Bertram Charles Percival Heywood

• Born                      10 November 1864 (Dove Leys) Denstone Staffordshire
• Died                       28 October 1914 at Claremont Pendleton
• Burial                     All Saints Churchyard, Denstone Staffordshire

Bertram Charles Percival Heywood was the second surviving son of Sir Percival Heywood Bart and his wife Margaret.  He was grandson of the Manchester banker and first Baronet, Sir Benjamin Heywood of Claremont. On succeeding to the title Percival had given up banking and joined the landed gentry. Dove Leys, near Denstone, Staffordshire which had once served as one of Sir Benjamin’s summer homes was much altered and extended to become Sir Percival’s family seat. Bertram Heywood was born at Dove Leys on 10 August 1864 and followed the typical private education of the upper class - the Reverend S. Cornish’s school at Clevedon, Winchester College (1878-1881), and Trinity College Cambridge (1882-1885).

His main interest lay with the Volunteer Forces, a part-time citizen army. He began his service with the Second Volunteer Battalion, Manchester Regiment (later the Sixth Manchesters), when Sir Robert Bridgford was the commander. Upon the authorities inviting Volunteer companies to join their fellows in the South African War, Captain Heywood, as he was then, was one of the first to raise a detachment for active service in that war. Soon after his return from South Africa, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel and Commander of the Sixth Battalion. Subsequently he was appointed a brigade commander and succeeded Brigadier General C P Ridley in the Manchester (Territorial) Infantry Brigade. Upon Earl Wilton retiring from the position of Honorary Colonel of the Sixth Manchester Battalion, Colonel Heywood was appointed to fill the vacancy. On the outbreak of the First War he was appointed to the command of the newly-formed 19th Battalion Manchester Regiment.

Among his other interests was that of amateur architect. His commissions all had Heywood associations including a house designed for his own occupation on the Claremont estate at Pendleton; a Library and Public Hall, King Street, Irlams o’ th’ Height, the site on the Claremont Estate being donated by his father, who also contributed £2,000 towards the cost; and the Cricket Pavilion at Denstone School, Staffordshire.

Bertram Heywood died of pneumonia on October 28th, 1914 at the residence of the Misses Heywood, Chaseley (confusingly re-named Claremont), Pendleton and was buried at All Saints Church Denstone Staffordshire. He married in 1889 Florence Maud, daughter of E. David Meynell Esq., of Kirk Langley, Derbyshire.

Address
1890    Uttoxeter (Doveleys?)
1895    Moss Meadow Cholmondley Road Irlams o’th’Height
1903?    Moss Meadow Cholmondley Road Irlams o,th’Height
1901-1914 Wootton Lodge, Ashbourne

Obituary: Manchester City News 31 October 1914 Page 8
Obituary: Manchester Guardian