The History of Abington Manor

If you love history then you will love this location.

The Manor House would have been at the centre of the village listed in the Domesday Book.

The name Abington is Saxon and probably means Ab’s farm and was definitely a settlement at the time of Domesday.

The manor house we see today was built in the 15th Century and was home to Shakespeare’s last remaining relative, his granddaughter Elizabeth Bernard who is buried at the church not far away.

In 1669, vast parts of the original Manor House were demolished to make way for a larger, more lavish extension, retaining of course, the Great Hall and Oak Room.

In 1845, Abington Manor was sold to a Londoner who leased out the Manor to Dr Octavius Pritchard who used the property as a mental asylum. It remained as an asylum until 1892. Conditions in the asylum are not believed to have been overly cruel or unpleasant, however it has been reported that during this time two patients hung themselves. The property further exchanged hands in 1897 when it was given to the people of Northampton. It has remained as a museum until present day.

Pickford’s House Museum is a Grade I listed building situated in Derby. It is named after architect Joseph Pickford who built it as his family home in 1770.

When Pickford died he left the house to Reverend Joseph Pickford who had the house extended and divided into two properties.. He left the house to his cousin William Pickford in his will in 1844. William promptly mortgaged the house and by 1850 it was sold to William Evans

His son Sir Thomas William Evans sold it in 1879 to Frederick Ward who sold it to William Curgenven, the first of a number of surgeons to own it.

In 1977 it was upgraded from Grade II to Grade I It was purchased in 1982 by Derby City Council. Pickford’s House has been run by Derby Museums Trust since October 2012.

The History of Oxford Castle

Oxford Castle is steeped in history.  A large, partly ruined Norman medieval castle in central Oxford.

It would once have been a motte and bailey with a moat but this was replaced with stone in the 13th Century.  Oxford Castle played a crucial role in the conflict of the Anarchy.

In the 14th century, the castle was no longer valuable to the military and the site became used as a prison as well as for county administration.

Sadly, most of the existing 12th Century Castle was destroyed during the English Civil War, but by the 18th century the remaining buildings had become Oxford’s local prison.  In 1785 a new prison complex was built and expanded in 1876. It then became HM Prison Oxford.

It was King Henry III who turned part of the castle into a prison, specifically for holding troublesome University clerks, and also improved the castle chapel, replacing the older barred windows with stained glass in 1243 and 1246.  Due to the presence of Beaumont Palace to the north of Oxford, however, the castle never became a royal residence.

Today, the medieval remains of the castle, including the motte, St George’s Tower and the crypt are Grade I listed buildings and a scheduled monument.

There is so much history and most well documented that this is the perfect location for a paranormal investigation.  So, if you like history and are intrigued by the paranormal, this is a great place for you to visit.  Come along and join us for an unforgettable experience.

The History of Newstead Abbey

Contrary to its current name, Newstead was never actually an abbey: it was a priory.

It was built during the 12th Century and even today, some of the original medieval characteristics of the building remain.

It is truly an amazing place to visit with 800 years of history to behold.

In the late 13th century, the priory was rebuilt and extended. It was extended again in the 15th-century, when the Dorter, Great Hall and Prior’s Lodgings were added.

The priory was designed to be home to at least 13 monks, although there appears to have been only 12 (including the Prior) at the time of the dissolution.

During the 19th Century, Newstead Abbey was the home to the famous poet Lord Byron. In 1818, he sold the house and grounds and during the Victorian era, other families resided here.

There is so much history associated with Newstead Abbey and we would love you to join us to discover more about the people who once lived here…

Highbury Hall History

History. Yew Tree (Highbury Hall) was built in 1878-9 for the MP Joseph Chamberlain. From 1888, Highbury was the setting for large social and political gatherings. The greater part of Highbury’s grounds was made a public park soon after 1932.

Highbury ceased to be a family home after Joseph Chamberlain’s death in 1914 and in May 1915 it became an Auxiliary Hospital for treating wounded soldiers, particularly orthopaedic cases.

During World War I, Highbury Hall was used as a hospital annex and home for disabled soldiers. It was given to trustees in 1919 by his elder son, Austen Chamberlain, and it then passed to the Corporation of Birmingham in 1932, when it was used as a home for elderly women.