Willie Whitmore-Jones: Despair of his parents!

'The boys came home from school, Mr Fallon wrote me a very good account of Arthur, but complains that Willie is sadly idle, tho' a very good boy in all other aspects' Diary entry by John Henry Whitmore-Jones, 18 December 1837

Prior to inheriting Chastleton, Willie had been in the army, serving in Gibralter and Bermuda, but 'sold out' before the start of the Crimean War. Willie had earnt a promotion to Lieutenant but his spending was out of control and he faced arrest for his debts.

'Recieved a letter from Major Sharpe of the 72nd Highlanders to say that Willie had given a cheque on lawrie which had been dishonoured and that he was under arrest and must retire or stand a court martial' Diary entry by John Henry Whitmore-Jones, 29 August 1850

When Arthur died in 1857, and Willie inherited the house, Dorothy felt unable to carry on living at Chastleton, so she left, taking her three youngest children with her.

Willie kept a small household at Chastleton, with only two servants. His sister Mary, who remianed unmarried, lived with him and nursed him through the effects of a fever he contracted in Bermuda. Willie's brother, Walter, also assisted in the running of the estate.