Lease of Beobridge Grange
The system of granges was originally pioneered by monks of the Cistercian order in the 12th century. They used lay brothers to run the farms enabling them to remain outside the then usual manorial system. ...
Letters Patent
Many parish churches were founded in the early Middle Ages by lords of estates who felt they remained in some sense their property which they could give to a monastery if they wished. Such a gift was ...
Life on the Sutherland Estate: Manor Court Rolls
Court Rolls from the Manor Court at Trentham provide a colourful insight into the lives of people living on the Trentham Estate during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
The document above is ...
Life on the Trentham Estate: Building Work and Repairs, 1777
Amongst papers relating to life of the Trentham Estate in the eighteenth century are accounts describing building work undertaken on the Estate in 1777. The ‘Scheme of Building at Trentham in 1777’ describes ...
Life on the Trentham Estate: Family Poverty in Trentham
Richard Watkin wrote to Lord Gower at the end of the eighteenth century concerning cottages which his family had owned in Trentham. Richard’s letter tells us that his father had absconded from Trentham ...
Life on the Trentham Estate: Farming, 1804
In March 1804 Mr. Owen compiled a scheme for ‘Cultivating the Demesne Land at Trentham Hall'. The document featured above describes the agricultural lands which surrounded Trentham Hall and the proposals ...
Life on the Trentham Estate: Local Tradesmen and Trentham Hall
Documents relating to life on the Trentham estate include accounts made by local tradesmen, such as butchers and grocers. In September 1776 ‘William Plant’, a miller from Trentham sent proposals to provide ...
Life on the Trentham Estate: Much Ado About Nothing
Amongst correspondence relating to life on the Trentham Estate is an intriguing letter sent to Lord Gower by a man named Richard Walklate. Richard’s letter tells us about his personal history and customs ...
Life on the Trentham Estate: Plate at Trentham Hall, 1793-1799
In 1793 agents at the Estate Office at Trentham Hall produced an inventory of plate at the Hall. The document, shown above, is annotated with writing which indicates that the inventory was correct in ...
Life on the Trentham Estate: The Stables at Trentham Hall, 1778
Papers relating to life at Trentham Hall include many documents telling us about the architectural design and layout of the Hall and its outbuildings during the late eighteenth century. The document above ...
Life on the Trentham Estate: The Steward’s Room at Trentham Hall
In 1779 renovations were made to the Steward’s accommodation at Trentham Hall. The document featured above outlines proposals for a new Steward’s room at the Hall, complaining that the present room was ...
Life on the Trentham Estate: Trentham Parish Church
Papers relating to life on the Trentham Estate include a ‘Proposal’ made by Freeholders and Parishioners from Trentham concerning ‘the Bells’ at Trentham Parish Church.
The Freeholders and Parishioners ...
Life on the Trentham Estate: Trentham Sunday School
In May 1803 Mr. J. Blunt wrote to the Leveson-Gower family about establishing Sunday schools in the Parish of Trentham. Blunt’s letter provides intriguing social comment on religious ignorance and religious ...
Lilleshall Cottage and Garden Inspection Report, 1848
The image above shows a report made following an inspection of cottages and gardens on the Duke of Sutherland's Shropshire estates in 1848. The inspection was made in order to award prizes to cottagers ...
Lilleshall Elections, 1832
The document above is a printed list of men from the Parish of Kinnerlsey who were eligible to vote in the Parliamentary Elections in 1832.
The document tells us that William and Thomas Hooper were ...
Manumission
Serfs in the 12th century could be sold by their lords together with the land. Though the term ‘serf’ in the 13th century gave way to that of ‘villein’ and the connotations with slavery disappeared, villeins ...
Monuments of the First Duke of Sutherland in Trentham and Lilleshall, 1833
Following the death of the first Duke of Sutherland in 1833, monuments of the Duke were erected in Trentham and Lilleshall. The minutes featured above are from a meeting held at the Trentham Inn on 30th ...
Paying the Rent
The image above comes from a series of books called the Lightwood Cottage Rentals. It was kept in the same way as similar series for the Trentham Cottages, Trentham farms, Newcastle houses, South Staffordshire ...