Page 116 - Redditch People

Redditch People

Yorkshire and nine years later in 1878 became vicar at Driffield. In 1885 he was presented
by the Archbishop of York to a canonry in York Minster.

At the end of 1891 he was offered the living at St. Stephen’s by the Earl of Plymouth. His
appointment commenced in January 1892 succeeding the late Rev. H. C. Milward. He
remained vicar at St. Stephen’s until his resignation in 1905. However, he remained Rural
Dean of Bromsgrove and Chaplain of the Smallwood Hospital until his sudden death on
Friday 12th November 1920.

Horace Newton was twice married. He had one son and six daughters by his first wife. His
son died as a result of an accident on the Euphrates during the war and his second
daughter married the former Bishop of Manchester. He owned a very large estate in
Argyllshire where he regularly went on holiday where he was able to indulge himself in
outdoor pursuits, particularly fishing.

By the early 1900's St. Stephen’s church was in a very poor state of repair and a major
refurbishment was undertaken including the repair and re-pointing of the spire, a major
project on its own. Funding for the rebuilding was difficult to obtain and the substantial
financial support given by Canon Newton is shown by the number of "anonymous"
donations in the accounts, many of which were for considerable amounts.

When Canon Newton came to Redditch he soon obtained an elevated piece of land just
outside the town and had a very substantial house built on it. This is Holmwood just off
the west side of Plymouth Road.

After his death the House was taken over as a convalescent home by "The Antediluvian
Order of Buffaloes". It was opened by the Earl of Plymouth on 6th August 1923. The
property was taken over as the main offices of the New Town Commission when Redditch
was made a New Town and has now been converted into luxury flats and a number of
executive houses have been built in the grounds.

Page: 116 © RLHS 2015