George Robinson (Lord Ripon) 1827 - 1909

George was one of three children but his two siblings both died before he was born, his sister Eleanor, aged 11 in 1826 and a brother, only two days after being born, in 1816. George spent much of his early childhood at Nocton but when the hall was burned down on the first occasion, in October 1834, the family moved to a house on their Branston estate so Lady Sarah could monitor the restoration of the building. Seven years later in October 1841, as a 14 year old, he and his mother laid the foundation stone on the north side of the "new" hall with an inscription on it outlining the hall's past history.

George's schooling was somewhat haphazard as he was taught under the watchful eye of his Evangelical mother. He was never to go to school or university, but read with much keenness in the huge library at Nocton Hall. No reason is known for this but it is suggested that his mother had grave fears for his health bearing in mind she had lost her other two children, so she took no chances with George.

In 1851 George married Henrietta Vyner, the daughter of Captain Henry Vyner of Gautby Hall, Lincolnshire. She was also the grand daughter of his uncle, the Earl de Grey. The ceremony took place at the home of Earl de Grey in St. James' Square in London on 8th April, 1851

George had politics in his blood, not only from his father and his grandfather but his uncle Earl de Grey and even further back in his family tree, Oliver Cromwell.
His political career did not get off to the best of starts in 1852 as a bribery charge saw him lose his seat as member for Hull in that year. The following year, at just 26, he became the MP for Huddersfield and embarked on a career as a Liberalist for much of the next 50 years until his death in 1909. This was at a time when Victorian Britain was possibly the most powerful nation in the world.

During his time in politics he was in the company of such notable Prime Ministers as Robert Peel, Palmerston, Disraeli and Gladstone and also had lasting friendships with such famous people as General Gordon of Khartoum and Florence Nightingale, to name just two.

On the death of his father in 1859, he not only inherited all his lands and the title of the 2nd Earl of Ripon but also entered the House of Lords after six years in the Commons. Just eleven months later he succeeded his uncle as Earl de Grey of Wrest and Baron Grantham, inheriting further land at Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, together with land in Bedfordshire, making him one of the richest people in the land.

His ability as a politician was quickly realised and he became Under Secretary of War in Palmerston's administration. Two years later he held a similar position in the Indian Office and entered the "Cabinet" as Secretary for War from 1863 to 1865 and for India from1865-66. On the succession of Prime Minister Gladstone in 1868 he became Lord President of the Council which then saw him made a Knight of the Garter. One of his major achievements in this latter position was to establish elementary education while still supporting the existing voluntary church schools.

While in situ in the War Office he masterminded the conditions of life in the army. In the past Commissions were largely obtained by purchase but he brought about examinations having to be taken to qualify for a Commission. He also removed the stigma that "soldiers" had to come predominantly from the criminal fraternity which improved both standards and morale. This was at the time when he built up his friendship with Florence Nightingale who had a home near Matlock in Derbyshire. Working closely with her they changed the attitude on the part of the army towards hygiene and the status and role of medical officers. This was to see the first ever military hospital built at Woolwich. How strange that these two people should have walked around the gardens of Nocton Hall discussing their problems of the time and then in the years to come a military hospital would be built in this stately home and parks.

During the same period Ripon also played a crucial role in establishing the international law governing neutrality. This averted what looked like imminent war between Britain and the United States. It was in 1871 when he headed a delegation in Washington handling a series of contentious issues between the two countries, most crucially the American claims to compensation regarding the outfitting of the vessel "Alabama" and other Confederate warships in British ports during the American Civil War. Ripon was a good choice for the task as he had never had any time for the kind of American democrats who talked about freedom, equality and brotherhood and had spoken in the House of Commons in 1858 in favour of British efforts to restrict slavery in America. In the end Ripon and the American Secretary of State discussed the issue in private and soon after the "Alabama Treaty" was signed, although the British government had to make a payment of a massive, £3 million pounds compensation.

Ripon then surprised everyone in 1873 as he resigned, without reason, from the government but it all became clear soon after when he was received into the Roman Catholic Church. At this time it would have been most difficult for a man in Ripon's position to hold high office in what then was a Protestant country. Today it would hardly cause a stir. At the same time he was also forced to resign his position as Grand Master of the English Freemasons, which he had held since 1870.

Ripon returned to the Shadow Cabinet in 1878 due mainly to his serious concerns on the way the then Premier, Disraeli and the Viceroy of India, Lord Lytton were dealing with a critical issue in Afghanistan which looked as if it would result in war.

Gladstone returned to power in 1880 and he quickly sent Ripon to India as their Viceroy. In a matter of weeks, with his calming influence, he won a diplomatic "battle" equal to some of the greatest military achievements in our country's history, and war was averted. This in effect signalled peace in these volatile lands for the next forty years and it is of much surprise his achievement never received the acclaims it deserved. Amongst those who served him through these times as his "aide-de-camp" was a Major Gordon who would later be better known as General Gordon of Khartoum.

During his time in India he became much respected, giving the Indians greater authority over their own affairs, but his term of office was for just four years, leaving in 1884. After returning to England he held various positions including First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords. He eventually left politics in 1908 and died a year later.

Throughout his life he never failed his welfare duties towards Nocton for the 22 years he lived there. Early in his life he and his mother initiated the building of Nocton's, Ripon Row and in 1878 he added the Ten Row. In 1869, as a tribute to his mother, he was responsible for the building of a new school in the village and also financed all the education costs for the pupils. He also had a dilapidated old house and broken down barns (knows as Scarcliffe Farm) demolished to create a large village green where the school children could play. Here, in 1873, he planted a Chestnut tree on the 21st birthday of his son Oliver. The All Saints Church, built by his mother, also saw improvements as he added the South Porch and South Aisle.

Around the start of the 1870's he became a good friend of a West Yorkshireman, George Hodgson, a banker and industrialist. Hodgson was a wealthy man in his own right, owning an estate in the South of France where George and his son Oliver spent much time discussing the financial strains of managing their own large Nocton estate.

One of the lasting memories of his time at Nocton was when, through the influence of Hogson, the railway line connecting Lincoln to Sleaford was built. This in effect was to connect Nocton to the outside world. After setting up an agreement with the great Eastern Railway Company the Nocton and Dunston Railway Station was opened in August 1882.

Just seven years later the villagers and tenant farmers were shattered by the news that Lord Ripon had sold the estate to the 70 year old George Hodgson. Before leaving, however, he created a number of trust funds for his retiring staff and pensions were given to senior servants who had so faithfully served him. His departure from Nocton Hall signalled the last time the House would see a titled person in residence.