Sparrows+of+Worlingham

The manor of Worlingham was purchased by Robert Sparrow, the elder, on June 23rd, 1755. He arrived as a wealthy property owner from Kettleburgh where the family had resided as landowners since the 17th century. On his death in 1764, Robert was succeeded by his son who married Mary, eldest daughter of Sir John Bernard, Bart, of Brampton Park Northamptonshire. The couple left an only surviving daughter, Mary. Through Mary the Worlingham estate passed to her husband Archibold Acheson, Earl of Gosford. She hald a life interest in Worlingham, the remainder to her son.

The Sparrows were connected with Lowestoft through a commercial interest in 'smoke houses' on the north beach and their 'summer property', called Cliff Cottage, sited just below the cliff at the northern edge of the town. It was probably built at the turn of the 18th century. By the end of the 18th century the building, considerably modified and enlarged, became known locally as 'Sparrows Nest'.

Yeoman on Worlingham

The Sparrow library

Earls and Sparrows

Sparrows and lifeboats

Sparrows Nest

The Sparrow's of Worlingham originated in the Suffolk village of Kettleburgh. A current description of 'Sparrow Cottage', a holiday home in Kettleburgh, hints at a long-standing association of the Sparrow family with this community. Originally an old 13th century hall house, the thatched cottage is hidden down a country lane just a few minutes walk from the village of Kettleburgh. The property is, named after the Sparrows who owned it in the 17th century and retains many medieval features, including a gallery in the second bedroom, stone floors, old beams and inglenook fireplaces. The story of the Sparrows of Worlingham begins with the marriage of Robert I Sparrow of Kettleburgh to Ann Foster daughter of Edward Foster of Marlesford. Their son Robert, born 1705, married Anne Bence, daughter of Robert Bence of Henstead in 1740. Three children to this marriage were born in Woodbridge: - Robert II 1741 - Bence 1747 - John 1749 The family subsequently bought the mansion and manor of Worlingham. After the death of his father, the Worlingham property passed to Robert II on his marriage to Mary Bernard, daughter of Sir John Barnard of London in 1771. A draft settlement on this marriage shows that his mother, Ann and her sister made legal arrangements for half of the property to be at the disposal of Mary Bernard if she survived her husband. The following summary of this settlement indicates the great wealth of the Sparrows of Worlingham SR HD1538/48/1 Draft marriage settlement, Robert Sparrow of Worlingham, esq. with Mary Bernard of Bentinck Street in St Marylebone (Mx), spinster (property: moiety of : manor of Redisham, 4 farms (no details) in Brampton, farm (no details) in Westhall, farm (no details) in Redisham, rectory and tithes of Redisham, farm (no details) in Sotterley, and farm called Wade Hall in North Cove; rectory of Wenhaston, chapel and chapel yard of Mellis hamlet in Westleton with glebe land, farm (no details) in Kettleburgh, mansion house called Worlingham Hall, 2 farms, 5 cottages and lands (no details) all in Worlingham) 18 Jun 1771 Robert II and Mary had a son Robert Bernard Sparrow born in 1773. Mary died in 1793. Robert II married again to Mary, daughter of Rev Brockhaus of Hardwick in 1797. In this same year Robert Bernard Sparrow married Olivia eldest daughter of Arthur Acheson, 1st Earl of Gosford in the Irish Peerage. Olivia and Robert Bernard had a son Robert Acheson Bernard St John (died 1799) and a daughter, Mary. Mary Sparrow married Archibold Acheson (2nd. Earl of Gosford). Through Mary as heiress, the Sparrow's Worlingham estate passed to the Earl. In recognition of this, Archibold was created Baron Worlingham of Beccles in 1835. According to the Tithe Apportionment for Lowestoft, Cliff Cottage was the only remainder of the Sparrow property in Lowestoft still in possession of the Earl in 1841. Robert I Sparrow of Kettleburgh m. Ann Foster (d. of Edward Foster Marlesford) Robert and Ann Sparrow - Robert II 1705 Robert Sparrow II m. Anne Bence (d. of Robert Bence of Henstead ) 1740 Woodbridge Baptisms Robert and Anne Sparrow - Robert III 1741 - Bence 1747 - John 1749 Robert Sparrow m. Mary Barnard 1771 (. D. of Sir John Barnard, Bart.) (died 1793) Marriage Settlement Worlingham Hall Robert and Mary Sparrow - Robert Bernard 1773 Robert Sparrow m. Mary Brockhaus 1797 (d. of Rev. Brockhaus of Hardwick) Robert Bernard Sparrow m. Olivia 1797 (eldest d. of Arthur 1st. Earl of Gosford) Robert and Olivia Sparrow - Robert Acheson Bernard St. John 1799 (died 1799) - Mary Mary Sparrow m. Archibold Acheson (2nd. Earl of Gosford ) - created Baron Worlingham of Beccles in 1835 Earl of Gosford still owned Sparrow's Nest in 1841 Worlingham Manor sold in 1885 The Rev. George Turner, B.A., rector of Kettleburgh and Monewden, died Nov. 9, 1839, in his 73rd year. Mr. Turner was a native of Pulham, in Norfolk, and received the early part of his education at the Free Grammar School at Bury St. Edmund's, under the tuition of the Rev. Mr. Laurentz; after which he was admitted of Jesus College, Cambridge, and in 1788, proceeded to the degree of A.B. In 1790, he married, and soon after took upon Mm the du-ties of this parish; settling himself in the parsonage house here, which he never quitted afterwards. In 1803, he was instituted to the rectory of Monewden, 011 the presentation of the late Chaloner Arcedeckne, Esq.; and in 1807, to that of Kettleburgh, patron the late Robert Sparrow, Esq., of Worlingham Hall, in this county. He was of Emmanuel College, Cambridge; LL.B. 1771. He had been instituted [Lib. xxxi. 95] 5 Nov. 1774, as Bence Sparrow, to the Rectory of Beccles, on the resignation of Peter Routh, the father of the Rev. Martin Joseph Routh, D.D., the celebrated President, of Magdalen College, Oxford, on the presentation of Ann Sparrow of Beccles, widow, and Mary Bence of Henstead, spinster ; and 1 April, 1786 [Lib. xxxi. 197], to the Rectory of Kettleburgh, himself being Patron for this turn. He resigned both these Rectories, 1806, and on 23 Oct. 1806, he was instituted {having assumed the name of Bence in 1804) to the Rectories of Thorington and Kelsale-cum-Oarlton, on his own presentation; on the next day, 24 Oct. 1806, he was reinstituted to Beccles, and 20 April, 1814    [Lib. xxxii. 184], he was licensed to the Perpetual Curacy of Redisham Magna, on the presentation of Robert Sparrow of Worlingham Hall, Esq. He resigned Kelsale-cum- Carlton 1810, and Thorington, 1821. Buried at Beccles, 17 Sept. 1824. M.I.     Lib. xxxiii. 18. 27 Sep. 1821. Lancelot Robert Browne, A.B. Rev. Bence