This post, the fifth in the series detailing the rooms and contents of Middleton Hall as described in the 1676 inventory, focuses on the rooms named as “The Red Chamber” and “The Old Study”. Both of these rooms were mentioned in the previous post on The Chapel, having been entered on the inventory list either side of “The Space Into The Chapel”. As a result, it is thought that these rooms may have been situated close to where the 1391 Chapel was located on the north side of M

The next entry in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 was the last in October but was undated. It was described as payment for a yard of frieze to mend one of the Children of the Chapel’s coats. The amount was 6 pence, which was the equivalent of about £11.03 today. Frieze was a highly durable coarse woollen, plain weave cloth with a shaggy or raised nap on one side. Originally, it was known as “Frisian cloth”. This name originated from the Middl

The next two entries in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 were dated 20th October. The first was described as payment for six caps for the Children of the Chapel and the amount was 6 shillings, which was the equivalent of about £132.38 today. The second was described as payment for six pairs of shoes for the Children of the Chapel and the amount was 3 shillings 7 pence, which was the equivalent of about £79.06 today. As mentioned in previous po

This post, the fourth in the series detailing the rooms and contents of Middleton Hall as described in the 1676 inventory, focuses on the “The Chapel” and “The Space Into The Chapel”. Although these areas are named with what should have been an easily identifiable title, there is a considerable lack of certainty over their precise locations. Today, it is known that Middleton Hall only ever contained one private chapel, which was located centrally on the north side of the Hall

This post, the third in the series detailing the rooms and contents of Middleton Hall as described in the 1676 inventory, focuses on the room identified as “The Garret”. At this time, Middleton Hall had only one building with a garret. Today, it would be referred to as the attic of the John Ray Building. When the John Ray Building was constructed in 1647, it included a new architectural feature that had only been introduced to England in the mid-17th century. This was the cre

This post, the second in the series detailing the rooms and contents of Middleton Hall as described in the 1676 inventory, focuses on the three rooms named as “Mr Ray’s Chamber”, “Mr Ray’s Study” and “The Room Betwixt Mr Ray’s and The Still Chamber”. These are the only rooms that specifically mention John Ray by name. The fact that he is named is one of the reasons that the inventory is believed to date from about 1676, which was when he left Middleton Hall. John Ray resided

Over the centuries, many inventories of Middleton Hall have been conducted. These were normally taken upon the death of an owner. One inventory, although being undated, is believed to date to just after Emma, the widow of Francis Willughby, married Sir Josiah Child on 22nd August 1676. It was unquestionably taken before 1687, which was when a further inventory was taken upon the clearance of certain items from Middleton Hall by Francis and Emma’s children. The inventory would

The next four entries in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 were dated 13th October. The first was described as payment for linings, kersey and fustian and costs for Master Draycott, Mistress Alice and the Children of the Chapel. The amount was 14 shillings, which was the equivalent of about £308.89 today. The second was described as a reward to Mr Worth’s son for his going to London and the amount was 2 shillings 4 pence, which was the equivale

The next two entries in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 both related to the Children of the Chapel and the first of these was dated 9th October. This first entry was described as a payment for three pairs of shoes for the Children of the Chapel and the amount was 18 pence, which was the equivalent of about £33.10 today. The second was described as a payment for books and combs for the Children of the Chapel and the amount was 9 pence, which w

The next two entries in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 were dated 5th October. The first was described as a payment to the blind woman at Wollaton for her to buy a petticoat and the amount was 2 shillings 8 pence, which was the equivalent of about £58.84 today. The second was described as payment to Roger Leech, the surgeon. The amount was 20 pence, which was the equivalent of about £36.77 today or, at that time, the equivalent of about 2 da

The next entry in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 was dated 2nd October. It was described as payment for 4 ells of cloth for smocks for Mistress Jane. The amount was 2 shillings 8 pence, which was the equivalent of about £58.84 today. The Mistress Jane referred to in this entry is Jane Harbottle, the widowed daughter of Sir Henry. An ell was an historic unit of measurement, particularly used in the fabric trade. The word ell comes from the Ol

The next entry in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 was dated 1st October. It was described as payment for Master Catesby’s school hire, schoolboard for 15 weeks and the making of gear (clothes). The amount was 20 shillings, which was the equivalent of about £441.28 today. School hire referred to the school fees paid specifically for the provision of basic educational tuition. However, additional charges could be applied for a physical desk spa

The next five entries in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 were dated 25th September. The first was described as Sir Henry’s offering at the rood of Nottingham and the amount was 4 pence, which was the equivalent of about £7.35 today. The second was described as alms given at the same place and the amount was also 4 pence. The third was described as payment for 2 yards of fustian for a doublet for Master Catesby and the amount was 16 pence, whi

At Middleton Hall, there is an old plaque on a wall that says “Chints Room”. It is located on the north wall of the ground floor lobby on the western side of the Jettied Building. The plaque was in this location when Middleton Hall Trust was formed in 1980 and it is the only old room name sign that is present at Middleton Hall. Chints Room plaque in Jettied Building lobby at Middleton Hall, 2021. Photograph taken by Joanna Habart. Before 1721, the area where the plaque is loc

During the restoration of Middleton Hall, a common archaeological find was that of buttons made from shells. However, not only were the buttons themselves found but also the remains of the discarded sheets of punched-out shells from which they were made. This evidence of blank cutting conclusively proved that buttons were being made on site at Middleton Hall. These buttons were made from swan mussels (Anodonta cygnea). Swan mussels are large and can grow up to 15cm long and t

The next ten entries in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 were undated but must have occurred between the 5th and 20th July due to adjacent entries. Four of these entries by text identify that they relate to the education expenses of Hugh Willoughby, Sir Henry’s youngest son, and it is thought that the others might as well because they are intermixed. The ten entries were: Payment for a pencase and an inkhorn for Master Hugh and the amount was

The next entry in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 was dated 5th July. It was described as full payment to Ralph Dyall for the amount that he had laid down for the purchase of a cloak for Sir Henry. The amount was 8 shillings, which was the equivalent of about £176.51 today. It can be assumed that Ralph was either an agent or servant of Sir Henry but unfortunately there are no known further references to him in the Middleton Manuscripts. In 15

The first entry for June in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 was undated. It was described as payment for half a yard of black cloth for bands for the gentlewomen’s kirtles. The amount was 6 pence, which was the equivalent of about £11.03 today. The kirtle was the main garment in a medieval woman’s wardrobe and remained popular through the Tudor era. However, by the 17th century, it only remained commonly worn by middle or lower-class women. T

The next entry in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 was dated 29th May. It was described as payment for 6 yards (5.48m) of Kendal cloth for a coat of cloth for Mr Catesby. The amount was 3 shillings 8 pence, which was the equivalent of about £80.90 today. Kendal cloth was also known as Kendal Green. It was named from its manufacture in the Cumbrian town of Kendal and from its distinctive dyed green colour. The making of this fabric was already

The 15th April 2026 is World Art Day. A number of reproductions of paintings of the Willoughby family are on display at Middleton Hall. To mark World Art Day, this post will focus on the artistic history of two of these paintings. The original paintings of Sir Francis I Willoughby and his wife Elizabeth Littleton were commissioned on 13th September 1573. In the Middleton household accounts, it was recorded that Sir Francis paid 10 shillings (about £119.11 today) for his portr