Canon Horace Newton

Canon Horace Newton (Born 1844, Died 1920) was a priest within the Church of England, philanthropist, and country landowner.

He lived at the country house of Holmwood, Redditch, which he had built for him around 1890 by Temple Lushington Moore, (the architect was his nephew by marriage). He bought the land from the Earl of Plymouth.

A deeply religious man, he inherited upon the death of his father William Newton II of Barrells Hall and Whateley Hall, with his brothers T.H. Goodwin Newton and Rev. William Newton III what was described at the time as "an absurdly large fortune", the family owning large chunks of prime Birmingham land (such as part of New Street, including land the current Birmingham New Street Station is on) plus Welsh slate quarries and Bryn Bras Castle. Ethel Street and Newton Street in Birmingham are named after the family.

The family had a strong Christian upbringing, and despite their vast wealth devoted their life to helping others, giving away large sums of money, building churches (notably in Ullenhall, the estate village of Barrells Hall) and donating to hospitals and various charities. He also built the impressive "Beachwood" vicarage near Driffield when he was vicar there.

They firmly believed that "with wealth and property come responsibility" and were generous and kind employers at all of their estates.

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