The Old Hall in Bow Street

The Seat of Sir Wm ChalonerEsqr of Gisbrough in Cleaveland in Ye County of Yorke.

(1) The Bowling Green where the players are aligned diagonally. Papers in the Grammar School archives reveal that there was a dispute between the Wardens of the joint foundation of Grammar School and Almshouses (founded and endowed by Robert Pursglove in 1561) and their tenant farmers at Bolam in County Durham. The rents from the land provided for the maintenance of the school and the six old men and six old women pensioners.
The incident occurred in 1638. Two years later depositions were taken at Summerhouse in Durham on 7 April when it was stated:
‘… at Gisbrough on or about the first day of May 1638, the defendant Cuthbert Wrangham, together with all or most part of the tenants of Bolam, were at Gisbrough and made suit unto the complainants, viz. the wardens, master and scholars and poor people, for a new lease of the two several messuages or tenements now in question…’
It had been decided ‘by the hospital’ that Wrangham was not considered to be a fit and worthy tenant and a new lease had been granted to John Wilson. Having arrived at the school the tenants, in the absence of a warden, had discussed their grievances with the master of the school and the pensioners. The warden, Mr Wynne, must have got wind of this, and said that they had ‘digressed from the orders’ in broadcasting their complaints. According to the deposition
‘… the said tenants still waiting for an answer did see Master Wynne going through the churchyard in Gisbrough unto the Bowleing Greene …’(Source: Guisborough Grammar School Archives. ZJB 11/5. 1-9*. There is a Calendar of the documents, prepared by the North Riding County Office, Northallerton, in the Guisborough Branch Library, Reference Section).

(2) Another interesting detail is the Pond House with a Bridge Walk. This is mentioned in the Chaloner Papers at the NR Records Office, ZFM: an account book of Mary Chaloner has this entry:
‘1 August 1754 – To Oliver Preswick
for Sail Cloth for covering the Pond House. £1-18-6.’

John Walker Ord in referring to a copy of the old print states that it was surrounded by circular stone steps. An oversight on his part or was there another print?

Reverting to the dispute of 1638 above, is it possible that the Master Wynne mentioned could be Richard Wynne whose will was dated 19 April 1652 (He left £10 to ‘the Poor of Gisbrough’—Yks. Arch. Soc. Record Series. Vol. 9 1890)? This could provide the subject for a paper outlining Richard’s London connections and his association with his ‘Good friend and near kinsman John Turner of Kirkleatham, Esq’ and ‘Robert Coulthurst of Upleatham, Gent., my Brother-n-Law’; both supervisors of Wynne’s will . Jeffrey’s map of 1777 shows Winn Hall near Upleatham. The Wynn family in the 1841 Census and the 1861 reference to six houses in Wynn’s Buildings (late Wynn’s Yard and still later upstaged to Wynn’s Garth) is obviously another family: the name also occurs in the Redcar records.

* “Chancery Case: Wilson v Wrangham 1640-41. Statement of the Case: the founder of Guisborough Hospital, Robert Pursglove, ordained that the Hospital should not demise or lease any of its property for more than twelve years, except with his own consent, nor alter the rent or take fines, except one year’s rent. Cuthbert Wrangham,’s lease expires 14 Charles I and since the Hospital did not consider him a fit and worthy tenant, a new lease was granted to John Wilson. Wrangham complains that Pursglove’s ordinance debars the Hospital from displacing a tenant such as himself.”

Decoys on the Duck Pond.

The East Window: Spawood cottages in the distance.

A carriage leaves the Hall, and Bow Street bridge.