Langton Iliffe, 2nd Baron Iliffe
Encyclopedia
Edward Langton Iliffe, 2nd Baron Iliffe (25 January 1908 - 15 February 1996), generally known as Langton Illiffe, was a British peer. He was the son of Edward Iliffe, 1st Baron Iliffe
and his wife, Charlotte, daughter of Henry Gilding.
Iliffe married Renée Merandon du Plessis, a Mauritian of French descent, on 8 December 1938. His best man at the wedding was the architect, Winton Aldridge
.
Iliffe succeeded his father, as the 2nd Baron Iliffe
, in 1960. As the Iliffe's marriage was childless, on Langton Iliffe's death, in 1996, the title passed to his nephew.
During World War II
Iliffe served as an RAF intelligence officer. After the cessation of hostilities, he returned to the family business. The family owned the controlling interests in newspapers in Birmingham
and Coventry
, including the Birmingham Post
, the Birmingham Mail
and the Coventry Evening Telegraph
. The Iliffes were also part owners of the British national newspaper, the Daily Telegraph. In 1957, Iliffe served as The High Sheriff of Berkshire.
Iliffe and his wife dedicated their lives to the restoration of Basildon Park
, a Palladian mansion, with views over the Thames Valley
in Berkshire, which they had purchased in 1953. Over the following 25 years the couple fully restored the interior and exterior of the derelict mansion. Iliffe was a cultivated man, deeply interested in the arts and architecture. In the restoration of Basildon park, he and his wife drew their inspiration from a wide circle of friends, which included Winton Aldridge, Ronald Tree
and Graham Sutherland
. On the completion of the restoration, Iliffe presented the house with a large endowment
, for its future upkeep, to the National Trust
Following the donation of Basildon Park to the National Trust, Lord and Lady Iliffe remained as tenants, eventually converting the mansion's former laundry wing into a self contained house. Lord Iliffe died on 15 February 1996, his wife died, at Basildon, aged 90, in 2007.
Edward Iliffe, 1st Baron Iliffe
Edward Mauger Iliffe, 1st Baron Iliffe , was a British newspaper magnate, public servant and Conservative Member of Parliament.Iliffe was the son of William Isaac Iliffe, a publisher and Justice of the Peace, of Allesley near Coventry...
and his wife, Charlotte, daughter of Henry Gilding.
Iliffe married Renée Merandon du Plessis, a Mauritian of French descent, on 8 December 1938. His best man at the wedding was the architect, Winton Aldridge
Winton Aldridge
Rowland De Winton Aldridge was a British architect, architectural historian and artist. He was born in Kent and named in honour of his great grandmother, Catherine Rebecca de Winton, a member of the Parry de Winton engineering family.An authority on the architecture of the 18th century, Aldridge...
.
Iliffe succeeded his father, as the 2nd Baron Iliffe
Baron Iliffe
Baron Iliffe, of Yattendon in the County of Berkshire, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1933 for the newspaper magnate Sir Edward Iliffe...
, in 1960. As the Iliffe's marriage was childless, on Langton Iliffe's death, in 1996, the title passed to his nephew.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Iliffe served as an RAF intelligence officer. After the cessation of hostilities, he returned to the family business. The family owned the controlling interests in newspapers in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, including the Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
The Birmingham Post newspaper was originally published under the name Daily Post in Birmingham, England, in 1857 by John Frederick Feeney. It was the largest selling broadsheet in the West Midlands, though it faced little if any competition in this category. It changed to tabloid size in 2008...
, the Birmingham Mail
Birmingham Mail
The Birmingham Mail is a tabloid newspaper based in Birmingham, UK but distributed around Birmingham, The Black Country, Solihull, Warwickshire and parts of Worcestershire and Staffordshire. The newspaper, which was re-branded from the Birmingham Evening Mail in October 2005, is one of the biggest...
and the Coventry Evening Telegraph
Coventry Evening Telegraph
The Coventry Telegraph is a local English tabloid newspaper. Originally called The Midland Daily Telegraph, it was founded in 1891 by William Isaac Iliffe as Coventry's first daily newspaper, a four-page broadsheet newspaper originally sold for a half penny...
. The Iliffes were also part owners of the British national newspaper, the Daily Telegraph. In 1957, Iliffe served as The High Sheriff of Berkshire.
Iliffe and his wife dedicated their lives to the restoration of Basildon Park
Basildon Park
Basildon Park is a country house situated 3 kilometres south of Goring-on-Thames and Streatley in Berkshire, between the villages of Upper Basildon and Lower Basildon. It is owned by the National Trust and is a Grade I listed building...
, a Palladian mansion, with views over the Thames Valley
Thames Valley
The Thames Valley Region is a loose term for the English counties and towns roughly following the course of the River Thames as it flows from Oxfordshire in the west to London in the east. It includes parts of Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, North Hampshire, Surrey and west London...
in Berkshire, which they had purchased in 1953. Over the following 25 years the couple fully restored the interior and exterior of the derelict mansion. Iliffe was a cultivated man, deeply interested in the arts and architecture. In the restoration of Basildon park, he and his wife drew their inspiration from a wide circle of friends, which included Winton Aldridge, Ronald Tree
Ronald Tree
Arthur Ronald Lambert Field Tree , was an American-born British journalist, investor and Conservative Member of Parliament for the Harborough constituency in Leicestershire.-Biography:...
and Graham Sutherland
Graham Sutherland
Graham Vivien Sutherland OM was an English artist.-Early life:He was born in Streatham, attending Homefield Preparatory School, Sutton. He was then educated at Epsom College, Surrey before going up to Goldsmiths, University of London...
. On the completion of the restoration, Iliffe presented the house with a large endowment
Financial endowment
A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution. The total value of an institution's investments is often referred to as the institution's endowment and is typically organized as a public charity, private foundation, or trust....
, for its future upkeep, to the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
Following the donation of Basildon Park to the National Trust, Lord and Lady Iliffe remained as tenants, eventually converting the mansion's former laundry wing into a self contained house. Lord Iliffe died on 15 February 1996, his wife died, at Basildon, aged 90, in 2007.