Category Archives: Mansel family

More about the Church of St John, Milborne Port

Posted on April 22, 2025 | Leave a comment

Following on from my post yesterday I wanted to write a little more about the Church of St John, Milborne Port. The church is full of memorials to different members of the Medlycott family. It was really exciting to walk around and spot them.

The first memorial I found was to George Medlycott, Gent, First Lieutenant in Colonel Moretes Regiment of Marines. Also of Thomas Medlycott, son of Thomas Medlycott of Ven, who died 1741.

A memorial to Sir William Coles Medlycott; his wife Dame Elizabeth Medlycott; Sarah Jeffrey, wife of Sir William Coles Medlycott; Sir William Coles Medlycott, 2nd Baronet.

In memory of Ann Medlycott, relict of James Medlycott of Ven (died 1758); of Elizabeth, second wife of Thomas Medlycott of Ven (died 1763); of Thomas Medlycott, eldest son of James Medlycott of Ven (died 1763); of Thomas Mervin Medlycott, second son of T.H. Medlycott of Ven (died 1793); of T.H.Medlycott of Ven, eldest son of John Hutchings of Sherborne; Thomas Mervin son of William Coles Medlycott (died 1798); of Elizabeth eldest daughter of William ….; of Mary Hutchings Medlycott ….

Thomas Medlycott of Abingdon, died 1716. Of James Medlycott (died 1731). Of James Medlycott (died 1729).

These were the most significant memorials I could find on my quick visit to the Church of St John at Milborne Port. I can’t wait to see how these fit into my family tree.

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Posted in Dorset, Mansel family

Church of St John, Milborne Port

Posted on April 21, 2025 | Leave a comment

When I was researching one of my Mansel ancestors I discovered a connection to Ven House, Milborne Port. As we were recently holidaying in the area we stopped to take a look around this historic village of Milborne Port and the Church of St John.

Fortunately the church was open so we were able to get inside.

It was a very pretty church.

It didn’t take long to find links to the Medlycott family from nearby Ven House (sadly not open to the public). This stained glass window was dedicated to Edward Bradford Medlycott.

The church was full of memorials to the Medlycott family (more of which later), then we headed to look round the churchyard. Just beyond this was a small area with a very high wall and it was a ball court!

According to a plaque on the wall, the ball court was built by Sir W.C.Medlycott in the year 1847. “It is earnestly hoped that this court which is meant for the health and amusement of the town will be protected from injury’.

I have never seen a ball court before. One side of it looked to be built against an old pub. Today it was a public space with benches.

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Posted in Dorset, Mansel family

A little update

Posted on February 27, 2025 | Leave a comment

Since I finished my little Ancestry project I have been enjoying some family history research with the pressure off. I’ve been back to researching people for fun and made some good discoveries:

I did a little research into Sir Edward Bradford Medleycott, who married one of my Mansel triplets, Maria Emma Mansel (2nd cousin 3x removed). Before they were married he travelled whilst in the Army and produced at least two sketchbooks which I found for sale online.

I found a letter written by Captain Thomas Mansel (my third great-grandfather) who wrote to The Duke of Wellington in 1830 seeking a position in the Coastguard. He mentions his ‘melancholy bereavement of losing an amiable wife in premature labour at the age of 22’. I found this letter by searching his name and the letter popped up in the collection of the University of Southampton.

I discovered that Thomas Mansel had another sister I had not previously discovered. A while ago I went through the parish register for St Ishmael where I believe most of the children of Sir William Mansel has been baptised. I must have missed Francis Henrietta Mansel somehow. I only discovered her as she was mentioned in the will of her brother in law, William Owen Brigstocke who died in 1859 and left her £2000. William Brigstocke had been married to her sister, Harriet Mansel.

A reminder to myself that there is a wealth of information outside of Ancestry!

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Posted in Mansel family

Exploring Birdham Parish Church

Posted on August 18, 2024 | Leave a comment

Yesterday we visited the pretty parish church of Birdham in West Sussex. We were camping in the area and I remembered we had a connection with Birdham which is just outside of Chichester.

The parish church was dedicated to St Leonard until about 1900 but is now dedicated to St James. In June 1827 Thomas Mansel married Selina Leigh, witnessed by Catherine Elizabeth Mansel (some relation to Thomas Mansel) and Benjamin Leigh (brides’ father).

Fortunately the church was open so I was able to go inside.

The 14th century nave.

The 16th century West Tower.

It is a very pretty church and I was happy to be able to go inside.

On the 24th November 1829 there is a baptism entry for their daughter Alexina Mansell. Unfortunately her mother Selina Mansel died shortly after, an entry of burial for her exists in the register for Newchurch of the Isle of Wight on the 3rd December 1829, stating place on death at Birdham, Sussex. There is no entry of death for Alexina Mansel but as there is no further record of her I presume she also died around this time.

I’m not sure what would have brought the family to Birdham. Thomas Mansel had his occupation listed as Commander Royal Navy in 1829.

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Posted in Mansel family, Sussex

Researching Irish family history

Posted on February 4, 2024 | Leave a comment

I’ve been trying to find out a little more about my ancestors and their time in Ireland. It seems as though my branch of the Mansel family had land in both Ireland and Wales.

Both Sir Richard Mansel 8th Baronet and Sir William Mansel 9th Baronet kept a property at Woodstone in Cork, Ireland which it seems Sir William Mansel 10th Baronet left for after he sold Iscoed in around 1812.

I have been thinking that his son Thomas Mansel may have spent some time in Ireland when he left active service in the Royal Navy. Although he was not listed as a witness to his daughter’s marriage in 1850 at the Collegiate Church of St Nicholas in Galway he may have been resident at the time. Her address was given as Stoneligh Cottage, Shantalla which was in Galway far away from Cork. I would love to use Irish records and see if Thomas Mansel or his daughter Selina Mansel were living in Ireland in the 1840s.

I’ve been unable to find out anything about Woodstone in County Cork, Ireland so this is something I will keep researching. I did come across a great website called landed estates which lists the landed estates and historic houses in the provinces of Connacht, Munster and part of Ulster, c. 1700-1914 but unfortunately it does not cover Cork.

Findmypast also has records relating to Landed Estates Court Rentals 1850-1885 in Ireland. I’m thinking I might have to take out a subscription to search these records at some point. I’m just not sure where else to look.

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Posted in Ireland, Mansel family

Margam Abbey and Castle

Posted on December 27, 2023 | Leave a comment

We were lucky to have the time to stop off and explore the Margam Abbey and Castle on our way back from Wales. This had been the family home of a branch of the Mansel family and is now owned by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and run as Margam Country Park.

Within Margam Country Park can be found Margam Abbey, a ruined Cistercian monastery; Margam Castle, a neo-Gothic country house that was once the seat of the Mansel Talbot family; and the 18th-century Orangery.

I really wanted to visit Margam Abbey but we were also able to walk up to Margam Castle too.

Margam Abbey

I bought a photography permit for £1 and took some photos of the beautiful Mansel tombs within the Mansel Chapel at Margam Abbey. The four tombs show members of the Mansel family who held the Margam Estate following the Dissolution. The alabaster tombs illustrate the family wealth.

As well as the alabaster tombs showing recumbent effigies (the males of the line appear in full armour, their wives wear appropriate costume from the period), there are several wall memorials too.

The four alabaster tombs are for Sir Rice Mansel of Oxwich and Penrice (1487-1559), Sir Edward Mansel (1531-1585), Sir Thomas Mansel (1556-1631) and Sir Lewis Mansel (1638).

The wall memorials are dedicated to Sit Edward Mansel, Sir Thomas Mansel, Sir Rawleigh Bussey, Sir Rich Mansel and Katherine Bussey.

From here it was a short walk to Margam Castle which was built for Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1830-1890) in 1840, designed by Thomas Hopper in the Tudor Gothic style.

You cannot see much of the house today although I was very happy to be allowed inside. We did get to see the magnificent central staircase.

There are formal garden and a stable block which now houses a cafe and shop.

There was a wedding taking place on the day we visited so we were unable to visit the Orangery. This was designed by Anthony Keck to house a large collection of citrus trees and built between 1787 and 1790. It is the longest orangery in the British Isles.

We enjoyed our unexpected trip to Margam Abbey and Castle. It is well worth a visit, especially if you have a family connection.

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Posted in Mansel family, Wales