Sir George Bowes, Kt.

Gibside Chapel was built as a mausoleum for George Bowes in 1760's. George Bowes was a coal magnate who moved to Gibside from Streatlam in 1727. A number of important buildings on the estate, which is a few miles west of Newcastle. The hall built in 1603 onwards was enlarged in the mid eighteenth century and is now roofless. The stable block was designed by Daniel Garrett in 1746, a banqueting house also by Garrett dated 1751 is now owned by the Landmark Trust, Column of British Liberty designed by James Paine, completed in 1757 and also an Orangery, probably also by Paine.

amily and Education b. 21 Aug. 1701, 3rd s. of Sir William Bowes, M.P., of Streatlam Castle by Elizabeth, da. and h. of Sir Francis Blakiston, 3rd Bt., of Gibside, co. Dur. educ. G. Inn 1719. m. (1) Oct. 1729, Eleanor (d.14 Dec.1742), da. and h. of Hon. Thomas Verney (s. of George, 12th Lord Willoughby de Broke), s.p.; (2) 13 June 1743, Mary, da. and h. of Edward Gilbert of Paulswalden, Herts., 1da. who m. (1) John Lyon, 7th Earl of Strathmore [S], and (2) Andrew Robinson Stoney, afterwards Bowes. suc. bro. 1722.

Offices Held Mayor, Durham 1739.

Biography Bowes was one of the largest coal owners in Durham, and with the Wortleys and Liddells founded the ‘Grand Alliance’, a cartel which dominated the north country coal trade throughout the century.1

In Parliament the interests of the coal trade, vital to county Durham, were with him a dominant concern. Returned unopposed in 1754, he was classed by Dupplin as an Opposition Whig. During the debates on the Oxfordshire election petitions he spoke on the Tory side;2 and at least one other speech of his in this Parliament is reported: 3 Mar. 1756, on the plate bill.3

He died 17 Sept. 1760, leaving a fortune estimated at £600,000.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790 Author: John Brooke Notes 1. E. Hughes, N. Country Life in 18th Cent. 235-6. 2. R. J. Robson, Oxfordshire Election of 1754, p. 139. 3. Newdigate ms. B2549.