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The Old Rectory
It is thought that a Rectory was built at
about the same time as the church in 1170.
Land in Mavesyn Ridware was granted by Hugo
Mavesyn senior, to his son Hugo, a clerk,
who became the first incumbent. Of the first
building nothing remains, apart from two
walls in the dining room which are made of
large sandstone blocks, similar to those
used in the oldest part of the church. A
probate inventory of 1672 mentions parlours,
a stone chamber and a hall. The Rev John
Shaw’s probate inventory of 1710 mentions a
much larger building including at least
eight rooms, a kitchen, a garret and two
cellars (one for beer and one for wine). In
1857 the Bishop commissioned a report on the
property, from which the following is
extracted:
‘I have made a survey of the
Rectory House at Mavesyn Ridware and find it
a two storey brick and tile building
occupied by a labourer and built in a low
damp situation. The rooms are exceedingly
low and inconvenient and although in a
tolerably good state of repair for so old a
house it is wholly unfit for the residence
of the Rector; the outbuildings are very
poor with the exception of the Glebe barn
which has been re-tiled a few years back
with good tiles and is in a tolerably good
state of repair.
Samuel Guiders, Surveyor.
14th February, 1857’.
This Tithe Barn is shown below. The Old
Rectory was leased in 1904 to Miss Harvey of
Abbots Bromley who ran a private school in
the building with her sister until 1914,
when the school closed owing to the death of
one of the sisters.
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St Nicholas |
Battle beside the Trent |
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Latest news
Meetings
1st February: The Society was privileged to have Ian Wykes,
Cultural Environment Group Leader for Staffs Co Council speaking about
the Staffordshire Hoard (a change from the advertised subject)
1st March: Randle Knight gave a very interesting talk on
William Salt and his Library
17th April: Members enjoyed a tour of Hamstall Ridware
village and church, led by Sarah Elsom and David Rudge
15th May: David Wilkinson led members on a very interesting
walking tour of Alrewas
12th June: Members enjoyed a visit to Blithfield Hall and
Church, which was a great success.
3rd July: Members marked the 20th Anniversary of the
Society with a celebration at the Gatehouse, Mavesyn Ridware, by
permission of Sunny and Mark Eades. A champagne buffet was held on
a lovely sunny day and many old members travelled some distance to be
present. Entertain was provided by the Early Music Man, Terry Carter.
4th October: The winter season commenced with a very
interesting talk on the Wartime Camps on Cannock Chase given by Ian
Wykes.
1st November: Dr John Hunt talked to members on 'Knights in
Local Society'.
5th December: Dr Pam Sambrook gave an intersting talk on
'The History of Oatcakes' which was followed by a Christmas Buffet
10th January: AGM of Society, followed by a fascinating
talk by Alan Harvey, who was a member of the diving team on the Mary
Rose.
7th February: Professor Timothy Peters gave an interesting
talk about the Nature of the Madness of King George III.
7th March: David Budden spoke eloquently about the history
of St Matthew's Hospital, Burntwood, where he was a Pharmacist.Click on any Programme link for details of these and
other meetings. |
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