Widdington Hall

Page n182

Widdington Hall manor-house is an ancient building, a short distance from the church south-eastward : formerly it had a chapel, now converted into a parlour, the massive walls of which were three feet in thickness: after remaining several generations in the fManor of Widdington, Essex

“Widdington Hall stands in the Parish of Widdington, Essex, a little to the southeast of the church, which is a very ancient building and used to have at one end of the building a chapel now converted into a parlour. The walls of the church are 30 feet thick. Many generations of Fitches were parishioners of this an¬ cient church. This manor continued for several gen¬ erations in the holding of Robert de Gernon and his posterity which took the surname of de Montfichet.”

Edit: (The Church walls should read 3 feet thick )

EDWARD ELRINGTON of Theydon Bois esquire, 25 February 1578. [For Rowland Elrington, see p. 192.] [22/11]

To Dorothy my well-beloved wife the lease of my house and garden in St Katherine Coleman in London with the household stuff there and in my house at Theydon Bois, her jewels and apparel to her belonging, and my plate, for life, and my cattle at Theydon Bois.

Whereas the Queen's Majesty under the seal of her Duchy of Lancaster by indenture dated 22 March 1571 demised to me the manor of Barwicke in High Easter and other lands, to begin after the expiration of a former lease to Thomas Wiseman esquire, my executors during 20 years after the beginning of my lease shall pay to my four children £60 yearly for their good education and bringing up in learning, i.e. to Francis, William and Thomas and Jane £15 each, the residue of the yearly profits above the £60 to be paid to my loving brethren and sisters Christopher Elrington, Edward Elrington, Beatrice Whitebreade and Judith Elrington to be divided equally; and if they decease during the 20 years then his or her part shall be paid to my three younger sons, Francis, William and Thomas. To them the residue of my lease of the manor of Barwicke, and if every of them die then the residue to my eldest son Edward. The household stuff in Widdington Hall to be sold after my decease and the money equally divided and paid to my younger children (my daughter excepted) at 21. To every one of my brethren a ring of gold worth 40s. having these words graven on them, 'Dominus vidit, and to every one of my sisters a ring of gold worth 30s. with these words "The Lord doth see'. To every one of my household servants to whom I give both livery and wages, 40s. besides such wages.

Whereas I am seised of my capital and mansion house called Widding- ton Hall and lands belonging and a meadow between the church and the house called Stockwell (containing 2 acres), a close of pasture called Layland (20 acres), an adjoining close called Godrales (3 acres), Widding- ton Park (80 acres), an adjoining meadow called Park Mead (6 acres), and the demesne lands of the manor in the tenure of John Cockett, viz. arable (173) acres) and meadow and pasture (23 acres), and quitrents

and services of the copyholders and freeholders, and Leylingioke Wood (20 acres), all in Widdington and being a full third part in value and more of my lands, I give them to Edward, with successive remainders in default of issue to Francis, William, Thomas and Jane, to Rowland Elrington my brother, the said Christopher and my brother Edward, to Richard Cuttes esquire and Mary his wife being my sister, and their heirs male, and to the heirs of Edward Elrington esquire, my father, deceased. Whereas I am seised of a farm called Vesis in Widdington in the tenure of Robert Howland and Dane Mead in that of [blank] at a yearly rent of £34 8s. 9d. and 5 quarters of wheat, a farm called Cambrigges in Widdington in that of Nicholas Lacie at £11, a mead in that of Mistress Howland lying beside Newport at 26s. 8d., Widdington windmill now in lease at 53s. 4d., a limekiln in Widdington in lease at 30s., a house and two pightles in that of widow Hawkins at 16s. 8d., and 64 acres of arable in that of William Toller for which I have no rent, and the advowson of Widdington church, I give them for 14 years after my decease, viz. my executors shall for 4 years pay to Francis, William, Thomas and Jane the profits and revenues to the extent of £10 a year for their finding and good education and to Jane out of such profits £500 at marriage or 20, and the residue at the end of the 14 years shall be equally divided among all my children except Jane, and, if she decease before, to Rowland [etc. as before].

Whereas I conveyed to Thomas Averie and Richard Cuttes esquires my manor of Shortgrave Hall in Newport and my lands in Newport belonging, my parsonage or rectory of Theydon Bois with the lands belonging, my capital mansion house called Birch Hall in Theydon Bois, and other my lands in Theydon Bois or Loughton, to the use of myself and Dorothy my wife, with successive remainders in default of issue to Rowland and to Christopher, so that it shall be lawful to me by will to alter the estates, I declare that if my wife decease within 14 years after my decease the manor, rectory and lands shall be to the use of my executors for the performance of my will and thereafter to the uses declared in the conveyance. To John Davye, my old servant, my house and 5 acres which Robert Patche occupieth in Theydon Garnon for life without paying any rent.

I constitute my loving brother-in-law Thomas Sadler esquire and my very good brother Rowland my executors, desiring my wife and them to have especial care to the bringing up of my children in the fear of God and good learning, and to each £10. I make Sir Ralph Sadler knight my father-in-law overseer, and to him as a remembrance my crystal cup. Witnesses: Henry Billengsley, William Cooche, Humfrey Broke notary, and Richard Rogers, servant to Humfrey Broke.

Proved 4 February 1579.

Taken from the The  Widdingtone Chronicles 

Morant in his "History and Antiquities of the County of Essex", dated 1768, states that Widdington Hall "is a very ancient building". He also sets out ownership to that date.

The manor of Widdington Hall was held by various Norman-French families, the last of whom, Gilbert Levois, died in 1364, leaving his elder daughter, Catherine, as his heiress. She married John Duke, Master of the Pantry to King Edward III (1327-1377), presented him with the estates, and it seems likely that the original aisled hall and western crosswing were built at about that time.

The building consisted of a great aisled hall running East to West with a crosswing or solar at the Eastern end. The hall was open to the rafters and today the roof rafters are well smoke-blackened giving evidence of the communal open fire used for heating and cooking.... The crosswing was probably floored and used by the family as living accommodation and for sleeping.

Unfortunately only one bay of the hall remains, the Eastern end having been destroyed by fire. However, much of original timberwork remains in the house and roof. In particular the massive doorway into the hall is intact, together with the crown-posts in the roof.

Ownership of the hall over the 15th century is not clear. Morant says that a John Greene Esq. married Agnes, daughter and heir to John Duke (see above), and shared the estate with her. Both lie buried in the Church chancel.

At the beginning of the 16th century the estate came into the possession of the Elrington family. Edward Elrington married Grace (?) around 1525. Grace is a bit of a mystery, but the Elrington family was well established. Edward's father, Sir John, was Treasurer of the Household.

After some 30 years of ownership Edward died in 1558, and during this period the second phase of building took place. At the East end a thick chimney and kitchen were built and extended to the North in the form of a prestigious two storeyed building expensively built in decorated brick and heavy timberwork. The building is worthy of special description. It comprises five bays, red brick with a blue diaper pattern on the West wall, and a heavily timber framed East wall. It abuts on to the main house at the Southern end, the Northern end being brick built. The ground floor is divided into rooms, whilst the upper storey is open to the roof, without division. In the north-west corner a fireplace exists on both floors with the chimney stack recently rebuilt. All the original door frames exist together with the oak-mullioned windows. Over two of the windows the sliding shutters are in place with their original runners. The roof, traditional in the structure of the time, has side purlins and wind-braces without a ridgepiece.

The building had been used for general farm purposes over many years and much of the internal structure had understandably deteriorated. Over recent years the building has been extensively restored, and is in much the same condition now as when it was built over 400 years ago.

The Hall and estate continued to be owned by the Elrington family until they were sold to Mr. Edward Turner of Saffron Walden about 1635. It is likely that Mr. Turner carried out further development of the house, that is the addition of the dining room, central chimney and fireplace, and the flooring in the main hall of the house.

The Turner family occupied the Hall until it passed to a Mrs. Bithray, a sister of the last direct male heir to Edward Turner, on his death in 1738.

During the 19th century it is doubtful if there was any further major development apart from addition of a wagon barn and hayloft..... The ownership passed to the Perry family at the beginning of the 19th century.... They farmed the land of about 380 acres employing 10-15 men and up to 20 boys.

At some time in the early years of this century the Hall was sold to Thomas Carmichael. The Carmichael family occupied the house and farmed the land until William Carmichael retired in 1970. I bought the house in that year, and have extensively restored and renovated it, preserving in particular the northern extension for posterity. The main structure of the house has now stood for over 600 years, and provided it is well looked after and loved, I see no reason why it should not stand for another 600 years.

Alan Bonner, June 1992.