Gumbleton residences: Twyning Manor

George William Maxwell was a son of Hugh Maxwell of Dalswinton (1721-1765) and Jane, second daughter of Sir William Douglas of Kelhead. George William married Ann, heiress of Peter Handcock of Twyning Manor, Gloucestershire, and of Norton, Worcestershire and thus acquired Twyning Manor. On 15 Jun 1779, whilst in the act of loading his gun to shoot small birds, as food for his children's hawk, the gun went off, and the charge having lodged in his face, he was killed on the spot.

The eldest son, William George Maxwell of Twyning, was a clergyman in the Church of England at Bridgenorth in Shropshire. He was killed at Twyning in November 1838, by an acci- dent somewhat similar to that which carried off his father, — the bursting of his gun when out shooting. He died unmarried, and was succeeded in Twyning by his sister Helen.

Helen Frances Maxwell, a daughter of George William, succeeded to Twyning on the death of her brother, William George. She died unmarried, 14th July 1858, and was succeeded in Twyning by her niece, Mrs. Stocker

Another sister, Jane Mary Maxwell, married Walter B. Stocker, Post-Captain R.N., without issue. Mrs. Stocker succeeded her aunt, Helen, in Twyning Manor. The present Twyning Manor House was built between 1859-62 by Medland & Maberly for the Stockers.

Another sister, Jane Charlotte Maxwell, married Henry Fowke, solicitor, and Deputy Recorder of Tewkesbury. Their daughter, Anne Rachael Fowke, married Richard Gumbleton of Glanatore, county of Cork, Ireland. Their only surviving son, Richard John Maxwell Gumbleton, married Isabella Matilda, only daughter of the Honourable Judge Des Barres, and has issue. Richard John Maxwell Gumbleton inherited the estate of Twyning from his aunt, Mrs. Stocker.

By his will of 1882, Richard John Maxwell Gumbleton left Twyning Manor to the use of his wife Isabella Matilda Gumbleton during her life, and then entailed to the descendents of his late niece, Emma Jane Smith, late the wife of Edward Thomas Smith District Judge of Jamaica).

Maxwell Homfray Smith, born 17 Jun 1872, was the first child of the marriage of the Emma Jane Smith and Edward Thomas Smith and he inherited Twyning. He went through a legal process to convert the entailment into a simple ownership of the property. In 1916 he adopted the name and arms of Maxwell-Gumbleton, by Royal Licence—as required by the will of Richard John Maxwell Gumbleton.

The building was later converted into apartments.

People mentioned

• Isabella Matilda DES BARRES
• Ann Rachel FOWKE
• Richard GUMBLETON
• Richard John Maxwell GUMBLETON
• Emma Jane HOMFRAY
• Hon. Edward Thomas SMITH