Bentley Shaw, J.P.

Bentley Shaw is described as a BREWER on the marriage certificate of Frances Lancaster Shaw & William Henry Charles Shaw. In the 1851 census Bentley aged 35 is living with his wife and three sons in Woodfield House, Lockwood Yorkshire and his occupation is described as common brewer on a farm employing 45 men. His wife Jane is 33, born in Huddersfield and his sons are scholars at home. In the 1861 census, Bentley is 45 and he is described as Justice of the Peace for West Riding of Yorkshire, he employs 6 carpenters, he is Captain to the West Riding Volunteer Rifles, and he is a brewer & wine merchant employing 62 men. Five children are in the home, Robert Bentley (18) scholar; Ada Louisa (10) scholar; Constance Honora is scholar; Frederick Arthur (6) a scholar; and Gertrude Anne Shaw (5). There are 4 servants. In the 1871 census, Bentley is described as Justice of the Peace, West Yorkshire, a brewer & wine merchant & a land owner. His wife is at home with two children: Constance who is 17 and Herbert Lancaster who is 7; there are 7 servants. In the 1881 census, Jane E Shaw is head of the household, she is a widow of 63 years. John Lancaster Shaw(36) is in the house and he is a brewer and wine & spirits merchant. Frederick A Shaw (26) has no occupation. Gertrude A Shaw (25),her daughter is single. Gwendoline Carrington, granddaughter is also in the house. She is the daughter of Ada L Carrington(nee Shaw) (1850-1909)Jane E Shaw's sister-in-law Eliza Shaw is 59 & perhaps she is a widow?.
In the 1891 census Jane E Shaw(73) a widow is living with her son Edward Stanhope Shaw (44) & a Brewer; also her sister-in-law Eliza Shaw (69)
Woodfield House was probably built by William Shaw, son-in-law of the founder of Lockwood Brewery, Timothy Bentley, Master Brewer of Yorkshire who wrote that the house was built in about 1815. {newspaper reference}
Bentley & his wife Jane Lancaster Shaw lived there for many years. But in April 1864, the first sod of the Meltham Branch Line was cut in Meltham & the trains route passed close to his house, so Bentley Shaw objected, but to no avail. On the 1st of October 1866 the railway cutting above Woodfield House collapsed during construction, sending huge rocks & soil down upon the house & garden. On the 14th of August 1868 , Police Constable Ramsden saw smoke rising near Woodfield House & found that part of Dungeon Wood behind the house was ablaze. The Dungeon Mill workmen & a fire engine from Bentley's Brewery put out the fire. Bentley attended the Emmanuel Church in Lockwood & on one occasion the Bishop of Bathurst in Australia visited Huddersfield & stayed with Bentley Shaw at Woodfield House & preached at Emmanuel Church. In late February 1878, Bentley Shaw suffered an apoplectic fit & died aged 62 at his house on the morning of Wednesday 20th March at 11.30 a,m,, & was buried at Emmanuel Church on 23rd March 1878.
On 7th May 1894, Woodfield House & its contents was auctioned. By 1898 the Woodfield Estate had been purchased for 4750 Pounds & 23 acres were reserved for a new cemetery for the Lockwood area. The building was granted a Grade 2 listing in September 1978:" Early nineteenth century, Ashlar. Hipped slate roof. 2 storeys. Moulded eaves, cornice, continuous sill band to first floor. 5 ranges of sashes. Double doors with semi-circular fanlight, moulded in posts, in Tuscan porch with pediment"Source National Library of Scotland. Ordnance Survey Maps 1892}

Bentley Shaw, Esq. in England & Wales ,Index of Wills & Probates :1853-1943 His children are :John Lancaster Shaw (1845), Edward Stanhope Shaw (1847). Beneficiaries are Jane Elizabeth Shaw Widow. John Lancaster Shaw Son. Edward Stanhope Shaw Son. Personal Estate under 70,000 pounds.   The Will with two codicils of Bentley Shaw, late of  Woodfield House near Huddersfield in the County of York Esquire who died 20th March 1878 at Woodfield House was proved at Wakefield by Jane Elizabeth Shaw  of Woodfield House Widow the Relict, Edward Lancaster of Barnsley in the said County Esquire, Thomas Carrington of Field Head, Sheffield in the said County Esquire and John Lancaster Shaw and Edward Stanhope Shaw, both of Woodfield House Esquires,  the Sons the executors.