YORKE, SIMON (1903 - 1966) nobleman and soldier

The fifth descendant of that name from Simon Yorke (1606 - 1682), wholesale grocer of Dover, grandfather of Earl Hardwicke; born 24 June 1903, eldest son of Philip Yorke (1849 - 1922), Erddig, Denbighshire, and his second wife Louisa Matilda (née Scott). He was educated at Moorland House, Heswall; Cheltenham College; and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He graduated B.A. in forestry in 1927. In 1922 he inherited Erddig near Wrexham. He was High Sheriff for Denbighshire in 1937. Although he was a lieutenant in the Denbighshire Yeomanry, when World War II came he enlisted as a private soldier in the North Staffordshire Regiment. In accordance with his wishes he remained a sapper, without seeking or gaining promotion.

His relationship with his tenants was not a happy one. He refused them permission to have electricity nor a telephone on their farms. Although he was not a huntsman, he followed the hounds on his bicycle and he always knew where to find the fox. He was found dead of heart failure in Erddig Park, 7 May 1966, and was buried in Marchwiel churchyard. He was a bachelor and died intestate. Erddig was inherited by his brother Philip Scott Yorke (1905 - 1976).

Author

• John Gwilym Jones

Sources

• Merlin Waterson, The Servants' Hall a domestic history of Erddig (London 1980)(1980)
• Oliver Garnett, Erddig (London 1999)(1999)

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: Simon Yorke

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20734399

Published date: 2001

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/