Blois family
Encyclopedia
The Blois family are major landowners in Suffolk
. Sir Gervase Ralph Edmund Blois, 10th Baronet
born on 6 June 1901. He was the son of Sir Ralph Barrett MacNaghten Blois, 9th Bt. and Winifred Grace Hegan Kennard. He married, firstly, Audrey Winifred Johnson, daughter of Colonel Harry Johnson, on 20 September 1938. He and Audrey Winifred Johnson were divorced in 1948. He married, secondly, Margaret Lucia White, daughter of Major Hon. Charles James White and Evelyn Bulkeley-Johnson, on 24 April 1948. He died on 22 May 1968 at age 66.
Sir Gervase Ralph Edmund Blois was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire
, England and the Royal Military College
, Sandhurst. He was Aide-de-Camp to the Governor of Bengal
between 1925 and 1928. He gained the rank of Captain in 1939 in the service of the Scots Guards. He fought in the Second World War and was decorated with the Military Cross
(M.C.) in 1944, the Croix de Guerre
and the Legion of Honour. He succeeded to the title of 10th Baronet Blois, of Grundisburgh and Cockfield Hall, near Yoxford, Suffolk on 18 March 1950.
The family home was Cockfield Hall
near Yoxford
in Suffolk is a grade 1 listed private house standing in 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of historic parkland, dating from the 16th century. Lady Catherine Grey
, sister of Lady Jane Grey
, was imprisoned at Cockfield Hall in 1567 to recover from her privations in the Tower of London
but died shortly after her arrival and was buried in the Cockfield Chapel in Yoxford church.
The family remain patrons of Blythburgh
church, and the current head of the Blois family is still major landowner in north-east Suffolk. Sir Charles Blois however no longer owns Cockfield Hall. Although the family have lived in the region for several decades they were not given the estate by the landed gentry from Blois
following the invasion by the Normans
in the 11th century.
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
. Sir Gervase Ralph Edmund Blois, 10th Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
born on 6 June 1901. He was the son of Sir Ralph Barrett MacNaghten Blois, 9th Bt. and Winifred Grace Hegan Kennard. He married, firstly, Audrey Winifred Johnson, daughter of Colonel Harry Johnson, on 20 September 1938. He and Audrey Winifred Johnson were divorced in 1948. He married, secondly, Margaret Lucia White, daughter of Major Hon. Charles James White and Evelyn Bulkeley-Johnson, on 24 April 1948. He died on 22 May 1968 at age 66.
Sir Gervase Ralph Edmund Blois was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire
Wellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
, England and the Royal Military College
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, Sandhurst. He was Aide-de-Camp to the Governor of Bengal
Governor of Bengal
From 1690, a governor represented the British East India Company in Bengal, which had been granted the right to establish a trading post by the local rulers, the nawabs of Murshidabad, who were nominal vassals of the Mughal emperor in Delhi....
between 1925 and 1928. He gained the rank of Captain in 1939 in the service of the Scots Guards. He fought in the Second World War and was decorated with the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(M.C.) in 1944, the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
and the Legion of Honour. He succeeded to the title of 10th Baronet Blois, of Grundisburgh and Cockfield Hall, near Yoxford, Suffolk on 18 March 1950.
The family home was Cockfield Hall
Cockfield Hall
Cockfield Hall in Yoxford in Suffolk is a Grade I listed private house standing in of historic parkland, dating from the 16th century. It was built by the Spring family, wealthy cloth merchants and later baronets of Pakenham....
near Yoxford
Yoxford
Yoxford is a village in the east of Suffolk, England close to the Heritage Coast, Minsmere Reserve , Aldeburgh and Southwold.-Location and features:...
in Suffolk is a grade 1 listed private house standing in 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of historic parkland, dating from the 16th century. Lady Catherine Grey
Lady Catherine Grey
Lady Catherine Grey , Countess of Hertford, was the younger sister of Lady Jane Grey. A granddaughter of Henry VIII's sister Mary, she was a potential successor to her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England, but incurred Elizabeth's wrath by her secret marriage to Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford...
, sister of Lady Jane Grey
Lady Jane Grey
Lady Jane Grey , also known as The Nine Days' Queen, was an English noblewoman who was de facto monarch of England from 10 July until 19 July 1553 and was subsequently executed...
, was imprisoned at Cockfield Hall in 1567 to recover from her privations in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
but died shortly after her arrival and was buried in the Cockfield Chapel in Yoxford church.
The family remain patrons of Blythburgh
Blythburgh
Blythburgh is a small English village in an area known as the Sandlings, part of the Suffolk heritage coast. Located close to an area of flooded marshland and mud-flats, in 2007 its population was estimated to be 300. Blythburgh is best known for its church, Holy Trinity, internationally known as...
church, and the current head of the Blois family is still major landowner in north-east Suffolk. Sir Charles Blois however no longer owns Cockfield Hall. Although the family have lived in the region for several decades they were not given the estate by the landed gentry from Blois
Blois
Blois is the capital of Loir-et-Cher department in central France, situated on the banks of the lower river Loire between Orléans and Tours.-History:...
following the invasion by the Normans
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
in the 11th century.
External links
- Blois Peerage — The Peerage
- Blois of Grundisburgh — Suffolk Churches
- Blois of Blythburgh — Blythweb