HISTORY FROM PARISHIONERS
Mynthurst of the Parish of Leigh
This has been reproduced from an
article by Gavin Pearce in the Leigh Post, the Parish Magazine
In 1856 James William Freshfield MP FRS FRGS FGS (1775-1864) lived at Moor Place,
Betchworth, and decided to build a family mansion at Mynthurst, Leigh.
He had been the senior Partner of Freshfields, the famous solicitors for the
Bank of England. A note on his will can be seen by
clicking here.
The estate of Mynthurst comprised almost a third of the Parish of Leigh.
A total of 1064 acres stretched from Mynthurst to the Seven Stars, to the
Recreation Ground, and then south along the Leigh/Newdigate parish boundary to
Shellwood Cross.
In 1828 Freshfield's son had married Mary Anne Dawes, the daughter of the
solicitor of Rothschilds banking. Could her name have a connection with
Dawes Green at the heart of Leigh, and, until a some years ago, the name of
our telephone exchange?
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James Freshfield married Mary Anne Dawes in 1828. (portraits by George Richmond) |
In 1892 Henry Ray Freshfield's son Douglas, together with the patriarch's
grandsons, William Dawes Freshfield and Edwin Freshfield, sold the entire
property to Ernest Charrington for £170.
There is a memorial plaque in St Bartholomew's Church to James William
Freshfield, and William Dawes Freshfield is still listed in the Parish
Magazine as a benefactor.
A plaque in memory of James William Freshfield in St
Bartholomew's Church, Leigh.
Click on photo to enlarge
By 1931 the Mynthurst estate had grown to 1887 acres, when it was sold by Sir
Henry Bell. The history of the estate after that date is well
documented, but any further information would be most welcome, since word of
mouth history has it stated that the estate employed around four hundred
people, almost half the population of Leigh.
The Mansion, now divided into
three apartments, still has a huge painted glass window in the main hall.
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The painted window in the Mansion with two panels for each month of the year, one showing the sign of the zodiac and the other a Victorian scene appropriate for the month. |
Pictures taken from the sale folder of 1931
Click on photo to enlarge
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