Hungerford Crewe, 3rd Baron Crewe
Encyclopedia
Hungerford Crewe, 3rd Baron Crewe FSA
, FRS
(10 August 1812 – 3 January 1894) was an English landowner and peer.
The son of John Crewe, 2nd Baron Crewe
, an army general, and Henrietta Maria Anna Walker-Hungerford, he was educated at Eton College
and Christ Church
, Oxford. He was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
in 1840 and of the Royal Society
in 1841.
and inherited the Jacobean
mansion of Crewe Hall
in Cheshire
, together with a large estate in Cheshire, Staffordshire
and Leicestershire
. In 1871, he was the fifth greatest landowner in Cheshire, with a total of 10148 acres (4,106.8 ha). At his death in 1894, the total rents were estimated at £37,000 per year. He appears to have been a relatively benevolent landlord, rebuilding farms, providing cottages and endowing schools. In 1866, he paid more compensation to tenant farmers whose herds were affected by the cattle plague
outbreak than was required by law. He also made many charitable gifts, for example in Sandbach
where he donated his income as lord of the manor to the local board, gave land for a town and market hall, and erected a drinking fountain.
It was a period of rapid change: when he inherited the estate, the area to the west of Crewe Hall park was countryside with scattered farms; by his death it was occupied by the major railway centre of Crewe
. He unsuccessfully opposed the construction of a Silverdale and Madeley Railway Company line from Newcastle-under-Lyme
to Wrexham
, which passed through the Crewe estate.
Lord Crewe commissioned Edward Blore
to make alterations to Crewe Hall (1837–42). These included major changes to the plan of the building, redecoration of the interior in a Jacobethan
style more sympathetic to the original Jacobean house, and modernisations including the installation of a warm-air heating system. Blore also added a centrepiece and clocktower to the stables quadrangle and built a gate lodge. The total cost of the works was £30,000.
A fire gutted the main hall in January 1866. Extensive restoration work was carried out for Lord Crewe by E. M. Barry
, son of Sir Charles Barry
, the architect of the Palace of Westminster
(1866–70). Barry added a tower to the west wing; required for water storage, the tower was intended to unite the east and west wings of the hall. He also reorganised the plan of the ground floor. The gardens were redesigned after the fire by W. A. Nesfield, and his son William Eden Nesfield
also designed various estate buildings.
Lord Crewe died of influenza at Crewe Hall in 1894. He never married and the barony became extinct on his death. His estates were inherited by his nephew, Robert Milnes, Baron Houghton
, later Earl and Marquess of Crewe
, son of his sister Annabella Hungerford Crewe.
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
, FRS
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(10 August 1812 – 3 January 1894) was an English landowner and peer.
The son of John Crewe, 2nd Baron Crewe
John Crewe, 2nd Baron Crewe
John Crewe was an English soldier and peer.He was the son of John Crewe, 1st Baron Crewe, a politician who was created the first Baron Crewe in 1806, and Frances Anne Crewe, the daughter of Fulke Greville, who was a political hostess known for her great beauty...
, an army general, and Henrietta Maria Anna Walker-Hungerford, he was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Christ Church
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, Oxford. He was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
in 1840 and of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1841.
Landlord and charitable works
On his father's death in 1835, he became the third Baron CreweBaron Crewe
Baron Crewe, of Crewe in the County of Chester, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 25 February 1806 for the politician and landowner John Crewe, of Crewe Hall, Cheshire. This branch of the Crewe family descended from Sir Ranulph Crewe , Speaker of the House of...
and inherited the Jacobean
Jacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
mansion of Crewe Hall
Crewe Hall
Crewe Hall is a Jacobean mansion located near Crewe Green, east of Crewe, in Cheshire, England. Described by Nikolaus Pevsner as one of the two finest Jacobean houses in Cheshire, it is listed at grade I...
in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, together with a large estate in Cheshire, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
and Leicestershire
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...
. In 1871, he was the fifth greatest landowner in Cheshire, with a total of 10148 acres (4,106.8 ha). At his death in 1894, the total rents were estimated at £37,000 per year. He appears to have been a relatively benevolent landlord, rebuilding farms, providing cottages and endowing schools. In 1866, he paid more compensation to tenant farmers whose herds were affected by the cattle plague
Rinderpest
Rinderpest was an infectious viral disease of cattle, domestic buffalo, and some other species of even-toed ungulates, including buffaloes, large antelopes and deer, giraffes, wildebeests and warthogs. After a global eradication campaign, the last confirmed case of rinderpest was diagnosed in 2001...
outbreak than was required by law. He also made many charitable gifts, for example in Sandbach
Sandbach
Sandbach is a market town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The civil parish contains four settlements; Sandbach itself, Elworth, Ettiley Heath and Wheelock....
where he donated his income as lord of the manor to the local board, gave land for a town and market hall, and erected a drinking fountain.
It was a period of rapid change: when he inherited the estate, the area to the west of Crewe Hall park was countryside with scattered farms; by his death it was occupied by the major railway centre of Crewe
Crewe
Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
. He unsuccessfully opposed the construction of a Silverdale and Madeley Railway Company line from Newcastle-under-Lyme
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Newcastle-under-Lyme is a market town in Staffordshire, England, and is the principal town of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme. It is part of The Potteries Urban Area and North Staffordshire. In the 2001 census the town had a population of 73,944...
to Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
, which passed through the Crewe estate.
Alterations to Crewe Hall
Edward Blore
Edward Blore was a 19th century British landscape and architectural artist, architect and antiquary. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland ....
to make alterations to Crewe Hall (1837–42). These included major changes to the plan of the building, redecoration of the interior in a Jacobethan
Jacobethan
Jacobethan is the style designation coined in 1933 by John Betjeman to describe the mixed national Renaissance revival style that was made popular in England from the late 1820s, which derived most of its inspiration and its repertory from the English Renaissance , with elements of Elizabethan and...
style more sympathetic to the original Jacobean house, and modernisations including the installation of a warm-air heating system. Blore also added a centrepiece and clocktower to the stables quadrangle and built a gate lodge. The total cost of the works was £30,000.
A fire gutted the main hall in January 1866. Extensive restoration work was carried out for Lord Crewe by E. M. Barry
Edward Middleton Barry
Edward Middleton Barry was an English architect of the 19th century.-Biography:Edward Barry was the third son of Sir Charles Barry, born in his father's house, 27 Foley Place, London. In infancy he was delicate, and was placed under the care of a confidential servant at Blackheath...
, son of Sir Charles Barry
Charles Barry
Sir 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...
, the architect of the Palace of Westminster
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
(1866–70). Barry added a tower to the west wing; required for water storage, the tower was intended to unite the east and west wings of the hall. He also reorganised the plan of the ground floor. The gardens were redesigned after the fire by W. A. Nesfield, and his son William Eden Nesfield
William Eden Nesfield
William Eden Nesfield was an English architect, designer and painter.W. E. Nesfield was the eldest son of the landscape architect and painter William Andrews Nesfield. He was educated at Eton and then articled to the architect William Burn in 1850, transferring after two years to his uncle by...
also designed various estate buildings.
Lord Crewe died of influenza at Crewe Hall in 1894. He never married and the barony became extinct on his death. His estates were inherited by his nephew, Robert Milnes, Baron Houghton
Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe
Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe KG, PC , known as The Lord Houghton from 1885 to 1895 and as The Earl of Crewe from 1895 to 1911, was a British statesman and writer....
, later Earl and Marquess of Crewe
Marquess of Crewe
Marquess of Crewe was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1911 for the Liberal statesman Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Earl of Crewe. He had already been created Earl of Crewe, of Crewe in the County Palatine of Chester, in 1895 and was made Earl of Madeley, in the County of...
, son of his sister Annabella Hungerford Crewe.