This post, the twenty-first and last in the series detailing the rooms and contents of Middleton Hall as described in the 1676 inventory, focuses on the connecting areas specifically named as “The Hall”, “The Gallery”, “The Lobby” and “The Stair Head”. Despite only being connecting areas and passages, some were large enough to even be sub-divided into rooms in themselves. Although the inventory is a useful illustration of the household at Middleton Hall, because the house wa

This post, the twentieth in the series detailing the rooms and contents of Middleton Hall as described in the 1676 inventory, focuses on the larders. These were specifically named as “The Old Larder”, “The West Larder” and “The New Larder”. In the 1924 auction catalogue of Middleton Hall, there were still only three larders listed, but it is uncertain where these were. There was a suggestion that two may have been located in the small ground floor rooms created on the north a

This post, the fifteenth in the series detailing the rooms and contents of Middleton Hall as described in the 1676 inventory, focuses on the rooms involved in textile maintenance. They were called “The Washhouse”, “The Laundry Chamber” and “The Linen Chamber”. In medieval times the washhouse and laundry were the same room, but by the 17th century each of these rooms represented a different isolated stage: the wet Washhouse was where dirty textiles were washed; the dry Laundry

The next two entries in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 were dated 3rd November and both related to wick yarn. The first was described as payment for 2 lea of wick yarn and the amount was 5 pence, which was the equivalent of about £9.19 today. The second was payment for the spinning of a lea of wick yarn and the amount was 1 penny, which was the equivalent of about £1.84 today. This pair of entries is interesting because it directly shows how

This post, the fourteenth in the series detailing the rooms and contents of Middleton Hall as described in the 1676 inventory, focuses on one of the domestic production houses: “The Spinning House”. A dedicated spinning house was where raw fibres were spun into yarn. Spinning had been an activity undertaken on the Estate for centuries, but this inventory confirms that the activity was actually undertaken at the Hall itself. It is uncertain where the Spinning House was located

This post, the thirteenth in the series detailing the rooms and contents of Middleton Hall as described in the 1676 inventory, focuses on the entertaining rooms called “The Parlour” and “The Dining Room”. Before the 15th century, the great hall chamber had been where everyone within the household ate and was entertained. However, in the 15th century the parlour emerged. At that time, parlours were a private reception room, a place where a few guests would be entertained and a

This post, the twelfth in the series detailing the rooms and contents of Middleton Hall as described in the 1676 inventory, focuses on the rooms called “The Bailiff’s Chamber Hung With Painted Stuff” and the two “Maids’ Chambers”. As mentioned in the previous post on The Children’s Chamber, in this era, bedchambers were a multi-functional room, not simply for sleeping. Normally, they were located on the first floor. However, this was not necessarily true for servants’ rooms.

This post, the eleventh in the series detailing the rooms and contents of Middleton Hall as described in the 1676 inventory, focuses on the room called “The Soldier’s Chamber”. There are three theories about the name of this room. The first theory is that it was named as a result of someone present in the household who was in the military, which may even have been many years before. What gave credence to this were the contents, which were above a basic level, and that the roo

This post, the tenth in the series detailing the rooms and contents of Middleton Hall as described in the 1676 inventory, focuses on the rooms named as “The Queen’s Chamber”, “The Best Chamber” and “The Small Chamber Between The Queen’s and The Best”. The Queen’s Chamber unquestionably relates to the visit of Queen Elizabeth I to Middleton Hall in July 1575. In theory, it would have referred to what had been her chamber when she stayed at the Hall. As mentioned in the previou

This post, the ninth in the series detailing the rooms and contents of Middleton Hall as described in the 1676 inventory, focuses on the rooms named as “Lady Barnard’s Chamber” and “The Old Lady’s Chamber”. Lady Barnard was the mother of the Emma Barnard who was the widow of Francis Willughby and had married Sir Josiah Child on 22nd August 1676. Emma’s parents were Sir Henry Barnard and Emma Charlton. It is unknown when Lady Barnard died but it is known that she was still ali

This post, the eighth in the series detailing the rooms and contents of Middleton Hall as described in the 1676 inventory, focuses on the rooms named as “Frank’s Chamber”, “Chamber Over Against Frank’s Man’s” and two areas called “Space Before The Nursery”. There is no Frank’s Man’s Chamber nor any nurseries specifically listed in the inventory. Thus, this is confirmation that the list of rooms in the inventory was incomplete. Frank was Francis Willoughby, the eldest son of F

This post, the seventh in the series detailing the rooms and contents of Middleton Hall as described in the 1676 inventory, focuses on the room named as Lady Child’s Chamber. This room can unquestionably be identified as the chamber of Emma Barnard, the widow of Francis Willughby FRS. She married Sir Josiah Child on 22nd August 1676. Thus, the name of this room conclusively dates the inventory to after that date. Interestingly, considering this inventory was made when the hou

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