Catalogue description Diaries of Charles William Hylton Molyneux ("Mull"), (1867 - 1901), 5th Earl of Sefton

The diaries give very brief entries, usually noting where he is or is staying, details of his riding and other sporting activities, dinners and theatres. The writer can be identified by his references to his brothers and other members of his family. The 1888 diary has an entry on 27th December referring to attending a "Function at Aintree for my majority" and there are references on 12th - 16th October to dining with "Uncle Henry and Aunt Alice". Henry Hervey Molyneux records in his diary on these dates that "Mull dined with us ..." (see 920 SEF/1/19).

Charles William Hylton Molyneux, eldest son of William, 4th Earl of Sefton, known to his family as "Mull" died when only thirty four years of age, as the result of a riding accident. According to the notice of his death in the Times, 3rd December 1901, p. 6, col. 4, he had for some time held a commission in the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry and an undated, unidentified newspaper cutting clipped into a diary at the date of his death (see 920 SEF/4/4 below) describes him as having been up to the time of his accident "... a fine, manly youth inheriting much of his father's strength of character and love of sport. Unfortunately he was extremely fond of steeplchasing, of which as a favourite sport for his son, Lord Sefton disapproved ..." Charles Molyneux took part in the Liverpool (Altcar) Steeplechase on 29th March 1894 and "... fell at the first fence, when [he] received a slight concussion ..." After medical attention he was reported to have recovered. Some time later (his last diary entry is for 29th April 1894) "... Pressure on the brain ensued, and from that time it became necessary to place the patient under surveillance ..." He was reported to have become engaged to be married shortly before his accident, but to whom is not clear from the various reports.

William, 4th Earl of Sefton died on 27th June 1897 Charles Molyneux, now "... a hopeless invalid ..." (see Liverpool Daily Post, 18th June 1930 in Sefton family newscuttings) succeeded as 5th Earl of Sefton. Unidentified newscuttings entered in 920 SEF/10/4, [p. 3], c. 1898, report on court proceedings relating to the Sefton estates in which the new Earl is considered in legal terms as "a lunatic". In 1899 there were hopes of his recovery (see cutting clipped into 920 SEF/4/4) but these were unfounded. According to several reports his physical condition grew worse and he died at Croxteth Hall on 2nd December 1901. His funeral service took place at St. Chad's, Kirkby on 5th December (see St. Chad's Burial Register, 1892 - 1917, 283 KIR 4/4) and was described in the Liverpool Courier, 6th December 1901 (see Liverpool Obituary Notices, 1901, Vol. 19, p. 195, Eq 330)