Cholmeley's Drive
First of all, for those who don't know, Cholmeley's Drive runs from the A46 at Priory Lodge, across the cycle track where it dips between Selsley Road and Friggs Mill, and then continues as a private road to the Old Priory.
Henry Daniel Cholmeley was born in 1810, the third son of Sir Montague Cholmeley of Easton in Lincolnshire and his first wife Elizabeth Harrison. After his mother died, his father married Catherine Way daughter of Benjamin Way of Denham, Buckinghamshire.
Henry was educated at St John's College, Oxford and joined the 27th Regiment of Foot rising to the rank of captain on 14 June 1842. He married Georgina Millicent Way, daughter of Rev Lewis Way on 19 February 1852 at Betchworth in Surrey and bought the Old Priory around the same time. Lewis was a brother of Catherine who married Montague so Henry married his step mother's niece.
By 1861, life had changed considerably for the Cholmeleys. They were firmly established at the Old Priory - two daughters Catherine Maude (1854) and Olivia Millicent (1855) had been born there and baptised at St Mary's (the old church) and Georgina had sadly died, presumably in childbirth. Her sister, Drusilla was part of the household. In 1859, Henry had been made a captain in the 4th Company of the Gloucestershire Rifle Volunteers.
When money was being raised for a new church in Woodchester, Henry was one of the churchwardens. Miss Way, his sister in law, presumably Drusilla, gave £1000 to the fund.
Henry remarried in 1862 in Bloomsbury. His new bride was Penelope Goodford, his first cousin through her mother, Charlotte Cholmeley - she was to live in Woodchester for many years. This marriage was short lived as Henry died on 1 June 1865 aged 55.
The Woodchester History, in describing the new church, records 'The ornamental tiled reredos picturing "The Last Supper of our Lord with His Twelve Apostles" as also the large stained glass East window were erected in 1867 in memory of Henry Daniel Cholmeley and of his first wife and are the work of Preedy. As it was mainly through the endeavours of Captain Cholmeley and the liberality of his family that the Church was built, it is fitting that the principal coloured window should be in his memory.'
Penelope remained at the Old Priory, with one or both of her step daughters (either single or widowed) until her death in 1912 aged 93. She was probably buried in the family plot in the south west corner of the old churchyard. Henry, his two wives and two daughters are all remembered on the grave.
Catherine Maude who had married Edward Metcalfe in 1889 was widowed in 1891 and returned to the Old Priory where she lived until her death in 1933. Probate was granted to Drusilla Penelope Metcalfe, wife of Bruce Metcalfe. This Drusilla was the daughter of Olivia Millicent and her husband Rev Francis Collins Norton. Bruce Metcalfe was the son of George Joseph Metcalfe (brother of Edward) formerly of Rooksmoor House.
First of all, for those who don't know, Cholmeley's Drive runs from the A46 at Priory Lodge, across the cycle track where it dips between Selsley Road and Friggs Mill, and then continues as a private road to the Old Priory.
Henry Daniel Cholmeley was born in 1810, the third son of Sir Montague Cholmeley of Easton in Lincolnshire and his first wife Elizabeth Harrison. After his mother died, his father married Catherine Way daughter of Benjamin Way of Denham, Buckinghamshire.
Henry was educated at St John's College, Oxford and joined the 27th Regiment of Foot rising to the rank of captain on 14 June 1842. He married Georgina Millicent Way, daughter of Rev Lewis Way on 19 February 1852 at Betchworth in Surrey and bought the Old Priory around the same time. Lewis was a brother of Catherine who married Montague so Henry married his step mother's niece.
By 1861, life had changed considerably for the Cholmeleys. They were firmly established at the Old Priory - two daughters Catherine Maude (1854) and Olivia Millicent (1855) had been born there and baptised at St Mary's (the old church) and Georgina had sadly died, presumably in childbirth. Her sister, Drusilla was part of the household. In 1859, Henry had been made a captain in the 4th Company of the Gloucestershire Rifle Volunteers.
When money was being raised for a new church in Woodchester, Henry was one of the churchwardens. Miss Way, his sister in law, presumably Drusilla, gave £1000 to the fund.
Henry remarried in 1862 in Bloomsbury. His new bride was Penelope Goodford, his first cousin through her mother, Charlotte Cholmeley - she was to live in Woodchester for many years. This marriage was short lived as Henry died on 1 June 1865 aged 55.
The Woodchester History, in describing the new church, records 'The ornamental tiled reredos picturing "The Last Supper of our Lord with His Twelve Apostles" as also the large stained glass East window were erected in 1867 in memory of Henry Daniel Cholmeley and of his first wife and are the work of Preedy. As it was mainly through the endeavours of Captain Cholmeley and the liberality of his family that the Church was built, it is fitting that the principal coloured window should be in his memory.'
Penelope remained at the Old Priory, with one or both of her step daughters (either single or widowed) until her death in 1912 aged 93. She was probably buried in the family plot in the south west corner of the old churchyard. Henry, his two wives and two daughters are all remembered on the grave.
Catherine Maude who had married Edward Metcalfe in 1889 was widowed in 1891 and returned to the Old Priory where she lived until her death in 1933. Probate was granted to Drusilla Penelope Metcalfe, wife of Bruce Metcalfe. This Drusilla was the daughter of Olivia Millicent and her husband Rev Francis Collins Norton. Bruce Metcalfe was the son of George Joseph Metcalfe (brother of Edward) formerly of Rooksmoor House.