Willesley
Encyclopedia
Willesley is a place near Ashby-de-la-Zouch
. It was in Derbyshire
but is now part of Leicestershire
. In the 19th century it had a population of about 60 and Willesley Hall was the home of the Abney and later the Abney-Hastings family. Willesley is so small that it would be a hamlet except that it has a church.
and its value was assessed as twenty shillings TRE and sixteen shillings in 1086.
There was once a stately home here called Willesley Hall built of red brick. The hall stood in a park of 155 acre (0.6272633 km²).
The village has always been small. The population remained around the figure of 60 from 1805 to 1881.
Little of the manor, but the church, remains today, but Willesley Lake which has been described as of serpentine design is still used for fishing. The lake was constructed to enable the water level to be controlled for power generation for the nearby Hall.National Forest information, accessed 12 July 2008
and Edward Abney whose letters were published recently giving an insight into early 17th century life. One of the Thomas Abney's became a mayor of London whilst another rose to be a judge of common pleas
. The Abney family required that owners of the manor should be called Abney. Twice there has had to be a special Act of Parliament
for people to add the name Abney to their surname. Sir Charles Abney Hastings, a High Sheriff of Derbyshire
was the last person descended from the Abney line. The man who might have inherited the hall, after Sir Charles Abney Hastings died without children, was his younger brother, Frank
, a veteran of the Battle of Trafalgar
. Unfortunately he died prematurly fighting for the Greeks and was buried in Zante.
Willesley Hall was also used as the name of a steam locomotive in the Hall class by the Great Western Railway
.
In 1897 the counties of Leicestershire
and Derbyshire
corrected their boundaries to remove enclaves. Part of Appleby Magna
, Chilcote
, Measham
, Oakthorpe
and part of Donisthorpe
, Stretton en le Field
were transferred to Leicestershire.
The golf course in Ashby had existed since the 1920s and at one time considered buying Willesley Hall, but at the time, the lack of members with cars and financial issues, prevented it.
The parish register started in 1677. In the 19th century the church could seat 100 after its seats and pulpit were replaced in 1883 by the Earl of Loudoun. The Earls of Loudoun inherited the manor of Willesley after the Second Baronet died without children.
Willesley Campsite is located one mile (1.6 km) south west of Ashby-de-la-Zouch. It occupies 14 acres (56,656 m²) of the old Willesley Hall estate (part of the original gatehouse is still visible). The camp site has fields, a wood and its own church (St. Thomas's).
Some areas of woodland at Willesley are owned by the Woodland Trust
. These areas were surveyed in 2001 for evidence of ancient woodland. The survey showed that there was a continuity of managed woodland cover for at least 200 years, but there was no direct evidence for any continuity of cover since 1600. The site did not therefore qualify as ancient woodland
.
Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Ashby-de-la-Zouch, — Zouch being pronounced "Zoosh" — often shortened to Ashby, is a small market town and civil parish in North West Leicestershire, England, within the National Forest. It is twinned with Pithiviers in north-central France....
. It was in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
but is now part of Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. In the 19th century it had a population of about 60 and Willesley Hall was the home of the Abney and later the Abney-Hastings family. Willesley is so small that it would be a hamlet except that it has a church.
History
Willesley is mentioned as a significant manor in the Domesday book. Willesley is listed among the large number of manors that are owned directly by Henry de FerrersHenry de Ferrers
Henry de Ferrers was a Norman soldier from a noble family who took part in the conquest of England and is believed to have fought at the Battle of Hastings of 1066 and, in consequence, was rewarded with much land in the subdued nation.His elder brother William fell in the battle. William and Henri...
and its value was assessed as twenty shillings TRE and sixteen shillings in 1086.
The village has always been small. The population remained around the figure of 60 from 1805 to 1881.
Little of the manor, but the church, remains today, but Willesley Lake which has been described as of serpentine design is still used for fishing. The lake was constructed to enable the water level to be controlled for power generation for the nearby Hall.National Forest information, accessed 12 July 2008
The Abney and Hastings family
It was the birthplace of notable people including two called Sir Thomas AbneyThomas Abney
Sir Thomas Abney was Lord Mayor of London.Abney was born in Willesley, which at the time was in Derbyshire but is now in Leicestershire. He was educated at Loughborough Grammar School, where a house is named after him....
and Edward Abney whose letters were published recently giving an insight into early 17th century life. One of the Thomas Abney's became a mayor of London whilst another rose to be a judge of common pleas
Court of Common Pleas (England)
The Court of Common Pleas, or Common Bench, was a common law court in the English legal system that covered "common pleas"; actions between subject and subject, which did not concern the king. Created in the late 12th to early 13th century after splitting from the Exchequer of Pleas, the Common...
. The Abney family required that owners of the manor should be called Abney. Twice there has had to be a special Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
for people to add the name Abney to their surname. Sir Charles Abney Hastings, a High Sheriff of Derbyshire
High Sheriff of Derbyshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Derbyshire from 1568.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been...
was the last person descended from the Abney line. The man who might have inherited the hall, after Sir Charles Abney Hastings died without children, was his younger brother, Frank
Frank Abney Hastings
Frank Abney Hastings was a British naval officer and Philhellene.- Early career :He was the son of Lieut.-general Sir Charles Hastings of Willesley Hall, a natural son of Francis Hastings, 10th Earl of Huntingdon...
, a veteran of the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
. Unfortunately he died prematurly fighting for the Greeks and was buried in Zante.
Willesley Hall was also used as the name of a steam locomotive in the Hall class by the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
.
In 1897 the counties of Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
and Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
corrected their boundaries to remove enclaves. Part of Appleby Magna
Appleby Magna
Appleby Magna is a village and civil parish in the district of North West Leicestershire, England.The civil parish, as well as Appleby Magna, includes the small Hamlet of Appleby Parva and the Villages of Norton-Juxta-Twycross, Snarestone and Swepstone...
, Chilcote
Chilcote
Chilcote is a village and civil parish in the North West Leicestershire district of Leicestershire, England. Until 1897 it was in Derbyshire. The parish had a population of 108 according to the 2001 census.-External links:...
, Measham
Measham
Measham is a village in Leicestershire, near the Staffordshire and Derbyshire border, located just off the A42 just south of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, and within the National Forest...
, Oakthorpe
Oakthorpe
For the area in London, see Oakthorpe ParkOakthorpe is a village in the English county of Leicestershire.In 1086, Oakthorpe was in Derbyshire and was amonngst several manors in Derbyshire given to Nigel of Stafford by William the Conquereor. Until 1897 Oakthorpe, and its neighbours Measham and...
and part of Donisthorpe
Donisthorpe
Donisthorpe is a village in the East Midlands of England, administered as part of the Leicestershire district of North West Leicestershire.The historic county boundary between Leicestershire and Derbyshire is the River Mease, which runs through the village, with the village centre being on the...
, Stretton en le Field
Stretton en le Field
Stretton en le Field is a civil parish and hamlet in the North West Leicestershire district of Leicestershire, England. It is about seven miles south-west of Ashby de la Zouch, and according to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 36....
were transferred to Leicestershire.
The golf course in Ashby had existed since the 1920s and at one time considered buying Willesley Hall, but at the time, the lack of members with cars and financial issues, prevented it.
The church
The church of St Thomas dates from the 14th century with a tower added in 1845. The glass is modern heraldic, but with some older glass too. Monuments in the churck include one dated 1505 to John and Maria Abney, another to George and Ellen Abney dated 1571 and a Lt. General Sir Charles Hastings' black and white marble tomb who died in 1823.The parish register started in 1677. In the 19th century the church could seat 100 after its seats and pulpit were replaced in 1883 by the Earl of Loudoun. The Earls of Loudoun inherited the manor of Willesley after the Second Baronet died without children.
The campsite
The hall fell derelict and was bought by Leicestershire Scout district in 1952 along with a small area of land. The hall was demolished and the land became a Scout campsite, however the hall required seven attempts before it gave way to explosives. Further land was later bought by the Scouts, with other areas becoming a fishing lake or adding to the golf facilities.Willesley Campsite is located one mile (1.6 km) south west of Ashby-de-la-Zouch. It occupies 14 acres (56,656 m²) of the old Willesley Hall estate (part of the original gatehouse is still visible). The camp site has fields, a wood and its own church (St. Thomas's).
Some areas of woodland at Willesley are owned by the Woodland Trust
Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust is a conservation charity in the United Kingdom concerned with the protection and sympathetic management of native woodland heritage.-History:...
. These areas were surveyed in 2001 for evidence of ancient woodland. The survey showed that there was a continuity of managed woodland cover for at least 200 years, but there was no direct evidence for any continuity of cover since 1600. The site did not therefore qualify as ancient woodland
Ancient woodland
Ancient woodland is a term used in the United Kingdom to refer specifically to woodland that has existed continuously since 1600 or before in England and Wales . Before those dates, planting of new woodland was uncommon, so a wood present in 1600 was likely to have developed naturally...
.