| Notes |
- The Shrapnel family first appear in the Bradford Church registers in 1625. They are not recorded in the second half of the 17th century, but reappear in the 18th. This may be because they briefly left the Church of England; Henry Shrapnel, probably grandfather of the builder of Midway, was listed as an Anabaptist in 1662, and his grandson Zechariah1 leased the land on which the Old Baptist Chapel was built in Bradford to its trustees for a nominal rent.(1) But the family also had connections with Taunton. Henry's eldest son, Henry junior, was a cooper (barrel-maker) in Bradford. His first wife was named Elizabeth. His wife died in 1676, and Henry remarried Ann (probably Buckthought) from Taunton.
When he died in 1688, Henry left a will in which he left a field called Puddocks, on condition that he paid his sister Elizabeth's first child £10. To Elizabeth herself he gave a "broad piece of gold". He also left money to his Buckthought stepchildren, and 5s each to four poor widows of Bradford. As was customary, an inventory was taken of his goods and chattels. This shows that he was living in a Bradford house with three rooms on each floor and had property worth £430-what one would expect of a wealthy yeoman.
Henry was buried at Holy Trinity Church, where the family has a memorial at the west end of the south wall. The family continued to have connections with brewing; in 1754 John Shrapnel was a cooper with a house in Newtown, Bradford. (2) In 1766 William Shrapnel bought for £200n the Inn in Fore St, Trowbridge then known as the Hart and Cock, but later as the White Hart. It remained with the family till 1820, and is now the site of W.H. Smith's shop. (4)
Henry's eldest son, Zachariah I however was probably a Clothier, certainly his descendants were in a profitable business. By 1702 he was in Bradford, where he was paying rates on land and houses in Bradford, Leigh, Trowle and Winsley, and he is listed in the rate book as Mr. Zachariah, a mark of Status. (5). An Illegitimate son was born in 1713 to Dinah Seele, which suggests that Zachariah Shrapnel Seele, which suggests that Zachariah was established in the parish by the. (6) As we shall see, he was the most likely builder of the original Midway. He died in 1723, and left a will which contrary to custom at the time does not open by leaving his soul to God. (7) There is no mention of his wife, children or illegitimate son. His houses and lands in Bradford and Wingfield were left to his nephew Zachariah II, son of his brother Noah. There was also further lands which their father had settled on Zachariah I and then to Noah. These were to pass to Zachariah II, or Noah was to lose £300 left to him in the Will. Nephews and Nieces were left legacies of £100-£400, subject to similar conditions. Zachariah I made a number of gifts of mourning clothes- suits to his siblings and Niece Elizabeth black clocth to cousins Samuel an ironmonger and John, a clothdrawer, and Dr Authowe of Bradford. To his cousin John Bailward, a witness, he leaves dark grey cloth. To some people in Bradford who were probably his tenants he left suits of mourning "suitable to their degree and quality" The poor of Bradford received 40s worth of bread. Zachariah I had an apprentice, who was to receive 1 guinea at the ned of ihis apprenticeship. Zachariah II was his executor; the cash legacies exceeded £1,500. ZachariahI was buried at Holy Trinty. Zachariah II was a clothier. His marriage settlement was drawn up soon after his uncle's death, and his bride was Elizabeth Minifree of Staple grove near Taunton, with whom he received £2,500 as part of her dowry. (8) In return Zachariah II settled on her his Bradford and Wingfield estates, and this sheds more light on Midway's origins. The settlement begins with "a new-built mansion house" (which can mean anything up to 30 years old)., and then lists about 40 acres of land, the freehold of which had been bought by ZachariahI from Walter Greene. It continues with land which had been part of Rowley Farm* (but which was not the site of Midway), a house in Bradford Leigh, and six houses in St. Margaret's St, Bradford.
The deed in which Walter Greene sold land to Zachariah I has not been found, Greene, of Brooke House, Westbury, had bought the manor of Wingfield for £4220 in 1683; at that time the manor house was Stowford Farm. By 1709 Wingfield Manor was in the possession of the Cooper family. (9) this suggests that Zachariah I`s purchase of the land was between these two dates, and that the original house was built soon after his purchase. A year after Zachariah II`s marriage his eldest son, Zachariah III was born. There are no details of other children, nor did Zachaiah II leave a will when he died and was buried at Bradford in 1761.
* Land adjoining Midway is called Wetmeads Bottom. Rowley Farm also had land with this name, which from early times had been applied to a large area divided between several owners.
Zachariah III had married in 175, when he was 29 Lydia Needham, daughter of Joseph Needham, who was vicar of Colerne from 1725 until 1760.(10) They had nine children, the eldest of whom, Zachariah IV, died at the early age of 32 and in the lifetime of his Father . Three children died in infancy. The second son, Joseph, was named after Lydia's father, and like him entered the Church. He had matriculated at Merton College, Oxford. In 1776, obtained his B.A. In 1780 and his M.A. in 1783.(11) he died in 1821 and is remembered on the family memorial. The Third son, Henry who inherited Midway, was the inventor of the Shrapnel shell. Of the three daughters, Ann died unmarried in 1787, Elizabeth married in 1794 William Hamilton Warren and died two years later, and Rachel married in 1789 Thomas Biddulph, their son Thomas also went into the Church and died in 1837.
It is during Zachariah II `s ownership that we get our first hint of the appearance of the original house. In 1773 Messrs Andrews and Dury prepared a map of Wiltshire. They appealed to the wealthier inhabitants for donations towards the cost of production, and those whom responded were rewarded with their names on the map, together with thumbnail sketches of the houses. Zachariah was a contributor. It is not clear how accurate theses sketches were, but where we have seen surviving house they seem to be reasonable true. Midway is shown as a two-storey house, with central doorway and no pediment. To the left is a smaller one-storey range. This agrees with later photographs, allowing for known alterations. As mentioned above, throughout the 18th century the Shrapnel family had held a number of houses in Bradford, including six in St. Margaret's St. The Tithe map of 1841 shows them in possession of six houses and a building of four tenements in or near the street. These included no. 5, a late 17th-early 18th century house of quality in which Zachariah III was living at the time of his death. It is not clear whether the family used this as their town house from the early 18th century; certainly they were considered to be Bradford clothiers. Relevant taxation records begin to show the tenants as well as the owners of property in Wingfield from 1774 and from this time a succession of farmers are shown as at Midway, which of course had a good estate of land (12) William Couch, of an old Wingfield family, was there in 1774, and John Little in 1787. The Bradford records have Shrapnel as occupying no 5.
Zachariah III died in 1796 at the age of 71; in his will he asks to be buried without pomp in Bradford Church. (13) He left to trustees the mansion house in which he lived, with the house (no 6 and 7, St Margaret's St, then one house). And workshops adjoining. He also mentions a house at the bottom of "Nowhere Lane" and others in St. Margaret's St, houses at Bradford Leigh, and his estate called Midway Farm, with farmhouse and Mansion House, the occupied by John Coles Baily (who also had Church farm, Wingfield). (14) The Bradford house was to go to his wife for her life, and after to his son Henry, Captain in the Royal Artillery, and then to Henry's children. To his son Joseph he left an annuity of £100, and to Joseph's wife £100. Zachariah's daughter Rachel Biddulph received £100, and Elizabeth Warren £200. Henry Shrapnel had been born in 1761, and entered the army in 1779. (15) His career is given in some detail in the entry from the Dictionary of National Biography (c1900). He is, of course, best known for the invention of the Shrapnel Shell, which is thought to have contributed to British success at waterloo and elsewhere. In a letter written at Woolwich in 1804 Henry says:
I can only see that no enemy cares for round shot, but this kind of fire it is impossible for troops to withstand." (16)
A letter written by an observer at the start of the Great War noted that German field guns carried at the breech end the Shrapnel motto " Ratio Ultima Regis" (the last argument of kings). For much of his life Henry was abroad or living in London, but is shown as at Midway from 1822 until 1828(17) In a letter of 1839 he mentions that his second son Zachariah, is at Cambridge, and seems to be in need of a coach. Zachariah had been admitted to Powerhouse in 1833, and matriculated the following year, but did not obtain his B.A. until 1846. He died at the age of thirty. Henry also mentions in his letter his relations Rev. and Mrs Thomas Bidulph. (18) Henry finally lived , and died at Bradford in 1842 at the age of 80, but the family memorial wrongly gives the date as 1849. Copies of letters from his wife regarding his funereal still exit. A list of his battles is carved on the inside of the gateposts at Midway: waterloo, Table bay, Chuzneemeedanse, Kioze, Bidasoa, Tsage and Busaco. (19)
During Henry's ownership of Midway, tenants continued.. Jacob Carter was there in 1799, and from 1805-1809 Rev. Spencer, who was rector of Wingfield and a friend of Shrapnel. In 1812 a Mr Sartain was running a school at the house; an advertisement in the Salisbury and Winchester Journal has:
"Mr Sartain respectfully announces to his friends and the public that his School (at Midway-House one mile from Bradford) reopens on Monday January 20th. Terms 25 guineas per annum; Entrance 1 Guinea : Washing 2 guineas; and no other extra charges except for stationery. Midway-House, January 9 1812"
Henry was succeeded by his son Henry Scrope Shrapnel, born in 1812. Cambridge records note that he was admitted to Emmanuel College in 1848, but did not reside. (20) He followed his father into the army, and was Cornet in the 3 rd Dragoon Guards in 1834, and later Barrack Master in Ireland, Bermuda, Halifax and Montreal. (21) He is said to have re-fronted Midway as a memorial to his father, but perhaps only added to the front shown in 1773 the pediment with Shrapnel Shell, and pilasters, which appear to be of mid-19th century origin. (22) He partitioned Parliament without success for a reward for his father's inventions, and eventually emigrated to Canada, having previously married and had a large family.
The first detailed census returns were made in 1841. These show Stephen Mizen at Midway, aged 60, and of independent means. With him was his only son Thomas aged 25, a farmer, with a male servant and one agricultural labourer. Stephen died three years later, and in his will left £150 to his son Stephen junior, and £300 to each of his daughters Mary Ann and Hannah. (23) he owned a house near Whitehill in Bradford which was divided into tenements; this was to be shared between his five children as tenants in common, with his son Stephen receiving two shares. His household items, including dairy and brewing equipment, were to be shared by his two daughters. The Tithe Map of this year shows Midway with grounds and outbuildings. In the 1851 census, Thomas was still at Midway, but now only described as agricultural labourer. His brother James, ten years his senior, was the farmer, with six labourers (over the years the estate land had increased to 160 acres). With them was a shepherd, Thomas Harris, aged 75; no woman is shown in the household.
In 1861 the household were still at Midway; the land had increased to 170 acres, and was farmed by six men, five boys and one woman. James had married Sarah Jane, 25 years his junior, and they had a 7 months old daughter. There was a nursemaid and a new shepherd , aged only 16. Thomas Mizan was not then at Midway.
The 1871 census shows the Shrapnel family again at the house. Arthur N.S. Shrapnel aged 27 was presumably Henry Scope's son; he had been born at Gosport. His wife Clara came from Colombo, Ceylon and they had children Arthur, two Harold, one, and Ethel, 2 months, all born in Wingfield. With them was Arthur's mother-in -law Marianne Anion, and a visitor from Ascension Isle with another from London, Edwin Mizen domestic and groom, a general servant and a nursemaid. This surely reflects the family travels! The estate was mortgaged at this time and in this year Shrapnel finally sold to Samuel Gauntlet, a florist and nurseryman. (24)
In the 1881 census Samuel was 498, a florist from Trowbridge who had a warehouse in Back Street in the town. His wife Mary was involved in carpet bedding, high fashion in Victorian gardens, and his nephew Walter Knee, aged 17 was a clerk in the bedding office. Samuel's niece was a visitor, and they had a cook and housemaid. Samuel's niece was a visitor, and they had a cook and housemaid.
An advertisement in the Wilts and Trowbridge Advertiser of 12th February, 1876. Indicates that they also dealt in vegetable plants for growing on and cut flowers for button holes and bouquets for balls and parties. The 1887 Ordnance Survey map shows a number of greenhouses at |Midway , and a water pump. Samuel's wife made her will as a widow in 1884; she had no children and made her nephew Walter Knee of Midway Manor her executor and trustee. (25) She left him her trinkets and jewels to be sold. After some small bequests she divided her estate between her sisters; her estate was valued at £876.
Midway Manor was put up for auction in 1889, originally to take place on 20th November, later altered to 28th November. The announcement in the Wiltshire Times included Midway Manor, with an extensive range of vineries and green houses, arable and pasture land amounting to 52 acres, and a freehold warehouse in Back St, Trowbridge then occupied by Messrs. Burgess & Co general furnishers. The auctioneers were Foley and Mundy. Evidently the estate did not sell, for next year Walter Knee sold Midway to George L. Palmer of Trowbridge. (26) Palmer lived at Springfield House, a large house now gone, and was responsible for the gift of land known and Palmer's Gardens.
The next year's census shows John Coles, florist, as tenant, with his wife, son and daughter helping him in the business, and a boarder who was also a florist. Three children were scholars, and there was one visitor, a student.
In 1892 George Palmer sold the house and some land to Henry Summers Baynton for £2,000. (27) Baynton was living in Edgbaston at the time, but a family of that name had been in Wiltshire for centuries; in the 17th and 18th centuries they were at Spye Park, and had also had Rowley Farm in the late 17th century. (28) Baynton removed the front of the house however, and put his own initial over the front door. Little has been found about his personal life. There was a valuation of the property in 1925, which gave the theoretical rent of the house as £105 p.a., and of the associated 65 acres of land as £59. (3) Two years later Henry Baynton died, but his obituary in the Wiltshire Times says no more than this. (31) His widow remained at Midway until 1935. In 1939 Lt. Col. Auberon Godfrey Faulkner D.S.O., M.C. was at the house. More recently it was the home of Timothy Walker of the World Wildlife Fund, who died in 1988. At the time, Llamas and other exotic creatures were to be seen grazing in front of the house. Thanks are dike to Mr K. H Rogers and Mrs Joyce Jefferson for useful information supplied in the course of this history.
March 1993 R. and B. Harvey Wiltshire Building Record.
References:
1. R.W. Oliver. Baptists in Bradford-on-Avon
2. Will AS, Henry Shrapnel 1688
3. 217/7
4. 1075/001/125
5. G20/990/18
6. Wingfield Registers.
7. Will, P.R.O. Zachariah Shrapnel, 1723
8. 212B/4890
9. 118/129;270/44
10. Bishop's License, 1753
11. Alumni Oxon.
12. A1/345/439
13. Will, P.R.O. Zachariah Shrapnel 1796
14. History of Church Farm, Wingfield, Wilts Building Record.
15. Dictionary of National Biography.
16. The Field, 24 October, 1914
17. A1/345/439
18. 768/42; Alumni Cantab
19. Pevsner, Wiltshire
20 Alumni Cantab.
21. Dictionary of National Biography
22. 2540/1
23/ Will, AS, Stephen Mizen, 1844
24. Owner's deed
25. Will Salisbury, Mary Ann Gauntlett 1886
26. Owner's deed
27. Owner's Deed
28. Victoria County History of Wiltshire, Vol. 7 p.71
29. 2540/1
30. G2/500/14
31. Wiltshire Times 16 April 1927
Also registers of Wingfield and Bradford. All at Wiltshire Record Office, except Public Record Office Wills.
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