Rolls family

The Rolls family was a substantial landowning family based in and around Monmouth in south-east Wales. Its rise in regional society was built principally through property, inheritance and marriage rather than through the creation of a commercial consumer brand. The family is nevertheless closely associated with the history of motoring because Charles Stewart Rolls, one of its most prominent members, co-founded Rolls-Royce with engineer Frederick Henry Royce. The family's documented line in Monmouthshire begins with John Rolls (1735–1801), the son of Aaron and Elizabeth Rolls of the Grange in Bermondsey. John acquired considerable property in both London and Monmouthshire through his marriage to Sarah Coysh, an heiress connected with the local Coysh estate. He served as High Sheriff of Monmouthshire in 1794 and died in 1801, shortly after his wife. His son, also named John Rolls (1776–1837), developed the family estate at The Hendre, near Llangattock-Vibon-Avel, north-west of Monmouth. Originally a shooting lodge, The Hendre was enlarged over successive generations and became one of the most important Victorian country houses in Monmouthshire. George Vaughan Maddox worked on an early nineteenth-century expansion, while Thomas Henry Wyatt later contributed to the house's development. The estate ultimately became the family's principal social and political base. John Rolls was succeeded by John Etherington Welch Rolls (1807–1870), who married Elizabeth Mary Long, a granddaughter of William Carnegie, 7th Earl of Northesk. Their son John Allan Rolls continued the family's public prominence. John Allan served as sheriff of Monmouthshire, represented Monmouthshire in Parliament from 1880 to 1885, and was created Baron Llangattock of the Hendre in 1892. His elevation marked the family's social apogee. The Hendre's prominence was illustrated by the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George V and Queen Mary, in late 1900. Charles Rolls took the royal couple on motor-car excursions during their stay, an event regarded as an early occasion on which the future king and queen travelled in a car. The visit strengthened the family's position within the British aristocratic and landowning establishment. John Allan Rolls's son Charles Stewart Rolls became the family's most internationally recognised figure. He was a pioneer of motoring, aviation and ballooning. In 1906 he joined forces with Frederick Henry Royce, whose engineering business produced automobiles, helping establish Rolls-Royce as a major British motor manufacturer. Charles also participated in ballooning and aviation demonstrations. In 1910 he died at the age of 32 after the tail of his Wright Flyer broke away during a flying display near Bournemouth. He is generally regarded as the first Briton killed in a powered-aircraft accident. The family's direct male line declined rapidly after this period. John Allan Rolls died in 1912 and was succeeded by his eldest son, John Maclean Rolls, the second Baron Llangattock. John Maclean died in 1916 at Boulogne from wounds sustained at the Battle of the Somme. His brothers, including Henry Allen Rolls, had also died without leaving descendants, and the barony and direct Rolls male line consequently became extinct. The estate then passed through the family to the descendants of Patty Rolls, a sister of John Allan Rolls who had married John Taylor Harding, a clergyman. Their descendants adopted the surname Harding-Rolls in connection with the inheritance of The Hendre and its surrounding property. The Harding-Rolls branch remained at The Hendre until 1984. After a failed time-share venture, the mansion and estate were sold to Effold Properties Limited. The property subsequently became associated with the Rolls of Monmouth golf course. Today, the Rolls family is chiefly remembered as a Welsh landed family, for its association with The Hendre, for its philanthropy and public standing in Monmouthshire, and for Charles Rolls's role in the origins of Rolls-Royce and British aviation. The family itself is not a currently operating commercial brand, and no present corporate ownership, trading activity or listed-company status is established in the available reference material.

The Rolls family of Monmouthshire emerged as a significant Welsh landowning family during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Its recorded local history begins with John Rolls, born in 1735, whose marriage to Sarah Coysh brought him substantial property in Monmouthshire and London. He was High Sheriff of Monmouthshire in 1794 and died in 1801, one day after his wife. John's son, John Rolls (1776–1837), made The Hendre the family's principal seat. The property, situated near Llangattock-Vibon-Avel a few miles north-west of Monmouth, began as a shooting lodge and was expanded over roughly a century. George Vaughan Maddox worked on an early rebuilding phase around 1830, and Thomas Henry Wyatt later helped shape the Victorian Gothic country house. The Hendre became a visible symbol of the family's wealth and influence and is described as Monmouthshire's only full-scale Victorian country house. The next generation included John Etherington Welch Rolls, who married into a family connected with the Earl of Northesk. His son John Allan Rolls expanded the family's public role as sheriff of Monmouthshire and Member of Parliament for the county from 1880 to 1885. In 1892 he was created Baron Llangattock of the Hendre. The family's social standing reached a high point when the Duke and Duchess of York stayed at The Hendre in 1900. Charles Rolls, John Allan's son, took the royal visitors on motoring excursions, probably among their earliest experiences of travelling by motor car. Charles Stewart Rolls was the family's most consequential member. Born in 1877, he developed interests in automobiles, ballooning and aviation. His partnership with Frederick Henry Royce led to the creation of Rolls-Royce, although the later company should not be confused with the Rolls family itself. Charles's activities helped make motoring and aviation respectable pursuits among elite British circles, while his public demonstrations contributed to the early visibility of powered flight. In July 1910 he was killed during a flying display near Bournemouth when his Wright Flyer suffered a structural failure. He was 32 and is commonly identified as the first Briton killed in a powered-aircraft accident. John Allan Rolls died in 1912. His eldest son, John Maclean Rolls, inherited the barony as the second Baron Llangattock, but died at Boulogne in 1916 from wounds received during the Battle of the Somme. Henry Allen Rolls had died four months earlier, and the three sons of John Allan Rolls left no children. As a result, the direct male line and the barony ended. The estate passed through the descendants of Patty Rolls, John Allan Rolls's sister. Patty had married John Taylor Harding, a clergyman, and their descendants included John Charles Etherington Harding, who adopted the surname Harding-Rolls when he inherited The Hendre, its estate and surrounding farmland. This branch continued to occupy the property until 30 August 1984. A failed time-share operation preceded the sale of the mansion and estate to Effold Properties Limited. The Hendre is now associated with the Rolls of Monmouth golf course. The family's historical importance rests on several overlapping legacies: the development of a major Welsh estate, participation in local government and Parliament, aristocratic patronage and philanthropy, and Charles Rolls's contribution to the beginnings of Rolls-Royce and British aviation. There is no evidence in the supplied material that the Rolls family currently operates as a commercial brand or corporate group.

• 1984

  The Harding-Rolls family leaves The Hendre

  [1]Rolls familyen.wikipedia.org

  The Hendre was sold after a failed time-share operation, ending the Harding-Rolls family's residence there.

• 1916

  Death of the second Baron Llangattock

  [1]Rolls familyen.wikipedia.org

  John Maclean Rolls died from wounds received at the Battle of the Somme, contributing to the extinction of the family's direct male line.

• 1912

  Death of Lord Llangattock

  [1]Rolls familyen.wikipedia.org

  John Allan Rolls, the first Baron Llangattock, died and was succeeded by his son John Maclean Rolls.

• 1910

  Death of Charles Stewart Rolls

  [1]Rolls familyen.wikipedia.org

  Charles Rolls died during a flying display near Bournemouth after the tail of his aircraft broke away.

• 1906

  Charles Rolls co-founds Rolls-Royce

  [1]Rolls familyen.wikipedia.org

  Charles Stewart Rolls entered into the partnership with Frederick Henry Royce that established Rolls-Royce as a motor-manufacturing enterprise.

• 1900

  Royal visit to The Hendre

  [1]Rolls familyen.wikipedia.org

  The Duke and Duchess of York stayed at The Hendre and experienced motor-car excursions led by Charles Rolls.

• 1892

  John Allan Rolls becomes Baron Llangattock

  [1]Rolls familyen.wikipedia.org

  John Allan Rolls was created Baron Llangattock of the Hendre.

• 1830

  Expansion of The Hendre begins

  [1]Rolls familyen.wikipedia.org

  George Vaughan Maddox carried out an early major expansion of the family residence at The Hendre.

• 1794

  John Rolls serves as High Sheriff of Monmouthshire

  [1]Rolls familyen.wikipedia.org

  John Rolls held the county office of High Sheriff, reflecting the family's growing regional standing.

• 1735

  Birth of John Rolls

  [1]Rolls familyen.wikipedia.org

  John Rolls, regarded as the founder of the Monmouthshire Rolls line, was born as the son of Aaron and Elizabeth Rolls of the Grange in Bermondsey.

A historically prominent Welsh landed family associated with The Hendre, regional public life and philanthropy, and the early development of British motoring and aviation.

1. 1Rolls familyen.wikipedia.org