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Rainhill lies east of Liverpool, on the busy train line to Manchester. In 1829, it hosted the Rainhill Trials, a competition to test steam locomotives on the nearly completed line. It was Stephenson’s Rocket that won this contest, and less than a century later, the village would play host to another important figure.

Evelyn Stapleton-Bretherton was the second daughter of Frederick and Isabella and lived in The Hall in Rainhill. When she was 30, she met and married Prussian Count, Gebhart Blucher von Walhlstatt. His great grandfather had been given the title ‘prince’ after he led the Prussian army to the Battle of Waterloo.

At the outbreak of World War One, Gebhart was exiled to Berlin, and in 1916 inherited the title of Prince upon his father’s death. The couple remained there throughout the conflict.

Evelyn’s memoirs ‘An English Wife in Berlin’ recount her experiences in a hostile land. Despite having family members with distinguished military careers, she remained neutral and was in fact respected by both countries.

The Prince and Princess came back to the village after the war ended, and both are buried at St Bartholomew’s church in Rainhill.

Location: Rainhill Prescot, Merseyside L35 6NZ
Image: Photo of the Hall, courtesy of Rainhill Civic Society

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