Francis Osmaston, of Lenton Hall

https://houseandheritage.org/2016/03/11/lenton-hall/

Francis Wright was born on 21 December 1806.2

He was the son of John Wright.3 He married Selina FitzHerbert, daughter of Sir Henry FitzHerbert, 3rd Bt. and Agnes Beresford, on 12 August 1830.1

He died on 21 February 1873 at age 66.1

He held the office of High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire in 1842.2

He was principal owner of the Butterley Works.2

He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for Derbyshire.2

He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for Staffordshire.2

He lived at Osmaston Manor, Derbyshire, England.4

He lived at Lenton House, Nottinghamshire, England.3 He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.) of Derbyshire.1

He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for Nottinghamshire.1

Children of Francis Wright and Selina FitzHerbert

1.Mary Wright+4 d. 1920

2.Selina Wright+4 d. 1900

3.Francis Beresford Wright3 d. 16 Dec 1911

4.Elizabeth Wright+5 d. 2 Apr 1909

5.Agnes Wright2 d. 1857

6.Frances Wright+2 d. 16 Feb 1914

7.Judith Wright2 d. May 1903

8.John Osmaston+3 b. 21 Jun 1831, d. 1 Nov 1901

9.Reverend Henry Wright+3 b. c 1833, d. 13 Aug 1880

10.FitzHerbert Wright+3 b. 1841, d. 1910

11.Marcus Beresford Wright2 b. 12 May 1845, d. 27 Jul 1847

12.Philip Wright+2 b. 24 Sep 1846, d. 27 Apr 1915

Citations The Peerage 1.[S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, page 1440. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition. 2.[S40] L. G. Pine, editor, Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry, 17th edition, (London, England: Burke's Peerage Ltd, 1952), page 1938. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Landed Gentry, 17th ed. 3.[S3232] Justin Kirby, "re: Ramsay Family," e-mail message to Darryl Roger Lundy, 9 August 2008. Hereinafter cited as "re: Ramsay Family." 4.[S18] Matthew H.C.G., editor, Dictionary of National Biography on CD-ROM (Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 1995). Hereinafter cited as Dictionary of National Biography. 5.[S37] Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.

https://houseandheritage.org/tag/osmaston-manor/

Francis Wright (1806-1873) Osmaston Manor was built for Francis Wright (1806-1873) who inherited the estate from his mother’s family (she was a daughter of Francis Marcus Beresford of Compton House, Ashbourne and Osmaston). The Osmaston estate had originally belonged to the Meynell family of Bradley.

The Wright family were Nottingham bankers but made their fortune from iron and coal production. Francis Wright was the head of the Butterley Iron and Coal Company from 1830 until 1873. When he became senior partner the company was valued at £30,000 and to underline its success its assets amounted to £436,000 by 1858¹ He was also connected to Codnor Park and several other large collieries in Derbyshire.

According to the Sheffield Independent he might have been termed a Christian in the broadest sense of the term. He was a supporter of the Church Missionary Society, the Church Colonial Aid Society and the British and Foreign Bible Society for Promoting Christianity amongst the Jews. In his time he would build a new church, new schools and properties at Osmaston and become a benefactor of the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary². His biggest achievement was his involvement in the foundation of the Trent College, a public boarding school for boys in Long Eaton.

Wright had married his cousin Selina (1806-1888), the daughter of Sir Henry FitzHerbert of Tissington Hall, in 1830. They made their home at Lenton Hall in Nottinghamshire but saw the land at Osmaston as their future.

Francis Wright 1 (A Tale of Downward Social Mobility) Early portrait of Francis Wright (1806-1873) Looking to build a new home worthy of his position Wright appointed Henry Isaac Stevens (1806-1873) of Derby to oversee the work. The architect was a brave choice as Stevens’ previous work had mainly been church designs but it would become his greatest commission. The house was built by Messrs. Ford and Co of Derby and was completed in 1849 in Victorian Tudor style with more than a passing resemblance to Tissington Hall.

Osmaston Manor had 70 rooms, a bake-house, wash-house as well as a brew-house. It had a subterranean railway, hot-air central heating and a central tunnel carried smoke from the house to a communal garden chimney, 150 feet high in Italianate style¹. The house was 330 feet long and a height of 192 feet. The terraces covered 4 acres of ground.

It was set within 3,500 acres of parkland with lakes and trees. Sir Joseph Paxton is believed to have advised on the layout of the park.

Francis Wright would live at Osmaston Manor until his death from bronchitis, aged 66, in 1873. He left 5 sons and 5 daughters – the oldest of which was John Wright of Eldensley House² who inherited his father’s estates. Another son, Francis Beresford Wright, lived at Aldercar Hall.

While Osmaston Manor enjoyed the trappings of success under Francis Wright the same could not be said under the guardianship of John Wright.