PEOPLE – PEASE Sir Alfred Pease, Bart – of Pinchinthorpe House

Accreditation Cleveland Standard 14/011933

SIR ALFRED PEASE, BART.
(OF PINCHINTHORPE HOUSE)
(By Hugh W Cook, Redcar)

   Sir Alfred Edward Pease, Bart., the 2nd baronet, is the eldest son of the late Sir Joseph Whitwell Pease (1st baronet), the title having being created in 1882.
Sir Alfred, who was born in June.1867, was educated at Grove House, Tottenham, and Trinity College, Cambridge. He took his B.A. in 1880 and is a D.L. (London), a J.P. for the North Riding and a County Councillor. He sat as M.P. for York from 1885 to 1892, and represented Cleveland Division of Yorkshire from 1897 to 1902.
Sir Alfred is a man of many parts, and is well-known as an author, an authority on northern history, a traveller of great note, a keen huntsman, and excellent shot a fine judge of horses, a big game hunter, and an all round sportsman. He is the perfect open hearted English gentleman of the real old school, whose remarkable career stands pre-eminently forward as an example of the enterprising youth of these islands, who chose to brave the dangers of the seas, foreign lands and jungle instead of living at home.

A Lover of the Country

   Sir Alfred Pease is a lover of the country, and all that pertains to it. His life is one of those rare instances where by some mysterious transformation one can see the chrysalis’s of genius at quite an early age, which bursts forth its covering showing much brilliancy in a young life, as he was a keen student when at college.
In his modest, unassuming style he loves to chat about “matters historical,” and knows the history of Cleveland and adjoining districts probably better than any other living person. He was Resident Magistrate for the Transvaal from 1903-1905, and served in the Remount Service from 1914 to 1919.
Among his many works of authorship are “The Cleveland Hounds” (1887) “Bisrg Reminiscences” (1898) “The Badger” (1898) and several other well known sporting and historical books.

Many Expeditions

   Sir Alfred made expeditions (some for his game) to Asia Minor in 1891, Algeria, Tunisia, and Sahara in 1892-93-94 and Somali land in 1895. The Sudan in 1906, and Uganda in 1907-8-9 and 11.
He also journeyed to South Africa in 1905, and resided at Kenya in 1912 which is a British Colony and Protectorate in East Africa.
The present baronet comes from a Quaker family founded by Joseph Pease, a woollen manufacturer at Darlington, about 1760. His son, Edward (1767-1858) extended his activities to the coal and iron industries, and also to banking. Joseph and Henry, Edward’s son were both Members of Parliament, as were members of the next two generations. Sir Joseph Whitwell Pease became a baronet in 1882.

A Beautiful residence.

   Sir. Alfred and Lady Pease reside at Pinchinthorpe House, a beautiful residence situated amongst lovely scenery, between Guisborough and Newton.
Sir Alfred tells me that Pinchinthorpe House was formerly a farm house called Spout House, and Mr. H. Thomas, who was the owner, added the house in 1848, and at various times the late Joseph Pease, after 1869 added to it, and eventually it became a commodious country house.
“I remember when Pinchinthorpe had a moat full of water round it, and I used to catch good trout and tench in the waters when I was young,” Sir Alfred told me.
He also stated that the present Hutton Village was built by his father (the late Sir Joseph) and his grandfather (Joseph Pease) on land belonging to Harry Thomas and until 1867 was called “Thomastown.”
“My father stated Sir Alfred “purchased Henry Thomas’s lands in Hutton Low Cross and Pinchinthorpe, and the school was erected by my grandfather and run by father until his death in 1905, when we gave it to the North Riding.
“What I known about these townships would fill a book,” explained the baronet, “and the history of Hutton Low Cross, like that of Pinchinthorpe in a long and interesting business, involving many genealogical tables which would only be of interest to antiquarians, etc.”

A Most Popular Man.

   Sir Alfred’s genial nature made him one of the most popular men in North Yorkshire.
Genial and approachable he always wore a smile, and has a pleasant word for everyone in the paddock, hunting field, the countryside, office or works.
Sir Alfred succeeded to the title in (?) and his son and heir is Mr. Edward Pease.
In considering the foundation of the town and trade of Middlesbrough – which a century ago consisted of a farm house and a few cottages – the names of those who figured prominently in the early stages of its development readily suggest themselves to our mind, and the name of Pease has always stood, and will deservedly continue to stand out in the first rank.
Was not Edward Pease the “father of railways?” It was he who was almost the first to recognise the genius of George Stephenson, the benefactor to all mankind.
The foundation of the town and trade of the “mighty ironopolis” cannot be justly ascribed to any one person, it was the product of minds acting in concert each according to his ability and opportunity, and each necessary to the other for securing the common objects of their ambition, but the Pease family will ever secure for their memory the grateful remembrance of a discerning public.
I notice Sir Alfred still uses one of the old-fashioned quill pens for writing purposes.
My interview with this genial, kindly baronet, just recently was a very pleasant one, and his concluding words were: “If I can be of help to you at any time regarding local history, lore and legend, I shall be only to pleased to do my best for you.”
Personally I thank Sir Alfred Pease very much for his kind offer.