[2] His maternal grandparents were Charles Williams-Wynn, MP for Old Sarum and Montgomeryshire (who was the second son of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 4th Baronet), and Mary Cunliffe (a daughter of Sir Foster Cunliffe, 3rd Baronet).
From 1902 to 1914 he was Honorary Colonel of the 4th Battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
[8] Milnes Gaskell, who lived at Thornes House, Wakefield, and at Wenlock Abbey, married Lady Catherine Henrietta Wallop (1856—1935), daughter of the 5th Earl of Portsmouth in 1876.
He and his wife invited both men to stay frequently at Wenlock Abbey, where the couple entertained many artists, writers, politicians and intellectuals of the day including explorer Isabella Bishop, artist Robert Bateman and writers Edith Sichel and Thomas Hardy.
[14] Milnes Gaskell died on 9 January 1919 at Thornes House at the age of 76, and was buried in the parish churchyard at Much Wenlock.