Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    HN2/SPEN
  • Title
    Spensley Family Papers
  • Date free text
    c1851-1947
  • Production date
    From: 1883 To: 1947
  • Admin/biog history
    Howard Spensley was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1870, the son of Howard Spensley, a former Solicitor General of Victoria, Australia and Martha Tasmania Spensley. His siblings were Eirene, Ethel (later the wife of Wilfred Arnold Fairchild) and Tassie Mary (later the wife of Thomas Hamilton Skene). He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, and became a barrister, with chambers in the Inner Temple. Before coming to Westoning in 1905, when he bought Westoning Manor, he lived in London, travelling widely, particularly to Egypt and Australia, where he had business interests. He was an art collector, owning paintings, sculptures and furniture from around the world. Whilst living in Bedfordshire he held a number of public offices. He was appointed magistrate in 1906, and for many years he was vice-chairman of the Ampthill Bench. He served on district and county committees, and was a member of Ampthill Rural District Council and County Councillor for the Flitwick Division. In his own parish of Westoning he was a churchwarden, chairman of the Parish Council, and President of the Village Social Club. In 1924 he became Lord of the Manor of Westoning. His other main interest was in the Scout Movement, and in 1931 he received the Order of the Silver Wolf, the highest decoration in the movement, which was awarded by the Chief Scout, Lord Baden-Powell. He died on the 3rd March 1938.
  • Scope and Content
    The papers in HN2/SPEN concern Howard Spensley's estate and interests in Westoning, London and Australia. Westoning Manor, including the Manor House, cottages and farms in Westoning, Tingrith and Harlington, is the subject of title deeds, leases, sale particulars and correspondence, in addition to papers regarding Westoning school and school house. The remainder of the records relate to the administration of Howard Spensley's will, including probate records, inventories of his personal estate (including his artworks) at Westoning Manor and his property in Knightsbridge, London, and deeds to land in Australia, being the Royal Arcade, Melbourne, Victoria, dating from the 1850s.
  • Level of description
    series
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