Harcourt Clare
Encyclopedia
Sir Harcourt Everard Clare was born in 1854, Leicestershire
, England. He was well known in Lancashire between 1896 when he moved to his post as Clerk at Lancashire County Council, until his death at Bank Hall
in 1922.
He married Clara Theodora Clare (daughter of Thomas Bateman
from Middleton Hall, Derbyshire, born 1859) who was very well known for showing toy dogs with their daughter Dorothy "Dolly" Bateman Clare (born 1885) who was their only child.
in Derbyshire
and became a solicitor in 1875, gaining a job at Liverpool City Council as assistant solicitor in 1880. He was promoted to Deputy Clerk in 1883 and later to Chief Clerk to Liverpool City Council from 1885-1899. He was responsible for the purchase of electric lighting and tramways installed into the streets of Liverpool. In 1899 he moved post to become the second Clerk to Lancashire County Council
at this time he became a tennant at Bank Hall
.
In 1920, as well as his post at Lancashire County Council, Sir Harcourt was the clerk to the Lancashire Asylums Board and controlled Brockhall
, Langho
, near Blackburn for the Lancashire Asylums Board. In 1922, when he was 'Clerk of the Peace and the Clerk to the County Council of Lancashire', he was offered the position of Divisional Commissioner, but declined.
In 1916, Sir Harcourt was knighted, William Llewellyn
, painted an oil on canvas portrait of 'Sir Harcourt Everard Clare', which still hangs in the Lancashire County Court as of 2010.
Upon the Royal Visit of King George V
and Queen Mary
to Lancashire in 1913, they stopped at the Bank Hall Lodge gates and enquired upon the health of Sir Harcourt who had recently fell ill, they were greeted by children from Bretherton Endowed Primary School with a banner reading "God Save Our King and Queen".
Sir Harcourt was remained in office at the time of his death as the Clerk to Lancashire County Council along side his involvment with his other organisational roles..
in the village of Bretherton
with his wife and daughter. Sir Harcourt would walk two miles every morning to Croston railway station
from Bank Hall and then carry on from Preston train station to work. The family were known for their involvement with the surrounding communities, often hosting garden parties in the grounds. At the time the family were well known for having different types of pekingese
dogs such as Japanese Spaniels who were groomed and trained by a Mr Pritchard.
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, England. He was well known in Lancashire between 1896 when he moved to his post as Clerk at Lancashire County Council, until his death at Bank Hall
Bank Hall
Bank Hall is a Jacobean mansion south of the village of Bretherton in Lancashire, England. It is a Grade II* Listed Building. The hall was built on the site of a previous building in 1608 during the reign of James I by the Banastre family who were Lords of the Manor. It was extended during the 18th...
in 1922.
He married Clara Theodora Clare (daughter of Thomas Bateman
Thomas Bateman
Thomas Bateman was an English antiquary and barrow-digger.-Biography:Thomas Bateman was born in Rowsley, Derbyshire, England, the son of the amateur archaeologist William Bateman...
from Middleton Hall, Derbyshire, born 1859) who was very well known for showing toy dogs with their daughter Dorothy "Dolly" Bateman Clare (born 1885) who was their only child.
Education and Career
Sir Harcourt was educated at Repton SchoolRepton School
Repton School, founded in 1557, is a co-educational English independent school for both day and boarding pupils, in the British public school tradition, located in the village of Repton, in Derbyshire, in the Midlands area of England...
in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
and became a solicitor in 1875, gaining a job at Liverpool City Council as assistant solicitor in 1880. He was promoted to Deputy Clerk in 1883 and later to Chief Clerk to Liverpool City Council from 1885-1899. He was responsible for the purchase of electric lighting and tramways installed into the streets of Liverpool. In 1899 he moved post to become the second Clerk to Lancashire County Council
Lancashire County Council
Lancashire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire, England. It currently consists of 84 councillors, and is controlled by the Conservative Party, who won control of the council in the local council elections in June 2009, ending 28 years of...
at this time he became a tennant at Bank Hall
Bank Hall
Bank Hall is a Jacobean mansion south of the village of Bretherton in Lancashire, England. It is a Grade II* Listed Building. The hall was built on the site of a previous building in 1608 during the reign of James I by the Banastre family who were Lords of the Manor. It was extended during the 18th...
.
In 1920, as well as his post at Lancashire County Council, Sir Harcourt was the clerk to the Lancashire Asylums Board and controlled Brockhall
Brockhall, Lancashire
Brockhall is a village in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire and home to the training facilities for Blackburn Rovers F.C. The village is in the civil parish of Billington and Langho...
, Langho
Langho
Langho is a small rural village north of Blackburn in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire, England. It is part of the parish of Billington and Langho. The village is linked with Blackburn and Clitheroe by the A666 road and is served by Langho railway station on the Ribble Valley Line. To the north,...
, near Blackburn for the Lancashire Asylums Board. In 1922, when he was 'Clerk of the Peace and the Clerk to the County Council of Lancashire', he was offered the position of Divisional Commissioner, but declined.
In 1916, Sir Harcourt was knighted, William Llewellyn
William Llewellyn
Sir William Llewellyn was a notable English painter of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and served as President of the Royal Academy from 1928 to 1938.- External links :...
, painted an oil on canvas portrait of 'Sir Harcourt Everard Clare', which still hangs in the Lancashire County Court as of 2010.
Upon the Royal Visit of King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
and Queen Mary
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
to Lancashire in 1913, they stopped at the Bank Hall Lodge gates and enquired upon the health of Sir Harcourt who had recently fell ill, they were greeted by children from Bretherton Endowed Primary School with a banner reading "God Save Our King and Queen".
Sir Harcourt was remained in office at the time of his death as the Clerk to Lancashire County Council along side his involvment with his other organisational roles..
Bank Hall
In 1898, Sir Harcourt moved to Bank HallBank Hall
Bank Hall is a Jacobean mansion south of the village of Bretherton in Lancashire, England. It is a Grade II* Listed Building. The hall was built on the site of a previous building in 1608 during the reign of James I by the Banastre family who were Lords of the Manor. It was extended during the 18th...
in the village of Bretherton
Bretherton
Bretherton is a small village and civil parish in the Borough of Chorley, Lancashire, England situated to the south west of Leyland and east of Tarleton. Its name suggests pre-conquest origins and its early history was closely involved with the manor house Bank Hall and the families who lived there...
with his wife and daughter. Sir Harcourt would walk two miles every morning to Croston railway station
Croston railway station
Croston railway station serves the small village of Croston, near Chorley in Lancashire, the station is on the Ormskirk branch line.This line was cut back with the railway restructuring of the 1960s and 1970s, and only a single DMU operates over the line, shuttling from end to end to provide a...
from Bank Hall and then carry on from Preston train station to work. The family were known for their involvement with the surrounding communities, often hosting garden parties in the grounds. At the time the family were well known for having different types of pekingese
Pekingese
The Pekingese, or "Peke" is an ancient breed of toy dog, originating in China. The breed was favored by the Chinese Imperial court, and its name refers to the city of Beijing where the Forbidden City resides...
dogs such as Japanese Spaniels who were groomed and trained by a Mr Pritchard.
Death
The Clare family are buried side by side in the graveyard at St John the Baptist parish church in Bretherton, which they attended regularly throughout their presence in the village. There are three headstones in the shape of a cross: the furthest away from the church is of Dorothy Clare, the middle and largest is of Lady Clare (died 1918) and the cross nearest the church is of Sir Harcourt and reads:
In Memory of Sir Harcourt Everard Clare.KT. Died March 1st 1922 In His Sixty-Eighth Year