John Nicholas Knottesford FORTESCUE of Alveston Manor [14704]

  General Notes:

John Nicholas Fortescue
Record Type: Baptism
Baptism Date: 13 Dec 1874
Baptism Place: Primrose Hill, Camden, England
Father:
Edward Francis Kunttesford Fortescue
Mother:
Alicia Margaretta Fortescue
Register Type: Parish Register

Admission to the UK Institute of Mechanical Engineers
John Nicholas Knottesford-Fortescue
Age: 26
Birth Date: 26 Nov 1874
Event Date: 6 Oct 1900
Institute: Mechanical
Country/Region: United Kingdom

Rev John N Knottesford-Fortescue
The Vicarage Cauldon Ashbourne
Region: Staffordshire
Year: 1916 Publication Title: 1916
Kelly's Directory of Staffordshire

1939 Register
The Vicarage , Alcester R.D., Warwickshire, England
John NKnottcoford-Fortescue 26 Nov 1874 Married Clerk In Holy Orders

REV JOHN NICHOLAS KNOTTESFORD-FORTESCUE by Researcher & Historian Stanley Lapidge 2016
When Queen Elizabeth was born, our Vicar was the Revd. John Nicholas Knottesford-Fortescue. No Vicar could have had closer connections with the history of St Andrew's. His great-grandfather was Francis Fortescue Knottesford, of Alveston Manor, Rector of Billesley, whose family money paid for our church to be built; his grandfather was Edward Bowles Knottesford Fortescue, our first priest; and his father was Major Edward Francis Knottesford Fortescue, a devoted supporter of the church, who is buried in our churchyard (as his obituary puts it, his grave was placed " just outside the chancel, with the head as close as possible to the altar, in order to associate him with that Sacrificial Service of the Church around which all his religious thoughts clustered.") The Patron who appointed Revd. Knottesford-Fortescue must have been confident that the new Vicar would uphold Wilmcote's distinguished Anglo-Catholic traditions. Any such confidence was wholly misplaced.
Writing in the Village Vine some years ago, Mr Plater commented as follows:
"The Church, as we all know, was built by the Oxford Movement, giving it a leaning towards the higher side of Anglicanism but the Vicar, the Rev. Knottesford Fortescue, had decided leanings in the opposite direction, so we had very low church services in a building that was designed in the opposite direction. Nobody bothered very much until the Ansell family came to live at Upper Billesley . . . . "
And Ted Mander (who was a young choirboy when Revd. Knottesford-Fortescue was Vicar) says something very similar: "The Vicar was a quiet man and the church ceremonies were low church Anglican. I remember, as a young boy, the evensong sermons were rather uninspiring and . . . paper folding was a popular pastime by some of us." Ted adds, "It seemed to me that the Vicar was obviously devoted to his ministry but seemed more interested in photography and motoring - he had a Lanchester car which was state-of-the-art at that time."
The Vicar's Low Church tendencies were brought to an abrupt halt by the Ansells. They were very willing to spend money on the church, but they wanted things done "their way". Mr Plater continues the story:
". . . . fortunately they took a great interest in the Church. It was a case of "Eureka!" - all the Church's financial worries were over . . . . "But." A great transformation took place inside. It was redecorated from end to end including the stencilling in the chancel, interspersed with a lavish amount of real gold leaf, complete new hangings and curtains for the altar. The chancel was richly carpeted, also the aisle. The Vicar was fitted out with all new vestments, even the harmonium that poor Harry Kendrick had battled with for years, was pushed in to a dark corner and a brand new pipe organ filled the gallery over the west door . . . ." We have no record of how Revd Knottesford-Fortescue felt about his ornate new robes!
Mr Plater also recalls the grand dedication service, for the new restored chancel and the new pipe organ:
"Electricity had come to the village about this time and was switched on for the grand dedication service by the Bishop of Coventry. Pipe organ there might have been, but alas there was no automatic pump to supply air - a manual pump had to be relied upon and that meant someone had to be found to fill the post and Bill Cooper, late of railway fame, became chief organ pumper. It may be permissible for the congregation to fall asleep during the sermon but not the organ blower. But Bill was only human and any responses directly after the sermon were unaccompanied, as was the first verse of the last hymn because it took a little while for the bellows to get fully charged with air and reach concert pitch.
"By the time the day for the dedication arrived, we choirboys and the men had been fitted out with brand new gear, cassocks and surplices, and for the boys wide white stiff collars and black bow ties, also black slippers so as not to soil the carpet in the chancel. For weeks before the great day the choir had rehearsed an anthem to perfection and on the great day it was perfect. I don't think anyone would have noticed had there been a mistake, as everyone's mind was on the great feast to which all had been invited in the school afterwards. From then onwards, on the first Sunday in the month, a full sung Eucharist was held followed by a sausage and mash breakfast served in the Church Institute - on these Sundays the Church was filled to capacity. Was it for the Eucharist or Sausage and Mash?"
Mr Plater also had much to say about social events at the Church:
"The present school, before the many extensions, was used for concerts but mainly for functions to do with church fund raising. It was here that the S.A.W.C.I. (St Andrew's Wilmcote Church Institute) concert party performed. It was, and still is, known as The Porch and was owned and lived in by Sister Mary, a Church Sister of the Anglican Order. Sister Mary had a companion, Miss Stock, and when these two ladies died, The Porch was bequeathed to the Church and used for meetings connected with the Church. The S.A.W.C.I.S were trained by Mrs Gladys Knottesford-Fortescue, an extremely autocratic lady who exerted her authority over everyone including her unfortunate husband, the Vicar. In consequence, very professional performances took place; no one dare put a foot wrong. The star of the show was Jack Ansell who was always called upon to sing 'A Bachelor Gay am I' from 'The Maid of the Mountains', and he made a very good job of it. Everyone clapped, shouted, stamped and whistled and as the Ansell family had recently taken up residence at Upper Billesley and spent a fortune on refurbishing the Church, it seemed a wise thing to do.
At about this time, a Women's Institute, and a Men's Club, were formed in the village: and, as Mr Plater writes, this gave rise to grave dissension:
"Unfortunately the inauguration of the Women's Institute and the building of the Men's Club Hall (for that is what the new building was to be called) was considered a direct threat to the Church Institute and the Mother's Union, so the village became divided between those who favoured the former and those who were in favour of the latter, and I am afraid a great deal of bitterness existed. I know of three ladies of the village who were thrown out of the Mothers' Union because they were over zealous in raising funds for the Men's Club Hall."
Ted Mander adds some further information about his days in the choir: "The choir was always full with both boys and men. One of the men was Mr George Needham, headmaster of the school, so discipline in church was strict. From time to time we had a choirmaster from Stratford. He owned a café on the corner of Meer Street and Henley Street, called the 'Tudor Rose', and was very popular as he brought left over cakes to choir practice; real treats in wartime." Ted has also confessed that, whenever they thought it was safe (and the headmaster wasn't looking!) he and the other boys did "origami" during the uninspiring sermons!
Ted also writes that Mrs Knottesford-Fortescue "was a rather domineering lady who organised everybody especially the Mothers Union members. They had an ancient maid called Alice . . . Also employed in the garden was one armed ex-soldier Artie Bannister who was given a hard time by Mrs Fortescue." Barbara Barnett adds that, as Mrs Knottesford-Fortescue had no children herself, she had no tolerance for other people's children; and she notes that it must have been difficult for Mrs Knottesford-Fortescue to be in charge of the Mothers Union.
Revd. Knottesford-Fortescue was born on the 26^th November, 1874, and died on the 3^rd May, 1950, aged 75. He became Priest in Charge of St Andrew's in 1921, and Vicar in 1924. He was married to Gladys Annie, who passed away on the 9^th August, 1946, aged 59, at Lincoln Lodge, Tiddington Road, Stratford upon Avon (the Knottesford-Fortescues had retired to Lincoln Lodge after leaving Wilmcote). There is no record of their ever having had children.
The following obituary notice for Revd. Knottesford-Fortescue appeared in the Church's newsletter for June, 1950:
JOHN NICHOLAS KNOTTESFORD-FORTESCUE
"On Wednesday afternoon, May 3^rd, 1950, the Rev. Father John Nicholas Knottesford-Fortescue passed to his rest in the hospital at Stratford-on-Avon.
"He was a sick man when he resigned the vicariate of Wilmcote, but after his resignation his health improved considerably and he enjoyed driving his car and was happy in his new home, though his wife's death left him very lonely.
"Fr. Fortescue graduated at King's College, London, in 1897 and eight years later went to Lichfield Theological College to prepare for the Ministry: he was made Deacon in 1908 and was ordained Priest in Lichfield Cathedral in 1910.
"Between 1908 and 1913 he served two Curacies, and held his first incumbency at Cauldron, near Stoke-on-Trent in the Lichfield diocese, till 1916 when he moved to Studley where he remained until 1921 when he became Priest-in-Charge of Wilmcote, and in 1924 was appointed Vicar: he resigned at the end of 1945 having ministered to the people of Wilmcote for 24 years.
"Before entering the Sacred Ministry he spent some years in engineering and was an Associate Member of the Institution of Mining Engineers.
"Fr. Fortescue's great interest was photography, and he produced many beautiful pictures during his travels both at home and abroad: a great deal of his work, much of it in colour, was produced in the pages of the National Geographical Magazine, copies of which he recently presented to the Stratford-on-Avon Public Library.
"People in the Parish of Wilmcote still speak gratefully of the kindness they received from Fr. Fortescue, and particularly of his visits in time of sickness.
"It would have been appropriate, and greatly appreciated by his many friends in Wilmcote, if the burial service had been held in the Church, built by his Grandfather, in which he ministered for nearly a quarter of a century: the interment could then have followed in the Churchyard at Studley.
"However, the arrangements were that the burial service should be held in Studley Church, and this took place on Saturday afternoon, May 6^th, and afterwards his body was laid to rest by the side of his wife.
"Canon Kempe, Vicar of Studley, conducted the service: Father Young read the lesson, and Father Goode, Vicar of Aston Cantlow, performed the interment. Mr. Higginson carried the Cross.
"Three cars brought mourners from the village of Wilmcote and a lovely cross of lilies and tulips was laid at the grave by Mr. Cox on behalf of the Church Parochial Council.
"A Mass of Requiem was said for John Nicholas Knottesford-Fortescue on Monday morning.
"We offer our sympathy to his two sisters. May he rest in peace."
A notice in the Lichfield Mercury for the 25^th August, 1950 (page 3) confirmed that Revd. Knottesford-Fortescue's estate was valued at £17,179 10s 10d gross, and £16,939 2s 3d net for probate purposes.

JOHN NICHOLAS KNOTTESFORD-FORTESCUE
He died on the 3^rd May, 1950, in Stratford Hospital, and Probate was granted on the 8^th July, 1950; his estate was £17,179 10s. 10d.
In 1913, he appears on the Electoral Register for Sutton Courtenay, near Abingdon.
He was baptised on the 13^th December, 1874, at St Saviours, Hampstead, Primrose Hill, Camden, north London. He was born on the 26^th November, 1874.
A clergy directory for 1909 states that he was K.C.L (Kings College London), and that he was made a deacon at Lichfield, in 1908; he then became a curate at Checkley with Hollington, Stoke on Trent, from 1908.
He got married to Gladys Annie Vale in Alcester District, in the final quarter of 1921.
In the 1916 clergy directory, he is living at the Vicarage, Cauldron, Ashbourne, Derbyshire.
According to the censuses, in 1881 he is 6, and living at Alveston Manor; in 1891 he is living in an indecipherable road, in Bedford, and he is 16.
In 1901 he is boarding at a house in Cardiff; his full surname is given, and he is described as a mechanical engineer (A.M.I.M.E.). And one of the Family Trees shows the relevant page from the Institute of Mechanical Engineering directory: this confirms that he was born on the 26^th November, 1874. He went to Bedford Grammar School from 1889 to 1993. He then coached (or was coached?) for a year, and then attended Kings College London from 1897 - 1900 (a three years' engineering course). He was apprenticed, from January 1894 - January 1897, to the Taff Vale Railway. After he finished at KCL, he began working at a firm in Cardiff, as a draughtsman; and he was then admitted to the Institute in November, 1900.
Ancestry

John N Knottesford-Fortescue
Birth Date: abt 1875
Date of Registration: Jun 1950
Age at Death: 75
Registration district: Stratford-upon-Avon Warwickshire
Volume: 9c Page: 854

KNOTTESFORD Fortescue the Rev John Nicholas of Lincoln Lodge Tiddington Road Stratford-upon-Avon clerk died 3 May 1950 at The General Hospital Stratford-upon-Avon. Probate Oxford 8 July 1950 to James Matthews Eldridge and William George Thomas solicitors.
Effects L17179 10s 10d
National Probate Calendar.

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 3 Apr 1881, Mana House Alveston WAR. John is recorded as a son aged 6 born Hampstead MDX

2. John N K Fortescue: Letter to Edward H T Liveing re family, 26 Oct 1925-1 Dec 1925, Bournemouth & Stratford on Avon.
Liveing Archive 268a-b 269a.

Berkley Hall Hotel
Bournemouth.
October 26, 1925.

Dear Mr Liveing
I must apologise for not answering your letter before, which arrived on the eve of our departure for the above. We are here for my wife's health, and remain till about 7 November \endash but ? Return this week for a few days only.
When we are both at home again, we should be pleased if you would spend a day with us \endash and we can then go into the matters you refer to \endash I can also show you The Copy of the Fortescue book, and also pictures including that of Dixon Downing our G.G.G. Grandfather.
If I can help you in any way \endash I will.
Yours very sincerely
J N Knottesford Fortescue.

Stratford on Avon
December 1, 1925
My dear cousin Edward
I must thank you very much for the ring (Memorial) of my Great Great Grandmother \endash I am very delighted to have it and shall value the same.
We were very pleased to make your acquaintance and shall hope to see you again and your wife next spring.
The last two days we have been in Birmingham buying choir Boys Prizes and toys for our own School Children's Xmas Tree. As our funds are very small it makes it difficult to provide for some 90 kids. I enclose 2 photographs of the Manor House which I think you may like to have.
With our united kind regards
Yours very sincerely
J N Knottesford Fortescue.

3. John Nicholas K Fortescue: Pictures from St Andrews Wilmcote Archive.
John Nicholas with his choir, a portrait thought to be of him at St Andrews.

John married Gladys Annie VALE [24206] [MRIN: 8712], daughter of William Charles VALE [24207] and Annie E [24208], 4 Qtr 1921 in Alcester WAR. (Gladys Annie VALE [24206] was born on 7 Aug 1887 in Studley WAR and died on 9 Aug 1946 in Stratford upon Avon WAR.)