The Latin words in South Wingfield's parish register for 1644, quoted above, makes chilling reading - war horrible war^[1].

Following the death in February 1616/7 of Gilbert Talbot, seventh Earl of Shrewsbury, Wingfield Manor passed to the Earl of Pembroke as he had married Talbot's eldest daughter Mary^[2]. At the outbreak of the Civil War the Earl garrisoned the Manor for the Parliamentarians^[3] but on 19th December 1643 Henry Cavendish, Marquis of Newcastle, captured the Manor for the King following a twelve day siege. When Cavendish moved on from South Wingfield, he left a strong garrison behind him. Sir John Fitzherbert of Tissington was in charge^[4]. However, the Parliamentary forces were at Derby and this was a sharp thorn in their side so Sir John Gell of Hopton eventually moved to Wingfield and he, in turn, laid siege to the Manor.

There were several efforts to relieve the Parliamentarian siege but none were successful. Some 200 Royalist soldiers under Colonel Eyre were on their way to Wingfield Manor but took quarters for the night in Boylestone Church. Their whereabouts became known to the Roundheads and a small force led by Colonel Sanders surrounded the building. The Roundheads ambushed them whilst they slept, and ordered to come out one by one. They were seized and stripped of their arms without a shot being fired, and marched to Derby as prisoners^[4]. Another force under General Hastings was also driven back Gell was eventually sent "four great peeces" capable of throwing thirty two pound balls. The wall was breached and the Royalist garrison surrendered on 20 July 1646. Wingfield Manor's governor, Colonel Dalby, was shot at point blank range and killed at the entrance gate, possibly by a deserter who had recognised him^[2]. In June 1646 Parliament issued an order to "slight" or dismantle the fortified building^[5].

The castle had not run out of water during the siege, as a well had been dug in one of the courtyards^[5].

Wingfield Manor House, by J. Gresley, 1863.

[Great Hall Oriel] Window, Wingfield Manor, by J. Gresley, 1863. Interior.

After the Restoration of the monarchy the manor was bought by Imanuel Halton, a distinguished mathematician, astronomer and musician, who took up residence in 1666^[6]. Halton was born at Greystoke, Cumberland in 1628 and became of patron of the astronomer John Flamsteed (see Eminent Men). The memorial inscription for him inside South Wingfield church reads: "The last years of his life were spent in the studies of Musicke and the Mathematickes in which Noble Sciences he attained a great perfection". He had married Mary, a daughter of William Newton of Oakerthorpe, and the couple had 10 children some of whom died as infants and are not found in the parish register. Below are photographs of two of Halton's sundials.

Sundial over the arched entrance to the Great Hall.

Sundial over the Great Hall's Oriel Window. They can both be seen on the image at the top of the page.

Cox said that in Halton's time parts of the building were unroofed and went into decay, although he converted what had been the banqueting hall into a two storey dwelling^[4]. You can see this dwelling behind the trees in the image of the Outer Courtyard (see below). The interior of his home must have been very comfortable for the time. His inventory shows at least four of the rooms - the yellow chamber, drawing roome, dinninge roome and the Matted chamber - all had "tapestrye hanginges"^[7].

Almost a century later, in 1774, further damage was done to the structure. This time it was a descendant of Imanuel Halton's, another Imanuel, who pulled down a considerable part of it (the entire western side of the north courtyard, according to Firth^[2]) and used the ready-dressed stone to erect a house at the bottom of the opposite hill^[8]. John C. Cox cited pictorial evidence that on 6 August 1775 "the roof of the banqueting hall was then perfect, and the windows glazed.", adding that by 1779 the roof had come off the principal hall and Shewsbury's arms, etc., were exposed to the elements. A large portion of the banqueting hall's south wall either fell down or was taken away between 1789 and 1793^[9]. It underlines how quickly a roofless building can decay.

In 1777 a large amount of timber growing at Wingfield Manor was advertised for sale. The 190 trees available consisted of walnut, elm, ash, sycamore and oak; they were described as marked and figured and it was hoped to sell to a single bidder^[10].

Immanuel Halton died at Wingfield Manor, on 17th February 1784. He had been "one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for this county, and a captain in our Militia, which duties he filles with much Credit and Reputation^[11].

In the early 1820s Ebenezer Rhodes and his companion Montgomery walked here from Ashover and Wolley. Having eaten "we proceeded immediately to the ruins of the manor castle. They occupy the summit of a steep hill, which appears to be moated on three sides. The first view of the village of this dilapidated structure displays a fine assemblage of parts ; mouldering towers, ruined arches, amongst which the dark ivy creeps, embattled parapets, and shattered walls, are seen rising above, and mingled groves of venerable trees centuries older than the present building ; the whole constituting not merely a beautiful but magnificent picture." They found the great hall, seventy two feet by thirty-six, was occupied by a colony of rooks^[12].

Visiting Wingfield Manor was not easy until the station opened at South Wingfield in 1840^[13]. In 1852 Rev. J. R. Errington of Ashbourne recorded that "the carriage approach winds up the steep eastern slope of the hill ... and brings you at length to the gate-house, which has a central and a side archway, the latter being for foot passengers only, an abutting to the porter's lodge. This gate-house is about sixteen feet through^[5]". Neither the property nor the surrounding roads had the facility to cope with the mass tourism that the railway brought, even if the hotels in the area were able to cope with the influx of people. The Manor's owners did their best to limit the visitors.

And in 1857 White's Directory commented that "it is now a ruin, and has not been occupied for more than eighty years"^[14].

The number of visitors were controlled and the times the ruins were open in 1875, on weekdays only, was from 10a.m. to 6p.m. between 1st May and 31st October whilst for the rest of the year they closed at 4p.m. Potential visitors had to apply to the Warder of the Ruins, a Mr. William Taylor^[15]. A sale notice of the Rev. Immanuel Halton's effects a few months before included two cannonballs he owned, and the following year two workmen, who were involved in pulling down an old wall, discovered two more embedded in the rubble. A smaller cannonball was found nearby a couple of days later^[16].

Henry Hadfield Cubley of Matlock Bath was one of many artists who have painted Wingfield Manor over the years. His wife and daughter can be seen standing in a ruined doorway, with the High Tower in the background. Judging by the size of his daughter the work was completed before 1900.

A relatively small group, mostly women with large hats, seated at trestle tables and enjoying the sunshine, 1900-1910.
In 1886 Mrs. Tristram, of the Manor, entertained her tenants and members of the local Primrose League to afternoon tea. The guests also spent the evening at the manor^[17]. This may have been a similar event and both the Manor and Peacock Hotel are known to have provided the refreshments for various groups.

In May 1925 Lt. Col. Miles Halton Tristram auctioned most of his furniture, his poultry and his live and dead farming stock^[18] as he was giving up his Wingfield Manor Hall and was moving to Canada with his family. The Tristrams held a large farewell party in the Church Room. Wingfield Manor Farm was then inhabited by Mr. Samuel Butler whose brother, sisters and their families, including the Critchlows, later lived with him^[19]. He had lived at the farm for many years and had taken over as keeper of the ruins when Mr. Taylor died. In 1931 he bought Manor Farm, Catchills Farm and the historic ruins of Wingfield Manor as well as 38 acres of land and Mrs. Markham bought the house at the bottom of the hill (Manor Hall) where she had been living for some years^[20].

Drawing of the South front of South (Outer) Court, showing a number of chimneys, published 1905.
In the centre is the gateway leading into the north courtyard and to the left, over the wall, we can see the porch to the Great Hall in the north courtyard, seen on the previous image.

By 1935 the historian Thomas L. Tudor^[21] and others were becoming increasingly concerned about the state of the Manor and the matter was referred to the Ancient Monuments Board (H. M. Office of Works) with a report on the "terribly dilapidated and even dangerous state of the ruins". The board was understood to be willing to take over the guardianship, providing the owner agreed. Reportedly, the ruins had been getting worse for some years, parts of the structure already fallen and several ancient chimneys were out of straight and liable to collapse^[22].

Outer Courtyard and gatehouse to the north courtyard. The High Tower on the far left and the farmhouse is on the right.
These buildings are well preserved whereas the walls of the former guardroom on the extreme right were in a very ruinous state.
A solitary male is sitting on a block for mounting horses in the centre of the photograph.
The photograph was probably taken in the 1920s.



The spectacular view of the ruins from Garner Lane, about 1920.
This view is of the west side. The Great Barn is one of the buildings behind the trees on the far right.
Today there are more trees below Wingfield Manor.

The barn is in the south courtyard, next to the gatehouse, and measures approximately nearly 90 feet by 30. J. C. Cox observed that the barn has substantial buttress walls, yet "the massive oak roof seems to independent of them, as the trusses are carried on strong oak posts of a large size"^[9].

Interior of the great barn, taken in 2018.

The probate records of members of the Halton family who passed away when they were living at Winfield Manor show the barn was used for harvested crops. Immanuel Halton's inventory, taken and appraised the Seventeenth day of November An. Dm. 1699 shows "Also Oates in the Barn", valued at £23. Barley (£23) and Wheat (£7) were also listed, though it is unclear if the crops were in the barn or elsewhere on the property. Mary, his widow, had £22 worth of oats in the barne as well pease (£3). Their eldest son, John, whose probate was granted at Ufton Barns on 15 Apr 1741, showed corn in the barn (£10), although he also had "growing corn" (£47)^[23].

The barn's roof, also photographed in 2018.

Simon Jenkins visited Wingfield Manor between 2000 and 2003. "This was no manor, but a palace. Wingfield must rank as one of England's great ruins." He approached it "along a muddy farm track"^[24]. The property remains in private ownership today but is now looked after by English Heritage. Visitors should be aware that Wingfield Manor is a working farm and are asked to respect the owner's privacy at all times.

Wingfield Manor is currently closed for the safety of visitors, as a full conservation project will take place. No public access is currently allowed.
Please visit the English Heritage website for further information.

There is more about Wingfield Manor on the previous page

References:

^[1] "South Wingfield Parish Registers & Bishop's Transcripts" (1585 - 1901), 1990, Transcribed by J. Smedley, W. Petford, Derbyshire FHS.

^[2] Firth, J. B. (1908) "Highways and Byways in Derbyshire" MacMillan & Co., London. Mary was one of three daughters, who each received a share of their father's estate (see previous page noted [3] and [4]. As for Col. Dalby, other sources state he was in the barn and disguised in women's clothing.

^[3] Cavendish was a leading Royalist. The "Encyclopædia Britannica" [on line] shows that he was created Marquis of Newcastle, then Earl (along with other titles) in the reign of Charles I. Following the Restoration of the monarchy he became a Duke on 16 March, 1665.

^[4] Cox, John Charles, (1915, 2nd edition, revised), "Derbyshire" - Illustrated by J. Charles Wall, Methuen & Co., London.

^[5] Errington, Rev. R. J. (1852), "On South Winfield Manor and Manor House", Journal of the British Archaeological Association by British Archaeological Association, Vol VII.

^[6] Halton was born at Greystoke, Cumberland. He married Mary, a daughter of Mr. John Newton, of Oakerthorpe, and died at Wingfield Manor on 31 Oct 1699.

^[7] Will and Inventory of Imanuel Halton, Wingfield Manor, proved 3 Apr 1700. Held by Staffordshire RO.

^[8] Ward, Reverend Richard (1814) "The Matlock, Buxton and Castleton Guide, containing concise accounts of these and other remarkable places ... in the ... County of Derby", Derby. Ward was rather restrained about people's views on the new house, just saying it "was to the regret of the admirers of this once beautiful and interesting Gothic mansion. In comparison, Cox^[4] didn't mince his words, saying Halton had built "a square house of appalling ugliness at the bottom of the hill".

^[9] Cox, Dr. John C. (1886) "On the manor house of South Wingfield", Derbyshire Archaeological Society. [A paper read to the Royal Archaeological Institute, when visiting the Manor House, on July 30th, 1885.] Cox described Indian ink sketched done by his wife's grandfather on that day. Cox also acknowledged the work of Edmund B. Ferrey, a well known architect whose monograph (that included plans, elevations, sections and other information) had been published in 1870.

^[10] "The Derby Mercury", 14 November 1777. Timber to be sold. The quantity doesn't seem to have been unusual at the time.

^[11] "The Derby Mercury", 19 February 1784. "On Tuesday the 17th Inst. died, at Wingfield Manor in this County, Immanuel Halton, Esq; one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for this County, and a Captain in our Militia, which Duties he fulfilled with much Credit and Reputation.

^[12] Rhodes, Ebenezer (1824) "Peak Scenery" pub. London, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, Paternoster Row.

^[13] Pre WW2 Ward Lock Guides note that "Whatstandwell station is about three miles from Wingfield Manor ... the station at South Wingfield is also available, but a change is generally necessary at Ambergate Junction.

^[14] The link to White's Directory for Derbyshire in 1857 can be found on Links.

^[15] "Derbyshire Times", 13 October 1875. Mr. Taylor was a servant of the Manor estate and passed away in 1900.

^[16] "Glossop Times", 29 January 1876. Sale notice, following the death of Rev. Halton. Miles Halton Tristram was a godchild of Rev. E. Halton and inherited his estate.

^[17] "Alfreton Journal", 20 August 1886. Mrs. Tristram, who provided tea, died in 1920.

^[18] "Derbyshire Times", 25 April, 1925. Announcement of sale. Same paper, 16 May. Account of the large party they held.

^[19] From the 1921 census, on Find My Past.

^[201] "Derby Daily Telegraph", 10 October 1931.

^[21] Thomas Linthwaite Tudor wrote "The High Peak to Sherwood, The hills and dales of old Mercia", (1926), published London by Robert Scott.

^[22] "Derby Daily Telegraph", 9 July 1935. Wingfield Manor in Imminent Danger of Collapse. Several thousand pounds needed, with an initial outlay of £400.

^[23] The Wills and Inventories are now held at Staffordshire Record Office. Mary's inventory was taken and apprised in 14 January 1714/15.

^[24] Jenkins, Simon (2003) "England's Thousand Best Houses", Allen Lane, Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London, WC28 0R:, England, ISBN 0-713-99596-3

Also see:
Pedigree of Leacroft (Lords of the Manor from 1710).
The Wolley Manuscripts, Derbyshire especially Winfield, Manor house
The Wolley Manuscripts, Matlock
Kelly's Directory of Derbyshire, 1891 :South Wingfield, Derbyshire
Derbyshire's Parishes, 1811
Our Genealogy includes the Newtons and Sudburys. The web mistress has early links to those families.