History of the Macdonald Leeming House

The Le Grix-White Family of Croxton, Staffordshire

The Reverend Francis Le Grix-White was born in London around 1820 and was educated at Worcester College, Oxford, where he gained a MA In 1849. In 1834 he married Cecilia Catherine Charlotte Sandford, second daughter of Sir D.K, Sandford DCL MP and although he was originally qualified as a barrister he relinquished this in 1849 when he was ordained. In 1851 he was domestic chaplain to the Marquis of Drogheda and then in 1857 to 69 the first Vicar of Croxton in Staffordshire. He then retired to Leeming House due to ill health and he lived there with his wife until his death in 1887. Occasionally he did help his brother clergy in the services of the church, although much of his time he spent writing and his most famous publication was 'Forgotten Seigneurs of the Alenconnais by one who has raked them out of the dust of ages'.

It is thought that Reverend Le Grix-White introduced the Latin inscription on the stairs in Leeming House:

'NISI DOMINUS AEDIFICAVERIT DOMUM IM VANUM LABORABVERUNT QUI AEDIFICANT EAM...'

'EXCEPT THE LORD SHALL HAVE BUILT THE HOUSE THEY WILL HAVE LABOURED IN VAIN THAT BUILT IT' from Psalm 127, Verse 1.

The Swiss Chalet was built while the Le Grix-Whites lived at Leeming. Apparently their butler was son of a Swiss builder, and the Chalet was built to his design and was an exact replica of a Swiss chalet. Today this unique stone-built chalet can be seen from the main road near the entrance to Leeming, and although its original view to the lake has now become restricted by maturing trees, its architectural style ensures that it is one of the better know manmade features of the Ullswater area.

Leeming Old Lodge and the Music Room were also built during the Le Grix-White's ownership. After Reverend Francis Le Grix-White's death in 1887 Cecilia, his wife, remained at Leeming until her death in 1898 when the estate was sold for £7,600 to William Elliot Siddle of the Crown Hotel, Penrith. The following year he sold it to Henry Hargreaves Bolton making £50 profit and thus began the long association that the Bolton family had with Leeming House.

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