923 until 1935. On the death of his father, George Edward, in 1932 he resigned to manage the residue of the Northey estate a few years later. He continued a legal career by serving as a Magistrate on the Chippenham Bench, becoming chairman in 1955 and chairman of the Wiltshire Quarter Sessions later. In 1948 he heard a case in the Wiltshire Quarter Sessions, the first to have a jury of twelve people since 1939, when the number of jurors was cut to seven.[4]
In 1929 he was married at Hanover Square, London to Mollie Katherine Helyar (born in 1909).[5] She was the younger daughter of Commander Percy Helyar, DSO RN, and their wedding was attended by Canon WH Elliott, chaplain to the King. Mollie's cousins included Lord Sidmouth of Calne.[6]
Armand inherited Cheney Court but it was too large for a family residence and was sold before 1948 and Armand and Mollie moved into Cheney Cottage.[7] They were actively involved in Ditteridge Church, where Armand was patron and he regularly attended meetings of Box Cricket Club where he was involved from the 1920s and later president.[8] He also championed the Box Horse Show in the late 1940s and 1950s, acting as President in 1949.[9] But he was prudent enough not to use the Lord of the Manor title realising that so many things had changed since his grandfather's time.[10] Armand was knighted for political and public services in Wiltshire in 1958 and he died in 1964 and Mollie in 1983. There were two children, Christopher and Mavis.
With Armand's death this branch of the family left Box but they weren't the last Northey members in the village because one of the children of Arthur Cecil Northey returned to live in Box.
Children of Arthur Cecil Northey
Arthur had only lived in the village during his childhood and, after travelling the world, settled in Buckinghamshire (Datchet and Eton) where his children were brought up and his wife died in 1951. But their second child Adrian returned to the Northey roots in Box.
Anson Northey (1886 – 1914)
George Evelyn Anson Northey was born on 10 November 1886 in Sydney, Australia but he followed his father to Box, living at Cheney Court, Ditteridge. He was an officer in the Essex Regiment and served as a Lieutenant in World War 1 in France where he lost his life in one of the first engagements of the war. His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the La-Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine et Marne. George Edward waited anxiously for news that Anson might have been captured or wounded but it wasn't to be and he accepted killed in action in 1916. The poor man never recovered the loss of his eldest son.
Vere Wilbraham Northey (1888 - 1960)
Vere was born on 26 June 1888 in Box and in 1910 she married Captain Austin Gardner MC of the Essex Regiment. The Gardner family came from Brentwood, Essex and Austin was probably a fellow-officer of her elder brother. The wedding ceremony was conducted by the rector of Ditteridge, Rev AB Gregoire. The list of presents ran to two columns in the newspaper including some odd gifts: crocodile leather blotter, pot-pourri pot, string box, paste buckle, pickle fork and silk cushion.[1]
Austin received the Military Cross for leading a bayonet charge under heavy fire in the First World War and he and Vere lived at St Christopher's, Ditteridge. They had three children, Joyce V (1911-16), Adrian H A (b 1914) and Gerald A (b 1922). Vere obtained a divorce, a decree nisi, in 1931 on account of Austin's adultery with Mrs Landers in London.[2]
Sir Armand Northey (1897 - 1964)
Armand was born on 16 January 1897 in London and he went to Balliol College, Oxford.[3] He was called up in both World Wars, in administrative positions rather in the front line. In the First World War he served in the Foreign Office and in the Second he was at the Admiralty, Bath. As a career, he was a practising barrister on the Western Circuit from 1923 until 1935. On the death of his father, George Edward, in 1932 he resigned to manage the residue of the Northey estate a few years later. He continued a legal career by serving as a Magistrate on the Chippenham Bench, becoming chairman in 1955 and chairman of the Wiltshire Quarter Sessions later. In 1948 he heard a case in the Wiltshire Quarter Sessions, the first to have a jury of twelve people since 1939, when the number of jurors was cut to seven.[4]
In 1929 he was married at Hanover Square, London to Mollie Katherine Helyar (born in 1909).[5] She was the younger daughter of Commander Percy Helyar, DSO RN, and their wedding was attended by Canon WH Elliott, chaplain to the King. Mollie's cousins included Lord Sidmouth of Calne.[6]
Armand inherited Cheney Court but it was too large for a family residence and was sold before 1948 and Armand and Mollie moved into Cheney Cottage.[7] They were actively involved in Ditteridge Church, where Armand was patron and he regularly attended meetings of Box Cricket Club where he was involved from the 1920s and later president.[8] He also championed the Box Horse Show in the late 1940s and 1950s, acting as President in 1949.[9] But he was prudent enough not to use the Lord of the Manor title realising that so many things had changed since his grandfather's time.[10] Armand was knighted for political and public services in Wiltshire in 1958 and he died in 1964 and Mollie in 1983. There were two children, Christopher and Mavis.
With Armand's death this branch of the family left Box but they weren't the last Northey members in the village because one of the children of Arthur Cecil Northey returned to live in Box.
Children of Arthur Cecil Northey
Arthur had only lived in the village during his childhood and, after travelling the world, settled in Buckinghamshire (Datchet and Eton) where his children were brought up and his wife died in 1951. But their second child Adrian returned to the Northey roots in Box.
Children
Arthur and Madeleine had three sons, Peter (1906-74), Adrian (1913-85) and John (1918-42). Each of them has a fascinating story, to which this article can only do superficial justice.
Peter Arthur Owen Northey (19 November 1906-74) married firstly Joan M Hutton in 1937 in Eton and in 1950 Agnes M Dick in Westminster. He served in the Cameronians and spent time in Palestine before the war and later as a Lieutenant-Colonel in Anti-Aircraft Command during World War II. After the war he became Chairman of Fidelity Sound Equipment Ltd.
Captain Adrian Paul Wilbraham Northey was born in Malta on 25 January 1913, when his parents were stationed there. He married Elizabeth (Betty) Doreen Belford, who was serving as an officer in WRNS in 1942. Adrian was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his part in the evacuation of Dunkirk in recognition of an act of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy at sea and later two bars, one for action with HMS Scarborough, a convoy escort vessel in the North Atlantic. In 1947 he was in charge of handing over the Pakistan Navy to the newly-independent country and in 1949 he was promoted to the rank of Commander. Below: Family group of Tim and Diana and their family, Arabella, Edward, William and Crispin.
Arthur and Madeleine had three sons, Peter (1906-74), Adrian (1913-85) and John (1918-42). Each of them has a fascinating story, to which this article can only do superficial justice.
Peter Arthur Owen Northey (19 November 1906-74) married firstly Joan M Hutton in 1937 in Eton and in 1950 Agnes M Dick in Westminster. He served in the Cameronians and spent time in Palestine before the war and later as a Lieutenant-Colonel in Anti-Aircraft Command during World War II. After the war he became Chairman of Fidelity Sound Equipment Ltd.
Captain Adrian Paul Wilbraham Northey was born in Malta on 25 January 1913, when his parents were stationed there. He married Elizabeth (Betty) Doreen Belford, who was serving as an officer in WRNS in 1942. Adrian was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his part in the evacuation of Dunkirk in recognition of an act of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy at sea and later two bars, one for action with HMS Scarborough, a convoy escort vessel in the North Atlantic. In 1947 he was in charge of handing over the Pakistan Navy to the newly-independent country and in 1949 he was promoted to the rank of Commander. Below: Family group of Tim and Diana and their family, Arabella, Edward, William and Crispin.
Adrian served in the Royal Navy from 1930 until 1963.[11] In 1972 he took a sentimental journey on board the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle in Durban when he was the British consul in Johannesburg. The ship, which he had commanded 18 years earlier, was on its way to being scrapped.
Probably his most adventurous duty was in 1956 when he was serving in the Royal Navy as Naval Attaché to Russia. In the midst of the Cold War, he had the duty of escorting the Russian Prime Minister Bulganin and President Krushchev on a trade mission to Britain. In 1970 he was awarded the honour of Commander of the British Empire.
Adrian and Betty came to Box and lived in Kingsdown House, probably drawn by the family history in the village. Betty had been brought up in Liverpool by strongly Protestant parents from Northern Ireland. They were married in 1942. Adrian died in 1985 and Betty in 1998. Their children include Timothy JA Northey (1945-2009) and Pip. In 1975 Tim married Diana V Colley at Chichester and they have children: Arabella, Edward, William and Crispin.
Probably his most adventurous duty was in 1956 when he was serving in the Royal Navy as Naval Attaché to Russia. In the midst of the Cold War, he had the duty of escorting the Russian Prime Minister Bulganin and President Krushchev on a trade mission to Britain. In 1970 he was awarded the honour of Commander of the British Empire.
Adrian and Betty came to Box and lived in Kingsdown House, probably drawn by the family history in the village. Betty had been brought up in Liverpool by strongly Protestant parents from Northern Ireland. They were married in 1942. Adrian died in 1985 and Betty in 1998. Their children include Timothy JA Northey (1945-2009) and Pip. In 1975 Tim married Diana V Colley at Chichester and they have children: Arabella, Edward, William and Crispin.
The third son of Arthur and Madelaine, John Anson Northey (1918-30 March 1942), was a Captain in the Cameronians. He died on 30 March 1942 in Burma, aged 24, probably in the Allied attack on Mandalay against the Japanese invaders. He is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial and in the chancel of Box Church along with two cousins:
* In memory of the three grandsons of Lieut-Colonel GW Northey, JP, DL the Cameronians of Ashley Manor Box who gave their lives in the war 1939-1945:
* Lieut-Colonel Robert Northey Kerr Granville the Royal Engineers son of Reginald Kerr Granville killed near Syracuse Sicily on 17th July 1943 aged 37. * Major Anthony Douglas Northey Hunter MC the Royal Scots Fusiliers son of Lt Col DHK Hunter RA died on 20th February 1945 of wounds received on 10th February near Cleves Rhineland aged 32. * Captain John Anson Northey the Cameronians son of Lieut-Colonel AC Northey the Cameronians killed near Prome Burma on 30th March 1942 aged 24. |
Since Diana Northey left Box in 2018, there are no members of the family left in the village. For two hundred years they had been Lords of the Manor but times moved on quickly after the First World War and their role in society became redundant. The heart had gone out of the Northey family’s tenure of Box.
Family Tree
Arthur Cecil Northey married Madeleine Harriet Owen (1883-1951) in December 1905. Children:
Peter Arthur Owen Northey (19 November 1906 - 74);
Adrian Paul Wilbraham Northey (25 January 1913 - 1985). Child: John Anson Northey (1918 - 30 March 1942)
Arthur Cecil Northey married Madeleine Harriet Owen (1883-1951) in December 1905. Children:
Peter Arthur Owen Northey (19 November 1906 - 74);
Adrian Paul Wilbraham Northey (25 January 1913 - 1985). Child: John Anson Northey (1918 - 30 March 1942)
References
[1] The Wiltshire Times, 17 September 1910
[2] The Wiltshire Times, 7 February 1931
[3] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 17 September 1955
[4] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 10 January 1948
[5] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 13 April 1929
[6] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 17 September 1955
[7] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 13 March 1948
[8] The Wiltshire Times, 24 November 1923
[9] The Wiltshire Times, 27 August 1949
[10] West Sussex County Times, 8 September 1928
[11] The Daily News, 4 January 1972
[1] The Wiltshire Times, 17 September 1910
[2] The Wiltshire Times, 7 February 1931
[3] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 17 September 1955
[4] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 10 January 1948
[5] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 13 April 1929
[6] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 17 September 1955
[7] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 13 March 1948
[8] The Wiltshire Times, 24 November 1923
[9] The Wiltshire Times, 27 August 1949
[10] West Sussex County Times, 8 September 1928
[11] The Daily News, 4 January 1972