The Old Rectory, Dry Drayton

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Old Rectory Dry Drayton (RGL 2022)

History of the Old Rectory

Listed Building

House, formerly the Rectory. 1830-1. Gault brick, and Ketton stone dressings with hipped, slate roofs, parapetted.

The original rectory stood to the north-west of the manor House but was demolished in 1675 to improve the view from the manor house. The site of the Rectory which was then incorporated into the Park was still known as Parson’s Grove in the C19th. William Hetherington built the new rectory in 1729.

However his successors, the Smith family, deemed the house inadequate and a new rectory was completed in 1830. It had large reception rooms and ten bedrooms. The Smith family occupied the Rectory until 1862.

This rectory was sold in 1930 and by 2000 was in a poor state of repair.

2012 last used as residence

2022 on the market

Old Rectory Dry Drayton (RGL 2022)

In 2025 JT sent the following notes:

I have just read with great sadness that the Old Rectory in Dry Drayton which is in need of major repairs is listed for sale. I cannot understand why such a once beautiful and much loved house built by my 4 x great grandfather has been allowed to become uninhabitable. My family rebuilt the Rectory after Samuel Smith who was Headmaster of Westminster School and is buried in the North Isle of Westminster Abbey became Rector of Dry Drayton between 1785 and 1808. He was succeeded by his son also Samuel who had been Dean of Christ Church Oxford who was my 3 x great grandfather. Members of the Smith family continued as Rectors until 1869, almost 100 years. Much is written about the Smith family and their association with the Church of Dry Drayton. … I am descended from Rev Charles Smith (son of the second Samuel Smith) who was never Rector but rather became Vicar of East Garston and later Rector of Boothby Graffoe. He married Frances Fullerton and although his son Edward, my great grandfather, remained Smith his brother Arthur and their sisters changed their name to Fullerton-Smith. Edward and Arthur emigrated to New Zealand around 1879 and their families continue to live there. I came to England in 1971 and have remained here ever since.

Followed up by this history of the Smith family:

I will begin with Rev Dr Samuel Smith. I am fortunate in having a copy of The Pedigree of Smith of Westminster and Dry Drayton, co. Cambridge as well as all the Records from Westminster School showing entries for all the Smith family.

The Smith Pedigree entry for Samuel Smith reads: Samuel Smith, Clerk LLD, b.1731; died 23 March and buried in Westminster Abbey 31 March 1801. Headmaster of Westminster School 1764 – 1788, Prebendary of Westminster and Peterborough; Rector and Patron of Dry Drayton, co. Cambridge.

Samuel Smith was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College. Cambridge. He married 1st Anna daughter of John Jackson. Born 26 December 1738, married at St Margaret’s Westminster 27 August 1764; died 28 November and buried in Westminster Abbey, in the North Isle 4 December 1789. He was Rector and Patron of Dry Drayton between 1785 and 1808.

Samuel Smith (1765-1841), Dean of Christ Church, Oxford

Samuel and Anna had the following children, all baptised in Westminster Abbey:

1. Samuel, the eldest son who became Dean of Christ Church, Oxford

2. Anna who married a barrister James Wake and died in 1849

3. Elizabeth who married Rev. Robert Nares and died in 1853

4. Henry who became a clergyman at Southwell Minster and married Frances Taunton

5. Thomas, Fellow of the Royal Society who died unmarried

6. Francis, a civil servant who died unmarried in 1828

Dr Smith married secondly Susannah daughter of John Pettingal and had twins John and Susannah who died young. His third wife was Anne Pinckney who died without issue.

Their eldest son Samuel was Dean of Christ Church, Oxford and also a Prebendary of Southwell and Chaplain to the House of Commons. Like his father he was educated at Westminster School. He married Anne Brady (nee Barnett) in 1803. He died on 9 January 1841. He was Rector of Dry Drayton between 1808 and 1829 and again from1831.

Samuel and Anne had 13 children including the following sons:

1. Rev. Samuel b. 1804, educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. Rector of Dry Drayton from 1829. He died 4 March 1831.

2. Rev William Smith b. 1812 educated at Westminster School and Christ Church Oxford, Rector and Patron of Dry Drayton between 1841 and 1867. He married Constance Margaret Rose. He died in 1886. They had three children William, a barrister, Francis a Captain in the 90th Light Infantry and Constance.

3. Rev Charles Smith b. 1817, educated at Westminster School and Christ Church Oxford who married Frances Fullerton. Vicar of East Grafton, Berks and Rector of Boothby-Graffoe, Lincs. He died in 1855. Charles and Frances had three sons, Charles, Arthur and Edward and two daughters Frances and Cecilia. Arthur and Edward emigrated to New Zealand.

4. Rev Henry Smith b. 1819, educated Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford married 3 times and died in 1904.

5. Thomas who died in 1861 in the Crimea.

The Smiths were Rectors at Dry Drayton for almost 100 years.

I am descended directly from Rev Dr Samuel Smith from his grandson Charles, who although ordained was never Rector of Dry Drayton. As Samuel Smith, Dean of Christ Church Oxford had thirteen children he must have needed a large house. It would appear that his eldest son Samuel died young and he became Rector again after his son’s death until his younger son William took over in 1841 when his father died.

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