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unusual facts about Sir Francis Blake, 2nd Baronet, of Twizell Castle


Duddo Tower

The estate was sold in 1788 by John Clavering of Callaly Castle to Sir Francis Blake and sold on by the Blakes (for £45000) in 1823 to Thomas Fryer.


Bibby Line

In 2002 Sir Derek Bibby, 2nd baronet, and great-great-grandson of the founder and past chairman and president of the firm, was aged 80 and terminally ill with leukemia.

Sir Francis Blake, 1st Baronet, of Tillmouth Park

The son of Francis Blake (1832–1861), the heir of Sir Francis Blake of Twizell Castle, on the death of his father he inherited substantial estates in Northumberland including Tillmouth House, Twizell Castle and Seghill.

Sir Francis Blake, 1st Baronet, of Twizell Castle

In his will Blake left £60 for the creation of a monument to his son in the West Cloister of Westminster Abbey.

Sir Francis Blake, 2nd Baronet, of Twizell Castle

He inherited substantial Northumberland estates including Twizell Castle, Tillmouth House, Seghill and Fowberry Tower, the latter being sold in 1807.

Blake married Elizabeth née Douglas of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire in 1772, and was succeeded by their eldest son Francis

Twizell Castle

From about 1770, Sir Francis Blake (d. 1780) worked on the recreation of the castle as a Gothic Revival mansion, designed by architect James Nesbit of Kelso to be five levels tall.

In 1685 Sir Francis Blake (d. 1718) purchased the estate from the widow Selby for £1,944, plus an annuity of £100, and the Blake family lived on the estate until 1738 when they moved to nearby Tillmouth Hall.


see also