LAND AND WATER 
December 12, igi. 
DEATH OF MR. 
BIRKENHEAD GLEGG 
One of the oldest Cheshire Families 
WE regret to announce the death, which took 
place at Backford Hall on Wednesday, 
November 25, of Mr. Birkenhead Glegg, 
Lord of the Manors of Backford, Thurstaston 
and Irby. Mr. Glegg, who had been ill for 
about six months, belonged to one of the oldest famihes in 
Cheshire, being the eldest son of the late Lieutenant -Colonel 
Edward Holt Glegg, whom he succeeded to the Backford and 
other estates in Wirral. Mr. Glegg was 66 years of age and 
was a bachelor. He was educated at Eton, and afterwards 
held a commission in the 7th Royal Fusiliers. The estate 
devolved upon him in 1877, and since the tenantry have 
found him to be an extremely generous landlord. He was a 
gentleman of very kindly disposition, and was always ready 
to help the poor in the district of Backford or to assist any 
good cause. Among the interesting family heirlooms at 
Backford Hall is a toy silver tea service, consisting of a teapot, 
coffee pot, sugar basin, two caddies, saucepan, three spoons, 
and an urn, which were given as a christening present to the 
son of William Glegg, of Gayton Hall, Cheshire, by William HI. 
in 1694. The service bears an inscription which states that 
the service was " given as a christening present to tlie son of 
William Glegg, of Gayton Hall, Cheshire, who was made a 
Knight by William IIL on the occasion of his staying one 
night at Gayton Hall on his way from Parkgate to Ireland, 
A.D. 1694." 
The estates of the Manor of Backford were sold shortly 
after 1570 to Henry Birkenhead from a family named Parr. 
The Birkenheads continued in possession of Backford until 
the family became extinct in heirs male in 1724, upon the 
death of Thomas Birkenhead, who left two nieces co-heiresses. 
The elder, Frances, married John Glegg, of Irby, and the 
younger, Wilham Glegg, of The Grange. Upon the decease 
of the latter without surviving issue the entire property 
became united and passed eventually into the hands of the 
deceased gentleman, who was Lord of the Manors of Backford, 
Thurstaston, and Irby. The Manor of Thurstaston devolved 
upon deceased through Colonel John Baskervyle Glegg, to 
whom it passed on the death of Mrs. Lucy Browne, of 
Marchwicl Hall, in 1832, and who was military secretary to 
General Lord Aylmer, Governor General of Canada. The 
township of Irby was sold to Edward Glegg, the younger son 
of John Glegg, of Grange, from whom it descended to the 
father of the late Mr. Birkenhead Glegg. Since he succeeded 
his father to the property Mr. Glegg resided on the Backford 
estate. In Mortimer's " History of Cheshire " his family is 
mentioned as one of few exceptions who have continued to 
reside on their estates from very early times. Backford Hall 
first appears to have become the residence of the Birkenheads 
in 1605, in which year the entries of their baptisms com- 
menced there, and ceased at Waverton, the parish church of 
their other residence at Huxley. 
The old hall at Backford was taken down and its site 
occupied by the present handsome brick mansion of 
Elizabethan Gothic style, built by deceased's great-grand- 
father from designs of John Cunningham, a famous Liverpool 
architect, which were prepared in 1848. 
An ancestor of deceased was Sir Ralph Birkenhead, the 
first Recorder of Chester, whose name is commemorated in 
an inscription on a stone in the City Walls of Chester, near 
the Recorder's Steps. 
The deceased gentleman was trustee of the church 
charities of Backford, a Freeman of the City of Chester, a 
member of the Royal, the Cheshire, and the Wirral and 
Birkenhead Agricultural Societies. For many years he was a 
prominent member of the Cheshire Hunt, with which his 
family had been associated for generations, and he was known 
• as a hard rider to hounds, breeding also hunters for his own 
use. He also hunted with the Harriers. His family, which 
is one of the oldest in Cheshire, had lived at Backford in 
direct descent since the year 1605. A branch of the family 
is now resident in the Nantwich district. Mr. Glegg is 
succeeded in the estates by his only brother, Mr Edward 
Maxwell Glegg. 
The interment took place in the Backford church- 
yard. 
The British Commercial Gas Association hns encoiimgcd all its 
young men to join the Army, but their places will be kept" open for 
them. Special facilities are being given to hospitals in lif^liting ami 
heating, and the Company has maintained a staff at home strong 
enough to prevent all fear of a deficiency of gas. 
is a splendid gift ; 
it will be admired, 
put to practical use, 
and used every day 
for many years. 
Swan " Pens are made 
in London for the 
British, Colonial, and 
European Markets, 
aod in New York for 
U.S.A. 
Post now 
for the 
ARMY 
and 
NAVY. 
THE SCHULTZE COMPANY, LTD. 
SOLE IHAHERS OF 
ii 
99 
SCHULTZE 
LIGHTNING 
GUNPOWDER. 
THE Company desires to inform tine 
Sporting Public that the constitu- 
tion of the Company is entirely 
British. There are no alien Shareholders, 
and all the Directors and Employees are 
British. The Schultze Powders were the 
first smokeless sporting powders made, 
and have been manufactured since 1869 
at the Company's Works In Hampshire. 
Sportsmen may therefore continue to 
use the Schultze Co.'s Gunpowders with 
the knowledge that by so doing they 
are supporting a purely British Industry. 
Fop the SCHULTZE COMPANY, LIMITED 
O. G« WILL, Secretary. 
H4 
