Buildings of Interest

Description

By John Millson of Manchester.  Erected at a cost of £460 by public subscription to the memory of Colonel Henry Blundell- Hollinshead-Blundell, MP for Ince.

In 1907, the obelisk was unveiled by Simon Brown, cotton spinner, and Chairman of the Ince Conservative Association

Condition

Very poor and badly neglected. Part of pedestal broken and removed, portrait medallion missing, two drinking fountains with bronze lion heads now broken.

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His Life

Born in 1831 and educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford.

In 1865 married Beatrice Byng, daughter of Vice Admiral Byng. On her death in 1884 Henry commissioned the building of Highfield St. Matthew’s Church in memory of Beatrice. The consecration of the whole church was carried out on 22nd July,1910 by the second Bishop of Liverpool, Dr. Chevasse.

The Blundell family had extensive coal mining interests in the Highfield area and surrounding districts.

On the local History & Heritage website, there is an excellent history of Highfield including the history of Highfield and Winstanley including the Blundell family, the coal mining community and the history of St.Matthew's Church.

Link

Hollinshead-Blundell had a distinguished military career, joining the Rifle Brigade as an Ensign in 1865. He saw service in the Crimean War and as a Colonel served with the 1884/5 Nile Expedition for the Relief of General Gordon at Khartoum.

He was also admitted to the Military Division of the Order of the Bath in 1887 and retired in 1889.

He served two spells as MP for Ince 1885-1892 and 1895-1906, he was defeated by Stephen Walsh who would gain notoriety for his campaign on behalf of the Pit Brow Lasses.

Henry Blundell-Hollinshead-Blundell died on 28th September 1906 and was buried in the churchyard of St. Cuthbert's at Halsall. (see an image taken by Rita Fell)

More photos of the grave by Rita - Link