The Venerable Henry Denny Berners

Henry Denny Berners was born in 1769, second son of Charles Berners, the younger. He took a law degree in 1787 as undergraduate at St Mary Hall, Oxford, gaining a B.C.L. (Bachelor of Civil Law) in 1794. In the same year he was ordained a priest and appointed Rector of Harkstead. He married Sarah Jarrett, daughter of John Jarrett of Freemantle, Hants, who owned several large estates in Jamaica, in July 1799. John Jarrett also owned Freemantle House, in Millbrook, where the wedding took place. Jarrett had an income of £20,000 per year.

With the marriage came a settlement of £10,000. The couple had four children: John (1800), Hugh (1801), Ralph (1803) and Alicia (1804), who tragically died aged 16 in Versailles.

Henry Denny was presented as Rector of Erwarton with Woolverstone in 1801. A year later, His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland appointed Rev. Henry Denny Berners to be one of his Royal Highness’s Domestic Chaplains. In March 1819, he was appointed Archdeacon of Suffolk by the Lord Bishop of Norwich.

One of his first actions, as Squire, was to extend the church creating a north aisle and transept, plus a vestry which initially doubled as a Parochial School.

In 1832, Rev. Berners erected a dedicated National School in Woolverstone which was well-supplied with resources. The children learned to read quickly: “At each change of lessons, as marked on the timetable, a verse, either of a hymn or school song, is sung by the children (who can read music and sing sweetly) while marching around the class.” School inspector’s report, 1838. Rev Ralph Berners, Henry Denny’s third son, was responsible for the running of schools at Woolverstone and Erwarton. 

The Woolverstone estate continued to grow with the aquisition of East Estate, Shotley, in the same year, on the death of Eeanor, Lady East. 

Henry added another layer of development to the village with the building of Home Farm, several double-dweller cottages on the High Road and he expanded the Walled Garden. 

The 8-acre site included a nursery, plantation, garden and hot houses, kitchen garden and grounds. The arrangement is clearly shown in the Tithe map of 1838.

The Venerable Rev. Henry Denny Berners had a close friendship with Rev. George Capper of Wherstead (1767 – 1847). Capper was a “well-known hunting parson…also a keen yachtsman”. Capper’s wife, Ann, was daughter of George Reid who held the Friendship estate in Jamaica. Much of Ann’s income came from production on this estate through her marriage settlement. Berners and Capper were involved in legal moves to recover monies related to mortgages on property in Jamaica around 1836. It isn’t clear in what capacity Berners was acting.

In 1840, Thomas Carlyle (1795 – 1881) the Scottish historian, philosopher and essayist started writing a book on Oliver Cromwell. Five years later, Edward Fitzgerald wrote: “Cromwell is going to be out in October; and Laurence has been sent to Archdeacon Berners to make a copy of Oliver’s miniature.” Samuel Laurence (1812 – 1884) was a portrait painter of the highest regard. This copy of the Berners’ Cromwell was then used by Francis Holl (1815 – 1884) to create an engraving which could be used in the early editions opposite the frontispiece of his great work: “Oliver Cromwell’s letters and speeches: with Elucidations” with the credit: Engraved by Francis Holl from a miniature by Cooper in the possession of Revd Archdeacon Berners.

Oliver Cromwell’s Letters and Speeches. Thomas Carlyle. 1845

A year later, 1846, the Venerable Reverend resigned from his post as Archdeacon at the age of 77 years.

On 22^nd Jan 1852, Henry Berners suffered a severe illness from which he did not recover. He died two days later on 24^th January at 4:00 pm. It was reported that: his loss would be keenly felt by all whose privilege it was to live near or under him, and the poor, to who he was indeed a kind and indulgent friend. His labourers none received less than 10s per week, lived rent free, had all the smallwood needed and frequently supplied with coals…he was a benevolent friend.” His remains lie in the Berners’ vault in St Michael’s Church. He was 83 years old.