Charles de Trafford

Charles Edmund de Trafford (21 May 1864 to 11 November 1951) was an English aristocrat and noted cricketer.

Early life

Charles was born at Trafford Hall, Trafford Park, Stretford, the second son of Sir Humphrey de Trafford, 2nd Baronet and his wife Lady Annette Talbot.

Cricket

In 1884 aged 20, Charles joined the team of Lancashire County Cricket Club. He soon made his name as a skilled cricketer and in 1885 joined Marylebone Cricket Club. In 1894 he moved to Leicestershire County Cricket Club as captain, a position in which he remained for 17 seasons. He is largely credited with making Leicestershire into a first class club.^[1][2].

Personal life

In 1881, Charles's father, Sir Humphrey de Trafford purchased the Hothorpe Hall Estate at Theddingworth, Leicestershire from the Cook family and presented it to Charles. During his time at Hothorpe, Charles extended the Georgian Manor House and in 1892 built a Catholic Chapel there in memory of his brother Gilbert who had died in 1890.^[3]

On 15 October 1892, Charles married Lady Agnes Feilding, the daughter of Rudolph Feilding, 8th Earl of Denbigh. Their son Edmund Hubert de Trafford served with distinction in World War I, married the Hon. Cecilia Strickland later emigrated to Malta. Edmund and Cecilia's daughter Elizabeth returned to England and married Admiral Arthur Francis Turner.

In 1893, Charles served as High Sheriff of Leicestershire^[4] and also as a Justice of the Peace. Charles and Lady Agnes resided at Hothorpe until 1928, when they moved to Rothley, where Charles died on 11 November 1951 aged 87.

References