Home People Residents Kilnhurst Family Quest – £24,000,000  Bentham Estate

Kilnhurst Family Quest – £24,000,000  Bentham Estate

April 1949

South Yorkshire Times, April 23, 1949

Kilnhurst Family Quest

£24,000,000  Bentham Estate

Search for Links with Old Lancashire Trust

Yesterday I stood over a newly washed grey stone in a forgotten corner of Kilnhurst churchyard. Tangled grass and weeds cover most of the grave, but the epitaph on the clean, grey marble stands out clearly. This grey stone is one of the links in the story of the Bentham millions, and the last chapter may be completed within the next few weeks. Whether the story will have a happy ending for local people concerned remains to be seen

Started Enquiries

The local families—living at Kilnhurst and Goldthorpe—are joining in a search which may lead to a £24.000,000 fortune. At Barnburgh colliery yesterday I talked to Mr. Fred Bentham, of 2 Hope Avenue. Goldthorpe, who told me that after reading a report in a daily paper a month ago referring to relations in Wingate, Co. Durham, who claim they are heirs to the fortune, which in land near Wigan (Lancs.), left in trust in 1770 by one Sir Rogerre Bradshaw he had himself started investigations in this area.

The report states that though he had no children, Sir Roger is thought to have made provision for succeeding generations to benefit through his nephew, John Bradshaw from whom the Benthams claim to be directly descended. They say that marriage and birth certificates found at Somerset House and elsewhere bear out their claims. However, the will of the last known trustee, Sir Robert Holt Leigh, gives no indication of the rightful heirs.

Mr Fred Bentham has traced his lineage back to Mr Thomas Bentham, who died in June, 1883, and was buried with his wife and two children in Kilnhurst churchyard— over whom the recently cleaned gravestone now stands.

One of Mr Thomas Bentham’s grandsons, 60 years-old Mr Frank Bentham, resides at 19, Highthorn, Kilnhurst. He is the second son of the late Mr Thomas Bentham, who was one of seven children and who died 14 years ago’ at Wigan (Lancs)

It was from Wigan that the Benthams originated. Mr Fred Bentham has established that there are 25 families, all related, living in Yorkshire, He states that an aunt, Mrs Amy Liptrot, now living in Southport, is thought to be the only living child of Mr Thomas Bentham’s seven children. In a letter to Mrs Fred Bentham, she says that she is unable to throw any light on the problem. Mrs Bentham in tends calling on Mrs Liptrot in a few weeks’ time while on holiday at Blackpool.

Mrs Bentham said yesterday that the search of the Durham family had led them recently to Barnsley, where they hoped to complete their Investigations. The case was “almost watertight,” and it was unlikely that proceedings would have to be taken to court.

Neither Mr Bentham nor his wife is depending too literally on the dream being realised. “We have a long way to go yet before anything is proved “, he said, “but our claim is equally as strong as our Durham relations. We do not feel like risking a lot of money for solicitors’ help in the matter. We have written to someone In London, who undertakes investigations in such matters.”