CHAMBER HALL, to the south-east of Werneth, was for some centuries the residence of the Tetlows of Werneth, said to be descended from the Oldham family.41<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Lawrence Tetlow died 26 December 1582 seised of three messuages, &c., in Ashton under Lyne, held of the queen in socage by a rent of 5d.; and twelve messuages, &c., in Oldham, held of Ralph Barton in socage by a barbed arrow at Christmas, and a pair of gloves (or 1d.) at St. Oswald\u2019s. Richard, his son and heir, was about thirty-seven years old.41a<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Early in the 17th century the estate passed by sale to the Woods,42<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0and from them in 1646 to the Wrigleys.43<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Henry Wrigley served as high sheriff in 1651,44<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0and in local matters was a zealous supporter of Robert Constantine in the disputes as to the church of Oldham.45<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0By marriage Chamber Hall passed to the Gregges of Chester, who in 1773 succeeded to Hopwood, and took this surname.46<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Edward Gregge Hopwood died in 1798, and left the Chamber Hall estate in equal portions to his three daughters. The eldest died unmarried; Elizabeth married James Starkey of Heywood; and the other married Maj. General Peter Heron, Tory member for Newton in Makerfield from 1806 to 1814; and the estate was recently held by their heirs.47<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n Chamber Hall lies on the south side of Oldham at the bottom of Chamber Lane, but on an eminence formerly commanding a very extensive prospect of the country to the south.48<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0The building belongs to two periods. The older part at the back was apparently erected in 1640, along with the barn to the south, and is a stone-built house of two stories and an attic with mullioned windows and gables, and the roofs covered with grey stone slates. Some of the windows are built up and others modernized, but many of the original 17th-century windows with the labels over remain. The walling is of long thin coursed stones with square quoins, many of great length, at the angles.<\/p>\n The front of the house was pulled down in 1752, when the present block facing the street was erected. It is of three stories, built in stone in the plain classic style of the period, with central door and two square-headed windows on each side of it. There are five large windows on the first floor with small attic windows over. The ground floor windows have architraves and keystones, but the upper ones architraves only, and the sashes retain their original wood bars. The front is faced with large squared coursed stones, with chamfered quoins at the angles, the chimneys are of brick, and the roof is covered with blue slates. On the south-west of the house is a large stone barn, with stone slated roof and wide end gables. The entrance doorways in each side of the barn have also smaller stone gables, that facing the house bearing the initials G.W., J.W., and the date 1640 on a stone over a blocked three-light mullioned window. The initials are probably those of George Wood and his wife Jane (Tetlow), the builders of the house. The barn is a fine specimen of the stone-built barns of the 17th century. At the other side of the house, to the south-east, is a range of stone buildings, two stories high, now a cottage and stable, with outside stone steps at the north end. It has low mullioned windows and a stone-slated roof, and over the stable door is the date 1648 and the initials H.W., being those of Henry Wrigley, who bought the hall from the Woods in 1646. He is said to have \u2018employed numerous artisans in the trade of fustian weaving, and converted part of the outbuildings of his hall into a warehouse.\u201949<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0The door with his initials may be an insertion in one of the original outbuildings, but it is more probable that he erected this range of buildings himself for workshops.<\/p>\n A portion of the Tetlow estate passed by marriage to the Langleys of Agecroft, and long continued in that family.50<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Another Tetlow family was settled at …<\/p>\n 41<\/span>\u00a0In 1292 Adam son of Adam de Oldham bound himself to repay 4 marks borrowed from Adam de Prestwich, or instead grant him land called the\u00a0Northhey; Agecroft D. 3<\/span>.<\/p>\n In 1332 Richard de Tetlow and others did not prosecute their claim against Richard de Byron respecting lands in Oldham and Chadderton;\u00a0Assize R. 1411, m. 12 d<\/span>.<\/p>\n Thomas son of Adam de Prestwich in 1335 granted to Richard son of Adam de Tetlow all his part of Adamhey in the Northwood of Oldham \u2013 perhaps the Northhey of the above cited bond;\u00a0Raines D. (Chet. Lib.), bdle. 3, no. 28<\/span>.<\/p>\n In 1337 the sheriff was ordered to inquire whether Richard de Tetlow was seised of 80 acres of land and 20 acres of wood in Oldham and Crompton; Alice his widow claimed a third of it as dower against Amabel widow of Adam de Tetlow. She further claimed dower in other lands in Oldham and Cheetham;\u00a0De Banco R. 310, m. 160 d.; Cal. Close, 1337-9, p. 116<\/span>.<\/p>\n Another Tetlow family is shown in pleadings of 1480, in which the grant of a messuage, &c., in Oldham by Eva daughter of William de Oldham to Richard son of Adam de Tetlow, with remainder to Richard\u2019s brother Adam, was claimed by the descendants of Adam\u2019s three daughters \u2013 George Chadderton, Ralph Belfield, Bernard Butterworth, and Elizabeth his wife;\u00a0Pal. Of Lanc. Writs of Assize, 20 Edw. IV<\/span>.<\/p>\n Hugh son of Adam de Tetlow in 1340 gave lands in the Coppedhurst and Payrehalghus to his mother, Anabil, for life, with remainder to his brother Roger;\u00a0Raines D. no. 29<\/span>.<\/p>\n Adam son of Richard de Tetlow in 1347 successfully claimed eight messuages, &c., in Oldham, held by Adam son of Adam de Tetlow; Assize R. 1435, m. 39.<\/p>\n In 1375 Roger son of Richard de Langley gave to Richard son of Richard de Tetlow all his lands in Manchester, Crompton, and Oldham, with remainders to Richard bastard son of Adam de Tetlow, and to John son of Richard de Oldham;\u00a0Agecroft D. no. 48<\/span>. In the following year Richard son of Richard de Tetlow occurs as plaintiff;\u00a0De Bance R. 462, m. 121 d<\/span>. Richard de Tetlow in 1390 confirmed to Robert Walker, chaplain, a burgage and messuage in Oldham and Manchester;\u00a0Shaw, Oldham, 11<\/span>.<\/p>\n Cases of cow-stealing and trespass in 1441 and 1443 bring in other members of the family \u2013 Robert and Alexander, sons of Robert de Tetlow; Robert son of Richard de Tetlow and Isabel his wife; Robert Tetlow of Oldham and Richard his son;\u00a0Pal. Of Lanc. Plea R. 3, m. 31; 5, m. 15b<\/span>.<\/p>\n Richard Tetlow of Werneth granted to John Langley 5 acres in Oldham in 1474; the bounds mention Hunwalgate, Glodwick Brook, the Clough Bottom, the old kiln, the lime-pits, Hollinwood, and Northwood; John Langley resigned his claim to the Spurfield land;\u00a0Raines D. bdle. 3, no. 43<\/span>.<\/p>\n Arthur Tetlow, of Chamber Hall, contributed to the subsidy in 1523; Shaw, Oldham, 15<\/span>. John Tetlow contributed for goods in 1541;\u00a0Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. And Ches.), i, 145<\/span>. Lawrence Tetlow in 1551 made a feoffment of messuages and lands in Oldham and Ashton under Lyne;\u00a0Pal. Of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 14, m. 178<\/span>. He was among those summoned in 1574 to provide equipment for the muster;\u00a0Gregson, Fragments (ed. Harland), 31<\/span>.<\/p>\n 41a<\/span>\u00a0Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xiv, 56<\/span>. The inquisitions of the Bartons of Smithills do not mention any lands in Oldham, but the Butterworths of Butterworth also held lands of them by \u2018an arrow with an iron barb\u2019;\u00a0ibid. xiii, 2<\/span>.<\/p>\n Richard Tetlow, in return for the surrender of a lease granted by his father Lawrence, gave a new lease of a messuage in Oldham in 1596; the rent was to be 82s. a year, with four hens at Christmas, two capons at Easter, and four days\u2019 shearing (reaping) in harvest. Richard further agreed that Robert his son and heir apparent should confirm it on coming of age;\u00a0Shaw, Oldham, 40<\/span>. In 1610, in conjunction with Katherine his wife, he made a settlement of his \u2018manors of Oldham and Werneth,\u2019 with thirty messuages, mill, lands, &c.;\u00a0Pal. Of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 78, no. 5<\/span>. He died in 1611, and his will and inventory are printed by Shaw, op. Cit. 51, 52; he mentions his wife Katherine, son Robert, daughter Jane wife of William Bradshaw, grandson Adam Pilkington, and others, and desired to be buried in the \u2018chapel church of Oldham.\u2019 The only book was \u2018a great old Bible\u2019; the arms were a caliver, two great bills, a yew bow and a quiver, and a broken cross-bow; \u2018a pair of playing tables\u2019 was valued at 1s.<\/p>\n Robert Tetlow contributed to the subsidy in 1622; Misc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), i, 157. Nine years later he paid \u00a310 on refusing knighthood; ibid. 216. As a convicted recusant he paid double to the subsidy of 1626-7 (Lay Subs. bdle. 131, no. 312), and in 1630 compounded for his sequestered two-thirds by an annual fine of \u00a310.<\/p>\n 42<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0By indenture dated 14 September 1635 Robert Tetlow of Chamber Hall in or near Oldham, and William Horton of Barkisland, Yorks., conveyed to George Wood of Groby and John Wood of London, for \u00a32,120, the capital messuage in Werneth, with lands, &c., there and in Greenacres, the names and rents of the occupiers being given;\u00a0Raines D. (Chet. Lib.), bdle. 5, no 77<\/span>. This was accompanied by a fine, Robert Tetlow and Mary his wife, William Horton and Elizabeth his wife, being deforciants;\u00a0Pal. Of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 128, no. 33<\/span>.<\/p>\n George Wood, who is said to have married Jane the daughter and heir of Robert Tetlow, contributed to the subsidy of 1641 for his lands;\u00a0Shaw op. cit. 87<\/span>. In the following year George and John Wood gave a lease of the messuage , &c., called Broad Heys in Oldham;\u00a0ibid. 93<\/span>.<\/p>\n 43<\/span>\u00a0Ibid. 102<\/span>.<\/p>\n 44<\/span>\u00a0P.R.O. List, 73<\/span>.<\/p>\n 45<\/span>\u00a0See the correspondence in Manch. Classis (Chet. Soc.), App. Henry Wrigley died in London, and was buried there 26 July 1658;\u00a0Shaw, op. cit. 152<\/span>.<\/p>\n Henry Wrigley the younger, son of Henry Wrigley of the Chamber in Oldham, at Ashton under Lyne on 5 April 1654 married Susannah daughter of Samuel Jenkinson of Woodhouses. A son, Henry, was buried at Ashton 23 Mar. 1654-5.<\/p>\n Benjamin Wrigley, the next owner of Chamber, was summoned to attend the Herald\u2019s Visitation in 1664, but no pedigree is recorded;\u00a0Dugdale, Visit. (Chet. Soc.), p.v<\/span>.<\/p>\n 46<\/span>\u00a0E. Butterworth, Oldham (ed. 1856)<\/span>, from which this account of the descent is mainly taken. By his will, 1671, Benjamin Wrigley devised his property in Oldham, &c., to his eldest daughter Martha and her issue; and she married Joseph Gregge.<\/p>\n In 1681 Joseph Gregge and Martha his wife made a sttlement of the manors of Werneth and Oldham;\u00a0Pal. Of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 207, m. 84<\/span>. In 1682 Jospeh Gregge granted a lease of a messuage at a rent of 10s., a heriot at every death, two fat hens at Christmas, a fat capon at Easter, a day\u2019s harrowing with two harrows, and three days\u2019 reaping as required;\u00a0Shaw, op. cit. 187<\/span>. Joseph Gregge died in 1705;\u00a0ibid. 241<\/span>.<\/p>\n In a recovery of the manors of Werneth and Oldham in 1712 the tenants were Benjamin Gregge, Elizabeth his wife, and Henry Ashton;\u00a0Pal. Of Lanc. Plea R. 496, m. 4<\/span>. Benjamin Gregge was high sheriff in 1722;\u00a0P.R.O. List, 74<\/span>.<\/p>\n A settlement was made of the manors of Werneth and Oldham in 1773 by Edward Gregge Hopwood and Judith his wife;\u00a0Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 389, m. 28<\/span>.<\/p>\n 47<\/span>\u00a0In 1856 these heirs were:- Edmund John Gregge Hopwood, Catherine Heron, Mary Felicia Barry, (Rev.) George Heron, Henry Heron, (Rev.) Frank George Hopwood, and Hervey Hopwood;\u00a0Butterworth, op. cit. 28<\/span>. On the same page is an account of the haunting of Chamber Hall.<\/p>\n In 1890 Chamber was stated to be the property of the Gregge Hopwoods; see an account of the place in\u00a0Lancs. and Ches. Antiq. Soc. viii, 150-4<\/span>, where is printed an ungallant couplet written on a window pane of the hall.<\/p>\n 48<\/span>\u00a0J. Butterworth, op. cit. 1826<\/span>.<\/p>\n 49<\/span>\u00a0Lancs. and Ches. Antiq. Soc. viii<\/span>.<\/p>\n 50<\/span>\u00a0In 1352 lands in Crompton, Oldham and Werneth were part of the Tetlow estate settled upon Richard de Langley and Joan his wife;\u00a0Final Conc. (Rec. Soc. Lancs. and Ches.), ii, 132<\/span>. Disputes had …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" An extract from Volume IV of \u2018A History of Lancashire\u2019 edited by William Page, F.S.A., part of \u2018The Victoria History of the Counties of England\u2019. The Salford Hundred \u2013 pages 96,97. CHAMBER HALL, to the south-east of Werneth, was for … Continue reading
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