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Gascoigne Coat of Arms – this is rather unusual with a Pike’s head placed vertically on the shield. Its from a story that tells of one of the ancestors, whilst walking in Gawthorpe near Harewood, rescued a girl from drowning in a lake filled with pike – referred to as a Luce (Pike Fully Grown)

The Family played a prominent role in the history of Garforth and District. They owned substantial tracts of land and large houses. They were instrumental in the development of mining as well as having a benevolent relationship with their community.

Early Family History

The family is believed to have descended from a Saxon Noble – Ailrichus. At some point they were banished and settled in Gascony hence name but returned with William The Conqueror, settling in Harewood and Gawthorpe

SIR WILLIAM GASCOIGNE Born in Gawthorpe in 1350. His younger brother was NICHOLAS GASCOIGNE who founded Parlington and Barnbow branches of the family. In 1391 he settled in LAZENCROFT . Nicholas also owned some land at Church Garforth and West Garforth. Parlington Hall came into possession of Gascoigne family in 1545 when it was sold to JOHN GASCOIGNE by Thomas Lord Wentworth but Lazencroft remained their home until 1569. John’s brother Richard purchased Barnbow Hall in 1569 where he lived untill 1618 but it was demolished 3 years later

1582 Richard of Lazencroft was officially charged with mining coal in Cattilhead illegally but was aquitted when he proved it was in his manor of SHIPPEN. This the first reference to Gascoigne interest in MINING although coal had been mined in the area since 1262.

1st Baronet Sir John Gascoigne  1542 – 1640

  • Knighted 1635 ambitious nephew of Richard
  • Attained rank of Baronet by the purchase of Baronecy in Nova Scotia

2nd Baronet Sir Thomas Gascoigne of Barnbow

  • 1640 he made detailed records of mining practices
  • 1678 Involved in Roman Catholic Plot (Barnbow Plot) to assassinate King Charles 11.
  • 1679 (7th July) Arrested based on false testimony of Robert Bolron, his disgruntled  colliery manager who he had sacked for stealing.
  • 1679 (19th July) aged 85 Thomas was committed to Tower of London and remained there for 6 months. He was brought to Trial on Treason Charge. However he was found not guilty and went to live with his brother John who was Abbot at the Abbey of Lampspringe in Hanover Died 1686
3rd Baronet Sir Thomas Gascoigne
5th Baronet Sir John Gascoigne
Sir John’s Wife Mary Wddrington

6th Baronet Sir Edward G.

  • Married Mary Hungate
  • Had 5 children 3 sons 2 Daughters
  • Succeeded to title 1743 
  • Trustee of Leeds/ Selby Turnpike
  • He spent his later years in Cambrai
  • The 7th Baronet Sir Edward G. who was the son of 6th Baronet died unmarried in 1762

8th Baronet – Sir Thomas G. 1745-1810

  • Son of 6th Baronet 
  • Born in Cambrai
  • Married twice
  • Grew up with no strong ties to England. Inherited the family estates aged 19
  • 1773 purchased Manor of Sturton from Anne Bland of Kippax
  • 1779 After a Grand Tour of Europe he settled in Parlington and devoted his life to running Parlington Home Farm
  • 1780 He was accepted into the Church of England having been Roman Catholic. However he remained sympathetic to his Old Religion and maintained a Catholic church in Aberford , disguised as a house front. The change of religion enabled him to stand as MP for Thirsk  later for Malton.
  • Parlington Arch was built during his time.
  • Sir Thomas’s first son died young and second son, Tom, by his second wife, Mary Turner (nee Shuttleworth) widow of Sir Charles Turner, died in 1809 in a riding accident in Nottinghamshire.
  • Now with no heir, Sir Thomas changed his will leaving his property to Richard Oliver of Castle Oliver Co Limerick, Richard Oliver was married to Sir Thomas’s step daughter Mary Turner. Her mother was Mary Turner(nee Shuttleworth)
  • This change was on the condition that he take the Gascoigne name thus becoming Richard Oliver Gascoigne.
  • 1810 Sir Thomas died of a broken heart and the Gascoigne blood line ended.

Richard Oliver Gascoigne

  • Richard O. Gascoigne and Mary had 2 sons and 2 daughters
  • These were Thomas and Richard Silver, daughters Mary Isabella and Elizabeth
  • In 1825 Richard purchased Lotherton Hall from Lampugh Raper, possibly for 2nd son Richard Silver and two daughters, as he had expected Thomas to inherit Parlington
  • 1830 He built the Flyline
  • 1833 Isabella Pit was sunk
  • 1842 Both sons died unmarried
  • 1843 Richard O. Gascoigne died
  • 1843 -1845 The Sisters let Lotherton to tenants and used funds from the estate to build Alms Houses in Aberford to commemorate father Richard and 2 brothers

Mary Turner was the wife of Richard Oliver Gascoigne

She was the daughter of St Thomas’s Second wife from her previous marriage to Sir Charles Turner

Thomas Oliver

1807-1842

Served in Royal Horse Guards

Stationed in Windsor

Richard Silver Oliver -Died 1842

The Sisters married members of the Trench Family

Mary Isabella Oliver Gascoigne

  • Married Captain (Later Colonel )Frederick Charles Trench in 1850 He was born in 1814 in Dublin
  • Frederick took the Gascoigne name on marriage
  • 1851 Son Born Frederick Richard Thomas Trench G.
  • 1863 Frederick Charles Trench Gascoigne involved in opening Garforth Working Mens Club
  • 1891 listed as living in Parlington
  • 1891 Isabella died
  • 1905 Col Frederick C. T. Gascoigne Died

Elizabeth Oliver Gascoigne

  • Married – Frederick Mason Trench
  • He was 2nd Baron Ashtown of Lotherton
  • Took the Gascoigne name on marriage
  • They took ownership of Lotherton on marriage
  • However spent most of their time at their property in Ireland
  • Died without heirs

Col Frederick Richard Thomas Trench Gascoigne

  • Born 4th July 1851
  • 1885 Col Fredrick had a distinguished military career . In this year he played a part for the relief of General Gordon in Khartoum. He was recommended for a VC for his bravery. Frederick also served in the Boer War.
  • 1892 Married Laura Gwendolen Douglas Galton
  • 1893 Took Ownership of Lotherton
  • 1893 Son Born Alvary Gascoigne
  • 1898 Daughter -Born Cynthia Mary Trench Gascoigne
  • 1905 Succeeded to family Parlington Estates
  • 1905 Sold contents of Parlington and Lived in Lotherton
  • Died 1937

Lady Gwendolen Gascoigne died 10th July 1949

Her Father Douglas Galton was 2nd cousin of Florence Nightingale

Like the Gascoignes before them, both Sir Frederick and Lady Gwendolen were known for their philanthropy. During World War 1 they gave over Lotherton to be used as a military hospital and insisted it was for all ranks. They financed this project.

Sir Alvary Gascoigne

  • 1893 Born 6th Aug 1893
  • 1916 Served as Lieutenant in Coldstream Guards
  • 1916 Married Sylvia Wilder She was born 1887 died 1938
  • They had one son Douglas Wilder Gascoigne Born 11th Nov 1917
  • One daughter Yvonne who died childless in 1973
  • Sir Alvary married a second time in early 1930s to Lorna Pricilla Leatham died 1979
  • He had a successful diplomatic career after WW1
  • His last post was as Ambassador in Moscow
  • Son Douglas was killed in 1944 whilst serving during WW11

Douglas Gascoigne

Sir Alvary retired in 1953 and as he had spent much of his working life away from Lotherton, the household had been reduced. As he had no heir and Yvonne wasn’t able to take responsibility, he decided to donate Lotherton House to Leeds City Council in 1968 to be used as a museum. He died in 1970

Acknowledgements- Information on this page from “A Short History of Garforth” by Garforth Historical Soc -Now Closed – and Garforth History Society Archive in Garforth Library and Lotherton Hall Magazine- Visit the Hall to see originals. Lotherton Hall Aberford Leeds LS25 3EB

Tree drawn by Tony Robinson