William Petre, 11th Baron Petre facts for kids
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William Henry Francis, 11th Baron Petre (born January 22, 1793 – died July 3, 1850) was an important English nobleman from Essex. He was the first Baron Petre to join the House of Lords after a law called the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 was passed. This law allowed Roman Catholics to take part in politics more freely.
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Family Life
William Henry Francis was the son of Robert Edward Petre, 10th Baron Petre. His family lived at Ingatestone Hall. His mother, Mary Bridget Howard, was the sister of Bernard Howard, 12th Duke of Norfolk.
He married his first wife, Frances Charlotte Bedingfeld, on June 2, 1815. She was known as "Fanny" and was a very good letter writer. They had four children together. Sadly, Frances passed away in 1822 during childbirth.
Their children were:
- William Bernard Petre, 12th Baron Petre (born 1817 – died 1884)
- Mary Agness Petre (born 1818 – died 1886)
- Henry William Petre (born 1820 – died 1889), who later moved to New Zealand.
- Charlotte Elizabeth Petre (born 1822 – died 1903)
William married his second wife, Emma Agnes Howard, on April 14, 1823. They had eight children.
Some of their children included:
- Frederick Charles Edmund Petre (born 1824 – died 1906)
- Agnes Catherine Louisa Petre (born 1826 – died 1891)
- Arthur Charles Augustus Petre (born 1827 – died 1882)
- Edmund George Petre (born 1829 – died 1889)
- Albert Henry Petre (born 1832 – died 1917)
A Passion for Horses and Hunting
Lord Petre loved horses and hunting. He had his own group of foxhounds from 1822 to 1839, which were called the "Thorndon Hunt." This group later helped create the Essex Union Hunt. He also built a special track for horse races at Oxney Green, near Writtle.
It is said that after the famous Battle of Waterloo, Lord Petre bought Marengo, the grey Arabian horse that belonged to Napoleon I of France.
He was also very keen on hunting deer. At Thorndon Park, he created a large herd of up to 2,000 fallow deer and red deer. These deer later became the source for the deer in Brentwood, Essex and even for all the deer in New Zealand.
Helping the Community: The Ginge Petre Charity
Lord Petre was very involved in helping his local community. He worked to restore a special charity called the Ginge Petre Charity. This charity was originally for Roman Catholic people but had changed over time.
Restoring the Charity's Purpose
In 1832, a priest named George Edward Last arrived at Ingatestone. One of his main goals was to bring the Ginge Petre Charity back to its original Catholic purpose. With Lord Petre's strong support, this was achieved in 1835. This happened just a few years after Catholics gained more rights in England.
Lord Petre was known for being strict but also kind. He spent a lot of time looking after the people who lived on his land in Essex. He also gave a lot of money to the Church in the area. With his encouragement, George Last became the leader of the restored charity.
Moving the Almshouses
During the 1830s, a new railway line was being built. As the railway got closer to Ingatestone in 1838, the charity's buildings were in danger. The railway company needed some of the land for their tracks, and some buildings had to be taken down.
So, a new place was needed for the charity's almshouses (homes for poor people). The old buildings were sold to the railway company. New almshouses were built in the village, next to the main road. They were built in a Tudorbethan style with red and white bricks. There were twelve single-story homes, each with a living room, bedroom, and kitchen area. A small chapel was built in the center.
How the Charity Worked
New rules were created for the charity, based on the original ones. Lord Petre approved these rules in 1840. The charity was meant to help two men and five women, giving them a small payment. There were also extra spots for two women and one man.
The people who benefited from the charity had to be baptized and practicing Catholics. Lord Petre chose the people who would receive help, usually based on recommendations from the priest. They preferred applicants who lived on the Petre family's estates. They also had to be unmarried or widowed, over 40 years old, and willing to live a simple life. They could be removed if they behaved badly.
Religious practice was important. The residents had to attend all services in their chapel. The priest would hold Mass there once a week. They also had to say prayers every day and help each other when sick. Visitors were not allowed overnight unless someone was ill.
The priest was in charge of making sure the rules were followed. He also paid the residents their monthly allowance and money for wood and clothing.
Dealing with the Railways
The railway system grew a lot during William's lifetime. He was a tough negotiator when dealing with the Eastern Counties Railway company. This company wanted to build a railway line through his land from Brentwood to Chelmsford.
The railway plans needed approval from Parliament. Lord Petre strongly objected and demanded a lot of money for his land. He was worried the railway would split his estates and bring in many railway workers, known as navvies, who had a rough reputation.
He suggested the line should go further north. A legal fight began, but Lord Petre eventually agreed to the planned route. However, a new dispute started because he felt the compensation for his farmland was too low. He even ordered construction workers off his land!
Lord Petre asked for £20,000 for the land and an extra £100,000 in compensation. The railway company thought £20,000 was fair (which would be over £1 million today). After a long disagreement, Lord Petre won his case. The railway company paid him six times the amount they first offered. This money was invested in farmland, but later, during a time of economic hardship, this investment did not do well.
The railway construction began in 1838. Because of the railway, the original charity buildings had to be moved. The first train station at Ingatestone was built there. The railway section from Brentwood to Chelmsford was finished by 1841, and the line reached Colchester in 1843.
Supporting Overseas Settlement
William Henry Francis had a large family, with 12 children and 56 grandchildren. He often said that with so many children, he had to support overseas settlement.
Many of his children and grandchildren moved to other countries. For example, Frederick and three of his brothers went to the United States. His elder son, Henry, joined the first group of settlers to New Zealand. Henry's son, Francis Petre, became a famous architect who designed the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Christchurch, New Zealand.
His tenth son, Edmund, became a stockbroker. Edmund's son, Francis Loraine Petre, became a military historian and wrote several books about the Napoleonic Wars.
