Huntingdon Hall

 HUNTINGDON HALL, DUTTON, LANCASHIRE.

Location:

This house, which was owned and occupied by the Crombleholme family in the 16th - 17th centuries is situated in Dutton, in northern Lancashire to the south of the well known Forest of Bolland and just to the west of the famous Stonyhurst College.

It stands approximately 575 feet above sea level with a National grid reference SD 66175 39047. and [Lat 53.846550 Long -2.5156071]. It faces southwest and is set back from the lane bearing its name. The site is fairly open to the south but there is some higher wooded ground to the rear and north sides.

An inscription "R C 1619" is to be found on the lintol over the front door to the porch of the house. These initials belong to Richard Crombleholme  [Cro0064] of Dutton and the 1619 date being that of his construction or enlargement of the house.  The site had been purchased by his great grandfather in 1544. Huntingdon passed from father to son with earlier buildings on the site.

Richard Crombleholme [Cro0013]  (c1500 - 1576) - bought monastic lands in 1544 from the Crown including Huntingdon.

William Crombleholme [Cro0055] (c1520 - 1576)  - Gentleman of Dutton - died shortly before his father.

Richard Crombleholme [Cro0058] (c1545 - 1588)  - Died in Dutton holding Huntingdon of the Queen by 1/100 part of a Knights fee.

Richard Crombleholme [Cro0064] (c1581 - after 1636) only 7 years old when his father died;  Built or reconstructed Huntingdon Hall in 1619.

Richard Crombleholme [Cro0068] (c1605 - 1664) - 

John Crombleholme        [Cro0082] (1633 - 1673)  - moved from Huntingdon hall in 1673.

The main roof timbers certainly came from an earlier dwelling. 

The Name:

Huntingdon seems to have simply been the name of a place in the township of Dutton, others included Ash, Hayhurst & Lodhill. Dutton was an Anglo Saxon name in common use, originally Dudda's Tun written Dutona before becoming Dutton. Some early families took their names from the lands upon which they lived (as in the case of Crombleholme). The reverse is probably true in the case of Huntingdon with a family moving to the area and settling:

         "In 1277 Robert de Huntingdon living at the Abbey of Selby came to Dutton and buried his son Roger and then entered upon half his land, whereupon Beatrix, widow of Roger, Robert her son, and others made complaint”. 

Robert the elder thus seems to have been in dispute with his son's widow over the ownership of this land in Dutton.(Source Mrs Jeffrey - owner of Huntingdon Hall 1988)

Published references to the house:

There is a short reference in the well known Pevsner's "Buildings of England" series for Lancashire. It is mentioned in the "History of Ribchester" (T C Smith late 19th century) in a chapter on the Crombleholmes of Stydd. This family probably built the house and certainly lived in it. It is mentioned here as being the seat of the family "a large unpretentious farm-house, and is now the property of the Holts of Stubbylee".

Jessica Lofthouse in her "Lancashire Fair Face" describes it as " a beautiful house with porch, gables, and mullioned windows built by 17th century Crombleholmes at the bend of the lane as it nears the fells, much modernised but very comely". A brief mention is also made in a recently published (1987) Dalesman series "Historic Walks in the Ribble Valley".

Historical Documentation:

A letter to the Preston Guardian in 1881 from a Mr J W Bone [ref 1,077] (a keen researcher and relative of the Crombleholme family) was found in the Preston Record Office. This noted some manuscripts given to John Bone by Canon Raines the well known Lancashire historian. These dealt with an indenture regarding the house and also part of the subsequent events. There seems to have been a dispute regarding ownership of the property which originally came from Richard Crombleholme.[Cro0064]

Unfortunately John Bone notes that he had been given these details some years before and had no recollection of where they had been found. None of his records appear to exist now !!  The indenture of 20th March 1636 names the house and is the earliest known record (besides an inscription) of it. The full extracts are as follows:

March 20th 1636 12C : Indenture between Richd Crombleholme [Cro0064]  of Dutton, Co Lanc., and Richd Crombleholme [Cro0068]  Son and heir app. to sd. Richd., senr., the pt. Thurston Tomlinson of sd. Co., 2 pt., and Sir John Talbot, of Salesbury, sd. Co., Knt. and John Tomlinson and Francis Tomlinson, sons of sd. Thurston, 3 pt. - A marriage is already solemnd. between Richard Crombleholme,  [Cro0068]  son and Catherine [Cro0069]  daughter of sd. Thurston Tomlinson, and in consideration of £250, her Marriage portion, and for her maintenance if she survive her husband and his father convey to the sd Trustees for her benefit, in lieu of Dower, the Mansion called Huntingdon Hall, & c.. After their deaths, to the use of their eldest Son, John [Cro0082]  in default, Remr. to 2d son, Henry [Cro0084]  and in default to each succeeding Son in tail male of said Richard Crombleholme and Catherine Crombleholme.

There is also a letter unfortunately not dated:

These for my Much Honor'd good friend Mr Edwd. Chetham,

                                 at Smeadley present

Sir, - I doe intend to proceed in your business with Crombleholme as follows:

        Impr. I take a Lease and Release from Crombleholme in your and your eldest son's name, with all necessary and usual Covenants, and to make unto him a Lease for 2000 yrs., rendering 24 li at Midsummer and Christmas, to cause him to enter into Articles that you may out of the 900 li disengage all the thereon Incumbrances, and that you may retaine in your handes the 100 li supposed to be due unto Crombleholme's younger brothers and sisters, and until they shall come unto one and twenty years and Release, or yt. in ye meane time hee give you good Security that they shall Release the Dower. And that Richard Leigh and Mr. Rishton shall both of them give Warrants to acknowledge satisfaction upon record; and shall give release to Crombleholme. These are all for the present that are thought needful to be done, but if you shall further advertise me, the like care shall be taken for any further things within yr thoughts upon the least intimation to yr lovinge friend to serve you,                                  G.PIGOT.       

There is also what appears to be the outcome of a dispute again undated. It does however seem to be related as being the result of the somewhat underhand advice given to Edward Chetham in the above letter :

        Henry Turnley, Francis Tomlinson, and John Crombleholme, [Cro0082] pts. Answer to Edward and James Chetham defts. (Usual reservations)- Wanting money, did Repayre to Edward Chetham, Esq., at the time named in the Bill of Complaint to borrow £400, did saie that he was lawfullie seized of Estate mentioned truly in the Bill wch. hee would assure to said Edward Chetham if he would grant him a Lease for 2000 yrs at 24 li per ann., which was all done wth. power for Chetham to re-enter if yt. rental was unpaid.

A footnote added: (This property came from Richard Crombleholme, and the dispute seems to depend upon other persons having a claim upon the property.)      

Interpretion:

 The above documents are recorded above in what would seem to be a correct chronological order.

The Indenture:

Contrary to other published research into the Crombleholme family of Dutton the indenture clearly proves that Richard Crombleholme [Cro0064]  his son also a Richard Crombleholme  [Cro0068]  alive in 1636.  The son is noted as heir apparent to his father. The "dower" mentioned is a portion of the husband's estate to which a widow was entitled after his death for her sustenance and education of their children. Usually a third part but this could be altered by local customary law of the manor to any portion or even the whole.

Katherine [Cro0069]  wife of the younger Richard Crombleholme, [Cro0068] was the daughter of Thurston Tomlinson who was a nearby landowner. The marriage recorded as already having taken place by 1636 has not been found as yet. As can be seen in the family tree extract (see Dutton Family) the eldest son John Crombleholme  [Cro0082]  born in 1633 and the 2nd son Henry Crombleholme [Cro0084] in 1636. The document clearly states that John is the eldest with Henry as 2nd son.

The Letter:

George Pigot of Preston has been found again in a transaction of 1659 when Richard Shireburne of Stonyhurst leased various lands to him in trust for George Talbot  of Salesbury............amongst these lands was an unnamed one bringing:

Rents..............Mr Crombleholme  £1. 2s. 6d.        (not sure which Richard C ??)

A George Piggott is also recorded as being Steward of the Manor of Slaidburn in the mid 17th century. Whether or not Edward Chetham was related to the famous Chetham family of Manchester is not known.

"Lease and release" was the post medieval transfer of property by granting a lease for a year and then releasing the grantor's rights the following day. Perhaps this was proposed after his parent's death when Huntingdon Hall was in John Crombleholme's possession. The third document recorded above "The dispute" mentions John and others "wanting money". The advice given by G. Pigot to Edward Chetham does however appear rather unprofessional and this may have been a factor in John Crombleholme's later financial position.

Presumably this also resulted in the Crombleholme family having to part with Huntingdon Hall in say the 1660/70 period. Richard Crombeholme  [Cro0068]  Dutton is recorded as having died in 1664 having also been listed in the Hearth Tax Returns earlier in 1662. No other records have been found relating to this matter.

Richard died in 1664 (aged 59) somewhere in Dutton. There were various land transactions recorded from 1612 to this time in Stydd but it is not clear if any of these had any bearing on the property

Please refer to the section below the house details - Events associated with the sale in 1664.

An inscription "R C 1619" is to be found on the lintel over the front door to the porch of the house. With the records mentioned above these initials can be taken as belonging to Richard Crombleholme  [Cro0064]  of Dutton (born 1581) and the date being that of his construction or enlargement of the house. These two facts date the house as existing in the early 17th century. From the constructional details which are dealt with later in these notes, the house was probably a  reconstruction using the materials of an existing dwelling on the site. The main roof timbers certainly came from an earlier dwelling.

The House:

Huntingdon Hall is a fine example of the local vernacular architecture.

The inscription "R C 1619" on the lintol over the entrance door of the front entry porch and the indenture mentioned above puts the house as being in existence in the early part of the 17th century. This coincidences with the "boom" period when many such houses were built or altered.

Although these two facts would seem to date the house as early 17th century, the main body of the house could well be older, inscriptions often refer to alterations or enlargements. A small sketch in pencil which the owner (in 1981) thought was drawn in approximately 1900 (before the right hand gable was added) shows a house of typical early 17th century form but with a possible earlier basis.

Houses always had a hall (or "house/housebody") into which the main doorway opened directly or into a connecting cross passageway. This hall would have been heated (in many cases it was the only heated room in the house). In earlier times such halls would have been open from ground to roof and would have had an open hearth (smoke blacking of roof timbers will indicate this). However it is doubtful that this is the case in this house, the change from open to floored halls being generally earlier in the latter quarter of the 16th century.

In addition to the hall, there was at least one parlour as well as service rooms (buttery, pantry and perhaps kitchen). In most cases, the parlour would have been at the "upper end" of the hall with the service rooms at the lower end adjacent to the entry. These were often in the form of cross wings giving a basic "H" plan. The lower end containing the service areas generally had a fire hood where cooking took place.

The parlour and dining room were often panelled and some had decorative plasterwork. This upper end would have had the moulding on beams, large mullioned windows and other embellishments. Glass would have been the latest "mod con" in the early 17th century being set in metal frames. It was valuable to the extent that it was sometimes removed when families moved house and often bequeathed in wills. The external chimney in this case could well have been added but may have been original if the whole building was constructed in 1619 with several heated rooms.

End hall houses (halls with only one storeyed end) were quite common in Lancashire in the 16th century with enlargements to the upper end being carried out in the early 17th century sometimes at the expense of the lower end. Lancashire being fairly remote tended to lag somewhat behind national developments but obviously individual houses do not always follow trends.

The first floors generally consisted of bedrooms corresponding to the rooms below, one opening off another. Stairs were often housed in a projecting wing but often were only simple affairs being narrow spiral ones. The "over parlour" was the principal upper room over the parlour itself. Like the parlour below it was often elaborately finished and contained the prized pieces of furniture. 

Above : In the sketch of the house (c1900) before the present right hand wing was greatly enlarged with a matching gable added, there was an "outshut" on the front elevation covered by an extension of the main roof. These are commonly called "catslide" roofs but are known in the north west as a "toofall" roofs. There was probably  a low store room above the ground floor in this part of the house.

The sketch shows a low blocked up window in this room. This may have been a false window originally intended to help balance the front elevation or it may be the result of the Window Tax of  1696. At that time it would have made sense to do away with the least valuable window. This tax replaced the earlier Hearth Tax which had ended a few years before having commenced in 1662-4. At present neither of these two tax assessment records have been researched for the house.

 A third storey was often built to show status, three triers of external mullioned windows with the upper ones only lighting the attic. The owner (Mrs Jeffery in 1988), mentioned a "priest hole" or hiding place in the attic with the panelling from this now in the dining room (parlour?).

Above : Some of the RC's sketches of house details.     Note "RC 1619" over door lintel.

Listing Building Text

SD 63 NE DUTTON HUNTINGDON HALL LANE

8/110 Huntingdon Hall

Listing date : 25.7.1952   Grade :  II*  (Grade 2 star)    (Listing NGR: SD6607538884)

House, early C17th, restored early C20th. Sandstone rubble with stone slate roof. 2 storeys with attics. Comprises a central 2-storey hall with 2 cross-wings, the right-hand wing formerly being lower with a catslide roof and being gabled in the early C20th to match the other wing. The windows are mullioned with outer chamfer and inner hollow chamfer and hoods. The left-hand cross-wing has a 6-light window on the ground floor, a 5-light window on the 1st floor and a 3-light attic window. The windows of the right-hand cross-wing are similar and appear to be old. The central range has a 6-light window on each floor, the 1st floor window now having one light blocked, with a 2-light window to the right on the 1st floor. In the angle with the right-hand cross- wing is a porch with a re-tooled moulded outer doorway. The gables have copings with ball finials. There is a chimney to the right of the door and a projecting stack on the left-hand return wall of the left-hand cross-wing. The rear walls have mullioned windows matching those at the front. Interior. The front room of the left-hand cross- wing has C17th panelling said to have come from elsewhere in the house.  The bedroom above on the 1st floor has a chamfered fireplace with 4-centred head.    

Huntingdon Hall  - events associated with sale in 1664

 [compiled by my co-researcher Mike Murtha of Victoria BC -  Oct 15 2018]

Note : All entries with a CLD reference are from the University of Manchester Special Collections

The Crombleholme family members involved : 

Richard C [64] (b ±1581;  d after 1637); 

Richard C [68] s/o [64] (b1605;  d 1664); 

Katherine C (nee Tomilson) [69] wife of [68]; (b 1612 d 1695) 

John C [82] eldest son of [68] & [69]; (b1633; d 1673) 

HH : Huntingdon Hall

 Please also refer to The Crombleholme of Dutton Family   to see the full details and original documents noted below.

1658 : CLD 337: Richard C [68] agreed to sell some property (Black Earth and the Bent) to Henry Turnley (who later had an interest in HH – see CLD 348 below)

1659 : George Pigot of Preston has been found again in a transaction of 1659 when Richard Shireburne of Stonyhurst leased various lands to him in trust for George Talbot of Salesbury............amongst these lands was an unnamed one bringing:

Rents..............Mr Crombleholme £1. 2s. 6d.   [68 ? ]   (Note George Pigott may be the same person who was Steward of the Manor of Slaidburn)

1662 (March) : CLD 339: Levy of a Fine (transfer fee) – Richard C [68], Katherine (wife) [69] and eldest son John C [82]. were transferring some interest in Huntingdon Hall and all their other property to Francis Tomilson, Henry Marsden and Richard Townley

1662 (7 March) : CLD 338: legal action by Henry Marsden and Richard Townley against Francis Tomilison and John Crane regarding land

1662 : CLD 340: Sheriff involvement re CLD 338

1663 : CLD 341: Action by Richard C [68], Katherine [69] and John C [82]. against Francis Tomilson and John Crane (the doc with the looped writing)

1663 (30 Sept): Richard C [68] in default for rent (fine 12d)

1664 (11 April): Richard C [68] in default for rent (fine 12d); Richard C [68] still alive at this date

1664 (10 August); Letters of Administration for Richard C [68] who must have recently died

1664 (19 Nov) CLD 344: John C [82]. Agreement to transfer HH to Edward and James Chetham 

1664 (19 Nov) CLD 345: Bonds for performance of CLD 344

1664 (21 Nov) CLD 346: Release of HH (interest in?) by Henry Marsden to Edward and James Chetham

1664 CLD 343: John C [82] answer to Chethams’ complaint

1664 (Nov) - 1665 (Jan) CLD 347: 4 receipts of John C [82] re transfer to Chethams

1665 (23 Feb) CLD 348: release of right in HH by Henry Turnley to Edward and James Chetham

1665 (28 Feb) CLD 349: John C [82] assigns HH to Thomas Mynshull (presumably acting for the Chethams)

1665 (7 March) CLD 350: release by John C [82] of articles in CLD 344 (presumably this completed the sale to the Chethams)

1665 (30 Sept): John Crombleholme [82] in default for rent (fine12d)

1668 (22 Oct) : John Crombleholme [82] writes to James Chetham (son of Edward). 

 "Sir,  I intend God willing to be with you at Smedley at ( ?) and bring my rents with me..... " (see original letter & transcription in The Crombleholme of Dutton Family   . It would appear that this letter refers to a late payment of the Midsummer amount for that year.   

1673 :  John Crombleholme [82] dies

1678 CLD 351; Chethams sell HH to Christopher Greenfield of Preston

1686 (28 Oct) CLD 352: court order in case of Edward and James Chetham vs. Thomas Minshall

Undated. From the this website (above), 

 There is also a letter unfortunately not dated [MM: but must post-date the death of RC 68 in summer 1664]:

These for my Much Honor'd good friend Mr Edwd. Chetham,  at Smeadley present

Sir, - I doe intend to proceed in your business with Crombleholme as follows:

        Impr. I take a Lease and Release from Crombleholmein your and your eldest son's name, with all necessary and usual Covenants, and to make unto him a Lease for 2000 yrs., rendering  24 li at Midsummer and Christmas, to cause him to enter into Articles that you may out of the 900 li disengage all the thereon Incumbrances, and that you may retaine in your handes the 100 li supposed to be due unto Crombleholme's younger brothers and sisters, and until they shall come unto one and twenty years and Release, or yt. in ye meane time hee give you good Security that they shall Release the Dower. And that Richard Leigh and Mr. Rishton shall both of them give Warrants to acknowledge satisfaction upon record; and shall give release to Crombleholme. These are all for the present that are thought needful to be done, but if you shall further advertise me, the like care shall be taken for any further things within yr thoughts upon the least intimation to yr lovinge friend to serve you,                                 

 G.PIGOT.       

There is also what appears to be the outcome of a dispute again undated. It does however seem to be related as being the result of the somewhat underhand advice given to Edward Chetham in the above letter :

        Henry Turnley, Francis Tomlinson, and John Crombleholme, [Cro0082] pts. Answer to Edward and James Chetham defts. (Usual reservations)- Wanting money, did Repayre to Edward Chetham, Esq., at the time named in the Bill of Complaint to borrow £400, did saie that he was lawfullie seized of Estate mentioned truly in the Bill wch. hee would assure to said Edward Chetham if he would grant him a Lease for 2000 yrs at 24 li per ann., which was all done wth. power for Chetham to re-enter if yt. rental was unpaid.

[MM: what is the source for this quote?  (see above) = A letter to the Preston Guardian in 1881 from Mr J W Bone [ref 1,077] the information had been found and transcribed by Canon Raines of Milnrow and given to John Bone. Unfortunately, he appears to have lost the accompanying letter that gave the source !

………………………………………………

Some initial thoughts [MM] (April 2018)

1.     The Dutton Crombleholme family were in financial difficulty from the late 1650s, when they started to sell some land and partial interests in Huntingdon Hall (were these re-mortgages with the partial interest as collateral?). By 1663, Richard C [68] was in default on rent due to Shireburn. The cause of the difficulties is unknown. They appear to have been property-rich and cash-poor

2.     Did they overextend themselves when Richard C [64] started (or continued) construction of HH in 1619 ?  Did they have substantial mortgages that they were later unable to pay? Were the difficulties caused by economic circumstances beyond their control? Was any of the estate sequestered for recusancy? Did the Civil War have an effect on their fortunes ?

3.     Is the 1637 Indenture committing HH and the estate to Katherine C [69] for life occupancy after the death of Richard [68] – in lieu of the typical one-third of the estate as a dowry – evidence of early difficulty? Thurstan Tomlinson, Katherine’s father, transferred £250 to Richard [64] as part of the arrangement

4.     What were the roles of the various third parties? It was assumed that Katherine’s [69] brother Francis was trying to acquire part of the estate (CLD 339 in 1662), especially as Katherine [69] and her son John C [82] started legal action against him the following year (CLD 341). But perhaps the transfer was actually to protect Katherine [69] from loss of the estate. If so, it was not successful as the Chethams subsequently acquired the interests, first of John and then of Henry Marsden and Henry Turnley through a series of purchases

5.     In the middle of all the turmoil, Richard [68] died, at age 59, some time between April and August 1664. The 1637 Indenture would have come into force, allowing Katherine C [69] to remain in the family home. However, she had only life tenancy, not ownership – that was vested in her son John C [82]. Hence the subsequent negotiations and sale were the responsibility of John C [82]. The Chethams expressly required release of the dower in order to effect the purchase (undated Pigot letter)

6.     It looks like the Chethams allocated £900 for purchase of the various interests. But there was also a provision for £100 to be held in trust for “Cromblehome’s younger brothers and sisters” during their minority. John C [82] was looking after the family. Perhaps he had little cash in hand after the sale and was unable to provide for them himself

7.     The family may not have had to leave the estate immediately. The undated Pigot letters suggest that John C [82] and his associates negotiated a sale and a lease back for 2000 years at an annual rent of £24 paid bi-annually at Midsummer and Christmas

8.     John C [82] et al appear to have initiated the negotiations by requesting to borrow £400 from the Chethams in return for the sale and leaseback of the estate. 

9.     Even the 1678 sale to Christopher Greenfield (CLD 351) might not have terminated the lease arrangement. However, the situation had undoubtedly been complicated by John C’s [82] death in 1673 at age 40. Was his younger brother Henry C [84] able to assume any lease then in existence? (he lived until 1696) - or had the estate completely passed out of the family’s hands? 

10.  We do not know when Katherine C [69] left HH to live with her son Matthew C [96] in Holborn, London. It must have been a very long and stressful period for her and judging from her will, she died in 1695 aged 83 but never recovered financial security.

 NB : The Deeds of HH are not thought to exist - the owner  in 1981 had never seen any.

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