The Story of the Lucas Shadwell Family by Paul Draper (previously published in Fairlight News in 2016)
Part 4 – William Peter Lucas-Shadwell – known as William Lucas-Shadwell:
In part 1, I introduced you to the four generations of Lucas-Shadwells and showed how they were all related to each other. In part 2 we looked at the first William Lucas-Shadwell and in part 3 we looked at William Drew Lucas-Shadwell. (See the family tree in part 1).
In this part we will look at William Peter Lucas-Shadwell, the third of the Lucas-Shadwell line of succession and actually the first born with the legal surname of Lucas-Shadwell.
William was baptised on the 14th August 1852 in Guestling, the eldest of three children. The younger children were Florentia and Mary.
At this time, they were the dominant family of Fairlight and Pett and oversaw their extensive land and properties from the newly constructed Fairlight Hall (known as The Hall at that time). His life appears to have been dominated by politics, both local and national. A summary of his life is best explained in the below contemporary report from the Hastings and St. Leonards Observer of the 5th June 1915 (He died on the 31st May 1915):-
Mr Lucas-Shadwell dead.
Former member for Hastings and squire of Fairlight.
Mr William Lucas-Shadwell J.P., D.L., died at his residence at Pett on Monday, in his 63rd year, and the greatest sympathy will be felt with the widow and son and daughters in their irreparable loss.
A son of the late William Drew Lucas-Shadwell J.P., (who died about 40 years ago) and Mrs. Lucas-Shadwell, who still survives, and resides at Woodcote, Fairlight. The late Mr. Lucas-Shadwell, although not entirely sharing his father’s views on some matters, followed his example through a long series of year in regard to taking an active interest in the welfare of the people. He was educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and on the death of his father succeeded to the position of squire of Fairlight with the ownership of The Hall (one of the finest residences in the neighbourhood), and a very large acreage of agricultural land extending from Fairlight to Pett, and on to Rye Harbour. When only a very young man he was created a Justice for the County of Sussex, and at the time of his death was the senior magistrate of the Hastings Petty Sessional Division. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant for Sussex. He married Beatrice (daughter of the late Mr. J. Rutherford, and sister of the Marchioness de Sain) who, as a devoted wife, shared her husband’s opinions, political and otherwise, and was always actively supporting him in his public life. A strong supporter of the Conservative cause Mr. Lucas-Shadwell on social questions affecting the welfare of the working classes was sometimes ahead of the bulk of his party in advocating reforms.
He began to take an active part in Hastings politics in the election of 1880. In 1892 he stood as Candidate for East Finsbury against the sitting Member, Mr. J. Rowlands (now M.P. for the Dartford Division). Before that contest both he and Mrs. Lucas-Shadwell worked hard in nursing the constituency, and when the election came the fight was a particularly strenuous one, and characterised by a great amount of rowdyism on the Radical side. The result was a defeat for Mr. Lucas-Shadwell, although he increased the Conservative vote by 181. It might here be mentioned that at the next election Mr. Lucas-Shadwell’s defeat was avenged by Mr. H. C. Richards (a Hastings Conservative) ousting Mr. Rowlands. In 1894 it became known that Mr. Wilson Noble was desirous of giving up a parliamentary life, and this afforded an opening for Mr. Lucas-Shadwell. After addressing numerous meetings in the town, he was unanimously adopted as Prospective Candidate for Hastings on the last day of January 1895 on the proposition of Mr. E. Bradnam, J. P., Colonel Brookfield M. P., being amongst those who spoke in support. The election came on the 15th of July in the same year. Mr. Cecil Ince (now a Unionist) was the Liberal Candidate, and Mr. Lucas-Shadwell was returned by a majority of 342.
He sat as Member for Hastings till the General Election in 1900. At this period an unfortunate page in local Conservative history occurred. Mr. Lucas-Shadwell, by joining Lord Hugh Cecil and a small number of other High Church Members of the House of Commons on a certain vote gave offense to a large number of his supporters in Hastings. The result was that he was not invited to seek re-election and at the eleventh hour the late Sir Edward Boyle, K. C., was adopted candidate. Mr. Freeman Thomas had been before the constituency as prospective Liberal Candidate for several months and as the result of the polling he captured the seat with a margin of a little over 200 votes. After this very little was seen in Hastings for a long period of Mr. Lucas-Shadwell, who with his wife went to reside in Rome.
Later on the news came that Mr. and Mrs. Lucas-Shadwell had embraced the Roman Catholic religion. Afterwards Mr. Lucas-Shadwell had the honour of being created private Chamberlain to Pope Pius X. It may be mentioned to Mr. Lucas-Shadwell’s honour that in the context with Mr. Ince, although he knew the latter to be a Roman Catholic, he never mentioned the fact and would not allow those of his supporters who had the information to use it to prejudice his opponents position. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas-Shadwell were ever ready to place the grounds of The Hall at the disposal of their political friends and several highly successive demonstrations were held there. The Hospital and other institutions also benefited by garden parties and fetes held at that beautiful domain. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lucas-Shadwell were amongst the earliest and hardest workers for the Primrose League, and as Dame President of the Hastings Habitation, Mrs. Lucas-Shadwell delivered many charming speeches. Like his late father (who bequeathed a legacy of £250 to the institution) Mr. Lucas-Shadwell was a strong supporter of the Hospital: He was formerly a Trustee and at the time of his death was one of five vice presidents. He was of an extremely amiable disposition and a good landlord to his tenants. Although not a brilliant speaker he was thoroughly versed in politics and very persevering. During his five years in parliament he was by no means a silent member. We believe one of his first speeches was on the question of working class dwellings and he was very regular in attendance and frequently intervened in debates. Mr. Lucas-Shadwell’s last public appearance in Hastings was on the occasion of the recent War Lecture at the Town Hall arranged by Earl Brassey.
A few years ago, The Hall being let, Mr. Lucas-Shadwell built himself a residence on his estate at Pett and here he passed away after several week’s illness. His eldest son William who succeeds to the estate, is holding an official appointment.
5th June 1915
As the above article indicates, the family moved out of The Hall and at the beginning of the 20th century, and for many years, The Hall was let to the wealthy. One notable occupant was a Mr. Kirkley who became very well known for organising local hunts, all starting at The Hall. Photographs of his many gamekeepers and numerous helpers can now be seen on the current Fairlight Hall website. (The photographs were supplied by the Fairlight Residents’ Association on condition that our name is mentioned).
The Lucas-Shadwell properties:- Woodcote, in Peter James Lane, remained the home of his mother Florentia and his sisters. The house is still there but is now called Hoads House. Similarly, the house he built in Pett, near the top of Chick Hill was named Fairlight Cottage. This house also remains and has been renamed The Down House. Finally The Hall itself was also renamed, Fairlight Hall. Originally there was another, earlier local property named Fairlight Hall, now Barrington House, but located opposite Ore Community Centre.
On his return from Rome, having converted to Roman Catholicism, he opened a small chapel, firstly inside Fairlight Cottage but later in his garden on the edge of the road at Chick Hill (now a separate private residence). Additionally, they raised a large wooden cross in their garden to celebrate their new religion. After WW1, a stone memorial to some of the victims was placed at the foot of this cross. Following the de-consecration of this land, the cross and the stone were re-sited in the small Catholic burial ground next to St. Andrew’s churchyard.
William and Beatrice are buried there and two of their children are also to be found near them,(see photo – the tall memorial is for them and the two crosses are the children).
William and Beatrice left four children, Beatrice, Violet, William Noel and Vera. Noel, as he was known, subsequently inherited the full Lucas-Shadwell estate. (nb Violet married a Commander Francis Belt, and, using her married name Violet Belt, wrote the first known history of Fairlight in 1921)
To be continued……. Next, Part 5, the fourth and final William Lucas-Shadwell:-
William Noel Lucas-Shadwell.
By Paul Draper
William and Beatrice are buried there and two of their children are also to be found near them,
(see photo – the tall memorial is for them and the two crosses are the children)
William and Beatrice left four children, Beatrice, Violet, William Noel and Vera. Noel, as he was known, subsequently inherited the full Lucas-Shadwell estate. (nb Violet married a Commander Francis Belt, and, using her married name Violet Belt, wrote the first known history of Fairlight in 1921)
To be continued……. Next, Part 5, the fourth and final William Lucas-Shadwell:-
William Noel Lucas-Shadwell.
Paul Draper.