Pillaton Hall
Encyclopedia
Pillaton Hall was an historic house
located in Pillaton, Staffordshire
, just outside of Penkridge
, England
. For more than two centuries it was the seat of the Littleton family, a family of local landowners and politicians.
of Pillaton belonged to the Wynnesbury family. There must have been a substantial building already on the site of the later Hall, presumably a fortified manor house
, as the remains of the medieval moat
are still very evident even from a satellite photograph. William Wynnesbury died in 1502, leaving the manor to his daughter Alice, who was married to Richard Littleton, formerly William's steward. When Alice died in 1529, Pillaton passed to their son, Edward Littleton. Later knighted, he died at Pillaton in 1558.
By this time the Littletons were set on a course for domination of the Penkridge area and it was around the mid-16th century that they built a substantial hall at Pillaton. In the 17th century the heads of the family became the Littleton Baronets
and in the 19th the Barons Hatherton
. However, the fourth and last of the Littleton baronets, who succeeded in 1742, moved the family seat north to Teddesley Hall
, allegedly building it with hoards of cash discovered hidden at Pillaton.
Pillaton Hall was used for a time as a home for other members of the Littleton family. By 1786 it was inhabited by a farmer. Thereafter, the Hall fell into disuse and ultimately decay. Today the building is partly ruined and partly restored. The Littletons' family chapel
, dedicated to St. Modwena, was restored by the Littleton family in the Victorian era
and is used monthly for Anglican worship by the parish of Penkridge, using the Book of Common Prayer
.
maps as "Pillaton Old Hall" and are located just to the south-west of Pillaton Hall Farm. The medieval moat, made up of round and rectangular elements is easily observed, both on the ground and on aerial photographs. The remaining old buildings are, however, all of the Tudor period
, and were probably begun by the first Sir Edward Littleton, who died in 1558, although some of the work probably dates from later in the century. They are approached from the north by a bridge over the moat.
The main surviving structure is a gatehouse
range, mainly two storey
s high. However, the central block has three-storeys and four angle turret
s. The upper storey was rebuilt in 1706. The restored chapel of St. Modwena is at its eastern end. Originally the rest of the Hall stretched out to the south, forming a rectangle around a courtyard
. The western range has now been partially replaced by a modern brick building. Further south is the base of a fireplace, probably that of the great hall. East of the remains of the Hall there is a rectangular brick garden wall, and to the north an 18th century barn.
Historic house
A historic house can be a stately home, the birthplace of a famous person, or a house with an interesting history or architecture.- Background :...
located in Pillaton, Staffordshire
Pillaton, Staffordshire
Pillaton is a small village in Staffordshire, England, nearby to Penkridge and lying on the B5012 road between Cannock and Penkridge.It falls under the ST19 postcode district, associating it more with Penkridge and the county town Stafford...
, just outside of Penkridge
Penkridge
Penkridge is a market town and ancient parish in Staffordshire, England with a population of 7,836 . Many locals refer to it as a village, although it has a long history as an ecclesiastical and commercial centre. Its main distinction in the Middle Ages was as the site of an important collegiate...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. For more than two centuries it was the seat of the Littleton family, a family of local landowners and politicians.
Origins and history
By the mid-15th century, the manorManor
-Land tenure:*Manor, an estate in land of the mediaeval era in England*Manorialism, a system of land tenure and organization of the rural economy and society in parts of medieval Europe based on the manor*Manor house, the principal house of a manor...
of Pillaton belonged to the Wynnesbury family. There must have been a substantial building already on the site of the later Hall, presumably a fortified manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
, as the remains of the medieval moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
are still very evident even from a satellite photograph. William Wynnesbury died in 1502, leaving the manor to his daughter Alice, who was married to Richard Littleton, formerly William's steward. When Alice died in 1529, Pillaton passed to their son, Edward Littleton. Later knighted, he died at Pillaton in 1558.
By this time the Littletons were set on a course for domination of the Penkridge area and it was around the mid-16th century that they built a substantial hall at Pillaton. In the 17th century the heads of the family became the Littleton Baronets
Littleton Baronets
Two Baronetcies have been created in the Baronetage of England for members of the Littleton family.The Littleton family had their origins in South Lyttleton, near Evesham, Worcestershire. Thomas de Littleton was appointed a judge at the Court of Common Pleas in 1464 and was created a Knight of the...
and in the 19th the Barons Hatherton
Baron Hatherton
Baron Hatherton, of Hatherton in the County of Stafford, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1835 for the politician Edward Littleton, Chief Secretary for Ireland from 1833 to 1834...
. However, the fourth and last of the Littleton baronets, who succeeded in 1742, moved the family seat north to Teddesley Hall
Teddesley Hall
Teddesley Hall was a large Georgian country house located close to Penkridge in Staffordshire, now demolished. It was the main seat firstly of the Littleton Baronets and then of the Barons Hatherton...
, allegedly building it with hoards of cash discovered hidden at Pillaton.
Pillaton Hall was used for a time as a home for other members of the Littleton family. By 1786 it was inhabited by a farmer. Thereafter, the Hall fell into disuse and ultimately decay. Today the building is partly ruined and partly restored. The Littletons' family chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
, dedicated to St. Modwena, was restored by the Littleton family in the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
and is used monthly for Anglican worship by the parish of Penkridge, using the Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
.
The buildings today
The buildings are now marked on Ordnance SurveyOrdnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
maps as "Pillaton Old Hall" and are located just to the south-west of Pillaton Hall Farm. The medieval moat, made up of round and rectangular elements is easily observed, both on the ground and on aerial photographs. The remaining old buildings are, however, all of the Tudor period
Tudor period
The Tudor period usually refers to the period between 1485 and 1603, specifically in relation to the history of England. This coincides with the rule of the Tudor dynasty in England whose first monarch was Henry VII...
, and were probably begun by the first Sir Edward Littleton, who died in 1558, although some of the work probably dates from later in the century. They are approached from the north by a bridge over the moat.
The main surviving structure is a gatehouse
Gatehouse
A gatehouse, in architectural terminology, is a building enclosing or accompanying a gateway for a castle, manor house, fort, town or similar buildings of importance.-History:...
range, mainly two storey
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
s high. However, the central block has three-storeys and four angle turret
Turret
In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
s. The upper storey was rebuilt in 1706. The restored chapel of St. Modwena is at its eastern end. Originally the rest of the Hall stretched out to the south, forming a rectangle around a courtyard
Courtyard
A court or courtyard is an enclosed area, often a space enclosed by a building that is open to the sky. These areas in inns and public buildings were often the primary meeting places for some purposes, leading to the other meanings of court....
. The western range has now been partially replaced by a modern brick building. Further south is the base of a fireplace, probably that of the great hall. East of the remains of the Hall there is a rectangular brick garden wall, and to the north an 18th century barn.