Hide

Pipe Ridware in 1817

hide
Hide

Description from A Topographical History of Staffordshire by William Pitt (1817)

PIPE RIDWARE.

This manor is situated on the northern bank of the Trent, six miles north-west of Lichfield. This is the first of the three Ridwares mentioned in Doomsday-book, where it is thus recorded. "Riduuare: the arable land is five carucates, which Alric holds."

It came into the possession of the family of Pipe, in consequence of the marriage of Robert de Pipe, with Maud, the daughter of Thomas de Thamenhorne, in the reign of Edward the First. The manor was then distinguished by the name of Pipe Ridware, doubtless from the desire of the possessor to perpetuate his name.

It remained in this family, till 1443, when the heiress was married to Sir William Vernon, whose successor enjoyed possession of this manor till the ninth year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, ad1567, and left three daughters co-heiresses, of which Margaret became the wife of Sir Thomas Stanley, Knight, second son of the Earl of Derby, who in her right became seized of Pipe Ridware.

In 1606, Edward Stanley, Esq. of Tonge Castle, sold this manor and lands, and also a fishery in the river Trent, to John Chadwicke, of Hill Ridware, gent, for the sum of £870. 6s. 8d. In1614, John Chadwicke gave this manor and fishery to Henry Agarde, of King's Bromley, in exchange for certain lands in Mavesyn Ridware, and a fishery in the Trent, between Armitage and Handsacre.

In 1677, John Whitehall, Esq. of Sharpecliffe, near Leek, purchased this manor and settled here. He was succeeded by his son James Whitehall, Esq. who left two daughters, co-heiresses, one of whom was married to the late Sir Thomas Parker, Knight, and the other to Fisher Littleton, Esq. in consequence of which this manor and estate, with other lands in the Moorlands, were divided.

The ancient manor-house of Pipe Ridware was situated at Linacre. It was called Pipe-hall, and built in the year 1319. There are yet some vestiges of an ancient moat, on the spot, with extensive adjoining orchards, along the extremity of which the principal road to Lichfield formerly passed. After a succession of ages the old manor-house fell to decay, and the present mansion was built on the bank of the river Trent by Mr. Whitehall, the before-mentioned purchaser of the estate. It was some years ago the habitation of the Revs John Arden, and has since been repaired, rough-cast, and whitewashed, which has destroyed its antique and picturesque appearance.

The village of Pipe Ridware is but small, with few inhabitants. The extent of the whole parish is only about 700 acres; the soil in some parts of a cold and stiff nature, and in others mixed with gravel and sand.

The church, dedicated to St. James, is a very ancient structure; it contains monuments of the Whitehall family; and a curious circular font, about two feet and a half in diameter, ensculptured with circles interlaced. The cupola contains two bells, and the church-yard, about an acre in extent, is very dry, and pleasantly situated.