CH15. Brass plate with a decorated frame
In loving remembrance of / EMILY ELIZABETH MICKLETHWAIT / Born February 5th 1826, Died April 30th 1891 / She was the eldest daughter of / Sir CHARLES and Lady MILLS of Hillingdon Court / beside which she rests in this Churchyard.
This plaque is to the memory of Emily Elizabeth Micklethwait 1826-1891. Emily was baptised at St George’s Church Hanover Square when her parents Charles and Emily Mills were living at New Norfolk Street, London. Just before Emily was born, her father Charles, a partner in the city bank Glyn Mills & Co. purchased a house on the east side of Vine Lane, Hillingdon and then later purchased an adjacent property. He had them both knocked down and employed architect Phillip Charles Hardwick to design a brand new mansion, which was completed in 1855. He named it Hillingdon Court and we know it today as the American Community School. Whilst the new mansion was being built, the Mills family including Emily lived at Camelford House, which was on the corner of Oxford Street, near where Marble Arch tube station is now.
On 29th May 1849, Emily married Rev John Micklethwait at St George’s Church, Hanover Square. The couple moved into Coltishall Hall in Norfolk, an estate that John inherited. John then inherited the Taverham estate in Norfolk, and he employed the Scottish architect David Brandon to design a new house for himself and Emily. Whilst the house was being built they moved back to Hillingdon where they lived for a while with Emily’s family and 33 servants!!! By 1871 John and Emily were living at Taverham Hall with 16 staff. 20 labourers were employed on the estate, so that will give you some idea of it’s size. As far as I can tell, John and Emily did not have any children.
John sadly died in 1877 and he is buried at St Edmund’s Church, Taverham. Emily moved down to London where she lived at 44 Upper Brook Street. Taverham Hall is now a boarding school and apparently John’s initials appear in many places around the property.
Emily died in 1891 and is buried in the churchyard with her parents, sister and niece.
Christine Bartlett