relating to the
sometime the property of the
kept at
R Olney and A Smith, May 1999
Historical Manuscripts Commission
Enquiries regarding the MSS at Enville Hall should be addressed to The Archivist, Enville Hall Archives. Recent records may not be available for research.
The Earls of Stamford and Warrington were descended from the Grey family of Groby (Leicestershire), which was founded by Sir Edward Grey, second son of the third Lord Grey de Ruthyn. He married Elizabeth, granddaughter and heir of the fifth Lord Ferrers of Groby (whose family had held land in Leicestershire since the thirteenth century), and died in 1457/8. His grandson Thomas Grey was created Marquess of Dorset in 1475. The third Marquess was created Duke of Suffolk, but was attainted and executed in 1555. His Groby and Bradgate (Leicestershire) estate passed, however, to his nephew Sir Henry Grey, who was created Baron Grey of Groby in 1603. The second Baron married in 1620 Anne, youngest daughter of the second Earl of Exeter, through whom the manor and borough of Stamford (Lincolnshire) was acquired. He was created Earl of Stamford in 1628.
Enville (Staffordshire) was inherited by Ambrose Grey, younger son of the first Lord Grey of Groby, in 1594, on the death of his distant relative John Grey of Enville. John Grey’s ancestor, Edward Grey of Whittington (Staffordshire), had acquired a moiety of the neighbouring Enville property in 1540. In 1687 there was another failure of the direct Enville line, and the estate passed to a cousin John Grey, a younger son of the first Earl of Stamford. On John’s death in 1709 he was succeeded by his son Harry who in 1720 also succeeded his first cousin as third Earl of Stamford, thus uniting the Staffordshire and Leicestershire estates. Property in Nottinghamshire (North and South Collingham, near Newark, and Newthorpe, near Nottingham) came to the Grey family through the marriage of Anchitel Grey, another son of the first Earl of Stamford, to a co-heir of the Willoughby family of Risley (Derbyshire).
Harry Grey (1715-1768), elder son of the third Earl, married in 1736 Mary, only daughter of George Booth, second and last Earl of Warrington, through whom estates in Cheshire (Dunham Massey, Altrincham, etc) and Lancashire (Ashton-under-Lyne, Stalybridge, etc) came to the Grey family. Harry Grey succeeded his father as fourth Earl of Stamford in 1738, continuing to live at Enville until his death in 1768. His son the fifth Earl, having succeeded his mother in 1772, was created Earl of Warrington in 1790, and was lord lieutenant of Cheshire, but he too died at Enville, in 1819, as did his son the sixth Earl, in 1845. Important work was carried out on the gardens at Enville in the mid-eighteenth century (by the fourth Earl) and on the house towards the end of the eighteenth century (by the fifth Earl). The seventh Earl, who succeeded in 1845, enlarged the Enville estate and remodelled the gardens, but later built a new house at Bradgate Park, where he died in 1883.
He left the Stamford and Warrington family estates to his widow for life, but on her death in 1905 they were divided. The Cheshire estates went with the earldom; the Leicestershire estates passed to his niece Mrs Arthur Duncombe, and the Enville estate (including property in Worcestershire and Shropshire) was inherited by Lady Stamford’s grandniece Catherine Sarah, wife of Sir Henry Foley Lambert (later Grey). The Lancashire estates were devised jointly to Mrs Duncombe and Lady Lambert: they were divided in 1959. On the death of Sir John Foley Grey, Bt, in 1938 he was succeeded in the Enville estate by his daughter Eileen (b1922), who married first the Earl of Harrington and secondly Mr J P Bissill.
The property at Stamford (Lincolnshire) was re-acquired by the Cecil family, Earls of Exeter, in the mid-eighteenth century, and the Nottinghamshire properties were sold in the mid-nineteenth century. An investment property in the Lincolnshire Fens was purchased in 1818 but sold again c1842. By 1883 the Stamford estates consisted of 9,012 acres in Leicestershire, 8,612 acres in Cheshire, 7,339 acres in Staffordshire, 5,231 acres in Lancashire, 606 acres in Shropshire, 93 acres in the West Riding of Yorkshire, 68 acres in Worcestershire and 1 acre in Warwickshire, a total of 30,962 acres worth £58,393 a year.
The collection described in this report relates mainly to the Enville estate, and includes deeds from c1200 (c120 dating from before 1500), manorial documents 15th-18th century, and estate records mainly from the mid-eighteenth to the early twentieth century (although with two late seventeenth-century maps). It also contains papers documenting the industrial development of Amblecote, which was part of the Enville estate from 1540 until after the Second World War. Other estates held by the Earls of Stamford are also represented, notably the Leicestershire estates from c1733 to 1857. There are papers for Enville Hall and its gardens and park, and personal papers and correspondence notably for the fifth and sixth Earls of Stamford, including papers relating to the fifth Earl’s continental tour 1786-9. As might be predicted from the history of the estates, the records at Enville Hall complement those in other repositories, principally the collections in Leicestershire Record Office and the John Rylands University Library of Manchester (see below, Related collections).
This report is based on a summary catalogue compiled by Mrs S Haynes, archivist at Enville Hall, which she very kindly made available to the Commission, supplemented by notes taken during a brief inspection of the collection on 26 April 1999. The Commission is most grateful to Mrs Bissill for permission to examine this important archive, and the compilers would like to add their thanks to Mrs Haynes for her help and hospitality on the occasion of their visit.
Deeds mainly for the Enville estate (Enville, Morfe, Lutley, Lyndon) c1200-1652 (c120 items, of which 87 are pre-1500). 10 folders. (For c30 further deeds 14th –15th cent see below, sections E and F.)
Deeds for the Staffordshire estate (Enville, Amblecote, Kinver, Bobbington, Kingswinford) mainly 16th-19th cent, including some leases. c53 boxes.
Worcestershire (Wolverley, Old Swinford, Trimpley, Worcester) 17th-19th cent. 1 box.
Shropshire (Alveley) 18th-19th cent. 3 boxes.
Stamford estates generally (abstracts, draft deeds, etc) 18th-19th cent. 1 box.
Amblecote leases and agreements 1725-early 20th cent (mines, works, fire clay pits, wharves), with some for Lye 19th cent and Whittington (iron works 1883, cinder mounds 1901); agreement relating to London house in Hill Street, Mayfair 1878-9 (1 bundle); list of counterparts sent to Enville Hall 1848; manorial survey of Amblecote 15th cent (1 item). 3 boxes.
Miscellaneous agreements and related papers c1870-1910, with notices to quit c1850-1900. 1 box.
Agreements for Enville 1880s-1930s, Kinver and Whittington c1837-1930, and Amblecote and Old Swinford c1845-1930. 3 boxes.
Enville and Morfe manorial records 16th-17th cent, including courts baron c1527-1636, court papers, and rental (Enville manor and estate) nd [?early 17th cent]. 1 box.
Whittington (in Kinver) manorial records 17th-18th cent, including courts baron mid-17th cent and temp Anne, presentments 1675, 1687, memorandum of surrenders c1780 and list of tenants 1643; surrender and admission, Compton Hallows 1847. 1 box.
Amblecote manorial records 15th-17th cent (temp Henry VII-?1621, etc), with rental 1597-8 and 1 deed. 4 boxes. (For a survey 15th cent see above, section C.)
Deeds 14th-15th cent (? all Enville estate) (15 items); final concords (Staffordshire) 16th-18th cent (4 bundles). 1 box.
Staffordshire estate rentals 1739-1837. 3 boxes.
Case papers, wills, etc 16th-20th cent. 3 boxes.
Deeds 14th-17th cent (c20 items, of which c15 are pre-1500); schedule of Whittington deeds 17th cent. 1 box.
Family settlements 18th cent (temp 3rd Earl of Stamford). 1 box.
G/1-2. Enville estate and household papers
(Leases and agreements see above, sections C and D.)
(Maps and plans see below, section H.)
(Rentals 1739-1837 see above, section E.)
(Papers relating to mining, transport and utilities see below, sections K-M.)
Accounts and vouchers (main series) 1768-1863, 1881, 1912-13, 1915. c58 boxes. (G/1/3.)
Terriers and audits 1748-1890. 23 volumes. (G/1/4/1.)
Rent accounts and receiving rentals 1880-1934. 2 boxes. (G/1/4/2-13.)
Time sheets and wages books 1845-1934. 1 box, 6 volumes. (G/1/1/1, G/1/1/3.)
Day books and steward’s accounts 1761-1848, 1895-1905. 19 volumes. (G/1/2/1.)
Household accounts 1782-1891, including weekly accounts 1782-1855 (14 volumes), cellar accounts 1810-57 (7 volumes) and cash books 1839-91 (48 volumes). c103 volumes in all. (G/1/2/2-10.)
Abstracts of household, garden, farm, etc expenses 1807-1908. 8 volumes. (G/1/2/11.)
General estate accounts with tradesmen 1855-1902. 5 volumes. (G/1/2/12.)
Earl of Stamford’s accounts (estate expenses) 1788-1813. 9 volumes. (G/1/2/13.)
Miscellaneous cash books late 19th-early 20th cent. (G/1/2/14.)
Farm records (accounts, valuations, etc) 19th-20th cent. 2 boxes. (G/1/6.)
Papers relating to buildings and repairs 1883-1917. (G/1/7.)
Garden records1807-1925, including wage accounts 1807-1925 and plant lists 1828-33. (G/1/8.)
Home Farm accounts and vouchers 1796-1884. (G/1/9.)
Financial papers (insurance, tax, poor rates, pensions, investments) 19th-20th cent. (G/1/10-14.)
Files relating to individual properties?19th-20th cent. 37 files. (G/2/1.)
Papers relating to tithes and glebe, patronage, charities (Lady Dorothy Grey’s school, etc) and pensions. (G/2/3-4.)
Papers relating to hunting, shooting and game (2 boxes), racing (3 boxes) and cricket. (G/2/3/5.)
Estate correspondence 1689-91 (15 letters from John Grey in London to Robert Foley at Stourbridge), 1781-1818 (letters mainly to the 5th Earl and to the 6th Earl as Lord Grey), 1819-44 (letters mainly to the 6th Earl), 1848-82 (miscellaneous, mainly agents’ correspondence) and 1883-1939 (agents’ correspondence). 51 boxes (boxes 1-8 covering the period 1689-1882). (G/2/2.)
Letter books 1897-1934. 4 volumes. (G/1/1/2.)
Enville Hall inventories and catalogues early 19th-20th cent, with inventory of plate at Dunham Massey 1848 and Hill Street (London) inventories 19th cent. 1 box (G/1/5.) (For library catalogues see below, Additional MSS.)
Papers relating to the rebuilding of Enville Hall 1904-8 (after the fire of 1904). 2 boxes. (G/1/15.)
(For household accounts and abstracts of household expenses see above, G/1/2/2-11. For garden and home farm records see above, G/1/8-9.)
G/3. Leicestershire estate papers
Rentals 1733-1856. A series of bound volumes (G/3/2-3.)
Accounts and vouchers 1786-1857. 12 boxes. (G/3/1.)
Lime accounts 1769-74; wood sales 1783-1816. 1 box. (G/3/4/2.) (For lime accounts c1775-1849 see below, section K.)
Deeds, settlements, etc 16th –18th cent. 2 boxes. (G/3/4/1.)
Accounts and vouchers 1841-55. 11 boxes. (G/4/2-11.)
Miscellaneous Dunham Massey estate papers 1818-43, including tithe and yeomanry papers. 1 box. (G/4/2/1.)
G/6. Warwickshire estate papers
Atherstone estate papers (residence of 6th Earl before he succeeded his father) 1814-20. (G/6/1-4.)
G/7. Lincolnshire estate papers
Papers relating to farm of 405 acres at Langrick Ferry (Wildmore Fen) 1818-42, including accounts, vouchers, and letters to the 6th Earl 1824. 1 box. (G/7/1.)
G/8. Nottinghamshire estate papers
Newthorpe and Collingham rentals, vouchers, etc 1767-1802, including coal mining papers. (G/8/1.)
G/10. Mytton trusteeship papers
Papers relating to the Mytton estates in Shropshire (Shrewsbury, etc) and North Wales (? Garth, etc) 1777-1802 (5th Earl a trustee), including rental 1784 (2 copies). 1 box. (G/10/1.)
Enville estate maps 1670-19th cent (including a fine map of 1688), with plans for estate buildings 1770s-1930. (H/2, 5, 7.)
Amblecote estate maps c1750-1897, with tracings relating to industrial development 1875-1905. (H/3, 16.)
Drawings for Enville Hall c1760-1905, and for gardens and garden structures 1750s (‘the Shenstone map’) – c1900.
Printed and folded maps, county, parish, etc.
Papers of the 5th Earl, including Grand Tour diaries 1788-9 and vouchers 1786-9, and vouchers 1800-14. (I/7, J/1-3.) (For his estate accounts and correspondence see above, G/1/2/13, G/2/2.)
Papers of the 6th Earl, including correspondence books 1814-42, engagement diaries 1814-43 and vouchers 1819-43. (I/1, 5, 8.) (For his estate correspondence see above, G/2/2, G/7, etc.)
Wills. (I/11.)
Vouchers of the Hon Mrs John Grey (Enville, Leigh House, London and Bath) 1782-97. (I/6.)
Miscellaneous family accounts and papers 18th-20th cent.
Papers relating to Staffordshire estate ?19th-early 20th cent, mainly Amblecote. 7 boxes. (K/1.)
Leics (Breedon Hill and Clouds Hill) lime burning accounts c1775-1849. (A number of small volumes. For 1769-74 see above, G/3/4/2.)
(For Amblecote see also above, sections C and D; and for Nottinghamshire estate see above, G/8.)
L, M. Papers relating to transport and utilities
Papers relating to roads, canals and railways (?mainly Staffordshire 19th-early 20th cent), and to gas, water, sewerage and electricity ?19th-20th cent.
N. Papers relating to social affairs
Papers relating to Enville parish and other parochial matters.
Papers relating to enclosure.
Papers relating to local affairs (politics, law and order, military matters, hospitals, etc).
P-S. Miscellaneous and printed material
Catalogues, newspapers, journals, pamphlets, paintings, photographs, printed books, etc. (For printed material connected with the 5th Earl’s Grand Tour see above, section J, and for printed maps see above, section H.)
Parliamentary proceedings, MS and printed, including MS copies of Lords Journals 1509-1764 (114 volumes) and MS minutes of proceedings in the House of Lords.
General rental (Stamford estates) 1735, with copies of settlements. 1 volume.
Amblecote royalty books 1886-early 20th cent. 4 volumes.
Enville estate labour account early 20th cent. 1 volume.
Enville Hall library catalogues 1760, 1785, 1838, 1881. 4 volumes.
Deeds and papers relating mainly to the Cheshire estates but containing a few items relating to the Lancashire, Staffordshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire estates 15th-19th cent, including a Staffordshire estate account 1816 (EGR 12/11), a summary of Dunham Massey and Enville tradesmen’s accounts 1788-1815 (EGR 4/1/6/14), a Bradgate household account 1678-81 (EGR 12/2) and miscellaneous Nottinghamshire estate papers 1747-95 (EGR 12/7/18, 12/9).
John Rylands University Library of Manchester. (EGR). NRA 34737.
General estate accounts (7th Earl decd) 1883-4, 1900-1 (Cheshire, Lancs, Leics, Staffs), with accounts for Cheshire only 1910, 1912-14.
John Rylands University Library of Manchester
(EGR addnl, 1/1-12). Originally from Messrs Wright, Son and Ayson of Leicester, deposited through Cheshire Record Office
c1982.
Deeds and papers relating mainly to the Leicestershire (Groby, Bradgate, Breedon) estates but including estate accounts for Cheshire, Lancs, Leics and Staffs 1883-1905 and Leics and Lancs only 1905-24, Enville repairs account 1883, Newmarket establishment accounts 1882-90 and ? inventory of London house 1885.
The Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland (DG 20). Deposited by Woodrow and Ayson 1957 (DE 311), Sheppard and Wade 1961 (DE 453) and Stone and Simpson 1979 (DE 1982), all of Leicester, solicitors. NRA 26150, 26192; Family and Estate Records in the Leicestershire Record Office, 1984, pp 14-15.
Miscellaneous legal papers 1840-1925 (4 items), including a settlement 1918.
Staffordshire Record Office (D 3811). Deposited by Messrs Lord and Parker of Worcester, solicitors.
Deeds and papers relating mainly to the Lancashire (Ashton-under-Lyne, Stalybridge) estates but including a few items relating to the Nottinghamshire (N and S Collingham and Newthorpe) properties 16th-17th cent.
In private possession.
Not available for research.