Moseley Old Hall

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Coordinates: 52°38′15″N 2°06′09″W / 52.6374°N 2.1024°W / 52.6374; -2.1024
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For the hall in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, see Moseley Old Hall, Cheadle.

Moseley Old Hall
Map
General information
Coordinates52°38′15″N 2°06′09″W / 52.6374°N 2.1024°W / 52.6374; -2.1024
Website
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/moseley-old-hall/

Moseley Old Hall is located in

National Trust, the hall is a Grade II* listed building
.

Hall

The Hall is located in Staffordshire.[1]

Construction and early history

The estate was owned by a Cordsall family until it was purchased by Henry Pitt of Bushby, one of the Merchants of the Staple, in 1583. He constructed the hall around 1600 (the exact date is unknown). Originally known as 'Mr Pitt's new hall at Moseley', it was a half-timbered building located in remote woodland. When Henry died in 1602, the hall was inherited by Alice Pitt, his daughter, who later married Thomas Whitgreave from Bridgeford, Staffordshire, whose family came from the nearby Whitgreave.[1]

Role in Charles II's escape

Main article: Escape of Charles II
The original back door of the hall that Charles entered in September 1651.

After the final battle of the English Civil War, the Battle of Worcester on 3 September 1651, King Charles II escaped and was on the run from Parliamentarians. Charles arrived at the back door of Moseley Old Hall in the early morning of 8 September,[1] after the journey from Boscobel House.[2] He arrived cold and wet, disguised in workman's clothing and ill-fitting shoes that had made his feet bleed. He was welcomed by Thomas Whitgreave, the owner of the house, Alice Whitgreave, Thomas's mother, and John Huddleston, the Catholic priest of the house.[1] They gave Charles dry clothes, food,[1] and a proper bed (his first since Worcester on 3 September). Huddleston cleaned and bandaged the King's feet.[3]

Charles was hidden in the

priest-hole on the afternoon of 8 September while a confrontation between Whitgreave and parliamentarians took place outside the hall. He later rested on a four-poster bed in the hall.[1] He left the house two days later, having planned out the rest of his escape.[1]
He was accompanied by Huddleston.

Later use

The family residence moved to Moseley Court around the 1820s,

Second World War interrupted the repair work, which Will Wiggin was unable to complete before his death.[1]

National Trust ownership

The Wiggin family transferred the ownership of the Hall and an acre of land to the

National Trust in 1962, and it was opened to the public in 1963. The hall was nearly empty of furniture at the time; most of the furniture and pictures in the hall have been subsequently lent or given to the Trust. In 1981 the roof and brickwork were repaired, and the bargeboards and finials were replaced.[1] It is now fully restored, and furnished with donated period furniture. The original four-poster bed used by Charles stands in the King's room.[5][1] In 2023, the Trust bought John Huddleston’s prayerbook at auction, and placed it on display at the hall.[6]

Layout and listing

The ground floor includes an entrance hall, a parlour, and a brew-house. The first floor hosts Mr Whitgreave's room and the King's Room, along with the dressing room, study and a corridor. The second floor contains the chapel, ante-room, bedroom, main attic and garrett.[1] The hall is a Grade II* listed building.[7]

Garden

The knot garden

The garden features a 17th-century-style (recreated) enclosed garden containing period plants. It has a herb garden, topiary, a fruit orchard, an arbour, a walled garden, and a 'knot' garden.[8][9]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Moseley Old Hall.
  1. ^
    ISBN 978-1-84359-118-4
    .
  2. ^ Coote, Stephen (2000). Royal Survivor: A Life of Charles II. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 106–107.
  3. ^ Coote 2000, p. 112.
  4. ^ Burke, John (1838). "Whitgreave, of Moseley Court". A Genealogical and Heraldic history of the Commoners of England and Ireland. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Explore Moseley Old Hall". National Trust. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  6. ^ Sherwood, Harriet (23 June 2023). "Prayerbook of priest who saved Charles II's life on display in Staffordshire Hall". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  7. ^ Historic England. "Moseley Old Hall and attached garden walls, gatepiers and gate (Grade II*) (1039208)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Moseley Old Hall Garden – review". Garden Visit. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  9. ^ "Moseley Old Hall". National Trust. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
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