(William) James Farndale
9 September 1900 to 1953
FAR00704B
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Londonderry, Ireland
1901
William James
Farndale, son of George and Minnie Farndale (FAR00453A), was born in Ireland (Molenan) on 9 September 1900 in
Londonderry, Ireland (Army records, 1939
Register). His birth was registered in Londonderry in the third
quarter of 1900 (Ireland Births Index Vol 2 Page
185, FHL Film Number 101068).
Bramham, Wetherby
1901
Census –
Black Fern Lodge, Bramham, Wetherby
George Farndale, head,
30, labourer on farm
Minnie Farndale,
26, born in Ireland
William J
Farndale, 0,
born in Ireland
1911
1911
Census – South
Lodge, Bramham cum Oglethorpe, Wetherby
George Farndale,
40, farm labourer, born Aberford
Minnie Farndale,
wife, 38 – married 11 years so married in 1900 – she was born in Ireland (Molenan)
William James
Farndale, 10,
born Ireland (Molenan)
Margaret Anne
Farndale, 9, born Bramham
1917
James was the
cousin of George Farndale (FAR00617) who was
killed at the Battle of Arras in May 1917.
1918
211407 Private W
James Farndale
Whilst James enlisted after the
War ended, he did so immediately he came of age.
Regimental
Number: TR/5/211407; 211407
Units: 53rd
Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment
His Record
of Service document showed him fit (Grade (2) B1) for service at York on 10
October 1918. He lived at South Lodge, Bramham Park, Yorkshire and was 18 years
and 1 month old. His trade was a market gardener. He was single. His descriptive
report showed that he was 5 ft 2.5 inches and his next of kin was his
father, George Farndale. His medical
history confirmed that he was born in Londonderry, Ireland. He had brown
hair, of fresh complexion with hazel eyes of moderate physical development. He
was dentally fit and vaccinated in infancy. He had ‘flat feet’ but not severe.
His service
reckoned from 9 October 1918. His date of birth was 9 September 1900. This was
confirmed in his further service
record.
1919
He was
transferred to Class 2 Army Reserve on demobilisation
on 19 February 1919. His standard Disability
Form confirmed that he claimed no disability from service.
After the War,
William James Farndale worked for the Lane Fox family at Bramham Park.
Bramham
Park is a Grade I listed 18th-century country house in Bramham, between Leeds
and Wetherby, in West Yorkshire. The house, constructed of magnesian limestone
ashlar with stone slate roofs in a classical style, is built to a linear plan
with a main range linked by colonnades to flanking pavilions. The main block is
of three storeys with a raised forecourt. The house is surrounded by a 500
acres (200 ha) landscaped park ornamented by a series of follies and
avenues laid out in the 18th-century landscape tradition, surrounded by 1,235
acres (500 ha) of arable farmland. The Baroque mansion was built in 1698 for
Robert Benson, 1st Baron Bingley. Following a serious fire in 1828 the Bramham
Park house was then left empty and derelict for 80 years until restored for
George Lane-Fox under the supervision of the architect Detmar Blow in about
1908. George became 1st Baron Bingley of the third creation when the
title was recreated in 1933, but had four daughters and no sons meaning that
the barony was extinguished for the third time upon his death. The house was
inherited by his eldest daughter Marcia, whose husband Joe Ward-Jackson adopted
the Lane-Fox surname. Their son George Lane Fox (1931–2012), after 20 years in
the Household Cavalry, moved into the Hall and put the estate on an up-to-date
financial footing, founding the annual Bramham Horse Trials in 1974.
The Lane-Fox
family of Bramham Park near Wetherby was descended from William Fox, a
landowner at Grete in Worcestershire in the reign of Edward IV. In the
seventeenth century Joseph Fox served with the Army in Ireland, where he
married Thomasine Blayney, the widow of Sir Henry Pierce and daughter of the
2nd Lord Blayney. His son Henry (d. 1719) first married Jane Oliver of Clonodfoy and in 1691 established the family’s fortune by
marrying secondly Frances Lane, the daughter of Sir George Lane of Tulske, the Irish Secretary and later 1st Lord
Lanesborough. Henry Fox’s son George succeeded to the large Lane estates on the
death of his uncle James, the 2nd Viscount, and in 1751 assumed by Act of
Parliament the additional surname of Lane.
The Lane-Fox
Yorkshire estates lay mainly in Bramham, Rigton,
Bardsey, Alwoodley, Walton, Grimston, Netherton, Elsack
and Rimmington.
When Lane-Fox
died, in November 1896, Bramham passed to James, whose eldest son, George,
after a distinguished political career, accepted the revival of the Bingley
Barony in 1933.
Whatever thoughts
marred his pleasure, however, Lane-Fox could look with pride to one notable
achievement: by careful management, sensible sales and personal moderation, he
allowed Bramham to remain a great estate and his grandson to restore and return
to Robert Benson’s great house.
(The Saving of a Yorkshire Estate: George Lane-Fox and
Bramham Park, J T Ward, Yorkshire Archaeological
Journal, Volume 42, 1970, page 63).
Skyrack Courier, 22 August 1919: BRAMHAM MOOR
HOUNDS. THE PUPPY WALK. The Bramham Moor Hounds have been strengthened for the
ensuing hunting season by the addition of a young entry of 11 couples, 5 ½
couples each of dogs and bitches, and although the young hounds have been
admitted without selection owing to the small number bred, they are an alert
and useful lot, and form a valuable addition to the pack. The “puppy walk” was
held on Saturday afternoon in the grounds of Bramham Park, the charming
residence of the Master, Major G R Lane Fox, MP, and the splendid dog
President. The remaining puppies were walked by Captain E Lane Fox, and Messrs
John Thompson, Carnforth, Revis, Metcalf, Story, Ratcliffe, F Dalby, E Stoker, C
(sic?) Farndale, J Duncalf, W Warrington, and T
Firn....
1921
Census
1921 – Wetherby
George Farndale, head,
58 years and 89 months old, married, born Aberford, a farm labourer with
Colonel Lane Fox at Bramham Park, Boston Spa.
Eliza M Farndale,
wife, 50, married, born in Londonderry, Ireland, a char woman with Colonel Lane
Fox at Bramham Park, Boston Spa.
William J
Farndale, 20
years and 9 months, single, born Londonderry, Ireland, a garden labourer with
Colonel Lane Fox at Bramham Park, Boston Spa.
Margaret A
Farndale, 19 years and 9 months, single, born Bramham, Yorkshire, a housekeeper
at home.
1931
Yorkshire
Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 17 September 1931: GARDENERS, CHAUFFEURS, GROOMS,
WANT PLACES … MR EDWARD LANE FOX very highly recommends experienced gardener;
leaving only owing to reductions; hardworking; ailling
and economical; married. Apply Farndale, Walton house, Boston Spa.
1933
William James
Farndale, gardener, married Annie Thompson at Barwick in Elmet on 1 July 1933 (Barwick in Elmet PR).
1939
1939
Register –
South Lodge, Bramham Park
Leeds
1953
William J
Farndale died aged 53 in 1953 and his death was registered in the
fourth quarter of 1953 at Leeds (GRO Vol 2c page
247).