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Highfields in about 1900 |
Highfields, Audlem A Grade I Listed Building
A half timbered manor house built in about 1560 BAK00500
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The home page of the Farndale family website of which this section is a part |
The Home page of the Baker family part of the website |
The Baker Family directory |
Notes on the Baker family history |
The Baker Family Tree, which is the best way to search the family history |
Headlines of are in brown.
Dates are in red.
Hyperlinks to other pages are in dark blue.
References and citations are in turquoise.
Context and local history are in purple.
Highfields is a half timbered
manor house of a construction typical to many built in the area at the time.
The Dod Era 1553 to 1736
1553
Highfields was probably built by William Dod of Lostford sometime after 1553. The first mention of the “pasture
or close of the Highefelds” is in a deed, still at Highfields, dated 1
October 1553. The owner was Hugh Chester of Newstrete
Lane, Salop and the land was some 500 acres. He bequeathed the estate, on the
death of his wife and himself to his son in law, William Dod and so William had
inherited the Highefelds pasture from Hugh Chester, his father in law. No house yet stood there, so a house must
have been built about that time.
1568
William Dod’s son, William Dod described
himself as ‘of Highfields’ by 1568.
Although not much bigger than many large farms of the period, the
house contained beautifully carved oak, particularly the two staircases and the
fireplace.
1615
There is a Jacobean chimney piece in the south wing of the current
property dated 1615, with the initials of the third William Dod of Highfields
(1577 to 1647) and the date 1615 appears over the front door at Highfields, but
the house is reputed to date from about 1585. Perhaps the main structure of the
house was not built until the early seventeenth century.
The original house consisted of two three storied wings joined by
the hall the roof of which ran at right angles to the gables, forming the well known ‘H’ shape of the period.
1640
During the Civil War support was divided, but the Dod family of
Highfields appear to have sided with the Royalists. William Dod (1577 to 1655)
was appointed to be one of the principal collectors of a subsidy for Charles I
and persons whose lands or goods exceeded £1 in value were assessed to pay 8s
in the pound.
1642
Military activity around Audlem was largely confined to passage
through the village. In May 1642 Prince Rupert, Charles I’s nephew, the third
son of Frederick V of Bohemia and James I’s daughter Elzabeth, marched with his
army from Shrewsbury to relieve Stockport, just before the Battle
of Marston Moor. The army camped between Market Drayton and Buerton and a number of officers were billeted at local houses including
Bellaport Hall. It is claimed that Prince Rupert
himself spent the night at Highfields, and his army camped in the fields round
about.
1680
In the late seventeenth century staircases with twisted
balustrades were installed at Highfields and there may have been a number of developments to the house at this time.
1727
William’s sons did not long outlive him and soon Highfields passed
to his grandson, George Dod, a barrister at law. George married Charity, the
niece of Sir George Woodroffe of Alvington Court,
Gloucestershire. They had seven boys and ten girls. His eldest son was also
George, who died in 1713 before George the Elder who died in 1727. George the
younger left two daughters, and the elder was Jane Dod.
The First Baker Era 1736 to 1884
1736
William Baker (BAK00068)
(1705 to 1771) the architect was proprietor of the house from 1736, when he
married Jane Dod. Jane was
the only surviving daughter of George Dod of Highfields, causing the house to
be inherited by her when her grandfather George Dod of Highfields had died. It
may well have been William Baker who undertook significant work to the house.
That said, it has been suggested that he would have been unlikely to have used
timber construction, which points back to much of the major work being
undertaken before his time.
From Audlem, The History of a Cheshire Parish and its five townships, 1997: “In the eighteenth century William
Baker had a kiln at Highfields and sold bricks, payments for which are recorded
in his account books with details of numbers made. In the parish there are a number of Brick Kiln Fields, indicating that local clay
was frequently used for the purpose.”
William’s elder son,
Richard Dod Baker (BAK00083) (1743 to 1803) inherited Highfields but practised as an
architect at Stratford upon Avon where his children were born. It is thought
that Richard had the central doorway at the entrance front and the panelling in
the hall installed. Richard’s older
sister, Charity Baker (BAK00081), her husband having died young, returned to Highfields and
managed the estate for her father and later for her brother while he was away.
She had as reputation as a forceful lady, and later became known in Audlem as
“Madam Barrow”.
1803
Richard’s elder son, Richard Dod Baker (BAK00100)(1784
to 1807) died on his way home from military service in India. So Highfields
passed to William Baker the Elder (BAK00102)(1787
to 1863), who lived there for the next sixty years.
1820
In 1820 there was a visit by the Duke of Wellington to Combermere Abbey for the christening of Combermere’s
son in December 1820. During the visit the entourage went to Audlem where Combermere’s brother was the vicar. He had been at the
Audlem grammar school for a period with William Baker the Elder (BAK00102)
and they carried on to Highfields, bringing the Duke with them. Combermere’s sister, Hester lived at the vicarage and
carved a mantlepiece, commemorating the occasion and when the vicarage was
demolished some years later, the fireplace was removed and placed in a bedroom
at Highfields.
1860
The earliest photograph of the house was in about 1860.
1863
The estate then passed to William Baker
the Younger (1816 to 1876) (BAK00121) who later
married Henrietta Louisa Bellyse in 1849. In 1854, he built Kynsal
Lodge, a medium sized house of character, which was designed
by Thomas Baker (BAK00128),
the third and last of the Baker architects. Thomas built a number of country
houses in the area, including Hillside, Green Lane (later the home of Arthur
Baker (BAK00155)
and his family) and the Cedars (later the home of the three rather eccentric
sisters, Poppy (BAK00150),
Totty (BAK00157)
and Emily (BAK00158)
and the bachelor Richard Dod Baker (BAK00154).
1876
The elder brother John (“Jack”) Belyse Baker (BAK00151)(1850 to 1932) inherited Highfields on the death of his
father. It was a time of great
depression in farming. See
the
diaries of Charity, Charlotte and Emily Baker covering the period 1878 to
1882.
The Kellock Era 1884 to 1946
1884
During the Agricultural Depression John Bellyse Baker (BAK00151)
leased Highfields from 1876 to 1884 and then sold the house in 1884 to Charles
Walford Kellock. W W Kellock was a JP, born at
Halewood in 1862. He was senior partner of the wealthy C W Kellock & Co,
shipbreakers of Liverpool. He was the brother of Charles Walford Kellock, also
of Highfields who was described as the owner of the Highfields Estate. The main
window at Audlem church was given by three sons in memory of Charles Walford
Kellock JP of Highfields who died on 22 February 1897 aged 65, and Catherine,
his wife, who died on 29 January 1903. There was a heavy
handed restoration to Highfields during the Kellock era including the
addition of high extensions to the chimneys in Ruabon brick.
1890
John emigrated to New Zealand where he was a sheep farmer. However he returned to England in 1890.
The Second Baker Era 1946 to Date
1946
In 1946, Bellyse Baker (BAK00165)
repurchased Highfields and many of the family pictures and other contents were
returned to the house. Fortunately the pictures,
silver and much of the furniture had been stored at the Cedars.
1984
Between 1984 and 1990 there was a major restoration undertaken to
Highfields by Bellyse Baker’s son, Jack Baker (BAK00175)(1925
to 2010) and his wife Jo, and grandson, John Baker (BAK00190).
The history of Highfields can be traced through the Dod family tree and then the Baker family tree, where
you will find Highfields
highlighted in yellow to show how it passed through the families.
Today Highfields is a
historic venue for weddings, and is still lived in by the Baker family.
Research by Nicholas
Kingsley:
A fine and symmetrical but much altered
timber-framed house, built for William Dod, with cross-wings either side of a
central hall block. The date of the house is unclear. In 1553 William Dod I
acquired a pasture known as 'Highefelds', on which no house yet stood. His son,
William Dod II, is recorded as 'of Highfields' in 1568, and so presumably a
house had been built by then. But was it this house? A chimneypiece in the Best
Parlour in the south wing is dated 1615 and has the initials of William Dod III
(1577-1647), and the whole fabric of the house could be of this date (a bedroom
on the first floor has another original overmantel with the initials of his
wife). Indeed, I would argue strongly for the later date if it was certain that
the symmetry of the front was original, but the central porch and the gable
above it seem to be 19th century, and the present arrangement by which the
single-storey hall is entered in the centre seems to be 18th century, with some
internal evidence that there was at one time a conventional hall and screens
passage arrangement. In the absence of any dendro-chronological evidence,
however, the date of the original building must remain a matter for speculation.
In the late 17th century, staircases
with twisted balusters were inserted into both the cross-wings; that in the
south range has balusters consisting of two detached strands twisted together,
while that in the north range has clusters of balusters forming newels. There
may have been other changes at the same time, including perhaps the addition of
the drawing room between the wings on the garden front. Traditionally, this
addition is said to have been made by the architect, William Baker, after he
married Jane Dod and gained possession of the house, but it seems unlikely he
would have built in timber when he was operating a brickworks
on the estate, and it is more likely to be a 17th century addition. Baker, or
his son and successor at Highfields, Richard Dod Baker (1743-1803) was,
however, probably responsible for making a central doorway on the entrance
front, and for the dado-height panelling in the hall. Richard was presumably
responsible for inserting the sash windows with thin glazing bars and two tripartite
windows recorded the earliest photograph of the house c.1860. The same view
also shows that the house was then stuccoed and this
too is likely to have been Richard's work.
After John Bellyse Baker sold the house
in 1884 to Charles Walford Kellock, it was given a rather heavy-handed
restoration. He stripped off the stucco to reveal the timber-frame beneath,
replaced the Georgian sashes with leaded casements, added a new front porch, a
timber-framed service wing on the north side, and tall chimneys of bright red
Ruabon brick, which gave the house a more picturesque and irregular silhouette.
In the north range an inglenook fireplace was created, with a late 19th century
Gothic chimneypiece, and several other timber overmantels were brought in from
elsewhere or fabricated from old carved work that may originally have adorned
an overmantel or a bed or a cupboard. One such piece, labelled 'John Gwyn
1674', was installed in the drawing room, and there is another in the hall.
Also apparently of the 1880s is the large half-timbered single-storey lodge on
Woodhouse Lane. In the 1940s, the Bellyse Baker family bought the house back
and were happily able to return many of the family pictures and other contents
which had been removed from it in 1884.
Audlem’s first
pageant was performed at Highfields on Thursday 24 July 1969. The event was
initiated by the Audlem’s Women’s Institute to mark
its golden jubilee. John Burton was the pageant master and wrote the script.
There was a cast of 150 adults and children. The BBC’s Judith Chalmers
narrated.
From in Audlem, The History of a
Cheshire Parish and its five townships, 1997: “Two major entertainments during recent years have been the
Pageants at Highfields.
The first took place on 24 July 1969 and was organised by the WO
to mark its Golden Jubilee. Amongst those responsible were
Mrs Anna can der Bugh, Mr Howard Hilton and Mrs Sybil Cotterill with a two hour
performance depicting scenes showing the growth of the village from the
granting of the Charter to modern times. There was a cast of 150 adults and
children.
This was followed on 16 July 1983 by a similar production with the
re-enacting of some famous events including the visit of Prince Rupert during
the Civil War and the coming of the canal and railway.
A leading figure was Mr John Burton who wrote and produced
pantomimes as well as the Pageant.”
Peggy Baker (later Farndale)(BAK00002)
and Martin Farndale (FAR00911)
at Highfields in about 1990
A visit to Highfields
– Peggy Baker (later Farndale) and family
The Staffordshire Sentinel, 29 November 1982:
SPOPTLIGHT ON HIS FAMILY HOME
The story of an historic half
timbered manor house in rural South Cheshire is told in a new 32
page illustrated booklet.
The story of Highfields, Audlem, 16th century home of the Dod and
Baker families, have been written by the present joint owner of the picturesque
black and white house, Mr. John Bellyse Baker, and published by Audlem and
District Amenity Society (£1.25).
Sponsored by Audlem District History Society, it covers the period
from 1553 to the present day and contains 28 illustrations, including portraits
of members of the families and interior and exterior views of Highfields, which
is actually situated in Buerton, about 2½ miles south
of Audlem, on the Cheshire-Shropshire border.
The illustrations include the ornate fireplace in the main
bedroom, in which Prince Rupert of Civil War fame, is reputed to have slept,
while on the rear cover of the book are depicted the 15 coats of arms of the
Bakers and Dods of Highfields and the families with which they intermarried,
drawn by the author.
Mr. Baker meticulously traces the history of the house and its
incumbents down the years, beginning with William Dod of Lostford,
taken to be Losford near Tern Hill, who inherited
various lands including pastures known as the Highefields
and Marestalls from Hugh Chester of Newstrete Lane, Salop, in 1553.
The Baker family connection with Highfields began with the
marriage in 1736 of William Baker, an architect of Leominster, to Jane Dod who
had inherited Highfields on the death in 1727 of her grandfather,
George.Dod, a barrister at law.
William Baker writes the author, was one of the foremost all
architects in the north midlands in the mid 18th
century and his architectural designs included the Crown and the Phoenix at
Audlem.
Probably the most colourful character to figure in the book is Dr
John Bellyse (1738 to 1828), better known as “Cockfighting Bellyse”, whose
preserved scales and other cockfighting impediment are seen in one of the
illustrations.
“So much has been written about this colourful, if rather
questionable character that it will suffice to say that he was Cheshire 's most
successful cockfighter at a time when it was, along with horse racing and fox
hunting, England’s national sport”, writes Mr. Baker.
The Doctor’s son, John, in fact, eloped with the daughter of
architect Richard Dod Baker (1743 to 1803)
“His son's entry into the Baker family was not without colour”,
writes the author, “He eloped with Richard's daughter, Hannah, in the time
approved manner. She climbed from the bedroom window
and they departed by post chaise.”
The booklet also includes fascinating extracts from old financial
accounts, memoranda, and also letters and journals,
including those from the early 1800s written by Richard Dod Baker junior while
an undergraduate at Oxford and later when en route to
India with the 17th Leicestershire Regiment the year before Trafalgar.
The author, who acknowledges his indebtedness to Mr George Dow for
his assistance over the book and to Mr Howard Edwards who took most of the
photographs, strikes a note of optimism on the future of Highfields.
“A new chapter will soon be opened,” he writes. “the Ministry of Works has agreed to help towards the
essential restoration, the house being scheduled as a Grade 1 property.
“Highfields, which is now jointly owned by the author and his son,
will then be open to the public on certain days and should be safe for the
foreseeable future.”
Audlem District Amenities Society have also just had reprinted one
of their earlier publications to meet demand for it.
“Nineteenth Century Audlem” by Marjorie Burton (75p) is a 24 page booklet which first appeared in 1973.
Containing 15 illustrations, including a front cover designed by
Mr Dow, and some historic photographs of 19th century scenes, it has chapters
on pubs and personalities, the arrival of the canal and railway, the grammar
school, and past times and the parish church.
Both “Highfields” and “Nineteenth Century Audlem” are available
from Mr DC McKelvey, Shropshire Street, Audlem,
Highfields, Audlem, 16th
century home of the Dod and Baker families, John Bellyse Baker, 1982.
Highfields is a small, half timbered manor
house, situated in the southern tip of Cheshire, a few hundred yards from the
Shropshire border. In the Township of Buerton, it is about 2 ½ miles South of
Audlem, off Woodhouse Lane. Its construction is typical of many that were
built, mostly in Cheshire and South Lancashire, using the oak timber from the
great forests of Wirral, Macclesfield and Delamere.
The coming of the Tudors had brought an end to centuries of fighting; fortified
manor houses were no longer necessary. Old customs, however, die hard. All the
half-timbered houses of the country, even the Elizabethan ones, are
elaborations of a structure and aesthetic that still belonged to the Middle
Ages. All adopt the medieval plan of a central dining hall with service rooms
and servants quarters at one end; at the other end,
the parlour and family apartments.
The first mention of Highfields is in the deed between William Dod
of Losford, County Salop, Gentleman
and Hugh Chester of Newstrete Lane, County Salop,
dated 1st October 1553. In this deed, William “and his heirs forever”,
inherit, on the death of Hugh and his wife Alice, various lands
and properties, some 500 acres in all. These include the pastures situated in
Woodhouse Lane known as the Highfields and Marestalls.
William Dod was the youngest son of John Dod, Lord of the Manor of
Cloverley. Cloverley Hall
was, at that time, an early moated manor house, built round an open courtyard.
John Dodd’s great grandfather was Hugh Dod who, in 1418, married Agnes,
daughter and heiress of Roger de Cloverley, from whom
he inherited the estate of Cloverley. Hugh's father,
John, had married Johanna, the daughter and co-heiress of John Warren of Ightfield, inheriting through her the adjoining Calverhall lands. The Ightfield
estate went to William Mainwaring of Peover who had
married Johanna’s sister, Margaret. This John Dod, referred to in old documents
as John Dod of Calverhall, was the great grandson of
Roger Dod of Edge, near Malpas (the Edge Hall estate is still owned by the
Wolley Dod family). The Dods had obtained the Edge property when Hova Dod married the daughter and heiress of Edwin, Lord of
Edge. Hova Dod (or Dot as the name appears in some
documents) was the son of Cadwgan Dot of Malpas. To quote from A Genealogical
and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland: “Dot,
the Saxon Lord of sixteen manors, either exclusively, or of a considerable
portion thereof was joint Lord of Cholmondeley, Hampton, Grappenhall and two
thirds of the Bickerton with this very Edwin. Dot was ejected from all his
manors (after the Norman conquest), and the circumstance of the heiress of the
relics of Edwin 's lands matching herself with a man who bore the name of one
so closely connected with her apparent ancestor seems to make this marriage the
results of an old family friendship and alliance, and to lead to a deduction of
Cadwgan Dot from the Dot of Domesday. A descent in the male line from a Saxon,
noticed in that record, would be unique in the county of Chester.”
To return to Highfields. As already mentioned, William Dod of Losford (presumably Lostford,
near Tern Hill) inherited various lands including the pastures known as
Highfields and the Marestalls from the Chester family
in 1553. This deed is a recognition of right in which William Dot received five
hundred acres including a house in Woodhouse Lane. There is no payment
involved, so one can only assume that William’s wife, whom we know in deeds as
“Anne”, was the daughter and heiress of Hugh and Alice Chester. As the
Highfields is referred to as a “pasture or close”, it seems that the
house did not then occupy the site. In Camden 's Britannia of 1695,
Highfields is marked, also Maer Houses, where Mere farm now stands in Woodhouse
Lane. Could this be the Marestalls referred to in the
document?
Four years later, in 1557, William made the estate over to his
son, William Dod of Newstrete Lane “in consideration
of £3”. The son, William, would appear to be living with his grand father, Hugh Chester (his grandmother had died)
perhaps helping him to manage the estate. The next document to survive is a
marriage settlement of 1568, between William Dod of Newstrete
Lane and Margaret Pixley, of Willaston, Shropshire,
Widow. In return for making over various parcels of land to his future wife, Catherine and any children of the marriage in the event of
his death, William received a dowry “£56.13.4 by installments,
to be completed at the feast of Saint Michael 1569”. At the time of their
marriage, he further received “one bed” and “such decent apparel as
shall be thought decent, meet and convenient for the set Katharin.”
Hugh Chester was still living in Newstreet
Lane. It seems probable that William and Katharin moved to Woodhouse Lane after
their marriage. Later, probably in 1585, they built Highfields on “the
Highfields pasture”. Certainly their elder son,
William, was baptised at Audlem and, in 1598, married Eleanor, the daughter of
John Gamul, of Buerton Hall, Lord of that manor. The following year William’s
father died and the young couple settled at
Highfields. They added the oak panelling in the best parlour and the very fine
carved fireplace, with the initials and date, WD 1615.
Part of the beautiful carved oak mantelpiece in the oak room,
bearing William Dod’s initials and the year 1615
Fireplace in the main bedroom, The magnificent four
poster in the main bedroom
In which Prince Rupert, of Civil
War fame, is reputed to have slept
The coming of the civil war brought great tragedy in the district.
In 1641, William, now over 60, was one of the principal collectors of a subsidy
for the use of King Charles I. Persons whose land or goods exceeded £1 in value
were assessed at 8s in the £.
William’s elder son was Thomas, who made his will in 1652. In this
will he, being unmarried, left Highfields to his brother, George of Penders
End, Buerton, on condition that his father shall continue to live there.
William had sold his Buerton estate to George for £200, in 1643 and George
presumably built Penders End, which is not mentioned in that document. It seems
likely that William made Highfield over to Thomas at about the same time.
A miniature of George Dod (1653-1727) in armour, which is still preserved
The year before Thomas Gamul died; citizen and grocer of London,
brother of William Gamul of Buerton Hall and brother-in-law of William Dod. In
his will he entrusted £500 to William Dod, with his
neighbours, Captain William Massie of Moss Hall and
Hugh Hassall, both of Audlem, “where” says Thomas Gamul “I was born”.
The money was to be used to build “a convenient schoolhouse and a dwelling
house for a schoolmaster in the town of Audlem.” This was to be Audlem
Grammar School. The executives of the will were Randle Wilbraham, of Nantwich
and Francis (later Sir Francis) Gamul, the Royalist commander at Chester and
nephew of the late Thomas. His home, Gamul House in Watergate, has been
restored in recent years. The year following the proving of the will a petition
was presented to the House of Commons by the children of William Dod: Thomas,
George, William junior and sister Alice, all beneficiaries under the will,
stating that Randle Wilbraham, one of Thomas Gamul’s two executives had died
and that his (Randle’s) executors, Richard Wilbraham, Gregory Markham and Ralph
Bolton, refused to deal with Gamul’s estate (presumably on account of his
nephew’s Royalist activities). The petitioners had exhibited a bill of
complaint in Chancery for the recovery of Gamul’s bequests,
but were hindered by the fact that Francis Gamul still survived as
executive. They sought remedy, pleading that they “have been imprisoned and
suffered very much in their liberties and estates for adhering to the
Parliament.” The House granted their request. This is a quite extraordinary
document, considering that their father, two years earlier, had been a
principal collector for money for the use of Charles I! Subsequently, after the
Restoration in 1660, George Dodd, mentioned in the petition and now of
Highfields, was Head Constable of Nantwich, collecting a subsidy for Charles
II. The Dods of this period appear to have displayed
many of the characteristics of the Vicar of Bray!
In 1648 William Dod was appointed overseer for the building at the
school and a plot of land was marked out of the Barn Croft, adjoining Audlem
Green near Vicarage Bank. However, perhaps because of the difficulties of
collecting Gamal's legacy, work stopped for four years, to be resumed in the
summer of 1652. It was not ready for occupation until the end of 1655 when the
final accounts are drawn up by William Massey and George Dod, acting for his
father, for Gamal 's legacy, now worth £802. There is also mention of a legacy
of £30 from his late brother, Thomas Dod. George did not outlive his father;
the estate passed to his only son, also George, who was to own Highfields for
the next 67 years. George matriculated from Brasenose, Oxford in 1670, aged 17.
He was admitted to the Middle Temple, June 26, 1672
and called to the bar, May 30, 1679. During this time Highfields appears to
have been managed by his cousin, William Dod, son of his father's younger
brother who, in a document dated 1662, dealing with the estate of his late
father, is referred to as “now resident at Highfields.”
In 1680 George married Charity, the daughter of John Woodroffe of
London and Chalderton and niece of Sir George
Woodroffe of Poyle and Alvington
Court in Gloucestershire. Her father had died when she was four and her estate
was administered by the two executors, her grand father
and uncle, John Gouldsmyth of Stapeley
Manor, near Nantwich. They kept accounts of money dispersed during John's
illness and after his death on 1st July, 1664, thus:
|
|
£ |
s |
d |
|
April 1 1664 - Lent to my daughter, Mrs
Lettice Woodrooff (Charity’s mother) |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
For doctor Cox his phisisian, by order
from my sonne |
|
10 |
0 |
|
June 1664 - Lent him in mon ‘eyes
whilst hee lay sicke att Endfield |
19 |
0 |
0 |
|
Lent Susannah Hulbert his mayde
servant for and towards family expenses att London,
when my sonne lay sicke att Endfield |
1 |
5 |
0 |
|
July 2nd 1664 - Pd for a Coffine for my sonne |
1 |
10 |
0 |
|
Pd for funerall charges for the Church
and the Minister for his sermon |
4 |
14 |
4 |
|
Paid the six barerers which carried
him to Church |
|
15 |
0 |
|
Pad two wach men wch
wached the Corpes three
nights and daies |
|
12 |
6 |
|
Paid for a velvet paull |
|
15 |
0 |
|
19th, Pd Mr. John Gay in full for wine for the funerall |
2 |
11 |
0 |
|
20th, Pd Mr. James Walcott for 54 mourneinge
ringes and fashion of them |
16 |
18 |
0 |
|
25th, Pd Mr Francis Stokes in full for physic |
6 |
0 |
0 |
|
27th, Pd Mr Robt pearson for sugar and
sweete meates for the funerall |
4 |
1 |
6 |
|
Aug 10th, Pd the Collectors for Chimney money (“much clamour
against the Chimney money; and the people say, they will not pary it without force”, Pepys’s diary, 30 June 1662) |
|
18 |
0 |
|
Then follow various sums dispersed by Mr. John Goulsmyth “for my neece Mrs
Charitie Woodrooff in Cheshire 1678” (although
referred to as ‘Mrs’ was at that time unmarried). She was presumably staying
at Stapeley Manor. |
|
|
|
|
July 6th-30th, Pd for comings to Lichfeild
in Lichfeild coach |
1 |
10 |
0 |
|
Pd a sadler in Namptwich
for Coveringe a sadle for
you wch you rid on in the
Cuntry |
|
4 |
0 |
|
Pd for hire of a Nagg to carry you to Shrewsberry |
|
5 |
0 |
|
Pd more when you went to Mr Dods |
|
2 |
6 |
|
for yr Journey to Lichfeild
and for a man to bring the horse backe (when you
went Backe to London) |
|
5 |
6 |
|
And finally; |
|
|
|
|
Jan 9th 1678 - Sent you to pay what
Debts you owed and towards byinge yor wedinge Apparrell |
40 |
0 |
0 |
|
June 7th 1680 - Sent you more for the
same uses |
12 |
11 |
6 |
George and charity lived at Highfields for the next forty seven years, having no fewer than seventeen children,
seven boys and ten girls. Their second son, Thomas, left Oxford in 1707 to
become Rector of Stepney. Edward, born in 1688, was a captain in the Royal
Navy. During the earlier part of his service, he was Lieutenant of HMS
Dragon. Later he was given command of the Blandford. In Charnock’s Biographia
Navalis there is the following report:
“His majesty's ship the Blandford of 20 guns, Captain Dod
commander has had the misfortune to fall in with a French squadron of seven
sail between Lisbon and Gibraltar and was sent to Brest. The Captain
was threatened with being hanged if he did not discover to the Commodore
whether there was any English squadron at sea. This he very bravely refused to
comply with.” There is a portrait of him, by Kneller, pointing, rather
smugly, to a naval battle in the background. The oldest son, George, born in
1681, married his cousin Jane Gouldsmyth of Stapeley Manor. Both their fathers were barristers of the
Middle Temple and George had gone to Brasenose with Jane's brother, John. In
1711 they had a daughter, Jane: the following year her mother died in
childbirth. A year later her father died, leaving Jane to be brought up by her
grandparents. Often she would stay with her Aunt Diana
Dod a who lived at Bridgnorth and it was here that she met a young architect,
William Baker. She was staying at Bridgnorth with her grandmother in 1736 when
the latter died. Jane and William were married the same year and, as her
grandfather had died some years earlier, they returned to Highfields.
Jane Baker, nee Dod
(1711 – 1783)
William Baker was one of the foremost architects in the north Midlands during
the mid eighteenth century. That so much of his work is known is largely due to
the survival of an account book kept by him during the years 1748 to 1759,
illustrating the nature of his professional work. Over a period of twelve years
one can follow in detail the day-to-day life of an eighteenth
century provincial architect who was often in the saddle, riding from
one job to another, for his practise took him all over the north west Midlands
and occasionally into Wales. Perhaps his best known
building is the Market Cross or Butter Market at Ludlow which he designed in
1743-4, four years before the commencement of the account book. Montgomery
Market Hall and St John’s Church, Wolverhampton among his other works. He was
born in 1705, the son of Richard Baker a surgeon of London and Leominster and
died in 1771. When his father died on 24th May 1749, he recorded the fact in
the account book, adding the information that “he married Mary Smith and both
she and my father were born in London as was myself in St Brides parish.”
His grand father and great grand
father were merchants of Norwich and London, the latter being the
youngest son of Sir Richard Baker MP of Middle Aston, Oxford and St Brides,
London, the historian. He married Margaret, the daughter of Sir George
Manwaring of Ightfield, Salop and died in Fleets debtors prison, 1644; He was buried at Saint brides in St
Brides.
Jane Baker’s husband William (1705-1771), Jane Baker’s father
in law Richard and his wife Mary. Beneath them
Whose architectural designs included the Crown is a 17th
century dresser
And the Phoenix in
Audlem
Many items of personal memoranda are entered in the account book.
The arrival of Captain Dod “for a visit of 13 weeks” is recorded. Some
weeks later, scrolled across the page, “Captain Dod went away today”. In 1749 William served as High Constable and a summary of
his receipts and expenditure whilst holding office is set down. On the back
cover he gives the dates and hours of birth of his four children, Charity, Mary, Richard
and William.
Richard, who followed
him in the profession of architect, was sent to school at Repton, where the
Reverend William Astley was then headmaster. A few months before eleven year old Dick was taken there for his first term, his
father had begun to build for Mr Astley a house at Wood Eaton, and the school
fees for the first two years (£15 12s 2d and £15 7s 7d) were paid by simple
subtraction from the sums which the headmaster owed his architect. Pocket money
for Dick is a recurring item and occasionally there was a present for the
headmaster's wife: “Paid ½ pound tea for Mrs Astley 9s”.
Baker had a kiln at Highfields and sold bricks.
There are many payments to the brick maker, Plant and his successor, Barber; also memoranda of the number
of bricks made. Receipts and payments in connection with his professional work
occur cheek by jowl with entries concerning household and farming matters. At
the end of the book there is a summary of the accounts received each year for
the sale of cheeses made it Highfields.
In addition to the memoranda about his family and relations he
often noted down events of local interest, the deaths, and occasionally the
marriages, in the families of his employers:
1751 - March 30. At Bath was married Earl Powis to Miss Herbert;
he was 48 and she but 16 years old.
1756 - May 25. On the 25th Miss Cotton of Bellaport
being at Derby with her G:mother cotton, at about 8 in
the evening she and Mr Wood a grocer in Derby went in a Post Chaise, where at
Chester at 4 in the afternoon next day and went to Dublin and married.
1756 - August. Died Mr Prince Astley (only son of Sr John Astley),
at Boloon in France, he being
obliged to fly from England for wishing ill to His Majesty King George, he died
by the effect of drinking, was brought over and buried at Kensington.
10 Sept. Sr John told me he will leave me a legacy in his will
which he must now make.
Highfields in the 1970s and 80s is depicted in this The
rear elevation
photograph of the front elevation
The fine carved fireplace in the hall, believed to date from circa
1660 Part
of the drawing room, with a beautiful inlaid coffer
The Welsh dresser in the oak room
Part of the dining room
Part of the dining room
One of the bedrooms
Sir John Astley of Patshull was a client
of long standing. The accounts show Baker making frequent visits and receiving
payments from Sir John for plans for Pattingham House
and in connection with the new library and parlour added to Patshull
in 1754.
On 15th March 1757 there was a great gale “which blew down
abundance of trees, unthatch houses &, threw down a number of barns and
overturned the top of Acton steeple up on the roof of the church which fell in
upon the pews in a ruinous condition.” It is an ill wind that blows nobody good.
Under 26th March can be read: “Paid expense to Acton and Nantwich where I was
agreed with to inspect the repairs of the Church of Acton (ruined by the wind
on the 15th instant) for 42 pound: 3s”.
The years covered by the diary were eventful ones for England. In
May 1756 appears “Note the 18th Warr was proclaimed at London against France.”
Later that year the loss of Minorca is recorded with the observation: “Admiral
Bing is disgract for running away 13 men of war from
12 French - he is brought to England and tried and shot to death for his
cowardice.” The next year Frederick the Great's victory over the Austrians
at Leuthen is noted: “May 6. A victory gaind by the King of Prussia over the Austrian army near
Prague, and Prague taken sword in hand.” The last year of the account book
was our annus mirabilis. Two brief memoranda in the autumn stand out
from the sober record of receipts and expenses: (October) “Port of Quebec
taken”; (November) “French fleet beat by Admiral Hawke.” Abruptly as
the record ends with the end of the book 31st December 1759, it was at a time
of national triumph which makes a happy finale.
Following the death of William in 1771, Highfields passed to his
elder son, Richard Dod Baker.
To his younger son William,
he left the estate and manor of Fenton Culvert, Staffordshire and a pottery
works at Fenton. William was born in 1744, he married Sarah, the daughter of
Thomas Bagnall of Fenton with whom he went into partnership as Baker and
Bagnall, Potters. His grandson purchased the manor under state of Hasfield and founded the family of Baker of Hasfield Court.
Richard Dod
Baker, born in 1743, married Hannah, the daughter of John Hassall of
Nantwich. He practised as an architect at Stratford upon Avon where his
children were, for some reason, baptised in the name of Hassall. This was done,
he explained in his will, “for peace and quietness”. On the face of it,
it would seem to have been an excellent way of preventing it. His sister, Charity,
having married Lawrence Barrow, a banker who died young, returned to
Highfields. She managed the estate for her father and later brother, freeing
them for their architectural work. She was, in her later years, and she lived
to be seventy eight, an extremely forceful lady,
always known in Audlem as “Madam Barrow”.
At about this time a new doctor came to the village, Dr John
Bellyse, better known as “Cockfighting Bellyse”. So much has been written about
this colourful, if rather questionable, character that it will suffice to say
that he was Cheshire 's most successful cockfighter at a time when it was,
along with horse racing and fox hunting, England’s national sport.
Dr John Bellyse’s scales and other
cockfighting impedimenta The flamboyant Dr John Bellyse of Audlem (1738-1828), last
of Cheshire’s cockfighters and greatest of them all, whose son eloped with
Hannah Baker
Preserved at Highfields
His son's entry into the Baker family was not without colour. He
eloped with Richard's daughter, Hannah,
in the time approved manner. She climbed from the bedroom window
and they departed by post chaise. The following morning, having read her
farewell letter, Richard set forth to the doctor’s abode, the house now
occupied by Dr Thornton. He came upon Bellyse sitting reading by his open
window and, not unnaturally, expressed himself with some force on the subject of the good doctor's son, John. Bellyse
waited for a period of silence before observing, “The ganders as good as the
goose, Sir”, and returned to his book. Peace was restored, Richard giving
the newlyweds a rather fine inlaid coffer. When Canon Bellyse retired as vicar
of Audlem, he very kindly returned it to Highfields! John followed his father
in the practise; his son, Richard Baker Bellyse, remembered on the monument in
Audlem Square, was the third and last Dr Bellyse of Audlem. John also inherited
his father's love of sport. He was one of the founders of the Waterloo Cup and
is depicted in the well known
print of the first meeting.
Richard's eldest son, Richard Dod Baker, went to Brasenose college, Oxford, from where he wrote a number
of rather interesting letters to his cousins Elizabeth and Arabella Thorley, of
Chetwynd Rectory, Newport, daughters of his father's younger sister Mary. On
getting there in 1801 he said “After a very pleasant journey we arrived at
this celebrated seat of learning on Thursday last, and although the college
rules did not exact our attention till the 17th, I found everything very
comfortable. At Stafford we waited on Mr Whalley. He showed us a grand piano,
which my father purchased for 65 Guineas, it appeared to me a good toned one,
but when Bessy comes to finger it, we can form a better judgement. On Friday my
father introduced me to a Mrs. Smith, a lady of considerable property in the
neighbourhood, such an acquaintance will be very pleasant, at least very
different from the noisy riot of a college evening; without company of some
sort, Oxford, I assure you, would be quite intolerable, and the man who pens
himself up in his attice pouring everlastingly over
his books, can be compared to nothing better than “Owl in a Desert”. Study,
however, affords many an hour's rational amusement, but like anything else
there can be too much of it...” Not ideal academic material, the reader may
think. In his next letter dated 14th October 1801, he described his rooms and
life at Oxford; “I took possession of my rooms on Saturday, and I assure you
they are much more comfortable than I expected, my sitting room is as large as,
if not larger than, your little Parlour and to appearance, much more
comfortable a Bureau, 5 chairs and a table in it, my drawing room (for so I
please to call it) is smaller but neater, a glass door out of my sitting room
to it, with two chairs and two tables, my bedroom is a little larger than the
sitting room with a very comfortable bed, bureau etc, altogether, as if it were
our 3 Parlours at Highfields, but a door to each room out of my S.R. I have
been this morning with one of the tutors to buy myself a set of tea things,
candle sticks, silver teaspoons, sheets, towels etc, and though Oxford is the
most imposing place in the world could not, I think, offer us much in such
small articles. Figure to yourselves a venerable elderly man and myself with
our caps and gowns, choosing and buying the best China, good judges, I'm sure I
could not tell China from common ware.
Coloured silhouette of Lt
Richard Dod Baker (1784-1806) by J Buncombe, who specialised in painting
military and naval officers before they went overseas to serve in the
Napoleonic wars
We had a grand illumination on Monday night
last; High Street (the most beautiful in the Kingdom) cut an elegant appearance
and the different Emblems of Peace etc in transparencies greatly aided add it
to the splendour of it. At 7 o’clock in the evening the Oxford Royal Volunteers
attended by their band and two cannons fired a Fene de Joye on the occasion.
The people seem’d mad, and even now cannons are firing. The Proctors (whose office
I dare say you have heard of) were very busy that night, most of the Oxonians
went without their caps and gowns, but I did not, though I was afraid of being
distinguished, that is, if any of the Mob discovered you to be an Oxonian or a
Collegian, they will often throw a squib into one’s Gown, which makes great fun
for them, and we are often insulted by some of them, I am told, though I have
never experienced any of it.”
In a letter dated 10th
December 1801, he talks of examinations; “I dare say, little as you know of
this seat of learning, you have heard that our examinations for degrees has
always hitherto being laughed at as trifling and a mere matter of form, but
they have now assumed a very serious aspect, and as your cousin is to take one,
you will not deem the following short account of the new examinations and which
I must undergo at all improper. There is now a large room fitted up for the
purpose, which will contain, I should imagine 300 persons. There are benches
for the vice chancellor, proctors, doctors, heads of colleges and halls etc,
who are all required to attend at this most solemn occasion and about 200
students (word missing?) there are perhaps 6 examined at a time, and
this occupies from 9 in the morning till 3 in the afternoon; so that whoever
thinks of taking the a degree must fag.”
Richard was commissioned in the 17th Leicestershire Regiment. It was the year before Trafalgar. He wrote again to his cousin;
“Highfields
Wednesday 18th Ap 1804
Dear Elizabeth
The necessity of joining
the Regt. immediately prevents me coming over to Chetwynd before my departure.
I suppose you have heard from Montague (her brother, an officer in the same regiment) or
will soon, to inform you of our destination. I received a letter from him on
Monday desiring me to hasten my journey to Dublin in consequence of orders from
England. He adds “When you take leave off them at Chetwynd assured them all of
the trust I ever have in the protection of that
Providence which has kindly watched over them and myself through life and that
I in nothing doubt a happy return among them.” For my own part I think myself
fortunate as I am in the surest road to promotion and all my friends will, I
trust, be reconciled to the present separation in the prospect of my return to
England hereafter with the consciousness of having acquitted myself in the
duties of my profession. As you may not have yet heard from my good friend I must inform you the 17th has received orders from
England to hold men in immediate readiness to embark for the East Indies, place
of destination Bombay. For me to offer you any consolation would be only an
insult to your better sense which will tend to teach you how necessary it is
for our well being to acquiescence in the will of an
unerring Providence. I am happy to add my mother is much better reconciled to
it than I would have expected. Be assured it will be a very great addition to
my happiness to hear of your welfare. I am now going to Drayton and on the
evening shall place myself in the mail at Woore.
Being so hurried you will excuse this scroll. Give my best duty to my good
Aunts and love to all my Cousins when you write, and
wishing you all the happiness in this world can bestow believe me my dear
Betsey.
Your affectionate friend
and cousin
Richard Dodd Baker
I hope to reach Dublin
this week. Adieu.”
They set sail for India
in July, when he wrote; “We embarked on board our
respective ships last Wednesday and it is the Admiral's intention should the
wind be all favourable to sail this Evening. I am just arrived on shore with
Captain Whittey and others in an open Boat thoroughly drenched and I lament my
time will not allow me to express my sentiments in the manner I would wish,”
a rather ambiguous observation! The names of the ships in the convoy were he tells us; “the Lord Hawkesbury, the Worcester (on
which I am on board), the Duke of Montrose and the Airey Castle under convoy of
the Culloden 74 guns Sir Edward Pellew Commander.”
Although this letter was
written from Portsmouth, the ship sailed from the Isle of Wight, where he sat
for his silhouette portrait, by the Newport artist, J Buncombe. The picture
hangs at Highfields with his dress sword. During the voyage he kept his own log book, a Journal of a Voyage to the East Indies 1804,
in which one can follow the day-to-day happenings on board, followed by the
course and the number of knots covered from noon to noon. The greatest distance
covered was 215 knots “strong breezes, cloudy with small rain”. 150 to
170 was more usual, about seven or eight knots an hour. Most of the days were
comparatively uneventful; however on September 8th we
read: “fresh breezes and pleasant. At 10 AM a strange sail seen to the
westward. Signal made by the Admiral for the United Kingdom and Alexander to
chase her. Suppose her an American. At 2 PM inquire for the Fleet to change
their course to east I/I South. At 5 PM the Lord Hawkesbury and Baring
reprimanded by the Commodore for not paying more attention to the signals.”
The United Kingdom, Alexander and Baring had joined the
convoy at Cowes. The voyage ended on Wednesday, December 12th. “At 10 AM
anchored off Fort William. At 2 PM disembarked with the detachment and marched
into barracks at Fort William.” In 1806 he was taken
ill. He died on the voyage home.
In one of the bedrooms is this fireplace, taken from the One of the earliest
known photographs of Highfields, dated about 1860, when the exterior
17th century vicarage at Audlem when it was
demolished had a stucco
finish so popular with Victorians and had not been marred by the heavy
in the 1970s. The carved legend above the opening chimney
extensions of the mid 1880s
commemorates the Duke of Wellington’s visit to
the vicarage on Christmas Eve 1820
Highfields passed to the younger son, William Baker. William knew his priorities; They were fox hunting, shooting and running the estate, and in that order. To do
him justice, he would have experienced great difficulty in taking over from his
formidable aunt, “Madam Barrow”. He hunted with the local packs, Highfields
being in those days within hacking distance of four different hunts. He also
kept a private pack, jointly with his friend and neighbour, Richard Corbett, of
Adderley hall. A memorable day was Christmas Eve,
1820. The Duke of Wellington was staying with his old cavalry commander, Field
Marshall Viscount Combermere who, as Harry Stapleton
Cotton, had attended Audlem grammar school with William. On Christmas Eve he
and the Duke visited Combermere
's brother, William Cotton, who was vicar of Audlem, from where they later
drove on to Highfields. The Cotton’s sister, Hester, commemorated the occasion
by carving a fire piece, which remained in a bedroom at the 17th century
Vicarage until this beautiful old house was, I think very foolishly, demolished
by the church commissioners some years ago. The fireplace was acquired by the
writer, and is now in a bedroom at Highfields
North wing built in the mid 1880s One of the main staircases of
oak, with its double twist banisters
William Baker died in 1863 to be succeeded by his eldest surviving son, also William. William married Prudence, the widow of a distant cousin John Baker, Lord of the Manor of Fenton Culvert, a wealthy Potter. Tradition
has it that John had left her a considerable fortune “on condition that she
did not change her name.” By marrying William, she satisfied all parties.
They were both keen riders to hounds, no doubt often hunting with William’s
younger brother, John, who at different times was Master of the Wickland, Shropshire,
Albrighton and North Warwickshire. They had only been married a few months when
her horse fell, breaking her neck. William later married his cousin, Louisa
Bellyse, daughter of Dr John Bellyse and his wife Hannah Baker. Shortly after their marriage they built Kynsal
lodge, the architect being William’s younger brother, Thomas. They had nine children, three boys and six girls With the coming of the railway an annual holiday to the
seaside became possible and the family often spent some weeks winding down
through central Wales on the old Cambrian railways. The
eldest son, John, usually stayed at home to manage the estate, receiving regular
instructions from his father by letter. Jack, as he was always called,
headhunted from an early age and rode with some
success over the sticks. He broke his collarbone for the last time in 1931 at
the age of 81 when exercising a horse over fences for his nephew. His father
died in 1876.
Three children's Diaries, written by the younger
daughters, Charity, 15, and Charlotte, 12, and Emily, 10, exist. From them one can see how very different were the lives of the boys from those of the girls. The
former were usually playing cricket, skating at Adderley and, very regularly, “Jack
has been out hunting”. We also hear “Tuesday February 18th 1879 Jack has gone to the Waterloo coursing with Mr Boote,
of Corbrook, he is coming back tomorrow night; we
used to keep some greyhounds, but they were all sold except one, and that died
not long ago.” In comparison the girls led very quiet and sheltered life; one
reads; “Jack has returned from Shrewsbury. There really does not seem
anything to be put, for day after day passes with scarcely any change, but yet
I think that is wrong, for if I have nothing else, I ought to write my thoughts.”
and a few days earlier “I am going to try and turn over a new leaf and right
to my diary, and learn my verse out of my strict scripture textbook more
regularly, for I forget them very, very often, when I am sure it is God's will
that I should learn my verse.” later we read; “I did not write
yesterday. I do feel so miserable, for Miss Evans is vexed with me, and I do
try to be as good to be good but I cannot, and I think
that she thinks I don't try to be good, but oh! I do, and I pray too, but I
feel as though it is all of no use, and the more I
hear of good children, the more I long to be one.” Miss Evans was their
governess, whose writing can sometimes be seen correcting spelling mistakes.
One suspect that the sentiment's expressed were made more for her eyes than
from any great piety!
It was a time of Great Depression in farming. In
1884 John Bellyse Baker decided to sell the estate in to emigrate to New Zealand with his
young wife, Richmal Mangnall. For the first time in recorded history the land
was sold, Highfields with the Home Farm was purchased by a wealthy shipbreaker,
Charles Kellock, who added the present kitchen right wing with the bathrooms
the bedrooms above. Fortunately the pictures, silver and some of the furniture
were moved to the Cedars, in Audlem, where the second son, Richard Dod Baker, a solicitor with his uncle Joseph Bellyse, lived with his
unmarried sisters. John became a sheep farmer in New Zealand, where his two elder
children, Bellyse and Dorothy were born. He returned to Audlem in about 1890,
and died in 1932. Eventually, in 1944, his
elder son, Bellyse
Baker, bought Highfields back into the family, since when most of the
pictures and other contents have returned. Bellyse Baker
died in 1947, when the property passed to his only son John
Bellyse Baker.
The Author
and his wife, photographed in the drawing room of Highfields in 1955
The original house consisted of two gabled blocks joined by a
hall, the roof of which ran at right angles to the gables, forming the well known H shape of the period.
The house faced due west and was entered by front door into the hall. The south
wing contains what was known as the “best parlour”, fully panelled in oak and containing a very fine fireplace, largely original,
with the initials of William Dodd and the date, 1615. Two bearded heads, on
plinths, on either side of the opening are said to be the to be two Dods, but
there would seem to be no reason for supposing this to be so. The panelling of
the south (fireplace) wall and east wall is original. It is possible to see
that there was a door at some time in the latter wall. The panelling of the
other two walls is of a later date, the original having presumably been
damaged. The 17th century coffer and Georgian oak dresser are original
Highfields pieces. The blue and white dessert service on the latter is Baker
and Bourne and was probably brought by Prudence Baker in the 1840s. Behind this
room is a very fine staircase with double twist bannisters. Near the bottom of
the staircase is a small window which, if it was not blocked up, would look into the drawing room, proving, if any proof was
necessary, that this room was a later addition to the house.
The new generation. John Bellyse, born
1956, and Josephine
Charity, born 1960, from pastels by Thomas Bradley
In the original north wing is what was originally the kitchen with
a heavy, canopied Yorkshire stone fireplace. For many years it has been half
panelled in oak and used as a library; more recently
as the dining room. The room was still a kitchen in 1771, when the first William Baker
refers, in his will, to his daughter Charity’s
bedroom as “above the kitchen”. In an early photograph of Highfields taken
about 1680, the kitchen extension is single storage. Behind what is now the
dining room is a second oak staircase, originally almost as fine as the first
with ‘barley sugar’ bannisters. Above both these staircases are second flights
leading up into attics, the two sides being unconnected. This arrangement would
seem to suggest that the hall had originally an open timber roof, dividing the
house into two parts. However it would be unusual for
a house built in the late 16th century to be constructed in this manner.
Half panelled in oak, the hall has a very
fine carved fireplace thought to date from about 1660. Behind the hall is the
drawing room, a later addition to the house. It seems probable that it was
added by the first William Baker
in about 1740; certainly it was there in 1801, when his grandson, Richard,
mentions it when writing from Oxford. The room, loftier than those in the
oldest part of the house, is half panelled in oak with a large bay window and a
carved oak fireplace, not as fine as the others in the house and almost
certainly of Welsh origin. It carries the name and date John Gwyn 1674. William Baker
made many alterations to country houses in Wales; it seems probable that it was
one that had been replaced during modernisation. In about 1885 the Kellocks demolished the old single storey kitchens, brew and wash houses, and built the present north wing. They
also added some very ugly extensions to the chimneys in red Ruabon brick,
although, no doubt, they looked very fine to Victorian eyes.
Today an upstairs room has been turned into a natural history
museum to house the many cabinets of exhibits collected by the writer’s father and himself.
An attic room contains an extensive 00 gauge model
railway system, with many scenic effects, depicting the old Great Western,
which once used to be the main means of transport to and from Audlem. Its green
engines with their highly polished brass work and high
sounding names were great favourites in their day. Lord Mildmay of Fleet was one of those locomotives which
regularly visited Audlem in the 1920s.
A red letter day for Highfields and for
Audlem was Thursday, 24th July 1969, when the Women's Institute organised a “Pageant
of Audlem”, using the house and grounds as its setting. It was written and
produced by John Burton, whose family for many years owned Kingbur
Mill on Audlem canal wharf, now converted into an attractive canal shop. Many local residents took part in the various scenes, which
traced the history of the town from its early days when a charter to hold a
weekly market was granted by the then squire, Sir Thomas Audelyme.
The writer played this part, on a grand little hunter named Felix. A chorus of Combermere Abbey monks was followed by the arrival of
Prince Rupert, who is supposed to have visited Highfields in 1644 with a
detachment of royalist cavalry. Light relief was provided in a scene depicting
the elopement of John Bellyse and Hannah Baker.
The former, played by the son of the then vicar of Wybunbury,
arrived with a ladder, two assistants, and a sedan chair. The scene ended when
the father, played by the Audlem police constable, Stan Smith, sped the loving
couple on their way with both barrels of his blunderbuss! The commentary for
this stirring pageant was delivered by Judith Chalmers of the BBC. Members of
the North Staffordshire Hunt performed noble work as mounted Cavaliers.
Hounds have met at Highfields at regular intervals over the years,
and the Cheshire Beagles hold an annual meet with the cooperation of the local
farmers. The most recent notable event in the life of Highfields was an
emulation of the BBC Antiques Roadshow, when a panel of experts valued antiques
brought along by visitors.
A new chapter will soon be opened. The Ministry of Works has
agreed to help towards essential restoration, the house being scheduled as a
Grade 1 property. Highfields, which is now jointly owned by the author
and his son,
will then be opened to the public on certain days and should be safe for the
foreseeable future.
The Author is indebted to George Dow, for his assistance and
valuable experience without which this book would never have been produced, and
to Howard Edwards, who took most of the photographs.