SIDDINGTON

Grid Ref: SJ 846708
Dates: 25 March 2003, 18 June 2005, 20 June 2020 & 22 Nov 2020

All Saints, Siddington, November 2020

Tower and Porch, June 2020		West Elevation, Nov 2020

It is believed that All Saints was founded in the 14th century but the first documentary evidence dates from 1474, when the church was mentioned in the will of Robert Sydington as a chapel of ease for Prestbury. The church is near Thorneycroft Hall and in 1722, Edward Thorneycroft wrote that he had made enquiries about the origins of the church from the registers at Prestbury. He believed that it had been formerly a domestic chapel belonging to Siddington Hall and built by one of the Fittons. Richards in Old Cheshire Churches points out that this is unlikely as the Fittons did not obtain Siddington Hall until the death of Robert Sydyngton in 1474 by which time the church was already in existence. In 1550, it was recorded that the vicar of Prestbury let his corn tithes in Siddington to Edward Fitton. The original chapel had a timber frame but much of the old chapel was pulled down in the 18th century to be replaced by the current brick construction. There were restorations in 1853 and 1894. There appear to have been no baptisms, marriages or burials until Bishop Gastrell of Chester granted a licence in 1721. The list of incumbents goes back to 1582.

According to a notice in the porch in November 2020, during Covid-19 lockdown, the church is planning to celebrate its 500th anniversary in 2021 puttings its foundation in 1521!

If you are fortunate to gain entrance to the church, which is frequently open, you will see a fine collection of stained glass. The church was formerly well known for the ceremony of blessing the animals and there is now an illuminated panel to commemorate the vicar who held the ceremonies. The church is also known for its association with corn dollies, made by the farmer and local historian, Raymond Rush.

There is a brass plaque inscribed as follows:

There is a similar plaque to commemorate all who lost their lives in the Great War. The window is that shown in my photograph depicting St. Maurice and St. Alban.

The Nave and Chancel		The Font
Illuminated Panel		Corn Dolly Cross on the Rood Screen
Cross in the churchyard		Window depicting St. Maurice and St. Alban
		Alexander George McGillvray Lieut. R.A.F. Hamilton, Canada Nov 4th 1899 - June 16 1918 Claude Edmund Watchorn Lieut. R.F.C. Calgary, Canada Ser 12th 1897 - June 17 1918
Crosses for two airmen		Epitaphs for the airmen

At the time of the Great War, two Canadian pilots on a training flight in a biplane from Shawbury in Shropshire made an emergency landing near Thorneycroft Hall. The local landowners, the Bickerton family, took them in until their plane could be repaired and became friendly with them. Subsequently the pilots made further visits to the Bickertons. When the pilots were scheduled to go to France they decided to visit the Bickertons to say goodbye but as they came into land the wingtip touched a flagpole stay and they crashed. One died the same day and the other the followind day. They are buried at Siddington Church and two oak trees were planted to commemorate them. (Information in the church porch provided by Raymond Rush)

The current Thornycroft Hall was built in the 18th century but was altered in the 1830sLater in the 20th century, the hall became Palotti Hall, a children's home run by nuns. In 1979, it was renamed Thornycroft Hall and opened as a Conference Centre to provide people from all walks of life with opportunities for their human, cultural and spiritual development. Is is owned by the Siddington Trust, a charity. The pictures below were taken on the Family Fun Day, on 5 May 2003, an enjoyable event with a good family atmosphere.

Thornycroft Hall, from the east		View from the south west on Family Fun Day

Ormerod states that the first mention of the Thornycroft family is in the reign of Henry III (1216-1272). It took its name from the hamlet. The charters of the family go back to Richard son of Hamon de Thornicroft. In about 1300 he lands that William de Sydingon had given to his daughter Joan who married Hamon de Thornicroft.

In the 17th and early 18th century the family had many children who died young. Edward Thornicroft died in 1637. His eldest, John, had four sons and five daughters. Two of the sons had families including a total of six sons but ultimately no direct male heirs resulted. The estate passed via Edward's second son, also called Edward. This Edward had nine sons and seven daughters. Of the sons, two had families. Henry, the fourth son had three sons and seven daughters but ultimately no male heirs so it fell to Edward's ninth son, another Edward to provide the heirs. He was a barrister and died in 1726.

The chart below begins with this Edward. Once again the family suffered with a high mortality among its sons and the male line died out in 1817 with another Edward Thornycroft. By the will of this last Edward, the estate was vested in his two surviving sisters for life, with remainder to his friend the Rev. Charles Mytton, Rector of Eccleston and his issue. When the last sister died, in 1831, Mr. Mytton succeeded to Thornycroft, and, as required by the will, assumed the name and arms of Thornycroft. Charles Mytton Thornycroft was married on 26 June 1802, to Henrietta the eldest daughter of John Grey, 3rd son of Henry the 4th Earl of Stamford and Warrington. Charles Mytton Thornycroft's eldest son, the Rev. John Thornycroft, born in 1809 was the proprietor of the estate at the time of Ormerod's research. In this way a family unconnected with the original Thornycrofts took over the estate and the name.

• 1. Edward Thornycroft of Thornycroft and Lincoln's Inn, barrister, died 11 May 1726 and buried at Gawsworth. He was the ninth son of Edward Thornycroft of Thornycroft, gentleman, a captain of horse in the service of Charles I, who died in 1697 and his wife, Katherine, daughter of John Kinsey of Blackden.
• + Anne, only surviving daughter of Sir Ralph Assheton of Middleton in Lancashire, knight and baronet, died 30 December 1712 and buried at Gawsworth.
  • 2. Mary, born 21 July 1688 married to Peter Davenport of Macclesfield, a Captain-lieutenant of General Davenport's Regiment of Horse. She died on 8 October 1721 and was buried with her two infants at Gawsworth.
  • 2. Anne, born November 1689 married Samuel Adderley of Blackhaugh in Staffordshire, gentleman, and died in childbirth, 14 January 1714.
  • 2. Henry Thornycroft, query over his date of birth but died without issue in April 1718.
  • 2. John Thornycroft of Thornycroft, Esq., born 5 July 1687, married 21 October 1721 and buried at Siddington on 26 December 1726.
  • + Eleanor Henshaw, sole surviving daughter and heiress of John Henshaw of Henshaw, gentleman, formerly of Middlewich, who died in 1722 and was buried at Marton. This couple had three sons and two daughters.
    • 3. Henshaw Thornycroft of Thornycroft baptised Gawsworth, 16 December 1713 died 6 May 1780 and buried at Gawsworth.
    • + Mary, daughter of James Marsden of Lancashire, married at Newton near Manchester on 25 June 1741 and buried 26 February 1774. In addition to the three sons mentioned below this couple had three daughters, Eleanor, Mary and Anne who all appear to have died unmarried.
      • 4. Henshaw Thornycroft, buried at Gawsworth on 28 July 1747.
      • 4. James Thornycroft, buried at St. Anne's Manchester, 24 September 1750.
      • 4. Edward Thornycroft of Thornycroft, baptised Gawsworth on 4 November 1752 and died 20 January 1817, buried at Gawsworth with no issue and the estate went initially to two surviving sisters, then to the Rev. Charles Mytton.
      • + 1st wife. Frances daughter of Bagot Read of Maes Mawr. She died on 29 December 1809. No issue.
      • + 2nd wife Anne, Dowager Viscountess Barrington, widow of William, 3rd Viscount. Married 1 February 1812, died 6 April 1816, buried at Gawsworth, where there is a monument. No issue
    • 3 John Thornycroft, second son, born 20 March 1717, died 17 May 1718, buried at Gawsworth.
    • 3. Edward Thornycroft, 3rd son, died in infancy in April 1721.
    • 3. Anne baptised Gawsworth 26 November 1715 and married the Rev. Geo. Everard, rector of Heather in Leicestershire and minister of Capesthorne.
    • 3. Eleanor, buried at Gawsworth on 25 March 1768.
      

Sources

Cheshire Country Houses, by Peter de Figueiredo and Julian Treuhertz, published by Phillimore, Chichester, 1988.
Ormerod's History of Cheshire, 2nd edn, Vol 3 page 730.
Information on the two Canadian pilots is taken from a display in the church porch written by Raymond Rush

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