From Barbados to Morrisons—The history of Thimbleby and its owners

The agricultural landscape of the Vale of Mowbray stretches across to the Dales , a view made visible through the recent felling of what was called ‘The Big Wood’ on the Thimbleby Estate. This shooting estate, its boundaries marked by imposing notices, guards its rights with a vigilance matched only by its size.

There, off-centre, is the quiet village of Thimbleby – Osmotherley’s little sibling. Yet, for me, shadows of the past have tainted this idyll. But more of that later.

It’s within the Domesday Book that Thimbleby’s name first gets a fleeting mention, being a ‘soke’ of the manor of Northallerton, and under the king’s control¹.

But by the 17th century, Thimbleby was under the lordship of the Wandesford family, who were destined to become the Earls of Wandesford over in Ireland. In 1689, Sir Christopher Wandesford was attainted by King James II’s Parliament, leading to his estates being confiscated. Yet, the wheel of fortune took its turn after the Glorious Revolution. He was reinstated within the Privy Council, an honour ratified by both King William and Queen Anne in the year 1702. By then, however, the manor of Thimbleby had slipped from Wandesford’s grasp, having been sold to Richard Pierse from Hutton Bonville.

Fast forward to the year 1838 when the Georgian elegance of Thimbleby Hall passed into the ownership of Robert Haynes – a name that will soon ignite intrigue.

The Haynes family boasted roots deeply entrenched in England’s history. Yet due to their strong loyalty to the monarchy in the English Civil War, during the Commonwealth they were forced them to seek refuge in Barbados. There, their wealth, like the sugarcane fields they tended, flourished through ownership of those notorious ‘plantations,’ a term so benignly deceptive for their dark and insidious reality.

Robert Haynes was born in 1795, likely in Barbados, but definitely resident there in the 1830s². In the year 1837, his name was written in the records of the Slave Compensation Act, a testament to his ownership of those enslaved peoples labouring across his Barbadian lands³⁴. It is reasonable to surmise that these ill-gotten gains paid towards his acquisition of the Thimbleby Estate the very next year.

Thimbleby Hall is just out of shot to the right, but would be hidden by the wooded hillside. Its presence, though, remains dominating. The Haynes family lived there for most of the 19th century. It would be interesting to know what ripples of influence their wealth may have had upon the local economy. The ‘Haynes Arms,’ a former well-known hostelry on the A19, hints of at least some impact.

Then, in the year 2005, a new chapter unfolded as ownership of the hall and 3,000 acre shooting estate passed to Andrew and Andrea Shelley. Andrea is a scion of the Morrison supermarket empire⁵.

1
Grainge, William. ‘The Vale of Mowbray: A Historical and Topographical Account of Thirsk and Its Neighbourhood’. 1859. Page 341. Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. Internet Archive <https://archive.org/details/valeofmowbrayhis00grai/> [accessed 20 December 2022]
2
‘Obituary of Eminent Persons’ (1873) Illustrated London News, 01 Mar, 211, available: https://link-gale-com.ezproxy.is.ed.ac.uk/apps/doc/HN3100088883/GDCS?u=ed_itw&sid=bookmark-GDCS&xid=4275799d [accessed 09 Oct 2021].
3
“THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE ECONOMY AND ENGLAND’S BUILT ENVIRONMENT: A RESEARCH AUDIT”. Research Report Series 247 -2020. Dr Mary Wills with Dr Madge Dresser. Commissioned by Historic England. Historic England ISSN 2059-4453 (Online)
4
‘Summary of Individual | Legacies of British Slavery’. 2023. Ucl.ac.uk <https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/6635> [accessed 11 August 2023]
5
Wikipedia Contributors. 2023. ‘Thimbleby, North Yorkshire’, Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation) <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thimbleby,_North_Yorkshire> [accessed 11 August 2023]

Posted

11th August 2023

North York Moors, Thimbleby

Fhithich

Tags:

Legacy of British Slavery

Comments

9 responses to “From Barbados to Morrisons—The history of Thimbleby and its owners”

Jane

13th October 2023

Fascinating, history of Thimbleby estate. Now as part of the estate there is a very good clay pigeon shooting facility. They can also hosts simulated shoots for the skilled. So environmentally friendly! Theres a very good cafe, providing snacks to full meals, offering good value. A team of professionals, headed up by James, who are very friendly, welcoming and highly professional. You can call in for a coffee, shop in the shop or have shooting instruction, shoot clays with friends, or work with the team to have a corporate event etc. Great atmosphere, offers good value. It’s fantastic that the estate owners Andrea and Andrew Shelley have put into place such a cohesive professional team and this part of the estate offers such a good facilities.

Reply
1. Michael
  
  19th October 2023
  
  You must not be local… nobody in the village, and nobody who works for them or the estate has any praise for Mr and Mrs Shelley, they are vehemently disliked by all, and their reputation as horrendous and deeply unkind people is widely known throughout North Yorkshire, which is why you never see them at charity events or any event with large crowds of people like most of the ”Yorkshire Set” of wealthy people, they can’t show their face and nobody wishes to associate with them.
  
  Reply
  1. Fhithich
    
    19th October 2023
    
    I pondered “approving” this comment, apprehensive of its subjectivity and dearth of impartiality. The former comment could be said to be advertising, but given its locality, I opted to overlook that. My aim is not for the platform to transform into a space for acrimonious exchanges. I trust this sentiment finds favour.
    
    Reply
David Spencer

15th January 2024

Whilst investigating my Family Tree, I found my 3rd Great Grandfather William Dean died in ‘Osmotherly’ in 1842 which was rather strange as he was born in Cheshire and had previously been working on Liverpool Docks. Further research revealed he was documented as ‘Butler’ to Robert Haynes at Thimbleby Hall from c 1838. The assumption is Haynes must have returned from Barbados via Liverpool and Mr Dean must have endeared himself and he and his family taken into service when he purchased the Hall. Sadly, within a couple of years Mr Dean died of Tubercolosis, probably contracted in Liverpool and the family returned to Liverpool and were taken care of by cousin.

Reply
1. Fhithich
  
  15th January 2024
  
  That is so interesting. Thanks for adding.
  
  Reply
jayne knight

30th January 2024

You missed the lengthy period where the Hall was owned by the mega prosperous (till end of their stay in the 1980s) coal mine owners Barwick family. Bought the estate off the Haynes, bought a title off Lloyd Goerge government and ruled with great pomposity and harshness – except for the lovely Valerie, Lady Barwick https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hard-Bargains-Looking-Wrong-Places/dp/1911559753

Reply
1. Fhithich
  
  30th January 2024
  
  Thank you. Most interesting. I’ll certainly be using that sometime.
  
  Reply
Victoria Wallis

15th August 2024

Thank you Jayne Knight for bringing up The Barwick Family who owned Thimbleby Hall Estate for three generations. My Great Grandfather, my Grandfather and my father:-
Sir Richard Llewelyn Barwick 3rd Bt.
I self published my late mother’s book
“Hard Bargains” by Valerie Barwick (the First Lady Barwick) and it was launched at the Osmotherley Show on 3rd August 2019.
The Barwick Family’s ownership of Thimbleby Hall Estate should not have been dismissed or overlooked.
Victoria Barwick

Reply
1. Fhithich
  
  15th August 2024
  
  Thank you for your comment. I sincerely hope that my omission of referencing your family’s ownership of Thimbleby Hall Estate has not caused any offense. Please understand that these posts are not meant to be exhaustive, and my research time is limited due to self-imposed deadlines for publishing my daily activities. I want to assure you that I have included your family’s connection in a post dated 3rd August 2024. I hope this meets with your approval. Thank you for your understanding.
  
  Reply