The Battersly Family and the Marquessate of Ribble

Prosperitas per diligentiam

“Prosperity through diligence”

Peerage: Marquess of Ribble (currently the 3rd Marquess of Ribble)

Established: 1836

Subsidiary Titles: Earl of Marnemouth, Viscount Thrushstone, Baron Ribble

Seat of Power: Thrushstone Park

Location: Marnemouth, Lancashire

First Marquess of Ribble(b. 1787-1868)

Alexander Battersly was born in Calcutta while his father was a member of the East India company. As a young man he followed his father in work with the company, eventually becoming Chief Clerk.

He remained in India, eventually making his fortune in the illicit trade of opium to China and profiting on the tea bought as a result of the trade.

In 1834, at the age of 47, Alexander Battersby returned home to England with his young family. There he invested his substantial fortunes in a London property, and business investment schemes netting him significant profits.

Owing to his long and distinguished Indian service, Alexander was created the first Marquess of Ribble in 1836 at the age of 49 and bought Thrushstone Park in Lancashire. With the creation of the Marquessate, Battersby largely faded into the political wilderness as he set about creating a stately home and garden to fit his new rank. The Marquess also invested heavily in the local area, looking to build up the inheritance for his eldest son.He saw it as a practical measure to ensure the success of the family into the next generation.

It was also during his time the family bought an additional property near the estate for his brother to occupy as Alexander could not stand his dissolute life. Alexander died at the age of 81 in 1868.

Second Marquess of Ribble(b. 1825-1884)

Cecil was the first Marquess’s only child, and was sickly from the time of his birth. It was feared he would not survive to adulthood.

Cecil was much like his father, a serious man. He was fond of books and history and during his lifetime he amassed quite the library, substantially increasing the estate’s collection.

As he grew older it was recommended that he spend as much time in warm climates as was feasible. Following a stint at university, Cecil fell in love with Egyptology and spent most of his twenties wandering around Egypt. During his travels around Egypt William became an expert on the area, and was often consulted by the Government of the day, particularly as their interest in Egypt deepened as the nineteenth century wore on.

It was in this capacity that Cecil Battersly was sent to Sudan in the 1880s to provide specialist information. Unfortunately for the nobleman this saw him get caught up in the siege of Khartoum in which he died in 1884. Luckily, his family was home at Thrushstone Park and so the family line continued.

Third Marquess of Ribble(b. 1857)

Archibald has always been a strong fellow who loves athletics. The first heir to have been born at Thrushstone Park after his mother was dispatched there by his father, he spent many years away from him. This was of course relatively normal for children of the aristocracy.

Returning home to Thrushstone during his school holidays, Archibald was heavily influenced by his grandfather Alexander and grew up to be conscientious, if a little more relaxed than his grandfather.

He was the first of the Battersly’s to have no connection to the family’s overseas holdings. He wanted to be able to devote his full time to managing the estate, and pursue ventures closer to home. Archibald worked himself hard for years, learning the ins and outs of a new budding industry in the north of England. Namely, the manufacturing sector.