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INFORMATION LEAFLET

Belgrave Hall

Belgrave Hall was built in the early 18th century, in what was then a small village three miles from

the town of Leicester. Now city traffic passes, almost unnoticed, just beyond the garden walls. It

has changed hands many times but the owners have always played a major role in the economic,

social and charitable life of the community.

Belgrave - Early Beginnings

There are references to a settlement at Belgrave in the Domesday survey of 1086, meaning that

the Belgrave village is at least 900 years old. Belgrave, was known then, as Merdegrave, meaning

a grove where martens could be found. To the Norman ear ‘merde’ would sound like the French

word for ‘dung’ or ‘filth’ and the name was soon changed to ‘bel’ meaning beautiful or lovely which

is a more accurate description:

‘on a summer’s day, cast your eyes towards the bridge, which is backed by Burstall-hill, you see

the river serpentining by an eminence on the right, shaded by hanging elms and willows, planted

seemingly by the hand of Chance, yet rich in irregularity; the mills, the glittering stream … behold

a valley, rich with flowers of golden and variegated tints’ (Throsby’s excursions).

It was built on a small area of river gravel and in 1086, 7 carucates (the carucate was both a unit

of assessment and a peasant landholding unit found in most of the Danelaw counties) of land in

Belgrave were held by Hugh de Grentemesnil (who was appointed as the first High Sheriff of

Leicestershire in 1066) and one other by his wife Adeliz. Ten houses in Leicester were attached to

the manor at this time. The Belgrave lands, owned by Hugh de Grandmesnil, in 1086, included

arable land, meadow land and a substantial amount of woodland. He also had lordship over a

number of peasants who were described as slaves, villagers, smallholders and freemen

representing a typical Anglo-Saxon village hierarchy. There was also a water mill which probably

explains why Hugh’s Belgrave property almost doubled in value during the 20 years from 1066 till

the Survey.

The woodland is described in the Domesday survey of 1086, as 5 furlongs in length and 3 in

breadth, and was probably to the west of the village. During the 12th and 13th centuries the

amount of arable land at Belgrave increased, probably through the clearing of the forest. In the

early 12th century there were 12 carucates of land and in 1279 more than sixteen. The lands

adjoining the village fields which Leicester abbey obtained from Simon de Montfort were

apparently woodland when acquired, but in 1341 they are described as an ‘assart’i.

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INFORMATION LEAFLET

Following the dissolution of the monasteries in the mid 16th

century much of the land was sold but it was not until a century

later that drastic change was made to the agricultural life of the

village.

This was due to the Enclosure (Note: the Enclosure of Belgrave

was made under articles of 1654, confirmed in Chancery in 1662)

and led to the open field farming system disappearing as fields

were amalgamated and sold offii . By the early 18th century

Belgrave gradually began to see changes which were to alter its

position as a purely agricultural village.

Ariel view of the Belgrave area c2005

No doubt the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII had a profound effect on Belgrave

due to its closeness to Leicester Abbey, but the greatest change would have happened once the

practicalities of Enclosure had been worked out.

John Coffyn’s enclosure map of 1657, therefore, gives

some insight into the ownership of the land in and

around Belgrave. It is possible to identify the parish

church of St Peter’s and the land on which Belgrave Hall

(and Belgrave House) was later built.

There also appear to be buildings on both sides of

Church Road, Thurcaston Road and parts of

Loughborough Road. Although, as the map was intended

to delineate ownership of the adjoining fields it is not

necessarily fully accurate regarding actual buildings.

Nichol’s drawing c1790 showing the old Belgrave Hall and

eastern section of the garden

However, there is a building that stands alone on the East side of Loughborough Road and which

on the OS map of 1885 is described as the Old Hall.

The Old Hall

The Old Hall was possibly the original Belgrave Hall manor house, known as the Hall of Belgrave

from at least the 17th century, and is the one described by Nichols in 1800 as an ancient mansion

house. It was, during the late 17th century, owned and occupied by the somewhat discredited

Henry Hastings (and his wife Pentecost) who owned land in both Humberstone and Belgrave. He

was described as ‘a man of loose manners and extravagant habits’ and tried, unsuccessfully, to

claim a direct connection to the Hastings family of Civil War fame.

The Old Hall was sold to Sir Nathan Wright, a member of the royal court, before Hastings death in

1696 and Wright let it out to the Byerleys, a Roman Catholic family who altered the Hall to provide

a private chapel for the family. Nichols provides a detailed description of the building, known as

Belgrave Old Hall, but it was mostly demolished in the 1830s for road widening, although parts of

the old building were incorporated into a new building on the site. Virtually nothing remains of this

building today, the site of which could be 201 Loughborough Road.

St Peter’s Church

The oldest building in the area of Belgrave is St Peter’s Church, parts of which date from the 12th

century when the church was much smaller than the present building. Evidence of this earlier

building can be seen in the South transept where there is a group of three finely carved seats.

Archaeologists believe that there may be the remains of an earlier Saxon church beneath the

present structure.

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INFORMATION LEAFLET

The church was enlarged by a Roger de Belgrave around the

beginning of the 13th century, when the tower was built. Until 1824,

the church had a timber spire but a gale in that year made it unsafe

and it was removed some time after. Very little building has taken

place around the church and some areas have not been built on at all

(particularly the former vicarage gardens) so this area has great

archaeological potential.

Talbot Inn

The Talbot Inn was built as a coaching inn, it is referred to in the parish records of 1784 Belgrave

Hall and St. Peter’s Church as then being ‘new built’. It originally had three storeys, each with

three typical 18th century small paned windows. The Talbot Inn was named after a breed of dog

that is now extinct. The pub was reduced to two floors in the 1950s when a fire raged through the

building.

The Talbot Inn - 3 Storeys from an image taken during the 1950s The Talbot Inn as it stands today

The Inn has a vivid history with rumours abound that criminals on death row were taken to the

pub before their execution to be supplied with their 'last meal'. It is also believed Some of the

bodies would be returned to The Talbot to be examined in one of the outbuildings that, at that

time, was used as a morgue. The bodies would be used for medical research before finally being

laid to rest.

Thurcaston Road

Thurcaston Road was already one of the country’s most important roads and on John Ogilby’s ‘strip

maps’ of 1675 it is shown as part of the great road from London to Manchester and Carlisle. It’s

importance was further recognized when it became a turnpike in 1784. Thurcaston Road remained

the main route through Belgrave to the north until 1834, when the turnpike road was diverted

away from Belgrave onto a new straight extension, which eventually became the A6.

Belgrave Hall

Belgrave’s role as a residential suburb for the wealthier Leicester tradespeople began in the early

18th century when Edmund Cradock bought some land south of Thurcaston Road.

The Hall is situated next to St Peter’s church and

although unpretentious, has a number of interesting

features; Flemish bond brickwork, patterned with red

stretchers and blue/black headers, splendid wrought iron

gates (over which Cradock’s monogram EC appears) and

lead rainwater piping bearing Cradock’s crest of 3 boars

heads and the dates of construction of 1709 and 1713.

The stable block has the date of 1710.

Edmund Cradock, was a 'nouveau riche' hosiery

merchant, who built the Hall which was surrounded by

walled gardens, between 1709 and 1713.

Belgrave Hall and St Peter’s Church c 1904

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Little else is known about Edmund Cradock (he was married to Anne); he

is described as a gentleman in legal documentation and no trade is given.

However, he did come from an illustrious Leicester family. His

grandfather, born circa 1600, also Edmund Cradock, served the Borough in

many different capacities, including mayor.

He was also one of the Borough’s committee members who served during

the Civil War and rode out to Queniborough to confront Prince Rupert.

Cradock’s father, Joseph, also served the Borough and was landlord of the

Angel Inn which straddled Cheapside and Gallowtree Gate. His uncle, on

his mother’s side, was Henry Hastings (see above) from the Old Hall and

Edmund and Anne named one of their children Hastings.

Following the death of Edmund Cradock in 1715, Belgrave Hall was held in

trust for Edmund and Anne’s children until 1721 when the Hall was bought

by John and Helen Simons. John had already inherited some land,

presumed to be the land opposite the Hall on which Belgrave House was

later built. However, until William Vann developed this side of the road

around 1776, the land continued to be used as an orchard and a paddock.

The Simons’ produced 2 male heirs and John chose to leave the Belgrave

Hall estate, amongst other property, to his younger son Benjamin. The

elder son, Reverend Nicholas Simons was to inherit other lands and

property. John died in 1750 but by 1757 it appears that Nicholas had

managed to mortgage virtually everything his father had left him including

Belgrave Hall.

Benjamin eventually left Belgrave and retired to his estate in Gumley. At

this point, the Hall was being let to Sarah Boothby, an old family friend.

She died in 1766 and it was then that Nicholas and Elizabeth defaulted on

the mortgage, appeared in court and were fined. They continued to

borrow money from the local banker John Pares but eventually they had to

sell Belgrave Hall.

Belgrave Hall was then let to an old family friend, Sarah Boothby, who

died in 1766.

Timeline 1709 - 1713 Belgrave Hall Built by

Edmund Cradock

1715 – 1721 Cradock’s die and

Belgrave Hall held in

Trust for Cradock’s son

1721 Purchased by John

and Helen Simons

1750 John Simons dies

1750 Belgrave Hall

inherited by Benjamin Simons

1757 – 1766 Belgrave Hall let to

Sarah Boothby

1767 Belgrave Hall sold to

William Southwell

1769 - 1844 Vann family live at the Estate

1772 William Southwell

dies

1776 Estate divided

between Richard and

William Vann

1777 Belgrave House built by William Vann

1777 Cross Corners built by

James Vann

1796 Richard Vann dies

and Belgrave Hall is

inherited by James Vann

1844 On the death of

James Vann’s wife,

Hannah, estate

passes to James’ cousins, the

Marstons, who sold

Belgrave Hall

1845 Belgrave Hall and

estate sold to John Ellis

1923 Last of Ellis sisters die

and Belgrave Hall and

estate is sold to

Thomas Morley

1936 Belgrave Hall and

estate sold to

Leicester Corporation

for £10,500

1937 Belgrave Hall becomes a museum

That same year Nicholas and his wife Elizabeth defaulted on their mortgage repayments and had

to appear in court. This resulted in the sale of the Hall and lands to William Southwell, a linen

draper from Nottingham in 1767. His brother in law William Vann senior and his 3 sons William

junior, Richard and James, then continued their retail hosiery business from Belgrave, operating

from the Hall where there was warehousing and associated ‘offices’.

They would have rented out stocking frames, collected the finished product on a weekly basis and

then sold them further afield, even as far away as London. The Sun fire insurance plaque, on the

front of the Hall was registered to Vann and Sons on 17th October 1768 and the records show that

the total sum insured was £1,500 for a premium of £1.10s paid at Michaelmas 1769.

The Vanns previously lived and worked in Evington. Richard, Charles (a 4th brother), James and

Hannah ( James’ wife), along with other members of the family are all buried there. William junior

chose to be buried in Belgrave.

When William Southwell died in 1772, he left the Belgrave estate to his 2 nephews William and

Richard. William built Belgrave House and Richard remained in the Hall. It is possible that Cross

Corners, a modest dwelling built in the gardens, was constructed at this time for James the

youngest son, as all 3 continued to be closely associated in their business ventures.

Richard died in 1796, unmarried and intestate, and all his property went to James and his wife

Hannah – James had married the vicar’s daughter the previous year.

James died in 1812 and The Gentleman’s Magazine estimated he was worth over £100,000.

Sadly, they had no children and on Hannah’s death in 1844 the estate passed to James’ cousins,

the Marstons, who sold Belgrave Hall to John Ellis in 1845.

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The Ellis family were devout Quakers and John ‘a well-known agriculturalist, gave evidence before

the committee of the House of Commons appointed in 1836 to consider distress in rural districts.

He was an out spoken champion of Liberal principles, particularly of the Anti-Slavery Movement

and in 1848 he was returned to Parliament as one of the members for the Borough of Leicester,

retaining his seat until 1852’.

He became friends with George Stephenson and his son

Robert and invited him to come and build the

Swannington to Leicester railway (opened in 1832) to

convey coal from the north-west Leicestershire coal

fields. John Ellis then went on to become the first

chairman of the Midland Railway company.

The Ellis’s had several children and 5 of their daughters

continued to live at Belgrave Hall. Within their social

class the ‘Belgrave sisters’ were highly thought of,

providing not only a venue for literary and social events

but also some degree of personal leadership within

society.

Ellis Sisters in the Belgrave Hall garden c1860s

Charlotte Ellis served for 9 years on the Leicester Board of Guardians

and it appears that the ‘sisters’ were also actively involved in the

suffragette movement.

In 1889 they were able to buy back part of the old park to the west of

Church Road from the owners of Belgrave House, thus reuniting the

gardens again. Ellis’s sisters also changed the name of the road from

‘The Gravel’ to ‘Church Road’. The last remaining sister died in 1923.

The picture opposite shows the Ellis sisters c1860

Between 1923 and 1936 the estate was owned by Thomas Morley who, in 1936, sold it to Leicester

Corporation for £10,500, at which time the Council also acquired Belgrave House and Cross

Corners.

From that time onwards the Hall became a museum and the grounds were opened to the public as

period and botanical gardens. The site passed from the the Corporation when it was replaced in

1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, with the modern Leicester City Council.

At this point the hedge which created the division in the west gardens was removed. To date,

Belgrave Hall still remains in the ownership of Leicester City Council.

Images from Belgrave Hall c2012

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INFORMATION LEAFLET

Belgrave House

Belgrave House (listed grade II), built around 1776 by

William Vann, stands on the west side of Church Road

and is an Adam style three-storey building of red brick

under a slate roof.

The entrance front faces onto Church Road while the

garden front, with its three-storey central bay, faces

west over the gardens looking towards the River Soar.

On the south side of the House is a long, two-storey

range of service buildings.

The House was passed in the ownership of Leicester

Corporation in 1936 and had various uses including

that of a nursery. The house is now privately owned

and was extensively renovated in 2011/12.

Belgrave Hall Gardens

John Throsby described Belgrave Hall in his ‘Excursions in Leicestershire’ in 1790 as ‘a neat little

box in the midst of Flora’s pleasures’. The formal gardens, protected by high red brick walls, still

shelter a variety of shrubs and climbers which would have been available to gardeners prior to

1830, including a magnificent purple Wisteria sinensis, reputedly planted by John Ellis in 1860.

Along the broad walk past the flower filled urns, the stone eagles and the magnificent yew trees

can be found the tall gate pillars at the far end of the garden. Originally these gates led out onto

Prattle Hill (now Loughborough Road).

Every owner of Belgrave Hall has made a contribution to the gardens but some elements have

remained constant. The two ancient black mulberry trees flanking the broad walk, were described

by Eliza Ellis when the Ellis family first came to live at Belgrave Hall, as ‘ the old mulberry trees,

supported even in 1845, were still in their pride of venerable vigour and became at once objects of

loving care.

The Vann family lived at Belgrave Hall between 1769 and 1844 and in 1776 divided the estate

between Richard and William Vann. In 1777 when William Vann built Belgrave House, the garden

to the south of Belgrave Hall became the front garden of Belgrave House. Both house and Hall had

gardens in what is today, the park, leading down to the river.

In 1825 the area formerly known as Prattle Hill was incorporated into the garden as part of a land

exchange to reduce the sharp bend from Loughborough Road into Thurcaston Road and over the

old bridge. This area is now home to the Holdsworth memorial, which came from Gopsall Hall in

1952.

The Holdsworth memorial c1970s Belgrave Hall gardens: looking east to the rear elevation of Belgrave House

In 1885, the first issue of the Ordnance Survey map was produced and this shows a number of

glasshouses in the ground of the Hall. These would have been used to produce a range of fruits:

peaches, grapes, nectarines and tender flowers and exotic greenery for use in the Hall. Since

becoming a museum in 1937 the gardens have been developed as both a period and a botanic

garden containing a wide range of plants from all over the world.

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Cross Corners

The northern boundary wall incorporates a row of service

buildings, now known as Cross Corners. Built in or around

1777, for James Vann, part of the family of prosperous Wigston

Hosiers. James was brother to William and Richard Vann.

Acquired along with Belgrave Hall and House in 1936 by

Leicester Corporation, Cross Corners is today still owned by

Leicester City Council.

It now operates as a community arts centre.

In 2003, Cross Corners opened as the Space for Sports & Arts for Mellor Community Primary

School. It operates as a creative space for the school and local community offering a range of

activities throughout the year. Rooms can also be hired for rehearsals, events, functions etc

www.storyofleicester.info

i Collins English Dictionary – definition: ‘assart’ having been prepared for cultivation by removing trees and undergrowth and breaking up the

ground. ii 'Parishes added since 1892: Belgrave', A History of the County of Leicester: volume 4: The City of Leicester (1958), pp. 420-428. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66590 Date accessed: 24 October 2012.

Acknowledgements: Leicester City Council would like to thank Erica Tatham for her

research and input into the writing of this information sheet.

Belgrave Hall Gardens Interior – Belgrave Hall Belgrave Hall - Greenhouse