HMS Barham and Fairy Hill, Gower

 So, what is the connection between HMS Barham and Fairy Hill, Gower?

HMS Barham

Let’s begin with HMS Barnham.

HMS Barham, a Queen Elizabeth-class battleship,  was laid down, February 1913, at the John Brown & Co., Clydebank.  It was finished 31st December 1914, at the cost of £2,470,113. 

During the course of the First World War, she saw action Battle of Jutland, May/June 1916.  For the remainder of the war, she was used for patrol and training in the North Sea.

During the wars, Barham was assigned to the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Home Fleets.  During the 1929 Palestine riots, Barham played a minor role and also during the 1936-1939 Arab revolts in Palestine.

On the eve of the Second World War, Barham was in the Mediterranean and colliding whilst being escorted by destroying HMS Duchess, resulting in Duchess sinking on the 12th December 1939.

Magazine exploding, 25th November 1941

The following September, Barham saw action in the Battle of Dakar, West Africa,  where she damaged a Vichy French battleship, and during the action was damaged.    After the battle Barham was transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet.  During the Battle of Cape Matapan, March 1941, Barham helped sink an Italian heavy cruiser. During the evacuation of Crete, May/June 1941, Barham  was damaged by  German aircraft. The following November, Barham was sunk off the Egypt coast, by U-331.  With a loss of 862 crewmen.  

A. R. Bowditch
Portsmouth Naval Memorial

19-year-old Ordinary Seaman Arthur Reginald Bowditch, hailed from Swansea was one of the 862 to loss his life.  His name along with the others are on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Admiral Charles Middleton

Barham was named after Admiral Charles Middleton.

Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham, was born 1726.  Joining the Royal Navy 1741, as a Captain’s servant, on aboard HMS Sandwich and HMS Duke.  Middleton was ranked from midshipman and master’s mate, 1745 he was a lieutenant

1754, Middleton during the Seven Years’ War, was stationed on board HMS Anson, where he apprehended and captured two French ships at Louisbourg.

1758, Middleton was ranked post-captain.  During 1761, whilst in command of HMS Emerald Middleton distinguished himself in the West Indies, where he took 16 French ships and several privateers

1761, Middleton married Margaret Gambier. 1782, Middleton took command of HMS Adventure From 1763, after service on the HMS Adventure, Middleton lived took the role of a country gentleman living at Teston.

At the outbreak of the American War of Independence, 1775, Middleton was given command of the guardship at Nore, where he was given the rank of Comptroller of the Navy.  He held this role for the next 12 years. 1781, Middleton was created Baronet, with the special remainder that the title would go to his son in law, Gerard Noel, if there was no male issue.

1784, Middleton was elected a Tory Member of Parliament for Rochester, of which he was for the next 6 years.  1793 promoted to Vice Admiral, 1794 appointed to Board of Admiralty. 1795, was First Naval Lord of the Admiralty. At the time of the Battle of Trafalgar, 1805, was appointed the First Lord of the Admiralty, and created Baron Barham, with the special remained that that with a male issue the title would pass to his daughter Diana Middleton, and to to any of her male heirs.  Middleton died 1813, after resigning his office, 1806.

William Wilberforce 

Middleton also played an import role in the abolition of the slave trade, alongside William Wilberforce.  More will be written about Wilberforce as there are further Swansea connections  with him

Diana Middleton

Diana Middleton, who was born 1762, inherited her father’s title, 1813.  Like her father, Diana, was an abolitionist and a philanthropist. 

1780, Diana, married Gerard Edwardes.  He inhered his estates of his uncle, Henry Noel, 6th Earl of Gainsborough, on inheriting the title Edwardes had to change his surname to Noel.

Fairy Hill, Reynoldston, Gower

After their marriage, Diana, found her husband to be  “profligate and eccentric”, she moved to Fairy Hill, Reynoldston, Gower.  It was here that she began funding for the construction of free schools and the establishment of 4 independent and 2 Calvinist Methodist churches. It was here, Fairy Hill, that Diana died, 1823.  Her son, Charles inherited his mother’s titles.