Bland & Davison Bland family from Kippax Park

Introduction

Kippax Park, located in Yorkshire, stands as a testament to the rise, fall, and transformation of one of England’s notable landed families—the Blands and later the Davison Blands. For over three centuries, this estate served as the centre of their power, wealth, and influence, reflecting broader social, political, and economic changes in England from the Tudor period through the mid-twentieth century.

The Bland Baronets of Kippax Park (1595-1756)

The Establishment at Kippax

The Bland family’s connection to Kippax began in 1595 when Thomas Bland purchased the Manor for £315. This strategic acquisition marked the family’s transition from likely merchant or lesser gentry status to more prominent regional landowners. Thomas Bland solidified this new standing by constructing a substantial mansion circa 1612 on the site of a former royal hunting lodge, transforming it into a symbol of private wealth and influence.

Thomas Bland held a position on the Commission for Peace during Queen Elizabeth’s reign and was knighted early in King James I’s reign. He married Elizabeth Estoft, establishing the family’s social position and laying the groundwork for their subsequent elevation to the baronetcy.

Sir Thomas Bland, 1st Baronet (c. 1614–1657)

Sir Thomas Bland, son of the original purchaser, saw the family’s fortunes rise significantly during the turbulent period of the English Civil War. His unwavering loyalty to the Crown earned him recognition from King Charles I, who created him the 1st Baronet Bland of Kippax Park on August 30, 1642.

This honour came at considerable cost. Sir Thomas commanded Sir George Wentworth’s Division during the siege of Pontefract, a key Royalist stronghold, until its surrender in 1645. His brother, Adam Bland, served as a Major of Horse and notably lost an eye while defending Pontefract Castle. Both brothers faced severe repercussions from Parliamentarian forces, with Sir Thomas being fined £405 and having his estates sequestered.

The financial impact was devastating. In his petition for relief of debts, Sir Thomas claimed his estates had been plundered by Lambert’s Dragoons, with annual income plummeting from £250 to £135. Despite these hardships and having a wife and five small children to support, he was eventually granted a pardon, and his estates were restored in 1647 or 1648.

Sir Thomas Bland died around October 1657 and was buried at Kippax Park, leaving behind a family legacy of royal service despite the personal costs.

Sir Francis Bland, 2nd Baronet (1642–1663)

Inheriting as an infant following his father’s death, Sir Francis Bland became known as the “unhappy grandson” who died at the young age of twenty-one in 1663, shortly after the Restoration of Charles II. Despite his brief tenure, he made substantial but unfinished additions to Kippax Park, suggesting ambitions to enhance the family’s seat.

Sir Thomas Bland, 3rd Baronet (1662–1668)

The third baronet inherited as an infant but died in childhood in 1668, marking a tragic period of instability for the family with two successive early deaths.

Sir John Bland, 4th Baronet (1663–1715)

Sir John Bland, who succeeded his brother in 1668, played a crucial role in enhancing the family’s fortunes and establishing their political influence. His marriage on March 31, 1685, to Anne Mosley, daughter and heir of Sir Edward Mosley of Hulme Hall, Manchester, proved transformative. This union brought “vast estates in Manchester and Cheshire” into the Bland family’s possession, dramatically increasing their wealth and landholdings.

This strategic marriage exemplified a common tactic among the landed gentry: using marital alliances to consolidate and expand dynastic wealth. The influx of capital and land enabled the Blands to become recognized as “one of the wealthiest landowning families in the North of England” for over half a century.

Sir John expanded Kippax Park itself by acquiring additional lands in Allerton and Brigshaw and enclosing the entire property with a wall. He also pursued a political career, serving as a Member of Parliament for Appleby in March 1681 and for Pontefract from 1690-1695 and again from 1698-1713.

A staunch Anglican, Sir John demonstrated religious fervor through actions such as smashing the windows of a conventicle in November 1687. He supported the Prince of Orange during the Glorious Revolution, joining Lord Delamere’s plans for a north-western rising. Throughout his political career, he consistently sought offices, eventually serving as an Irish revenue commissioner from 1704 to 1706.

His generosity to Pontefract, including offering to fund a suit for the corporation and contributing money for rebuilding St. Giles’ chapel steeple, aided his re-elections. However, he suffered from periodic bouts of ill-health, particularly gout, which necessitated prolonged absences from Parliament.

Sir John Bland, 5th Baronet (1691–1743)

The fifth baronet continued the family’s parliamentary tradition, serving as an MP for Lancashire from 1713 to 1727. However, his political associations proved problematic; he gained a reputation as a Jacobite, leading to his arrest in November 1715 and removal from the Lancashire bench. He retired from Parliament in 1727 at age 35, shifting his focus to Lancashire, where his mother had inherited Hulme Hall and the extensive Manchester estates.

Sir John Bland, 6th Baronet (1722–1755): The Gambler Baronet

Sir John Bland, 6th Baronet, represents one of the most dramatic and cautionary tales in the family’s history. Born in 1722 and baptized on January 13 of that year, he was the first son of Sir John Bland, 5th Baronet, and Lady Frances Finch, daughter of Heneage, 1st Earl of Aylesford. Educated at Westminster School from 1735 to 1739 and then at St. John’s College, Oxford in 1740, he succeeded his father in April 1743.

From an early age, Sir John exhibited a passion for gambling that would ultimately lead to the family’s ruin. Horace Walpole described him as “good-natured and generous and well-bred,” but noted his devastating addiction: “never was such infatuation; I can call it by no term but flirting away his fortune.” This characterization captures the almost mesmerizing quality of his gambling compulsion.

Sir John’s political career was brief. He was returned for Ludgershall on the interest of George Selwyn and in Dupplin’s list of 1754 was classed as a follower of Henry Fox. However, his parliamentary service was quickly overshadowed by his personal excesses.

The full extent of Sir John’s gambling addiction became apparent through a series of catastrophic losses that would ultimately destroy the family’s accumulated wealth over generations. His father had reportedly considered disinheriting him due to his reckless behaviour, ultimately leaving him only the Kippax estates out of concern for preserving some portion of the family’s remaining wealth.

The culmination of his gambling addiction occurred in 1755 when he lost a staggering £32,000 in a single night—an astronomical sum equivalent to millions in today’s currency. This loss represented only a fraction of his total gambling debts, which had been accumulating for years through what contemporary observers described as his “wild dissipation and unconquerable disposition to play.”

To escape his mounting creditors, Sir John fled to France, where his destructive habit continued unchecked. In Paris, he incurred further substantial losses to Theobald Taaffe (an MP from 1747-54), an Irish adventurer of infamous reputation. Unable to pay immediately, Sir John gave post-dated bills which Taaffe at once presented. When these were dishonoured, Taaffe procured Sir John’s arrest under a “lettre de cachet”.

In a final act of desperation and humiliation, Charles Selwyn, an English banker in Paris, advanced Sir John £500 “to save him from the affront, and prevent him killing himself on the spot.” However, as Selwyn wrote to Henry Fox on September 6, 1755: “But his resentment was so great, as we had taken from him the power of procuring himself any satisfaction by engaging his honour that he would not see the person who had done him this injury till he had paid us this money, that he could not get over it.”

Unable to reconcile with his debts and the profound dishonour he felt, Sir John Bland committed suicide on September 3, 1755, at Clermont-en-Beauvoisis. By the time of his death, he had gambled away “every single house and field” of the family estates, including the valuable properties in Manchester. He died intestate and penniless, bringing an abrupt and ignominious end to generations of Bland prosperity.

The scale of Sir John’s losses was so complete that it represented not merely the dissipation of personal wealth but the effective destruction of a family dynasty that had taken nearly two centuries to build. His gambling addiction serves as a historical case study in how personal vice can overcome even the most substantial fortunes and prestigious social positions.

Sir Hungerford Bland, 7th Baronet (1726–1756)

Sir Hungerford Bland, brother of the 6th Baronet, inherited the baronetcy but faced the monumental task of dealing with the wreckage of his brother’s debts. He had pursued a military career, serving in the Foot Guards and Horse Guards Blue, but died unmarried and without children just one year later in 1756. His death marked the definitive extinction of the male line of the Bland Baronets.

The Davison Bland Era: Rebuilding and Transformation (1756-1955)

The Transition to Davison Bland

With the extinction of the Bland male line in 1756, the Kippax Park estates passed to Sir Hungerford Bland’s two unmarried sisters, Elizabeth and Anne. Upon Anne Bland’s death in 1786, the estates devolved to their cousin, Thomas Davison of Blakiston Manor, County Durham.

To acknowledge this significant inheritance and preserve the connection to the prestigious former baronetcy, Thomas Davison adopted the additional surname Bland, becoming Thomas Davison Bland. This marked the beginning of the Davison Bland family’s tenure at Kippax Park and represented a strategic effort to maintain continuity despite the break in the male line.

The Davison family itself had a notable history as significant landowners in County Durham, with their patriarch, Sir Alexander Davison, having been knighted by King Charles I in 1639. His son, Sir Thomas Davison, was also knighted in 1660 and served as High Sheriff of Durham and a Deputy Lieutenant. The Davison family relocated to Kippax Park from Blakiston Hall, selling the latter in 1806.

Thomas Davison Bland (d. 1794)

The first of this new line to inherit Kippax Park, Thomas Davison Bland commissioned an improvement plan for the park in 1787, demonstrating his commitment to restoring and enhancing the estate after the turmoil of the previous decades.

Thomas Davison Bland Junior (1783–1847)

Coming of age in 1804, Thomas Davison Bland junior proved to be a particularly astute manager who significantly expanded the family’s fortunes. He strategically acquired adjacent land, increasing the overall size of the parkland, and enhanced the estate’s grandeur by adding two entrance lodges that still stand today.

A cryptic archival note from around 1820 suggests his financial acumen, mentioning that “Bland has benefited from depressed state… Bland’s estate; economic.” This indicates that Thomas Davison Bland junior may have capitalized on an economic downturn, such as the Panic of 1825, to acquire land at advantageous prices, demonstrating shrewd financial management during challenging economic times.

Thomas Davison Bland III (d. 1885)

Inheriting in 1847, Thomas Davison Bland III continued the family’s tradition of careful stewardship. His tenure coincided with a period of significant industrial growth in Yorkshire, particularly in coal mining, which would prove increasingly important to the estate’s finances.

John Davison Bland (d. 1928)

Under John Davison Bland, who inherited in 1885, the estate reached its maximum extent by 1905. He oversaw further improvements to the property in the 1880s and held public roles as a Justice of Peace from 1878 and on the School Board for Kippax. However, he was described as a shy and retiring man who did not play an active part in public life.

His death on September 7, 1928, at age 76 without direct children marked another significant turning point for Kippax Park. His estate was valued at a substantial £638,896, with duties exceeding £200,000, reflecting the successful restoration of family fortunes under the Davison Bland name.

Financial Foundations and Royal Connections

The Bland and Davison Bland families maintained their wealth through several key sources:

1. **Landownership and Agricultural Rents**: As major landowners, they derived significant income from agricultural activities across their extensive estates in Yorkshire and, for a time, Manchester and Cheshire.

2. **Mineral Rights**: The coal seams beneath Kippax provided a consistent and substantial income, especially during the Industrial Revolution. Coal mining had been economically important in Kippax since the 14th century, and the Aire and Calder Navigation Act in 1669 further boosted coal transport, expanding markets and increasing extraction profits.

3. **Timber**: The managed woodlands on the estate provided another revenue stream.

4. **Political Offices**: Various family members held positions that brought both status and income, particularly Sir John Bland, 4th Baronet, who served as an Irish revenue commissioner.

The family’s royal connections began with Sir Thomas Bland, 1st Baronet, whose loyalty to Charles I during the Civil War resulted in his baronetcy. These royalist sympathies continued through subsequent generations, with Sir John Bland, 5th Baronet, developing Jacobite tendencies that led to his arrest in 1715.

The Davison Bland era saw less direct royal involvement but maintained the family’s position within the landed gentry, with John Davison Bland serving as a Justice of the Peace, effectively representing royal authority at a local level.

Parliamentary Service and Political Influence

The Bland family maintained a significant parliamentary presence for generations:

– Sir John Bland, 4th Baronet, served as MP for Appleby (1681) and Pontefract (1690-1695, 1698-1713)

– Sir John Bland, 5th Baronet, represented Lancashire (1713-1727)

– Sir John Bland, 6th Baronet, briefly served as MP for Ludgershall (1754-1755)

Their political influence extended beyond formal parliamentary roles. Sir John Bland, 4th Baronet, was particularly active in local politics, serving as an alderman and mayor of Pontefract. His generosity to the borough, including funding legal actions and contributing to public buildings, helped maintain his political influence.

The family’s political affiliations evolved over time. The 4th Baronet was a staunch Anglican and supporter of the Prince of Orange during the Glorious Revolution. The 5th Baronet developed Jacobite sympathies that ultimately damaged his political career. The 6th Baronet was associated with Henry Fox’s political faction before his gambling debts forced him to flee the country.

Under the Davison Blands, direct parliamentary involvement diminished, though John Davison Bland maintained local influence through his roles as a Justice of the Peace and School Board member.

Kippax Park Mansion: Architecture and Demise

The original Kippax Park mansion, built by Thomas Bland circa 1612, underwent substantial enlargement in the 1750s under Sir John Bland, 6th Baronet, with service buildings added. Further significant expansions and the addition of “two extant entrance lodges” were undertaken by Thomas Davison Bland junior in the early 19th century, and John Davison Bland continued improvements in the 1880s.

Despite persistent local lore, Kippax Park did not possess the longest facade in Yorkshire—a myth that suggested a bet between Sir John Bland, 6th Baronet, and the owner of Wentworth Woodhouse. The undisputed title belongs to Wentworth Woodhouse, whose East Front Palladian facade measures 618 feet.

The mansion’s direct family residence ended after John Davison Bland’s death in 1928, becoming deserted and derelict. During World War II, it served as a training ground for the local Home Guard.

Deep coal mining beneath the property led to significant subsidence, compromising its structural integrity.

The final blow came in the 1950s when the park was developed for opencast coal mining. The mansion was swiftly demolished in 1955 to make way for mining machinery, illustrating how economic priorities can override historical and architectural significance.

Community and Philanthropy

The Davison Bland family maintained significant connections with the nearby village of Allerton Bywater, acting as major landowners, employers, and patrons. Their most notable contribution was to St. Mary the Less Church in Allerton Bywater:

The foundation stone for the new church was laid on Monday, August 10, 1863, by Mr. T. M. Carter of Wakefield on behalf of Mr. Thomas Davison Bland of Kippax Park, who was unavoidably prevented from attending. Mrs. Bland and Miss Wyatt of Kippax Park were present at the ceremony.

The divine service was conducted by several reverends, including the Rev. E. D. Bland, M.A., vicar of Kippax, a family member. Mr. T. M Carter explicitly praised the “liberality” of Mr. T. D. Bland and Rev. E. D. Bland, stating that without the one giving the site and the other contributing largely, the church’s foundation stone could not have been laid that day. This confirms substantial financial and land contributions from the family.

The church, constructed of stone in the early English style, was erected for approximately £2,500, with £1,000 raised by public subscription. It was consecrated on August 10, 1865.

Other philanthropic activities included John Davison Bland’s service on the School Board for Kippax. “Bland’s Charity” (Charity number: 223016), established via a will dated 1708/1901, continues to this day, directing half its income towards a curate’s salary and the other half to be distributed among the poor of Kippax parish.

Enduring Legacy and Current State

After opencast mining ceased in the 1950s, the area of Kippax Park was returned to agriculture and partly developed by the Water Authority, with the former parkland largely reverting to “open fields.” Despite the mansion’s demolition, some physical remnants of the historical landscape endure, including perimeter woodland, portions of the original park wall, and the walls of the former kitchen garden.

The site of the former Kippax Park Mansion is confirmed as “Destroyed” and “Demolished,” yet the history of the estate lives on through local memory, historical records, and the continuing charitable work established by the family.

The history of Kippax Park and its owners illustrates how landscapes are continuously reshaped by human activity, reflecting changing economic priorities and leaving behind layered legacies of both destruction and adaptation. From the Bland family’s rise through royal service and strategic marriages to their dramatic fall through gambling excess, and the Davison Blands’ careful restoration of fortunes only to see the estate ultimately fall to industrial development, the story encompasses the full sweep of English landed society’s evolution over more than three centuries.