The Bateson-Harvey Baronetcy

THE BATESON-HARVEY BARONETS OWNED 7,485 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ANTRIM, 1,394 ACRES IN SOMERSET, 2,013 IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, 195 IN DORSET, AND 1 ACRE IN BERKSHIRE

This family and that of BATESON, of Belvoir Park, Newtownbreda, County Down, derive from a common ancestor, namely,

ROBERT BATESON, of Lancashire, who died in 1663, leaving an only son,

ROBERT BATESON, father of THOMAS, from whom the Belvoir Park family, and of

RICHARD BATESON, of Londonderry, who wedded firstly, Sarah, daughter of _____ McClintock, and had a son,

Thomas, father of ROBERT, 2nd Baronet.

He espoused secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Harvey, of Londonderry, and sister and heir of David Harvey, of London, by whom, with several other children, he had,

ROBERT BATESON, of Killoquin, County Antrim, who assumed, in 1788, the additional arms and surname of HARVEY.

Mr Bateson-Harvey was created a baronet in 1789, designated of Killoquin, County Antrim.

Sir Robert died without male issue, in 1825, and was succeeded, according to the special remainder, by the son of his deceased half-brother,

SIR ROBERT BATESON, 2nd Baronet (c1793-1870), JP DL, of Killoquin, County Antrim, High Sheriff of County Donegal, 1822, who married, in 1819, Eliza, second daughter of Anthony Hammond, of Hutton Bonville, Yorkshire, though the marriage was without issue.

A baronetcy was created in 1868 for Robert Bateson Harvey MP, of Langley Park, Slough, Buckinghamshire, son of Robert Harvey and his wife Jane Jemima Collins daughter of J R Collins of Hatchcourt Somerset.

His father was an illegitimate son of Sir Robert Bateson-Harvey, 1st Baronet.

SIR ROBERT BATESON HARVEY, 1st Baronet (1825-87), of Langley Park, married firstly, in 1855, Diana Jane, daughter of the Ven. Stephen Creke, and had issue,

ROBERT GRENVILLE, his successor;

Charles Bateson (1859-1900);

Caroline; Diana Genevieve.

He wedded secondly, in 1874, Magdalene Breadalbane, daughter of Sir John Pringle Bt.

Sir Robert was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR ROBERT GRENVILLE HARVEY, 2nd Baronet (1856-1931), who espoused, in 1893, Emily Blanche, daughter of Montolieu Fox Oliphant Murray, 1st Viscount Elibank, and had issue,

Irene Alice Gertrude; 

Diana Blanche;

Caroline Magdalen.

Sir Robert died without male issue, when the title expired.

The Bateson-Harveys were seated were Killoquin, County Antrim, and Langley Park, Buckinghamshire.

LANGLEY PARK

In 1788, the 4th Duke of Marlborough sold Langley Park, Buckinghamshire, to Robert Bateson-Harvey.

In 1866, the Temple was replaced with a now-demolished tower built in his memory.

Towards the end of the 19th Century and early 20th Century, considerable garden projects were undertaken at Langley which focused on three areas; the gardens around the Mansion House, the Pinetum (Arboretum) and the rhododendron collection at Temple Gardens. This included 160 tonnes of peat being brought to the gardens from Scotland by a specially chartered train.

At the outbreak of the 1st World War, the cavalry unit, 2nd King Edward’s Horse, was given permission to use Langley Park for training, and later the mansion was used as a hospital and recuperation unit for their officers injured in battle.

In 1935, the Pageant of England was held in Langley Park to celebrate King George V’s silver jubilee, with Lady Harvey playing ELIZABETH I.

In 1938, legislation was passed which enabled County Councils to purchase land to help control the outward sprawl of London.

Buckinghamshire County Council proposed to purchase Langley Park, but the 2nd World War intervened.

During the War the Mansion was the headquarters of the Southern Home Guard and in 1944 Polish units preparing for D-Day used the park as a training ground.

After peace was declared in 1945, Buckinghamshire County Council finally purchased the estate.

By 1959, the Harvey Memorial Tower was deemed to be unsafe and was demolished upon the order of the County Architect, Mr Fred Pooley.

Regrettably I have no information relating to the Killoquin estate, except that it was in the vicinity of Rasharkin, County Antrim.

I'd be grateful if any readers have any further information.

First published in December, 2010.