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Colonel William Sydenham

Sir John and the House of Trenchard

Sep 4th, 2012
by Dorset Ancestors.
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In the parish church of Bloxworth near Bere Regis in east Dorset, visitors can see a memorial in white marble mounted high on the wall of a side chapel. The plaque is in memory of one of Stuart England’s most accomplished and controversial aristocratic statesmen or “principal secretary of state for life”; a figure as true to the soil of Dorset as Barnes or Hardy.

This colourful character was Sir John Trenchard. Trenchard was born in Lychett Matravers in March 1649, where his family had long held a manor, though from the late 15th century onwards the family seat was at Wolferton (or Wolveton) House. This house, near Charminster, had its foundations laid around 1480 by an earlier John Trenchard and his son Thomas, who in turn had inherited the estate through John’s marriage. Wolveton was originally conceived as a grand early Tudor mansion with Elizabethan additions, but was later largely demolished, and the present house is only the south west wing of the earlier one.

Thomas’s son, Sir George, had a daughter called Grace, who married into another of Dorset’s manorial families, the Strangways (Strangeways). Apart from his contribution to the building of Wolveton, Sir Thomas also embellished the 12th century church of St.Mary at Charminster by adding its imposing west tower. He also held office as Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset in 1509 and 1523, but is probably best known for hosting Archduke Phillip of Austria and his wife Juana (Joanna) at Wolveton after they were shipwrecked off the Dorset coast in the great storm of 1506. The story then follows that Thomas recruited a kinsman, John Russell, to act as his interpreter as he could not speak Spanish. James I in 1613 knighted Thomas.

Sir Thomas had a son – also called Thomas – born in 1615, who became the father of the later Sir John of Lytchett. The Trenchards were a family of longstanding puritan and parliamentary leanings. Two cousins, William Sydenham and John Sadler, were both soldiers and administrators in the service of Cromwell, and as he grew up John came to detest the unprincipled court life of Charles II. From the age of 15 to 18 John attended New College Oxford without obtaining a degree and went on to study law at the Middle Temple. Here he met up with Hugh Speke, a distant relative and son of Sir George Speke of White Lackington. (Sir George Trenchard’s wife was Ann Speke).

In association with his cousins John joined the Blue Riband Club, a society of agitators meeting at the King’s Head Tavern in Fleet Street. Although there was never any evidence of his being involved in Titus Oates’ famous popish plot, Trenchard would certainly have been an anti-papal sympathiser. When he was 30 in 1679, John entered Parliament to represent Taunton, and joined those who wished to bar the Duke of York from the throne. He attended meetings held by the dissidents, who were concerned that the Duke would attempt to restore Catholic prominence in England. In 1682 Trenchard married Hugh Speke’s sister Phillipa, then 18.

In 1683 some dissidents hatched a conspiracy to murder the King and his brother in Hertfordshire as they returned from the races at Newmarket. The Rye House Plot, as this conspiracy came to be known went wrong, casting suspicion on Trenchard and his cronies. Together with Lord Russell and Algernon Sydney he was arrested and sent to the Tower. (Interestingly, he was later able to recover his own arrest warrant, now in the archive of the Dorset County Record Office in Dorchester). Russell and Sydney were subsequently executed, but Trenchard appears to have turned his coat with sufficient alacrity to escape the same fate by possibly agreeing to pose as a double agent supplying the government with intelligence about anti-Stuart sedition in the west country!

As no concrete evidence could be levelled against him, Trenchard was released. While John was staying with his father-in-law at Illminster in 1685, the Duke of Monmouth landed in Lyme Bay to raise his notorious rebellion against the King in support of his claim to the English crown. With the suspected assistance of George Speke, John was compelled to escape back to the manor at Lytchett while it was still under surveillance by law officers. His servants then made arrangements to get him aboard a ship berthed at Weymouth. Trenchard then spent two years of exile in Holland; George Speke also fled the country. (Visit Archived Articles Section and click on ‘The Monmouth Rebellion’ Pub.August 2002. Ed.)

Meanwhile Hugh Speke, by then John’s brother-in-law, had been jailed for writing anti-Stuart pamphlets. Officers of the King also raided the Speke home and arrested Hugh’s brother Charles, who was summarily executed by hanging from a tree in Illminster market place. The King’s officers were in no doubt about where the family’s loyalties lay. During a tour by Monmouth of the West Country in 1681, George Speke had entertained the Duke and pledged his support for any future claim to the throne the Duke may assert.

During his two years of exile in the Netherlands Trenchard had made the acquaintance of William of Orange, the Protestant son-in-law of James II. It is believed that on his release from prison, Hugh also fled to Holland. However, in 1686 a general amnesty was issued for the exiles, largely brought about by the intervention of the Quaker William Penn, though Trenchard himself was not pardoned. Yet by the end of 1687 he was back in Dorset, probably as a consequence of offering service to the King in return for his liberty.

With the immediate danger over, Trenchard was able by 1688 to resume his parliamentary career. That year he was elected to represent Dorchester as the leading Whig (i.e. the gentry-party opposed to the Tories of the Court). In this capacity he made an unsuccessful bid to persuade King James II to tone-down his pro-catholic sympathies for the sake of the country’s peace. But the birth of a son to James that year threatened a papal succession once again. The Whigs and Tories united to invite William and Mary to claim the throne. Trenchard of course easily slipped into favour with the royal couple, although he took no active part in the revolution, which ousted James.

John Trenchard was knighted in 1689 and made Chief Justice of Chester. The following year he was elected member for Poole and appointed Secretary of State in 1692. In this capacity he adopted a distinctly draconian approach to the country’s security, setting up an elaborate spy network to oversee the exiled King James, then under the protection of Louis XIV. In the archives of the Bastille were letters revealing that Trenchard had very high level contacts in the French Court and that he had spies in the French channel ports who relayed information from French naval officers.

At home Trenchard was no less zealous in his anti-papal purges. He courted great unpopularity by persecuting those he thought to hold Jacobite sympathies and freely issued search warrants for their homes. Once, when on the trail of a bogus plot perpetuated by one Francis Taffe, Trenchard was much reviled for his gullibility, though he was a man impervious to criticism.

By spring 1695 Sir John Trenchard was in poor-health, and by the end of April he was dead. He was just 46 years old. Phillipa however was not widowed for long, marrying soon after a merchant named Daniel Sadler and living for almost another 50 years. By Phillipa, Trenchard had seven children. His three daughters, Elizabeth, Mary and Anne all married well, though only one of his four sons survived to adulthood.

It should be noted that there were John and Thomas Trenchards in two other possible branches of the family, which could lead to considerable confusion about who is meant. For example there was also a John Trenchard of Warmwell (1586-1662), and a literary John Trenchard (1662-1723), the author of ‘A Short History of Standing Arms in England’ (1698 & 1731) and ‘The Natural History of Superstition’ (1709).

Footnote:
Thomas Gerard in his book Coker’s Survey of Dorestshire (1732) wrote: “Bradford Peverll. The Seate for a longe time of the antient Familie of Peverells whose estate about Henry the Eighth’s time fell by a Female Heire to Nicholas Meggs and his Posteritie enjoy it. Neare Bradford the River dividing itself, making an Island of manie faire and fruitful Maedowes, and there joineth againe a little belowe Dorchester, the more northern branch, being the lesser, amongst these Maedoes runneth by Wolton, more trulie Wolvehampton, a fine and rich Seate which (by the daughter and Heire of John Jordan the antient owner of it) came to John Mohune. His only daughter and Heire Alice brought a faire Estate unto her husband Henry Trinchard of Hampshire whose Grandchilde Sir Thomas Trinchard, gracious with King Henry the Eighth was called chief Builder of the Habitation of Sir George Trinchard, a Man of Great Courage.” (See our article: ‘ Thomas Gerard of Trent’ Published 17th July 2011, in the Trent category.)

Sir James Thornhill

Apr 17th, 2011
by Dorset Ancestors.
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Artistic talent in 18th century England has been said to have-lagged some way behind the standard of painters in the rest of Europe, where talent appears to have been thicker on the ground. It was considered that landscape painting was an unworthy subject for an artist to indulge. So Dorset can proudly claim to number among its sons a luminary in the art world who applied his talent to great commissions, and who would become the first English artist to be knighted.

This son of Dorset was James Thornhill. The family name derived from the then hamlet of that name in the northern parish of Stalbridge, today a part of that town. His earliest traceable ancestor was Lord of the Manor at the time of Richard II, and the Thornhills held the manor until the late 17th century. Some uncertainty exists as to whether James was born in 1675 or 1676, but his birthplace was Melcombe Regis, Weymouth. His father was Walter Thornhill of Wareham, a grocer who was the eighth of sixteen children; his mother Mary was the daughter of the Governor of Wareham, Col William Sydenham. While James was still young, his father abandoned his children, leaving James in the care of his uncle, Dr Sydenham.

James’ rare talent showed itself early and in 1689 when he was 14 he was apprenticed to Thomas Highmore, to whom he was distantly related. Highmore was then Sergeant-Painter to William III, and specialised in non-figurative work. Thornhill soon found himself assisting his master with the interior décor at Chatsworth House, and during his work there was introduced to the work of the French and Italian masters such as Laguere, Cheron and Verrio, who greatly inspired the novice.

In March 1704, eight years after completing his apprenticeship, Thornhill was made a Freeman of the Painter-Stainers Company of London. In 1707 he began work at the Royal Navy Hospital (now Greenwich College,) a commission which would preoccupy him on and off for almost two decades. Justifiably considered his masterpiece, this involved two lofty ceilings and five murals depicting the protestant succession from William and Mary to George I. The Painted Hall alone was 108 feet by 50 feet, and took four years to complete.

Following a visit to the continent in the early 1700’s Thornhill was appointed Sergeant-Painter to Queen Anne. In 1711 the painter was appointed a director of Sir Godfret Kneller’s Academy, succeeding him as governor there from 1716 to 1720. He was also active in promoting other early art academies. In 1721, when the Naval Hospital commission was half-finished, George I knighted Sir James Thornhill.

Running concurrently with this mammoth undertaking was another commission (1714-1717) to embellish the dome and Whispering Gallery of St. Paul’s with scenes from the life of that patron apostle in eight guilded chiaroscuro designs. To gain this contract however, Thornhill had to ward off competition from the Italian masters Pellegrini and Ricci. It is noted that during this task he almost lost his life when he stepped too far back on the platform suspended from the dome, but was saved by his assistant’s intervention in pulling him back from certain death.

The years of the Greenwich and St. Paul’s commissions were productive for James Thornhill in other ways too. In the 1720’s he established his own drawing school at Covent Garden, where his pupils would include William Hogarth. By then Sir James had married and had a daughter, Jane, to whom Hogarth eventually became engaged and married, though the father -in-law of the future painter of ‘The Rake’s Progress’ thought his pupil had betrayed his trust, and for a time he cold shouldered the union.

In 1722 Thornhill was contracted to work at Kensington Palace, but over-charged for the job, leaving him open to being under-cut by the ascendant William Kent. Other works of Sir James were painted scenes for the Drury Lane Theatre, the Great Hall at Blenheim, Princesses apartments at Hampton Court, the South Sea Company’s hall and staircase, the staircase at Easton Newton (Northants) and the chapel at Whimpole.

Another plank of Thornhill’s work was to illustrate books and carry out some architectural work, though Moor Park in Hertfordshire is believed to be the only building wholly attributable to him. At one time in this capacity he even drew up plans for the new town hall at Blandford. He further undertook some portrait painting, Sir Isaac Newton and the play-write Sir Richard Steele being two of his most illustrious subjects. His smaller works from the easel include the altar pieces for Queens College and All Souls Chapels in Oxford, and even an altar piece portraying the Last Supper for St. Mary’s Church in his home territory of Melcombe Regis.

St. Mary’s however, was not the only work of Thornhill’s hand to grace some of the stately homes in his native county. In total he pained four murals for Dorset Houses, but only two of these – at Sherborne and Charborough – survive. That at Sherborne is on the theme of the Caledonian Hunt, and shows the goddess Diana gazing down from the ceiling. This painting however, is in urgent need of restoration, but requires £55,000 to be raised in order for the work to be carried out.

James Thornhill’s life work earned him honours, wide acclaim and – for the time – a great fortune. For example the Greenwich naval hospital commission alone netted him over £6,000 – three times the earnings of an 18th century Dorset farm labourer over his entire working life. At Greenwich he commanded the fee rate of £1 per square yard for the walls and £3 per square yard for the ceiling.

As well as his knighthood, Thornhill became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1723 and in 1722 was elected MP for Melcombe Regis and Weymouth. This had recently been the constituency of Sir Christopher Wren and Thornhill held it for the next 12 years, though it is not thought that he ever made a speech in the Commons throughout all this time. He did however, paint the houses of Parliament (as they then were) in 1730, a work in which he was assisted by his son-in-law William Hogarth, and which has been in the possession of the Earl of Hardwicke.

But following his work at Moor Park Thornhill undertook no further major commissions. He hardly needed to. With the great wealth he had accrued, Sir James was able in 1725 to re-purchase his ancestral seat at Stalbridge. Here he built Thornhill House in the Palladian style, setting up in the grounds a lofty obelisk to commemorate the accession of George II. And after several years of genteel retirement in broken health marked by attacks of gout, Sir James Thornhill died here on May 4th 1734 aged about 60.

Memories of Weymouth’s Old High Street

Nov 22nd, 2010
by Dorset Ancestors.
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Weymouth can be a busy town – in summer holidaymakers crowd the seafront and the town, in winter it’s more peaceful, although the shopping streets are usually busy. Now the Christmas lights are on, the seasonal atmosphere aids the traditional pursuit of spending money and more money.

A Dorset Echo columnist commented that far too much of old Weymouth and Melcombe Regis has been demolished. That is certainly true, but there are still unexpected examples of the old towns which have somehow survived the march of modernisation. Some look increasingly threatened by neglect.

In Elizabethan times, it was Melcombe Regis on the north bank of the River Wey – where the modern town centre is now situated – and Weymouth on the south bank. There were many rows and disputes, until the Privy Council and the Queen forced the two boroughs to unite in 1571.

In the old borough of Weymouth – behind the ghastly concrete structure of the modern Council Offices – stands the rump of the old High Street. Leading from Holy Trinity Church to Boot Hill, this was the trading centre of the old borough – controversially demolished in the early 1960s, considered by many to have been a great corporate act of vandalism.

The old High Street, with the raised pavement, even today has something of the charm of Tudor England. The two oldest buildings are The Boot pub and the Old Town Hall opposite. The old centre of local government is mired in controversy as the owners, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, have allowed this grade II listed building to decay for years. Repairs are estimated at over £100,000 and the council say it doesn’t have the money. Having installed a “temporary” odd replacement window, plastic drainpipes and chicken-wire over the windows, local criticism over their lack of stewardship has been increasing.

Across the road from the Old Town Hall, the splendid grade II listed Boot dates to about 1600. Well known to real ale drinkers, The Boot has won their Wessex Region Pub of the Year by the Campaign for Real Ale. This fine old pub, Weymouth’s oldest, is also lauded in the Good Beer Guide and the Good Pub Guide.
 
There are two versions of how the pub got its name. In the days of Queen Elizabeth I, the River Wey flowed at the back of the pub, with the public slipway running down the side. The Melcombe Regis ferry operated from here and “Boat Inn” could have been corrupted to “Boot Inn.” Others speak of the fact that the Dorchester to Portland mail coach would stop at the inn and force those sitting on top to help push the coach boot up the Hill. Did Boot Hill get its name from the pub, or vice versa? That is unclear.

The hooded stone mullion windows are certainly late Tudor and as the road falls away to the level of the old boat ramp, one door is at lower level.  Built on a slope, the bare boarded rise carries on up into the main room, which opens out to the full width of the house. A waist-high skirting board follows round the room and the walls are adorned with local pictures. The black beams are certainly original and the inside has a warm, homely feel. In winter, a real fire warms the room. A carpeted snug forms the right hand room, leading to a few more stairs and the short bar to the right.

Local historian Mark Vine has been researching the Civil War and highlights the many battles that were fought around The Boot and the old High Street. He rightly criticises the lack of official interest in an important historical story and battle site. Many royalist and parliamentary soldiers lost their lives in these skirmishes, the existence of which is not marked in any way.

In 1645, Colonel William Sydenham and his Commonwealth troops set up a defensive line at the top of High Street, near the Boot Inn. Roundheads set up cannon on the raised pavement by the Town Hall and pounded King Charles’ men every time they looked out of The Boot’s door! Eventually, there was a battle royal in High Street and a major massacre of 500 Royalists ensued, right outside the pub and along the quayside.