According to a typed written note inserted within the package of deeds, the enclosed documents were uncovered in an attic when the house was cleared. Unfortunately the address of the house wasn’t given and the collection had been posted anonymously to Warwickshire Museum before subsequently being transferred to Warwickshire County Record Office in April 20151.
Probably subjected to damp or water at some time, the top layer of deeds had developed mould, and though now dry, some of the parchment membranes had stuck together in the creases. Fortunately, it was possible to carefully prise apart each sheet. A remnant of the surviving packaging gives the name [?] B Lucy Esq in a 19th century hand, and although the connection to ‘the Lucy’ family isn’t clear, it is known the Lucys of Charlecote owned numerous properties in Wellesbourne.
A rather pathetic story
From this small collection of records a rather pathetic story emerged. It begins with Joseph Palmer, evidently owning the freehold to a messuage/beerhouse in Wellesbourne but mortgaging the property for £300 with interest in 1817.
Before his death in 1823, Joseph bequeathed his property to his eldest son, Thomas, and set aside sums of money for his wife and other children, the children to be in receipt of their inheritance upon reaching their majority.
Leaving extensive debts
It becomes apparent, reading through subsequent deeds that Joseph died leaving extensive debts. Thomas inherited his property, but needed the support of his family to maintain it; their attempts were destined to be futile. Thomas and family successfully fended off an action brought against Thomas and his mother, Martha, in Chancery in 1837, with the help of his solicitor, James Tibbits, but was declared a bankrupt somewhere between 1851 (see note re. tithe apportionment below) and 1860, with the property being sold to Mr William Scrubey around 1860.
Interestingly, though wholly expectedly, Thomas Palmer is named as owner and occupant of this piece of land and property in the tithe map and apportionment for Wellesbourne Mountford, 18512, hence it is unlikely he was a declared bankrupt at this time. If we were to view only the tithe apportionment, we might assume Thomas was a fortunate and prosperous man. This small packet of deeds, serendipitously finding a home at the record office, tells quite a different story.
1 Now catalogued as reference CR47232 Warwickshire County Record Office reference CR569/259.
Comments
Since offering an alternative location for the ‘deed packet’,I’ve checked on the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust archives dealing with the sale of the property in 1862 , they refer to it as the ‘Red Horse’ rather than ‘Red House’, which tallies with my memory. Your map and text implies association with the Red House in Chestnut Square – a red herring? The Red House(Chestnut Square) has no obvious connection with either the Lucy or Palmer families.
During preparation for the building of the 1960s bungalows in the Chapel Street site, some sanitary ware was unearthed which at the time was interpreted as a urinal. E.Berkeley Lucy was the younger brother of Henry Spencer Lucy,son of George & Mary Elizabeth Lucy and born on their continental tour. He was to become a blood sport enthusiast and came to live at Holly Lodge.There he befriended the Spicer family, in particular Peter with his taxidermy skills. Some of the bird specimens at Charlecote House reveal Berkeley ‘s input. It seems probable that Berkeley had the beer house demolished and used the extended ground as a minor zoological garden as did his successors to Holly Lodge, the Grant -Ives family in the 20th century
I went back to the deed bundle, and you are right – the property is described as ‘…the Dwelling house commonly used as a Beerhouse and known by the sign of the Red Horse…’ Many thanks for pointing this out.
…and the title is changed accordingly 🙂
For complete details see Peter Bolton’s The Naples of the Midlands pp 27-29. Copy in Record Office library
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