William Franks (landowner)
William Franks (died 1797) was a landowner in East Barnet, Hadley Wood and Cheshunt, and the owner of a large estate in the former Enfield Chace.
Early life
Franks was the son of William Franks (died 1790) who was important in the development of what is now known as Fitzrovia in central London. His mother was Mary Franks née Pepys (died 1805).[2]
Houses
In 1786, Franks bought Mount Pleasant (later known as Belmont) from Sir William Henry Ashhurst.[3] In 1790, he bought Beech Hill Park, the former home of Francis Russell, and sold Mount Pleasant to William Wroughton.[4]
Family
Franks married Jane Gaussen.[4] Their children included:
- Marianne who married John Richard Thackeray, the rector of nearby Monken Hadley. Marianne died 23 March 1855.[5] Marianne and John had a son and two daughters, all baptised at Downham Market.[6]
- Cecilia who married firstly (1813) Samuel Robert Gaussen and later (1831) George Jacob Bosanquet, son of Jacob Bosanquet.[4]
- Charles Franks, a banker of Cumberland Street, Hyde Park, and Buckskin Hall (later briefly Dacre Lodge), Cockfosters.[7][8]
Death
Franks died at Bristol Wells in July 1797.[4] He is buried at St John the Baptist church, Kentish Town, and a memorial to him and his wife exists in the church.[2] After his death, his freehold and leasehold property was auctioned in 1798. Advertising for the sale described the properties as being in "Enfield Chace, East Barnet, on Barnet Common, and on Cheshunt Common".[9] Beech Hill Park was described as a "capital residence" and an "elegant spacious modern-built mansion".[9] It was conveyed to Archibald Paris on 12 April 1800[4] but a Mrs Franks[10] remained in residence until at least 1802 and Paris did not move in until 1805.[11]
References
- ^ Clark, Nancy. (1978) Hadley Wood: Its background and development. 2nd revised edition. Facing p. 65.
- ^ a b Percy Street. Survey of London: Volume 21, the Parish of St Pancras Part 3: Tottenham Court Road and Neighbourhood. Originally published by London County Council, London, 1949. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
- ^ Page, William. (Ed.) (1908) "Parishes: East Barnet" in A History of the County of Hertford: Volume 2. Originally published by Victoria County History, London. British History Online. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Cass, Frederick Charles. (1885-92) East Barnet. London: Nichols, p. 148.
- ^ Nichols, John Gough (Ed.) (1865). The herald and genealogist. Vol. Vol. II. London: Nichols. p. 326.
{{cite book}}:|volume=has extra text (help) - ^ Cass, Frederick Charles. (1880) Monken Hadley. London: Nichols, pp. 114-115.
- ^ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/herts/vol2/pp337-342#h3-0005
- ^ Cass, 1885-92, p. 152.
- ^ a b "Sales By Auction", The Times, 4 May 1798, p. 4.
- ^ Wife or mother or both.
- ^ Clark, p. 33.