Noble Curios & Connections

About the Book

"Noble Curios & Connections" is a collection of notes and anecdotes combined with some more serious information about people from British noble families and the landed gentry, in particular, those with Staffordshire connections, as well as the consequences of belonging to such families. The various notes have been put together in such a way to enable the reader to pick up the book, open it almost anywhere and start reading. In some cases, the reader will discover unexpected connections between families and events, hence, the title of the book.

Many people think that the nobility lived in a large house surrounded by acres of land and that they were remote from enterprise. In fact, many were actively involved in taking England from being a mediaeval rural economy, through the Industrial Revolution, to the current day economy.

There is also some discussion on the view that the Dissolution of the Monasteries had as great an effect on the English land-owning class as the Norman Conquest when all but a handful of Saxons were removed from this position. The Dissolution of the Monasteries provided an opportunity for "New Money" to join the land-owning class as well as for the existing members to increase their land holdings. "New Money" is not a recent phenomenon, as some people might believe. However, members of a class always seem to look askance at new entrants despite the fact that their family may have been such entrants only a few generations ago.

Throughout history, there have been many examples of the rise and fall of countries, families etc. This book provides some examples of changes in family fortunes, the factors, which led to such changes, and the consequences of these changes, such as the dramatic loss of country houses in the 20th century.

About the Author

Colin Sproston was born on a farm near Rugeley in mid-Staffordshire. He is the fourth generation Sproston to be born in Staffordshire, the previous seven generations having been born just across the border in Cheshire.

After Rugeley Grammar School, he gained a B.Sc (Hons) in Chemistry from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth.

From 1971 to 1999 he worked for subsidiaries and associates of Lord Weinstock's GEC. During this time he qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant and a Chartered Certified Accountant. He has the dubious (?) distinction of being the one and only Finance Director of GEC Meters Limited, a post he held for 14 years following which he joined ALSTOM as a Vice-President, Finance & Administration.

From August 2000, he was a shareholder and Finance Director of Morrell Products Limited before retiring following the establishment of a new subsidiary, TMat Morrell Limited, in 2006.

This book is a product of his long-standing interest in local history and his need to maintain his reputation for being a "mine of useless information".

Between 1963 and 1981, Colin played hockey for Stafford Hockey Club, UCW, Aberystwyth, and Montgomeryshire & Bordering Counties.

Colin married Susan (née Dale) in 1977 - they have two children, Richard and Andrew. Colin and Sue still live in Staffordshire, as does his brother, David.