The Bower & Collier Family History
Research by Colin Bower
The Extraordinary Cornwallis-Wests
Progress Report
Progree 2005
Newlands Manor
The opportunity was taken to take a photograph of Newlands Manor where the West (later Cornwallis West) family lived.
A note on the family was added later.
Progress 2006
The Extraordinary (Cornwallis) West Family
I added a brief summary of some of the events regarding Milford's most famous family, the Extraordinary (Cornwallis) West Family.
Progress 2007
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Progress 2008
A descendant of the Shrubb Family, set out some detailed and very interesting information about the Shrubb Family. This included the extraordinary 1899 wedding of Marcia Shrubb, to which the cream of local society was invited plus Daisy, Princess of Pless formerly Mary Cornwallis West:
The Shrubb Family in BoldreMary (Fitzpatrick) Cornwallis West
I was very pleased that a descendant of the Fitzpatrick Family found my web site and pointed out a typing error!
Important Marriages and Name Changes
Correspondents advised me of other important marriages in the Symonds and Shrubb families so I have updated the "people" section of my research:
Important Marriages and Name Changes
Progress 2009
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Progress 2010
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Progress 2011
Captain John WhitbyCaptain Whitby sailed under Nelson and Cornwallis and his wife helped Admiral Cornwallis develop Newlands Manor in Milford (now Milford on Sea).
I was contacted by a descendant of Captain Whitby. He was her 5 x Great Grandfather and I was able to put her in touch with someone who has undertaken a great deal of research into the Whitby family.
Edition of Heir Hunters broadcast on BBC2 1.12.2011
Chris and I were watching a TV programme (a repeat, of course!) Heir Hunters on BBC2 on 1 December 2011, when we were surprised by the inclusion of a recent addition to the estate of Frederick West of Ruthin Castle (father of Frederick Richard West who married Theresa Whitby).
The programme plotted the fascinating history of the Cornwallis West Family:
The Extraordinary Cornwallis West Family
I sent a summary of the content of the programme to two ancestors of William Cornwallis West and Mary Fitzpatrick (Patsy).
Fuller description of the programme
Heir Hunters BBC2 1 December 2011
Progress 2012
I was advised of the launch of a new publication by the Milford-on-Sea Historical Society:
Mrs Whitby's Locket by Barry Jolly.
The book tells the story of Captain John Whitby who married Mary Ann Theresa Symonds, the daughter of Captain John Symonds.
Captain Whitby served under Admiral Sir William Cornwallis and also Admiral Nelson. Mrs Whitby supervised the rebuilding of (and later inherited) Newlands at Milford for Cornwallis.
The Whitby's daughter Theresa married Frederick West thus providing the foundation for the famous Cornwallis-West family.
The Extraordinary Cornwallis-West Family
Isabel Dickinson
A correspondent advised me that Teresa (Whitby) West had an interest in the arts and knew the poet Walter Savage Landor. As a result she was introduced to and befriended actress Isabel Dickinson:
Isabel Dickinson and Teresa (Whitby) West
Progress 2013
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Progress 2014
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Progress 2015
Visit to Eccleston near Ruthin
On a recent holiday in Chester, we went to the nearby village of Eccleston adjacent to Eaton Hall, the ancestral home of the Grosvenor Family.
Hugh (k/a Bendor, one of the Family's racehorses!) Grosvenor became the 2nd Duke of Westminster in 1899 on the death of his grandfather.
Hugh married a childhood friend from Ruthin (see below), Constance (k/a Shelagh) Cornwallis West, and she bore him a son and heir Edward in 1904 but the child died in 1909 after an appendix operation.
Hugh and Constance lived lavishly in Eaton Hall and Grosvenor House in London entertaining amongst others King Edward and other members of the European Royal Family.
The couple divorced in 1919 and the Duke of Westminster had 3 further wives.
In the booklet: "The Grosvenors of Eaton", that I bought in the village church, there are a number of interesting revelations:
1. Hugh Grosvenor was with the young Winston Churchill - to whom he would later become related - when they were ambushed in a train in South Africa. The two men became lifelong friends.
2. the delay in calling a surgeon to the child Edward caused family recriminations.
3. The Cornwallis West Family sought signifkicant financial aid from the Grosvenors which caused irritation.
4. the Duke of Westminster tired of the social round enjoyed by Constance and they became estranged.
Ruthin
The reason the future 2nd Duke of Westminster had a childhood friendship with Constance was that the Cornwallis Wests lived at nearby Ruthin.
In 1826 Frederick West, Constance's grandfather, built a new castle on the site of the old Ruthin Castle which was virtually flattened in the 17th Century during the Civil War.
In the early 20th Century Ruthin Castle was a fashionable venue for house parties including visits from Edward VII, who had taken a fancy to Constance's mother Patsy Cornwallis West!
Ruthin Castle is now a luxury hotel.
https://www.ruthincastle.co.uk/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=7996745512&gbraid=0AAAAACmZRt3-wYcsAgB0xQZObu2NwAFSQ&gclid=Cj0KCQjwyIPDBhDBARIsAHJyyVjmeTBRilJ_scoSTLaUhzpH6Dtce9FyzIg2DSummary
It is interesting to reflect on whether Hugh and Constance might have remained together had the child Edward lived, with the Cornwallis Wests becoming part of the Grosvenor Family Tree.
Progress 2016/8
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Progress 2019
Admiral William Cornwallis
On 30 June 1883, Mary (Fawcett) Murray recorded in her Calling Book that she met with a Mrs West. In 1886 she listed Mrs West again when living at Efford Cottage.
Meeting at Efford Cottage
Mrs West had the rather unsual maiden names: Theresa John Cornwallis Whitby.
Theresa West's mother, Mary Anna Theresa (Symonds) Whitby, had inherited Newlands Manor from Admiral William Cornwallis.
The story of Mrs West's son William Cornwallis West and grandchildren make extraordinary reading:
The extraordinary Cornwallis Wests
On 22 March our local paper, the New Milton Advertiser & Lymington Times, had a leading article: "Nelson's forgotten hero saluted at last".
Admiral Cornwallis is notable for blockading the port of Brest until 1806 preventing Napoleon from invading Britain. There are memorials to Mrs West, Cornwallis and the Whitbys inside the church of All Saints in Milford on Sea:
Memorial to Theresa John Cornwallis West in All Saints Church
(born Theresa Whitby who married Frederic West)
Memorial to Cornwallis and the Whitbys in All Saints Church
The grave of Admiral Corwallis alongside John Whitby was only recently traced in the graveyard there.
There was a National Commemoration on 5 July to mark the 200th anniversary of Admiral Cornwallis' death.
Progress 2020
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Progress 2021
My Probus Club came up with a monthly Newsletter during the Covid lockdown.
I submitted a summary of the project:
Progress 2022/4
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Colin Bower
30 June 2025
