Charles William Bigge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles William Bigge (28 October 1773 – 8 December 1849) was an important merchant and banker in Newcastle on Tyne.
He served as High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1802, a position previously held by his grandfather William Bigge, in 1750 and his father Thomas Charles Bigge in 1771.
On the death of his father in 1794 he inherited estates at Benton House, Little Benton, Newcastle on Tyne, Heddon on the Wall, Ponteland and Gosforth and collieries at Little Benton and Willington, Northumberland.
He served as Lieutenant Colonel in the Northumberland Supplementary Militia.
He became, in 1806, a partner in the Newcastle banking firm of Ridley Bigge Gibson & Co which in 1832 became Northumberland and Durham District Bank.
He married Alice Wilkinson in 1802 and in 1812 built Linden Hall, Longhorsley, Northumberland to a design by Sir Charles Monck on land bought from the Earl of Carlisle.
Two of his sons Charles (1803–1846) and Matthew (1822–1906) joined their father as directors of the bank. John Frederic (1814–1885) became Vicar of Stamfordham and his son became Arthur Bigge, 1st Baron Stamfordham.
The Bank was highly successful during his lifetime but was later beset with financial difficulties as a result of which it closed in 1857. His son and heir Matthew had guaranteed the debts of the bank and was obliged to sell the family properties in 1861 to meet his obligations.
