In 1854 his eldest brother George Edward Gatty, pursuing a military career, died of illness aged only 22, and Charles Henry then became heir the family estates. He acquired these in 1862 on the death of his father. This included the Felbridge Estate extending to 1740 acres, which had been purchased in 1855. In 1864 his father paid for the building of a new parish church in Felbridge to replace the dilapidated Evelyn Chapel in the grounds of his manor house.
