Bankes
Encyclopedia
The Bankeses were an important aristocratic
family in Dorset
, England
for over 400 years. They owned large portions of land throughout Dorset and made significant contributions to the political history and development of the country.
the Bankeses again rose to political power. Their new home, built at Kingston Lacy
survives until the present day, under the guide of the National Trust
. The family vault is located in the Church of Wimborne Minster, not far from their Kingston Lacy estate. In the late 19th century the Bankeses built a summer beach house at Studland
in Dorset. The Manor House as it is named is now a hotel. A large pub in the village, frequented by beach visitors, is known as the Bankes Arms Inn.
The family church, St Stephen's
is on the far edge of the Kingston Lacy estate at Pamphill
. The road up to the church is lined with a row of trees planted in 1846. The 19th century rebuild of the church replaced a decaying ruin of a church that had existed since 1229. The church has several monuments dedicated to the Bankes family, as well as a window and five pews decorated with the family coat of arms.
. The most notable members of the Bankes family are as follows:
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
family in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for over 400 years. They owned large portions of land throughout Dorset and made significant contributions to the political history and development of the country.
Buildings
The first family seat was at Corfe Castle which was destroyed during the civil war when the Bankeses, who were cavaliers (royalist followers), were besieged by Parliament forces. After the return of King Charles IICharles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
the Bankeses again rose to political power. Their new home, built at Kingston Lacy
Kingston Lacy
Kingston Lacy is a country house and estate near Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England, now owned by the National Trust. From the 17th to the late 20th centuries it was the family seat of the Bankes family, who had previously resided nearby at Corfe Castle until its destruction in the English Civil War...
survives until the present day, under the guide of the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. The family vault is located in the Church of Wimborne Minster, not far from their Kingston Lacy estate. In the late 19th century the Bankeses built a summer beach house at Studland
Studland
Studland is a small village on the Isle of Purbeck in the English county of Dorset. It is famous for its beaches and nature reserve. In 2001 Studland had a population of 480, the lowest in 50 years...
in Dorset. The Manor House as it is named is now a hotel. A large pub in the village, frequented by beach visitors, is known as the Bankes Arms Inn.
The family church, St Stephen's
St Stephen's Church, Pamphill
St Stephen's is the parish church of Pamphill in Dorset, England. The current church lies on the site of a former church dating from 1229. The current church was laid out for construction in 1846 at the end of an avenue of trees. However the actual church was not finished until 1907, under the...
is on the far edge of the Kingston Lacy estate at Pamphill
Pamphill
Pamphill is a village in south-east Dorset, England, just outside Wimborne Minster, four miles north of Poole. The village has a population of 704 .-St Stephen's:...
. The road up to the church is lined with a row of trees planted in 1846. The 19th century rebuild of the church replaced a decaying ruin of a church that had existed since 1229. The church has several monuments dedicated to the Bankes family, as well as a window and five pews decorated with the family coat of arms.
Family members
Records go back to John Bankes, born 1569, who fathered Sir John BankesJohn Bankes
Sir John Bankes was Attorney General and Chief Justice to King Charles I of England during the English Civil War. He was one of the most prominent members of the Bankes family of Dorset...
. The most notable members of the Bankes family are as follows:
- Sir John BankesJohn BankesSir John Bankes was Attorney General and Chief Justice to King Charles I of England during the English Civil War. He was one of the most prominent members of the Bankes family of Dorset...
(1589 - 1644) was Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas to Charles ICharles I of EnglandCharles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
and a member of the Privy CouncilPrivy councilA privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
was married to "Brave Dame" Mary BankesMary BankesLady Mary Bankes née Hawtry was a Royalist who defended Corfe Castle from a three-year siege during the English Civil War from 1643 to 1646...
. They lived in Corfe Castle, until its destruction during the civil war.
- Sir Ralph BankesRalph BankesSir Ralph Bankes was a courtier of the restored Charles II and a knighted member of the Privy Chamber. He is most notable for being the builder of Kingston Lacy, the restored seat of the Bankes family....
(1631 - 1677) was the second son of Sir John and brother of Jerome and John. Upon his father's and younger brother's deaths, the estate passed to him. He was responsible for the building of the new family seat at Kingston LacyKingston LacyKingston Lacy is a country house and estate near Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England, now owned by the National Trust. From the 17th to the late 20th centuries it was the family seat of the Bankes family, who had previously resided nearby at Corfe Castle until its destruction in the English Civil War...
. He was Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Corfe.
- John Bankes the Elder (1665-1714), son of Sir Ralph, married Lady Margaret Parker and was also MP for Corfe.
- Henry Bankes the Elder (1757 - 1834) was the grandson of John Bankes the second. He became an MP for Corfe, an influential Tory bencher and a chief Trustee of the British MuseumBritish MuseumThe British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
. He was close friends with both Pitt the younger and the Duke of WellingtonDuke of WellingtonThe Dukedom of Wellington, derived from Wellington in Somerset, is a hereditary title in the senior rank of the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first holder of the title was Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington , the noted Irish-born career British Army officer and statesman, and...
. He purchased new land for the family including Whitemill in 1773.
- William John BankesWilliam John BankesWilliam John Bankes , the second, but first surviving son of Henry Bankes, was a notable explorer, Egyptologist and adventurer. He was a member of the Bankes family of Dorset and he had Sir Charles Barry recase Kingston Lacy in stone as it is today...
(1786 - 1855), son of Henry Bankes the second, rebuilt the Kingston LacyKingston LacyKingston Lacy is a country house and estate near Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England, now owned by the National Trust. From the 17th to the late 20th centuries it was the family seat of the Bankes family, who had previously resided nearby at Corfe Castle until its destruction in the English Civil War...
estate as it is today. He was a notable explorer and adventurer. He travelled extensively to the Orient and Egypt and collected the largest private individual collection of Egyptian artifacts in the world. He was good friends with Lord Byron and Sir Charles BarryCharles BarrySir Charles Barry FRS was an English architect, best known for his role in the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster in London during the mid-19th century, but also responsible for numerous other buildings and gardens.- Background and training :Born on 23 May 1795 in Bridge Street, Westminster...
. He also served as MP for Corfe. A scandal forced his retirement from all public affairs until his death.
- Walter Ralph Bankes (1853 - 1904) was head of the family in the late nineteenth century. He was the father of Ralph Bankes the second and left a financial bequest to pay for the family church of St Stephen's Church, PamphillSt Stephen's Church, PamphillSt Stephen's is the parish church of Pamphill in Dorset, England. The current church lies on the site of a former church dating from 1229. The current church was laid out for construction in 1846 at the end of an avenue of trees. However the actual church was not finished until 1907, under the...
. The church was eventually constructed under the leadership of his wife Henrietta Bankes and his son (see below).
- Henrietta Bankes (d.1953), was the lady of the house during the First World War. She helped turn the majority of the servants' quarters and the out buildings into a hospital for returning injured soldiers. She also allowed the building of a small war hospital, less than a mile away on the estate. She died in 1953.
- Henry John Ralph Bankes (1902 - 1981) was the seven times great grand son of Sir John BankesJohn BankesSir John Bankes was Attorney General and Chief Justice to King Charles I of England during the English Civil War. He was one of the most prominent members of the Bankes family of Dorset...
. He became owner of the Kingston Lacy Estate on becomimg 21 in 1923. He had two sisters, Daphne b. 1898, and Viola b. 1900. He married Hilary Strickland-Constable (d.1966) and had two children, one son and one daughter. Upon his death, he bequeathed Kingston Lacy and Corfe Castle to the National TrustNational Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural BeautyThe National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
, the largest donation the trust has ever received.