One could not consider a site about Turvey complete unless there was mention of this family.
Firstly, it should be explained that there were three Mr Higgins living in Turvey in the mid nineteenth century - Charles Longuet Higgins, the owner of Turvey Abbey and Lord of the Manor, Thomas Charles Higgins, who owned both Turvey House and Turvey Cottage and Lt-Col William Bartholomew Higgins who lived at Pict's Hill. All three were Justices of the Peace. There are more detailed biographies below. Captain G F Higgins occupied Chantry House in the early 1900's.
Turvey Abbey has always been called such but had no religious connections until 1980. Then it became a Benedictine abbey with both monks and nuns, and still is today. I am working on a more in-depth page on this lovely building and one on Turvey House also.
Turvey House was built in 1794 by John Higgins. His eldest son, Thomas Charles added the top storey. The Italian style mansion had the following rooms - 4 reception rooms, 21 bed and dressing rooms, 2 large bathrooms and a billard room amongst other.
In 1939 it passed to the Hanbury family by marriage. Lt Colonel Hanbury was the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Bedfordshire. Turvey House can be seen as you enter the village over the bridge.
Charles Longuet Higgins of Turvey Abbey 1806-1885
This is the gentleman to whom Turvey owes so much of its beauty and wealth. He was the eldest son of John Higgins, the artist, and his wife Teresa. He was baptised in Turvey Church on 2 December 1806.
Thomas Charles Higgins of Turvey House 1798 -
Known as TC Higgins, he was a relative of Charles Longuet Higgins. His parents were John & Martha Higgins and he was baptised 26 January 1798 in Turvey. TC was chairman of the quater sessions from 1848 - 1865. He added the upper storey of Turvey House. In 1857 he established the Reformatory at Turvey.
Lt Col William Bartholomew Higgins of Picts Hill 1799 -
Known as WB Higgins. Son of John & Martha Higgins and baptised 14 January 1799, at Turvey. He was the younger brother of Thomas Charles of Turvey House (see above). He erected the arch over Nells Well in 1875.
The Higgins Family of Turvey
In about 1786 Charles Higgins of London Wall (a rich grocer) and his distant relative, John Higgins of Weston Underwood, together with a gentleman called William Fuller, a banker from Lombard Street, purchased the village from Charles Henry, 5th Earl of Monmouth.
Charles owned the Abbey estate and died unmarried in 1792. He was succeeded by his nephew who was called John Higgins, (the artist, see below) who became Lord of the Manor and lived at Turvey Abbey. His son was Charles Longuet Higgins (see below).
It was Charles Longuet Higgins who, together with his cousin, Thomas Charles Higgins, rebuilt the village and made so many improvements to it in the nineteenth century (from about 1847).
Higgins Entries in the Turvey Parish Registers 1602-1812
1794 Dec 5 - Harriet, dau of John & Martha Higgins baptised
1795 Jun 30 - burial of Elizabeth Granger, servant to John Higgins esq
1795 Dec 28 - Ann Maria, dau of John & Martha Higgins esq baptised
1798 Jan 26 - Thomas Charles, son of John & Martha Higgins esq baptised
1799 Jan 14 - William Bartholomew, son of John & Martha Higgins esq baptised
1806 Dec 2 - Charles Longuet, son of John & Teresa Higgins esq baptised
1808 Feb 26 - Mary, dau of John & Teresa Higgins baptism registered only
John Higgins of Turvey Abbey
The nephew and heir of Charles Higgins. Became Lord of the
Manor of Turvey with his inheritance. He was a County Magistrate
and Deputy-Lieutenant and then High Sheriff of Bedfordshire in
1801. He was a talented water colour artist and painted some
lovely scenes of the village - many of the originals of these are in
the County Record Office in Bedford. Some were lithographed and
sold to the villagers. His wife was called Teresa. They had two
sons, Charles Longuet Higgins who inherited the Abbey and Lord of the Manor title, and Rev. Henry Hugh Higgins who was an eminent naturalist. He also had a daughter called Mary (bapt 1808) who married Rev E.H. Steventon and went to live in Southborough, Tunbridge Wells.
To find out more about the people who worked for the Higgins families.
Please note, due to the considerable information available about this family - I will be splitting this page into seperate ones for each member as soon as possible.
