Granville Sykes Howard-Vyse was born in 1818 the son of Major General Richard Howard-Vyse and Frances Hesketh. He was the fifth eldest child out of ten. His four older brothers had already gone into military service following a family tradition. His eldest brother, George became a Colonel in the Life Guard and his second eldest, Richard became a Colonel in the Royal Horse Guards. They grew up at Stoke Place, Stoke Poges.
His father owned a large estate of Boughton on the northern edge of Northampton. As such he was Lord of the Manor and had the Patronage and so Granville became the Rector of Boughton and Pitsford, residing at Boughton Hall. In 1852 he married Lilly Anne Gunning. She was daughter of Major John Gunning of Horton, south of Northampton. Both Granville and Lilly came from families with a strong army pedigree. They were both very supportive to the local community and are remembered to this day for new buildings, restoration work and silverware donated to the Church.
St John the Baptist, Boughton and All Saints, Pitsford, Northamptonshire
Granville and Lilly had three children. The second eldest was Mabel who married a cousin, Howard: the son of Colonel Richard of the Royal Horse Guards. Both their sons, Ganville and Henry joined the army as Officers they did not go into Regiments associated with the Howard-Vyse family. Both sons died abroad whilst in service, as can be seen on the memorial.
