PEOPLE – GISBOROUGH Lord & Lady

Accreditation Cleveland Standard 27/01/1933

LORD & LADY GISBOROUGH
Driveway to Guisborough Hall from main road

              Perhaps the Right Hon. Lord Gisborough whose stately North Yorkshire home is Guisborough Hall, has not entered into the life of Cleveland as intimately as did the late Admiral Chaloner, whom he succeeded, but has given much of his time and life to politics.

            Before taking the name of Chaloner in 1888 – according to the terms of the will of the late Admiral Chaloner – Lord Gisborough was Captain. Long, of the 6th Dragoon Guards, later of the 3rd Hussars.

            Raised to the peerage in 1917 he took as his title Baron Gisborough – the name of his Cleveland seat, but spelled it, “Gisborough.”

            Educated at Winchester, Lord Gisborough served in India and Afghanistan, and commanded the 1st Battalion Imperial Yeomanry during the South African War.

            Commencing a political career he represented the Westbury Division of Wiltshire from 1895 to 1900, whilst from 1910 to 1916 he represented Abercromby Division of Liverpool.

            In 1882 Lord Guisborough, married Margaret, daughter of the Rev. W. Davis, Vicar of Ramsbury, Wiltshire.

            The Chaloner’s have a very long and interesting lineage, Doctor Edward Chaloner having been on of the chaplains to King Charles 1st. whilst the second son, Thomas of the worthy family, was discoverer of alum in Cleveland in 1595, and developed a long and very important industry in the district. Guisborough was the first place in England in which the manufacture of alum has long since ceased – or rather moved elsewhere.

The Pedigree is a Very Interesting One

 and goes back to a very early date. The family was of

Royal Welsh Blood

and the pedigree of the seven noble tribes of Wales and of the Chaloner family show that Madoc Krwme, son of Trahayrne the Great, assumed the name of Chaloner, and for arms three cherubs in place of three kneeling angels.

Guisborough Priory

            In 1547 the dissolved Priory of Guisborough which a few years previously had been one of the finest edifices of its kind in the North, together with all the houses, lands, etc., was granted to Thomas Chaloner, and in a charter dated 1558 – still at Guisborough Hall – and bearing the royal seal, this was confirmed.

            The turf does not appeal to Lord Gisborough, and for some years he has done little or so hunting.

            Calling at Guisborough Hall recently re “historical matters,” I was most kindly received by Lady Gisborough, and by her permission I was allowed to inspect several of the books connected with the Priory and the early members of the Chaloner family.

            During a talk with lady Gisborough I found that both her daughters (the Hon. Miss Bruce Chaloner) and herself are most enthusiastic bibliophiles and much interested in the past history and archaeology.

            They have classified the documents dealing with Guisborough Priory, the estate, and with the Court Leet and Court Baron.

            Unfortunately Lady Gisborough is suffering from failing eye-sight and she informed me that this misfortune hindered her in carrying out her work regarding the documents etc., and I am quite certain she will have the greatest sympathy from the people of all sections in the district in her misfortune.

            During a long chat about local history with her ladyship, I found she was greatly interested in the subject. Her knowledge of the history, not only of the Priory and the surrounding district was both very remarkable and accurate.

            All the books of the early members of the Chaloner family are treasured possessions at Guisborough Hall to-day, and there are many valuable prints and paintings also.

            Lady Gisborough was most kind and courteous to me during my visit, and offered to allow me to refer to any book which might assist me in future times regarding writing my old hobby of writing up ancient history, and here I beg to thank her very kindly for her offer.

            Lord and Lady Gisborough’s eldest son, the late Captain Hume Chaloner, who was heir to the barony, unfortunately met his death in a very singularly sad manner in France.

            A sentry slipped on frozen ground, and his rifle discharged by the fall, accidentally shot and killed Captain Chaloner, thus Captain the Hon. Thomas W. Long Chaloner, of Hurworth (Co. Durham) became heir to the title and estate.

            Lady Gisborough takes a great interest in the hall gardens, and all local works of charity have her kind support.

            Bidding me good afternoon in the grounds of Guisborough Hall, her ladyship said: “I am now going to see my boys – the Celtics – have a game of football, and, by the shouting, I think someone must have scored a goal, so I must hurry over to them,” she laughingly remarked.

            Lord Gisborough’s seat was erected in 1857 by the late Admiral Chaloner, and added to the much improved by the present peer. It is a beautiful mansion in the domestic Gothic style of architecture, the grounds being charmingly laid out.

            The Chaloner’s originally resided at the still standing Park House, and then at the Hall. There is an engraving in the possession of Lord Gisborough,. Which depicts it to be a very fine building, with beautifully laid out gardens.

            In 1805 however, the Old Hall was sold, having become almost untenable owing to a spring under the foundations.

            Lady Gisborough informed me that she used the spring eventually to make a water garden, which I later went and inspected.