Horse breeding
He was the owner of Childwickbury Stud, a large Thoroughbred Horse breeding operation built on his estate. Appearing at first under the name of "Mr. Childwick," from 1885 onwards he won many important races including two of the British Classics. His public benefactions included a hospital and a recreation ground to the city of St Albans, near which his residence, Childwickbury Manor, was situated, and the rebuilding, at a cost of more than £50,000, of University College Hospital, London.