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Sorry- I need to correct the post above as JH Hankins wasn't born at Hagley- he lived there with his parents and siblings. It is however, highly likely that his baby sister was born there.

Absolutely ages ago someone was enquiring about Hagley Hall, Herefordshire. Any info would be welcome and I would like to give info too. It's listed somewhere as Lugwardine, actually it's in Bartestree, Hereford, an adjacent village running along the A438

Hi and Thank You for taking interest in this. I have spoken to The Council and the Planning department about Hagley Hall. I had a vague and totally unrealistic notion about buying it back! Anyway, It has been sold now but was up for sale at the time. From memory of what they told me it seems as with the modernisation of many old properties, sadly much of what was now isn't with old out buildings having been demolished and with the land divided for new building. Cheers Glamis.

Hi ValerieB1959, Thank You. You've clarified the Greenhouse matter for me although I still get very confused by these Hankinns because there were so very many of them. I am interested to hear of TFP Hankins being a mariner because Ian Hankins who was son of Elizabeth and Ford Hankins ( Ford being a younger son of J H Hankins. Mum says he was also a solicitor in the firm) was also a Ship's Captain. Ian sailed tankers all around the world ending up in Vancouver, Canada. I met him here about 15 years ago when he came to see my Mum; his cousin. Mum says Uncle Ford dealt a mean parenting method to Ian and because of that Ian left home around 14 or 15 years old to go to sea.Ian described himself as ' illegitimate' because he'd been born the other side of the matrimonial bed although his parents obviously married after his birth.His sisters were Gwynedd and June Hankins. J H Hankins' wife; Agnes favoured these two and paid for them to go to private school- Carn Tot school in Palmerston North where they lived. Whilst June and Gwynedd were friends with my Mum and they came to play with her when Mum lived with her Aunt May (another child from J H Hankins and Agnes ) Mum was never invited to their home although she knew the street and the house they lived in. Anyway, I am in England near to Portsmouth and my Mum lives just 1 mile from me and will soon be 94. Dalek39 is in Melbourne, Australia. I know Dalek39 has many papers and she also has contact with a wonderful chap in Hereford who is a very keen amateur but very proficient researcher and has been actively searching our Hankins lot for a few years.

Hi ValerieB1959, Well all of this supports a Hankins family theme of all of these things; Bankruptcy being a major feature. All things farming, wheeling and dealing and Horse racing was also a significant one given that one brother was killed in one major New Zealand race. Again, I'll need to search that one out and his name but it is also in Paperspast somewhere. I think he may have been William but don't quote me on that as it may be wrong. J H Hankins was at one time a Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge at Kilwinning and he held a lot of esteem in that. His wife who was very grand indeed was likely to be one reason he didn't involve himself in 'other' family connections which is sad. He was the oldest child of the 10 and as such in my opinion should have had a purpose as the family figurehead position.My Mother recalls an Uncle Hankins ( the name escapes me for now) who was a butcher and whilst she never met him she knew her older Sister Ruth did which is why My Mum became aware of his existence. He for one was never included in J H Hankins' family matters which my Mother attributes to his station at the time. J H Hankins and his Wife Agnes were rubbing noses with those who were and those who would if they could be. My Mother describes her Granny Hankins as an austere lady , very Victorian towards the children in that they dare not speak unless they were spoken to and no children were allowed home to play other than those who were vetted and deemed acceptable etc etc. That was a rare occurrence anyway. ( My Mother lived with her Granny and Grand Father for a few years in her young life) J H Hankins would have been apart from all of this busy building his law firm and his connections.He had at some point returned to Scotland to Kilwinning to do his law degree but this is something I still need to find the evidence for as it is anecdotal evidence that my Mother has given me.The other problem is that the Hankins family as with many Victorians had the most annoying habit of using the same names over and over again.Sifting through the Williams and the Edwards etc has made it very confusing all along. Hannah Maria who arrived in New Zealand with William Hankins and their 10 children died young leaving William with the brood. J H Hankins was 17 at this time. William had left Hereford in England as a Licensee and prior to that had been from farming stock. He arrived in New Zealand giving his profession as a Veterinary Surgeon. It isn't a surprise to me that he didn't do well from the event of the death of his wife and that the children scattered in different directions after that. It was a very harsh life back then and one of survival of the fittest in the truest sense as Darwin describes.