Mellish Family of Hodsock, Nottinghamshire
In the late 12th century Cecily, daughter of Gervas de Clifton, married Roger de Cressy of Hodsock, Nottinghamshire. In 1382 Sir John Clifton married Katherine, daughter of Sir John Cressy. It was through these marriages that the Clifton family eventually acquired Hodsock and other estates in the north of the county, as well as in adjacent parts of Yorkshire. With the sale of Hodsock Priory to the Mellish family in 1765 the Cliftons began to concentrate their estates in south Nottinghamshire. When Sir Robert Clifton, the 9th Baronet, died in 1869 without issue the estates descended to Hervey Juckes Lloyd Bruce, whose son in 1919 changed his family name to Clifton
The Mellish family were originally merchants in London, Lincoln and Doncaster. In 1635 John Mellish of London purchased the Blyth estate from the Saundersons, but he did not move there. He was succeeded by his eldest son Edward Mellish, at one time merchant at Oporto. Edward Mellish rebuilt Blyth Hall in the 1680s. He died unmarried in 1703 and left his estate at Blyth to Joseph Mellish (d. 1733), the son of his cousin Samuel Mellish (d 1707). Joseph's son William undertook extensive work on the house at Blyth and the estates.
In the 1760s the family sold a number of small estates in Nottinghamshire to consolidate their holdings in North Nottinghamshire, purchasing Hodsock Priory and estate from the Clifton family in 1765.
William Mellish (c.1710–1791), MP for East Retford, was the son of Joseph Mellish and Dorothy (Nee Gore). He was educated at Eton College and Peterhouse, Cambridge, he was admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1725 and to the Inner Temple in 1734. In 1735 he married Catherine Rachel (1710–1747), daughter of Joseph da Costa (1683–1753) and widow of Joseph Isaac Villareal of Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire, both wealthy Portuguese Jews.
They had two sons, one was Charles (1737- 1797). After Catherine's death in 1747, William married in 1762 to Ann, daughter of John Gore, a government financier.They had two sons, John and William who was born in 1764.He succeeded to the Blyth estate in 1757 upon the death of his elder brother and died on 16 December 1791
William Mellish (1764-1838) - banker and politician. William Mellish became a director of the Bank of England in 1792; he was elected MP for Grimsby in 1796, and again in 1803. He died in 1838, a wealthy man, leaving a house in Bishopsgate, London, and a country estate Edmonton, which he had inherited from an aunt. He was buried in the church of All Saints, Edmonton.
Charles Mellish (1737- 1797) - He married Judith Stapleton (d 1806).
He entered Lincoln's Inn in 1761. From 1770-1777 and 1779-1794 he was Recorder of Newark. In 1774 he became M.P. for Pontefract on behalf of the Galway interest (his half-sister Elizabeth having married the 2nd Viscount Galway). In 1780 he was placed instead, by the Duke of Newcastle, as M.P. for Aldborough. Charles' political career ended in 1784 when he disagreed with Newcastle and was asked to resign his seat. He did not stand in the General Election of 1784, and stood unsuccessfully for Pontefract in 1790. Between 1793 and 1796 he was Commissioner of Stamps.
Charles built the bridge between Blyth and Oldcotes, still known as New Bridge, metalled 30 miles of local roads and planted 400 acres of woodland.
He was interested in the history of Nottinghamshire and in antiquarian study and was working on a County History when he died, before it's completion.
His estates were inherited by his second son Henry Francis Mellish who became Lieutenant Colonel and ADC to the Duke of Wellington.
His elder son Joseph Charles (1769-1823) was disinherited on account of his extravagance while at University and was sent abroad as Consul in Louisiana, Palermo, and Hamburg. He married a German Baroness.
Henry Francis Mellish lost the Blyth estate in 1806 on accoount of his gambling. His horses won the St. Leger in 1804 and 1805. In the Peninsular War campaign of 1808-1810 he was ADC to General Ferguson. While abroad,he wrote a series of letters to his sister Ann at Hodsock, which detail his time abroad, including the suffering he endured.He died in 1817.
Hodsock was entailed on Ann, the co-heir, who rebuilt the house, employing the architect, Ambrose Poynter(1796-1886). She improved the house in 1829-1833 by building a new south wing and Italian terrace in the Gothic Revival style.
Anne married William Cecil Chambers in 1811, he died a few years later in 1817. The sons of William Cecil and Anne Chambers, William Mellish and Charles Henry Chambers both died young, in 1845 and 1840 respectively; their memorials are in Blythe Church. On Anne's death in 1855, the estates passed to her cousin, William Leigh Mellish.
William Leigh Mellish (1813-1864), the son of Edward Mellish, Dean of Hereford and Elizabeth Jane, daughter of the Rev. William Leigh of Rushall, Staffordshire. He was a grandson of William Mellish (1708-1791).
William married to Margaret (1820-1901), daughter of Samuel Cunard of the shipping line in 1843. they had four children:George (d 1881), Colonel Henry Edward Mellish (1856-1927), Agnes (d 1934, aged 86) and Evelyn Frances (d 1935 aged 77) - none of whom married.
An officer in the Sherwood Foresters from 1833, he was a Lieutenant in the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Cavalry in 1848, and Lieutenant-Colonel of the Nottinghamshire militia from 1852-64. He served as a J.P. for Nottinghamshire.He inherited the Hodsock estate from his cousin Anne Chambers in 1855.
After his death, Margaret and the children rebuilt the rest of the house in 1874, employing the architect George Devey to alter and enlarge the house at a cost of £10,064.
Colonel Henry Mellish (1856-1927), he succeeded his father to the estate in 1864, the last male representative of the family to live at Hodsock. Educated at Eton and at Balliol College, Oxford, he gained a degree in Natural Science.A keen meteorologist he maintained a weather station at Hodsock Hall, where he made daily observations on the weather which he published annually. He was President of the Royal Meteorological Society 1909-1910. His meteorological library was given to Nottingham University Library together with his meteorological records.
He served as a Councillor and Alderman of Nottinghamshire County Council from 1889 until his death; a magistrate, and a member of Worksop District Council, he was chairman of the Quarter Sessions for Retford division, and Chairman of Nottinghamshire Education Committee for 23 years. He was also a member of the Council of University College, Nottingham, and of the Court of Governors of the University of Sheffield.
He was Chairman of the Nottingshire Territorial Association and Commander of the 4th Volunteer Battalion Sherwood Foresters from 1901 to 1905. He built a rifle range at Hodsock and was a Councillor of the National Rifle Association.
On his death, Hodsock Priory passed to the Buchanan family, descendents of his grandfather Edward Mellish, Dean of Hereford.
In 1935 the Priory was advertised to be Let, furnished or unfurnished:
A picturesque and moderate sized Mansion in Nottinghamshire, situate in a well timbered Park, containing the following accommodation:-
- Ground Floor - Three reception rooms, library, lounge, hall, lavatory, w.c., excellent servants' quarters with usual domestic offices, larders, and cellar.
- First Floor - Eight principal bedrooms, with 4 dressing rooms, 2 bathrooms, 4 w.c.s., and work room.
- Second Floor - Servants' bedrooms, with bathroom and 2 w.c.s.
The pleasure grounds, which are a feature of the property, surrounding the Mansion, are approached through an attractive Old Gatehouse, and are exceptionally well laid out and noted for their natural beauty. There is a walled-in kitchen garden; garage for 4 cars; cottages available for employees.
The Mansion is centrally heated and lighted with electricity, and there is an abundant supply of water. Shooting over 1,500 acres of adjoining land, if required. Stabling for 8 horses, within easy reach of good hunting. Golf courses and country club within a few miles. Moderate rent.
William Leigh Mellish's sister Francis Katharine married the diplomat Andrew Buchanan (1807-1882)m 1st Baron of Dunburgh, Stirlingshire. The Hodsock estate descended in the female line through her to the Buchanans. In 1937 the estate passed to Mrs. Mary Mayhew (Nee Buchanan), grandaughter of William Leigh Mellish's sister Frances and husband of Major Thomas Mayhew.
In 1951 Major Sir Charles Buchanan and Mrs. T. G. Mayhew offered Hodsock Priory for sale by auction.
The Gardens
Early last century there were five gardeners under the Head gardener Mr. Arthur Ford. The whole of the five acres bounded by the moat banks were thickly planted. Miss Agnes Mellish was very particular about weeds and any she shound find were quickly pointed out to the Gardener! A walled garden provided fruit and vegetables for the household.
Families linked by marriage
Baker, Gore, Gardner and Chambers families.
Daniel Baker married (1685?) Martha the daughter of Samuel Mellish.
Joseph Mellish(d 1733) married Dorothy Gore.
Catherine Martha Mellish was the daughter and heiress of John Mellish, son of William Mellish (d 1791)
Miss Eliza Mellish, youngest daughter of Charles (1737-1797) and Judith Mellish, married George Augustus Cooke Esq 1807, brother of Sir William Bryan Cooke
The present owner, Sir Andrew Buchanan,Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, is a nephew of Mrs. Mary Mayhew who died in 1982.
Archives include brief account of the involvement of Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, in the history of Hodsock Priory; and an attempt to show that William Mellish Chambers and his brother, Charles Henry Chambers, are descendants of Edward III.
Source: Nottingham University Library, Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections. Reference: Me E 1 - Me X 6
See also our Feature about Hodsock Priory Gardens
Hodsock Priory Gardens February, 2008
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