The Watts - last owner of Speke Hall, Liverpool

Previous owners of Speke Hall.

There has been lots of research written about the Norris family who first owned Speke Hall. After all, they built the house and it remained in the family for hundreds of years. However, as a visitor to the hall, we can see the influences of the last family who owned it. Therefore, I thought it would make a nice change to research the last family of Speke Hall: the Watts.

Speke is first mentioned in the Doomesday book of 1086. This states that at the time of the Norman Conquest, the manor of ‘Spec’ had been held by a Saxon Lord, Uctred, who was the largest landowner in Lancashire. It consisted of 200-300 acres of land and was valued at 64p.

The issue of ownership for the next few hundred years is complicated. The feudal system was a complex arrangement of land tenure. In theory, all land belonged to the king. In practice, the land was granted by him to tenants-in-chief, who granted tenures and sub-tenures. By 1170, Speke was included in the Master Forestership of Lancashire, though the tenure was in the hands of the Molyneux family, who were to retain nominal overlordship until the late 16^th Century.

In the early 13^th century, the manor was divided into two parts: one half to Robert Ernys of Chester; the other to Sir Patrick de Haselwell. Sir Patrick had two daughters who married brothers Alan and John le Noreis. By 1317, John le Noreis was in sole possession of the full Haselwell half of the manor and from 1332 he leased the Ernys land. John and his wife, Nicola had a house at Speke by 1314 and from then descended a line of Norrises who were to live at Speke until the 18^th century. The two halves of the manor were reunited into Norris ownership when Sir Henry Norris married Alice Ernys in about 1390.

Built by the Norris family in stages during the 16^th Century, Speke Hall that we know today was complete by 1598.

The estate remained in the Norris family until 1736. Mary Norris inherited it from her father, Thomas in 1731, and in 1736, she married Lord Stanley Beauclerk. Mary’s strong attachment to the house was not shared by her husband and son, and when she died in 1766, the house was let out to tenants. Equally, Mary’s grandson, Charles Beauclerk took little interest and considerable damage was done to the house by various tenenats.

In 1795, for the only time in the house’s history, Charles sold the estate for £75, 500 to Richard Watt, a Liverpool Merchant.

First Richard Watt:

Richard Watt (1) was born of humble origins in 1724 at Standish near Wigan. As a young man, he held the only licence and drove the first hired carriage in Liverpool for Mr. Geoffry Walley. Geoffery sent Richard to evening school and in 1750 sent him to Jamaica as manager of cargo on his ship.

Whilst in Jamaica, he bought a plantation; George’s Plain, and exploited slave labour to produce rum and sugar. He returned to England in 1772 with an amassed fortune of £500, 000. 

Back in England, Richard was shown in the Liverpool directory as “Richard Watt, merchant” with an address in Hanover street, near to the docks.  In 1773, he built himself a house at Oak Hill near Old Swan, which was outside of Liverpool at the time. His name is shown on Yate’s map of 1786, which also shows the previous owner of Speke Hall, Lady Beauclerk.

In 1783 he purchased a 2, 500 acre estate in Bishop Burton, Yorkshire. Having no children, he executed a deed giving Bishop Burton to his nephew, Richard (2), for life. This became the home for a branch of the Watt family for many generations. 

As well as working in the mercantile trade, Richard was also a ship owner. Most of the local ships registered in Liverpool at the time were owned by local shipping merchants. The table shows that Richard Watt was an investor in the shipping industry.

Finally, in 1795, Richard bought Speke Hall and Manor for £75, 500. Unfortunately, within twelve months of buying Speke Hall, Richard died without issue on 4^th November 1796. He never had the chance to live at Speke.

In memory of his Uncle, Richard (2), who took over his business, had another ship built in 1797 called The Watt.

Second and Third Richard Watts:

Richard’s nephew and heir, Richard Watt (2) was born in 1751 and lived at Bishop Burton, Yorkshire. He married Sarah Greenup (date unknown) who died in childbirth in 1788. She left Richard with three babies, the youngest of whom, William, died in 1792 age four. Richard bought the manor of Ottringham to make better provision for his second son, Francis.

	"OTTRINGHAM, is a village in the parish of its name, having no dependent township, in the wapentake of Holderness, three miles and a half from Patrington. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of Francis Watt, Esq. of Beverley….” (Pigots 1834, pp 1037)

Richard continued to work for the family merchant and shipping business. Regarding Speke Hall, he undertook some restoration work in the Great Hall about 1802 – 1803.   However, he died in 1803, before the family had the chance to move there, and so he too never actually got to live in Speke Hall.

Richard’s son and heir, Richard (3) was born in Liverpool in 1786, but was christened and grew up at the family home in Bishop Burton.

On his father’s death, Richard (3) became the owner of all three estates: George’s Plain in Jamaica, Bishop Burton and Speke Hall. Richard also became High Sheriff of the County of York 1811-1812. 


To be continued.....

Pedigree Chart

Hale Village

Introduction to Hale Village.

Hale Village is located in a low-lying area in between the West Lancashire Plain, Cheshire Plain and one mile from Liverpool John Lennon Airport on the north bank of the River Mersey.

Until 1974, Hale was part of Lancashire. However, it is now part of Cheshire County and is served by Halton Borough Council, yet it still has a Liverpool post code of L24.

In complete contrast to its close neighbour, the City of Liverpool, the village's quaint, tranquil and historic atmosphere still survives today. The whitewashed cottages, with brightly coloured country gardens, set against a background of mature trees, present a picturesque village. Hale Village has several times won 'Best Kept Village' awards.

Situated on Grade One agricultural land, Hale Village is surrounded by several farms, nursery gardens and rolling countryside. Despite its close proximity to the surrounding industrial towns of Liverpool, St. Helens and Widnes, Hale has always had a predominantly rural population. The 1841 census for Hale shows the type of occupations of the locals. On the whole, the population of Hale was employed by the Manor;

➢            55 Servants (both male and female)

➢            29 Agricultural Labourers

➢            24 Saltwork employer

➢            15 Farmers

➢            10 Flatmen (who operated the Mersey flat – a shallow vessel used to transport goods along the shallow river estuary).

➢            Other occupations included gardeners, gamekeepers, and rat-catchers.

The word ‘Hale’ has its origin in Anglo-Saxon time. The Anglo-Saxon English ‘Healh’ has been translated as ‘a small corner of land, an angle in river’.

Before 1066 and the Norman conquest, Hale, along with its wood (now, nearby Halewood), formed one of six barley farms (berewicks) of Edward the Confessor`s Manor of West Derby and was one of many royal hunting parks in Lancashire until its deforestation in the 14th century.

Although, not actually mentioned by name in the Doomesday book, the “six berewicks” were.

Hale remained in the hands of the Royal Family until 1203, when the manorial rights were granted to Richard de Walton (the son of Gilbert de Walton – a favourite of the King) in a charter signed by King John on the 9th of November at Rouen (Normandy). The manorial jurisdiction continued throughout the mediaeval period under the Ireland family (descendants of Richard de Walton) and from the mid eighteenth century until the 1930’s Hale was under the manorialship of the Ireland-Blackburne family who sold the estate with manorial rights to the Fleetwood-Hesketh’s of Southport who retain the title.

In 1304, as overlord of Hale, Robert de Holland obtained a Seigniorial Charter granting the right to hold a market and fair. The subsequent appearance of burgage plots in the early 14th century; 17½ burgages rendering a rent of 18 shillings marks its status as a mediaeval borough. 

Although reverting to manorial control for much of its history, Hale did not forget its burghal period and the manorial courts both valued and recognised its earlier status as a borough by bestowing the Freedom of Hale on its officers and other members of the community.

Hale Hall.

Between 1617 and 1626, Gilbert Ireland began the construction of Hale Hall. Before this, the manorial history of Hale and Halewood were inter-linked, as the original home of the manor; the magnificent, baronial mansion called The Hutte, was within the Halewood boundary and home to the family for 300 years. As its name suggests, Halewood, was once the Wood of Hale. Up to late medieval times the Wood continued to be part of Hale and was not a manor in its own right until the late 13th Century. However, the Hutte was starting to decay, so it was decided a new Hall should be build nearer Hale Village.  

When the Hall was complete, a stone tablet was placed in the tower with the following inscription on it:

Built by Sir Gilbert Ireland, Kt…, and Dame Margt, his wife, Ao Di., 1674.

The tablet is now in Cleveland, Ohio, the home of the American branch of the Irelands.

Gilbert’s Grandson, also Gilbert, born in 1624 made substantial alterations to the Hall. They included a new North Front and a tower at its western end. However, Gilbert junior died the following year, age 51. Without an heir, the estate passed to his sister, Eleanor, to her son, Gilbert, and then his son, Edward. Edward’s daughter, Ireland Green married Thomas Blackburne in 1752 and the estate passed into the Blackburne family, who remained the owners until they sold it in 1937.

In 1758, Thomas Blackburne commissioned a survey and proposals for Hale Hall and park from a Francis Richardson.  Richardson`s survey shows the estate as it was prior to the late 18th and early 19th century landscape improvements.

Hale developed as a farming estate under Colonel John Ireland Blackburne (1817 - 1893). An estate map of 1870 shows the development of parklands and plantations, making the estate one of the most notable estates in the North-West during this period. Blackburne began a programme of improvements for the whole village, which included renovating St Mary’s Church, rebuilding the school and a new school for girls, and building a new village forge. 

However, by the First World War, the Hall had fallen into disrepair and was partly demolished. In 1937, the estate was put up for auction. Lot 66 of the sale catalogue included Hale Hall, Hale Hall Gardens, which contained a range of heated greenhouses, sheds and other out buildings.

The Fleetwood-Hesketh’s moved into Hale Hall in 1947, however, it was beyond repair and therefore uninhabitable. And so, the family moved into the old Parsonage House, which then became known as the Manor House.

Hale Church

The present building of Hale Church is on the site of a chapel which was built in 1081 by John of Ireland, who was buried there 1088.

Little is known about the early church, as most of the records have been destroyed. It was however, dedicated to St. Mary. All that remains of the old church is an alabaster slab which the following epitaph has been inscribed:

“Hic jacet Joh: Yerlond arminger qui fuit dns de Hale et dimid ville de Bebinton inferioris qui objit Sedp die Maij ano dni mcccc sexagesima sedo cujus aie propitietur dues. Amen”.

The very early chapel was replaced by a new one during the 14th Century. The present tower is from that period; however, the body has since been replaced.

The Church register dates are as follows:

Baptisms – 1st July 1572 – 8th March 1740

Burials – 6th March 1573 – 1st March 1740

Marriages – 13th July 1572 – 26th Feb 1754

One night in 1978 the Church was badly burnt and was left as a ruined shell. However, several gravestones were uncovered underneath the floor, belonging to the Ireland Blackburne family including the John Ireland’s 15th century alabaster mentioned above.

The reconsecration of Hale Church was on the 28th May 1980 and was conducted by David, Lord Bishop of Liverpool.

The Childe of Hale

Hale Village is most famous for its inhabitant who lived there more than 300 years ago. According to the inscription on his grave, John Middleton was born in Hale in 1578. He was more commonly known as "The Childe of Hale". According to legend, even before he was 20 years of age, his height reached a staggering 9 foot 3 inches.

The Childe of Hale’s tiny whitewashed cottage still stands in the village.  The interior has altered very little; even the wooden pegs which John used to hang his coat are still there – ten feet above the floor.

John was born to a poor family and remained child-like, hence the name ‘Childe’.  Despite the date on his grave stating 1858, there is no evidence of this in Hale Church’s baptismal registers. However, as we can see from the birth register, there was a John Middleton born in Hale 11th January 1573.  There is no mention of him in the Hale Church marriage register, which dates from 1572, and therefore we can assume that he never married.  However, there is also a John Middleton found in the death register for 1623.

Gilbert Ireland of the Hutte in Halewood employed John as a bodyguard.  On the 20th August 1617, King James I created Ireland a knight. Ireland may have mentioned his bodyguard to the King, as they were both invited to Court in London. On the way back from London, they visited Brasenose College at Oxford, where John had his portrait painted.

The famous London diarist, Samuel Pepys is regarded as the first to write about the Childe. According to Pepys, on the 9th June 1688, at Oxford, and referring to an outline of the Childe’s hand,  “I out with landlord to Brasen Nose College…and in the cellar find the hand of the Childe of Hales”.

In 1768, the Childe’s remains were removed from his tomb by the schoolmaster and parish clerk, Mr. Bushel. They were taken to Hale Hall and were measured. According to the measurements, the length of the Childe’s hands measured 17 inches long and 8 ½ across the palm. 

Child Migration - The Story of Louisa and Maggie Marshall

Edward Marshall, son of William Marshall and Mary Ann Webber, was born in 1867 in London. According to the English censuses, throughout the years he had a variety of jobs. From a foundry striker, to journeyman, to a bolt and rivet maker.

Margaret Fisher, daughter of Mary Ann - surname unknown – and Robert Fisher was born in Liverpool in 1869.

On the 1^st March 1887, Edward married Margaret at St. Polycarp’s Church in Liverpool. 

A year later, on the 22^nd March 1888, their first child, Emily was born. The family can be seen together on the 1891 England census living at no. 41 Conway Street, Liverpool.

Margaret then gave birth to two more daughters; Louisa on the 12^th August 1891 and Margaret, on the 31^st August 1894 (ages according to the 1901 census). However, not long after, on the 4^th February 1901, Margaret died with nephritis, an inflammation of the kidneys, and heart problems. 

Edward and the girls are then shown on the 1901 census, living with Edward’s parents and his sister and her family. 

However, according to the Barnardo’s admission report, this was a temporary measure; as Edward was described as “a man of bad character” and disappeared leaving his children with his sister, Emma Rowe. It was at this time that Emily, as being of age by then, found a job as a domestic servant.

Emma, already with her own children to care for, then sent the two younger girls to live with their maternal grandmother, Mary Ann Fisher and her daughter, the girls Aunt, Eliza Fisher. According to the report, Mary Ann is described as a “drunken, disreputable woman”, who, Louisa states pawned their clothes, leaving the girls in a “terrible state of neglect and semi-nakedness…with a rag wound her body…no shoes or stockings”.  The girls stayed with their aunt and grandmother for three years.

An argument between the sisters’ aunt and uncle, John Fisher, took place around Christmastime 1904 and John Fisher was arrested for assault. Returning home from school, the girls had discovered that their family had moved out, leaving them homeless. They then spent that night with another aunt, who then took them to the ‘Ever Open Door’ branch of Liverpool Barnardo’s in Liverpool on the 15^th January 1905. 

The girls were not at Barnardo’s for long, before, being described as “well-behaved”, they were chosen to be amongst the earliest of groups of children to be sent to Canada. Unfortunately, according to verbal, extended family accounts, their sister, Emily did not know about this arrangement until she went to visit them one day only to discover they were no longer there.

To qualify to be sent to Canada, the girls would have been tested, lectured and outfitted for the “Canadian Adventure”.

The girls left Liverpool for Quebec on the 28^th September 1905, sailing on the SS Canada, arriving there on the 7^th October 1905. They were amongst over 150 children from various Barnardo’s homes across England, on board the ship. Each child was equipped with their Canadian outfits, packed in Barnardo trunks. The trunks consisted of a Bible, a hymn book, Pilgrim’s Progress and the Traveller’s Guide; “Barnardo children were the best dressed emigrants to enter Canada”.

Once in Canada the girls and boys were spilt up; the boys were sent to the Boys Distribution Centre in Toronto, and the girls to their distribution centre, Hazelbrae Home for Girls, in Peterborough. In 1889 it became the sole headquarters for the distribution of girls. The children remained under guardianship of the homes until the boys were eighteen and girls twenty-one. However, the homes were a temporary stop while the agencies sorted out permanent arrangements for the children; be it, adoption, or being “placed out”, where food and lodgings were given in exchange for labour – mainly farming for boys and domestic service for girls. 

Unfortunately, researching for this story failed to result in any records to prove where Louisa and Maggie were actually placed. The 1911 Canadian census shows Hazelbrae Children’s home, and there are no Marshall’s listed. Therefore, we can assume that at this point, the girls had left. However, delving into the census further did not produce any results to show where the girls had been placed. It could have been possible that they may have taken on the surname of the people who were now responsible for them. However, later records dismiss this as a possibility. Verbal extended family accounts suggested that Louisa was sent to work as an ‘all round’ domestic helper on a farm, which included some farming work suitable for girls, such as milking. Maggie was placed as a domestic servant for a family in Toronto. However, after a long search, there were no reports found which could either confirm or deny this.

On the 23^rd August 1911, Louisa married Percy Ranger (born 1886 in Brighton, England) in York, Ontario. The couple then went on to have four children; one daughter and three sons.

Maggie married Martin Patton (born 1888, Galway, Ireland) on the 15^th March 1916 in Welland, Ontario. 

They too, went on to have children; four daughters and three sons.

Unfortunately, we do not have access to Canadian birth records after 1910, as only those dating between 1869 and 1910 are held in the Ontario Archives. To obtain a certificate after 1910, you have to prove to be next-of-kin and not just a distant ancestor of the person whose record you wish to obtain.

Sadly, Louisa developed heart disease and died on the 11^th November 1925 at just 34 years of age.   

Louisa died before she ever had chance to come back to Liverpool and see her sister. In 1956, Maggie got the chance to travel back to see Emily for the first time in fifty-one years. She sailed over on her own to meet her family, setting sail on the 10^th of September 1956 on the Empress of Britain, and she stayed with her sister for two months. 

It was the one and only time the sisters ever saw each other again.

The actual date of Maggie’s death is not certain. As mentioned earlier, the Archives of Ontario only hold a limited collection. For deaths, this is from 1869 to 1935  and as we know, Maggie sailed to Liverpool in 1956, so we know that her death was after this.