Ellerton, Charborough & Olantigh

The Drax family held lands in Kent (Geoffrey Drax in 1154), at Woodhall, Darfield, Yorkshire (Thomas Drax, priest, in 1516), and Stoneleigh, Warwick (Rev. William Drax in 1654), Ellerton Abbey (sons, William & James Drax from 1654). Boston, Lincolnshire (brother, Henry Drax in 1663). However, whilst the site of Woodhall has now been identified, Ellerton Abbey is the earliest known existing residence of the Drax family of Yorkshire. A descendant of this line married an heiress of the Ernle-Erle family of Charborough Park, Dorset and, subsequently, following another heiress marriage, the family also owned Olantigh Towers, Wye, Kent, Holnest House, Dorset, and later Bilting House, Kent.

William Drax, of London, Merchant, died about 1672

The above is a receipt for £500.00, dated 5th February 1672, and signed by Ursula Drax, the widow of William Drax, of London, Merchant; she was the executrix of his estate. Her seal appears to have been a ‘hare’. ‘Recd. the fifth day of February Anno Domini 1672 by me Ursula Drax of London widow the relict and Executrix of the last will and testament of William Drax late of London Merchant decd of and from Robert Bird of Staples Inne London Gent the sum of five hundred pounds of lawful money of England being the consideration and expressed to be paid to me by him in and by a certaine Indenture of Assignment of the date hereof made between Mary Parrey of London widow the relict and Executrix of the last will and testament of John Parrey late of London Scrivener decd of and by? me the said Ursula Drax of the one part and the said Robert Bird and John Bird of Staples Inne aforesaid Gentleman of the other part Witness my hand and seale the day and year above written. U: Drax. Witness hereto: William Yonge?, John Adams, Arthur Myles his servt.’

[I am indebted to Graham Clark for this considerable kindness in selling me the above document, at his original Ebay cost, after he found this website whilst researching it. If you have any such family-related documents, I would be delighted to receive a scanned copy, or to purchase the original if available.]

Two gold Seals with the Drakes Arms lost or stolen in 1686 - These seals were undoubtedly intended for Henry Drax, the sugar plantation and slave owner of Barbados and London. It is interesting that it refers to them as 'Drakes Arms' and not 'Drax Arms', since, though the names are interchangeable, he was almost always referred to as 'Henry Drax'; there were no other extremely wealthy 'Drax' or 'Drakes' men at this time:

Gazette Issue 2177, published on the 27 September 1686. Printed by Tho. Newcomb in the Savoy. 1686. `Advertisements. Lost or stolen since the 20th of May last, a Bunch containing 30 odd Seals, whereof the most remarkable, one Seal of the Lord Howard of Escricks, and the Drakes Coats of Arms cut in Cornelian, set in Gold, Enamelled in black and White. Another in a mixed coloured Cornelian, with the Drakes Arms and Crown over it. One Cornelian Seal, a Mouse running after an Apple set in Gold. One other Cornelian Seal, with a Turkish Character set in Gold. One Gold Hart with a Cipher of Gold under the Chrystal, on the other side under the Chrystal, a Pearl Hart struck through with Dart, and an Earls Crown over it, set with Diamonds, &c. Lord Howards Arms and Quarterings, and his Ladies. Whoever gives Notice thereof so Mr. Richard Hoar at the Golden Bottle in Cheapside, shall have 10 Guinea's Reward.'

Ellerton Abbey, Swaledale, Yorkshire

   

The old 'Ellerton Abbey' Abbey ruin in 1855, from a painting, and 1930s, from a postcard.

Near the river Swale, in Swaledale, Yorkshire, are the ruins of Ellorton Priory (Ellerton Abbey). At the Dissolution of the Monasteries, about 1538/9, it was valued at £15 10s. 6d. In 1601 the site and demesnes came into the possession of Gabriel Drax, a younger son of the 1126 tree, from whom they have descended in unbroken succession to Sarah Charlotte Elizabeth Ernle-Erle-Drax who in 1871 married John Lloyd Eggington. In 1887, by letters patent, she resumed her maiden name.

'Ellerton Priory' ruin at Ellerton Abbey, Yorks.

Photo with kind permission of Hugh Mortimer ©

'Ellerton Abbey' house at Ellerton Abbey, Yorks.

Photos with kind permission of Hugh Mortimer ©

Her Serene Highness Elizabeth, Margrave of Brandenburgh, Anspach, and Bayreith, Princess Berkeley of the Holy Roman Empire, and Dowager Baroness Craven of Hempsted, in Berkshire.

Lady Elizabeth Berkeley, Lady Craven of Hamstead Marshall, ‘The Margravine of Anspach’, was born on 17.12.1750 at Spring Gardens, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, Middx. She was christened on 6.1.1750/1 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, Middx. She died on 12/13.1.1828  at Craven Villa, near Naples (Napoli), Italy, and was buried in the British Cemetery there.

Her parents were: Elizabeth Drax, Countess of Berkeley, of Ellerton Abbey, Yorks., who was born in 1720, the daughter of Henry Drax and Elizabeth Ernle. She died on 29.6.1792 at Berkeley, Gloucs., aged 72, and was buried on 30.6.1792 at Berkeley Castle, Gloucs. She was Lady of the Bedchamber to the Princess of Wales in 1745. On 7.5.1744, she first married Lt. Col. Augustus Berkeley, 4th Earl of Berkeley, K.T., at St. James, Westminster, Middx.; he was the 17th Baron Fitzhardinge, 4th Earl of Berkeley, and a distinguished military officer. He was the great grandson of Charles II. He was born on 18.2.1715/6, the son of James Berkeley and Louisa Lenox. He died on 9.1.1755 at Berkeley, Gloucs., aged 39, and was buried on 17.1.1755 at Berkeley, Gloucs.

There are numerous links available, especially under 'Margravine of Anspach', via google.com

Charborough Park, Dorset

'J.S.W.S.E. Drax Esq., Charborough Park' - from The Book of Sports, British and Foreign, 1843.

John Samuel Wanley Sawbridge Erle Drax Esquire of Charborough Park, Dorset and Olantigh Towers, Wye, Kent.

He was born on 6.10.1800 at Wye, Kent. He died on 5.1.1887, aged 86.

'Charborough: the Seat of Thos. Erle Drax Esq.' - from The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset 1774

Charborough Park, the Seat of J.S.W.S. Erle Drax, Esq., from A Visitation of The Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain by John Bernard Burke, esq., 1852, showing the house and tower

Charborough Park - The House and The Chapel

'Stag Gate', which is well known to all travellers on the A31 between Dorchester and London.

Charborough Park near Almer, Dorset is a privately owned estate and a working farm; it is not open to the public. It is still in the ownership of an ancient Anglo-Norman family now named 'Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax', but usually known as just 'Drax'. Though the 'Drax' surname was gained in 1720 by the marriage of an 'Erle' heiress of Charborough Park to Henry Drax, and the family has descended down several female lines since, the 'Drax' surname has been retained; this was initially by Royal Licence as the result of Henry Drax's Will. This Drax line originally came over from Normandy with Henry II in 1154 and were given lands in Kent; later generations were in Yorkshire, Warwickshire, London, Barbados, Dorset, and Kent and it is possibly the origin of all the Drakes and Dracas lines that can be traced back to north Lincolnshire.

'Lion Gate', 'Stag Gate', and the third stonework gate 'Blandford Lodge'; there are two other entrances along the A31, but without stone gateways. There is a further stone gateway, with a smaller stag above it in the estate, plus a tower, stable block and the main house. In 1689, a plot was hatched, in the ice house here, to invite the Protestant monarchs William III (reigned 1689-1702) & Mary II (reigned 1689-1694) to the English throne, to replace her ousted father King James II (reigned 1685-1688), the younger brother of Charles II, the sons of Charles I, who was beheaded in 1649.

Various views of 'Stag Gate'; at some angles it appears to have five legs, but the 'fifth leg' part of the sculpture is actually a tree stump.

The estate wall alongside the A31, and the stunningly beautiful view through 'Lion Gate', which most travellers don't get a chance to glimpse as they rush past. At 40mph, it takes over 3 minutes to pass alongside this extensive estate wall.

The Drax Arms are still displayed on the 'Lion Gate'.

Charborough House set in beautiful parkland and the Coach House

The smaller Stage Gate inside the grounds on the main driveway

Visit the Charborough Park Estate website for more pictures and information: charborough.co.uk

Charborough Tower

Charborough Tower as seen from near the house

Charborough Tower is a folly within the park, that was built by Edward Drax in 1790; it was later damaged by lightning and was rebuilt, 40 feet higher than the original tower, by John Samuel Wanley Sawbridge Erle Drax in 1838. It is now over 100 feet high and, if you can climb the 161 steps on one of the few days when the Tower is open to the public, it has views as far as the Isle of Wight on a clear day. It can't be seen from the main road outside the gates, but there is a brilliant colour photo of it on another website: follytowers.com

Almer Church

Almer, Dorset, is a small hamlet immediately opposite to the entrance to Charborough Park. In the Sanctuary of the small church, behind the altar, there is a stained glass memorial window, which shows the angel at the entrance to Christ's tomb, announcing: `He is not here - He is risen - As he said' and, in the bottom right corner: `Erected to the Glory of God & to the memory of Sarah Charlotte Elizabeth Ernle-Erle-Drax by her daughter Ernle Lady Dunsany'. Wanley Elias Sawbridge-Erle-Drax was vicar of Almer, Dorset

Olantigh Towers, Wye, Kent

'Olantigh in Kent, the Seat of John Sawbridge Esq., publish'd as the Art directs Jan 1st 1786 by W. Watts, Chelsea'

Olantigh was owned by the Kempe family as early as the 13th century. When Sir Thomas Kempe died in 1607, leaving four married daughters, Olantigh was sold to Sir Timothy Thornhill. In 1711, Richard Thornhill, his grandson, became hopelessly involved in drinking and gambling, as was the fashion, and Olantigh had to be sold. It was purchased in 1720 by Jacob Sawbridge, one of the directors of the South Sea Company, in the year of “The South Sea Bubble”. In 1773, John Sawbridge, the then ruling squire, became Lord Mayor of London; he extended the mansion. The estate passed down through the Sawbridge family to John Samuel Wanley Sawbridge, on his father's death in 1851. He was born on 6.10.1800 at Wye, Kent, and died on 5.1.1887. He was John Samuel Wanley Sawbridge, Esq., of Olantigh Towers, Kent, and Holnest House, Dorset, D.L., J.P., M.P. for Wareham 1841-57, 1859-65, 1868-80. On 1.5.1827, he married Jane Frances Sawbridge Erle-Drax Grosvenor, of Charborough Park, Dorset, and Ellerton Abbey, Yorks., at St. George's Church, Hanover Square, London. In December 1903, Olantigh was occupied by Wanley Elias Sawbridge-Erle-Drax, vicar of Almer, Dorset, when fire gutted the Georgian mansion. It was eventually re-built on a smaller scale and with the portico some 70 feet from its original position. The family sold the Olantigh estate in 1935, leaving it substantially as it still was in 1953.

The entrance gateway to Olantigh Towers, Wye, Kent

The driveway leading to the 1910 re-built Olantigh Towers, Wye, Kent, after the 1903 fire.

Olantigh Towers, Wye, Kent; the original 1762 house was burnt down in December 1903, but it was rebuilt.

Olantigh Towers, Wye, Kent, prior to the 1903 fire.

The main entrance of the 1910 re-built Olantigh Towers, Wye, Kent, after the 1903 fire.

Aerial view of the re-built Olantigh Towers, Wye, Kent, after the 1903 fire.

The river Stour and the gardens at Olantigh Towers, Wye, Kent

The re-built Olantigh Towers, Wye, Kent in 1910, after the 1903 fire.