Wallingwells

Wallingwells
Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire
Wallingwells Hall. Now four private houses.
Location
Grid reference:	SK572841
Location:	53°21’0"N, 1°8’24"W
Data
Population:	22  (2001)
Post town:	Worksop
Postcode:	S81
Local Government
Council:	Bassetlaw
Parliamentary constituency:	Newark

Wallingwells is a small civil parish and hamlet that lies on the Nottinghamshire-Yorkshire border, with a population at the 2001 census of 22. The population remained less than 100 at the 2011 census. It lies about five miles north of Worksop.

The ancient extra-parochial area lies mostly in Yorkshire, although that part is entirely farmland; all the buildings and population are found in the Nottinghamshire part. The civil parish is smaller still than the ancient extent as part of Gildingwells intrudes into its territory, resulting in the north-eastern part being detached from the remainder by Carlton in Lindrick.

Wallingwells Hall

Wallingwells Hall is a Grade II-listed 17th-century country house built on the site of Wallingwells Priory. It was for several hundred years the seat of the House of White of Tuxford and Wallingwells.

It is constructed of coursed rubble, ashlar, brick and render with slate hipped roofs to an irregular floor plan, and is now divided into four private houses.

History

Wallingwells was granted by Queen Elizabeth in 1563–64 to Richard Pype (a leatherseller) and Francis Bowyer (a grocer) of London, together with various lands in Wiltshire, and the house built from the ruins of the priory. It was purchased by Major Samuel Taylor in 1698. It passed to his son Richard Taylor, who was High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire for 1689 and MP for East Retford from 1690 to 1698. Richard died in 1699 leaving a sole surviving daughter, Bridget, who had married Thomas White, a well-to-do landowner from Tuxford. The couple decided to make Wallingwells the family seat, keeping Tuxford as the second/dower estate. Thomas White was MP for East Retford for much of the time between 1701 and 1732. He died in 1732 leaving his estates to his eldest son John White, who was also MP for East Retford. John died unmarried and was succeeded by his younger brother, the barrister Taylor White. Taylor had married Sarah Woolaston and their son Thomas Woollaston White was created a baronet.

Thomas White was created a baronet by King George III on 20 December 1802 for twice raising, clothing, housing and arming a regiment of militia at the height of the Napoleonic Wars. The regiment was first raised in 1794 as the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry Cavalry and is still in existence as 'A' Squadron Royal Yeomanry. The 2nd Baronet was High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire for 1833–34.

Wallingwells was finally sold by the 4th Baronet in 1919 and the main block divided into four separate dwellings in 1926. The adjoining estate offices and servants' wing to the north was also converted into three cottages. The stables of Wallingwells were developed into a home in the early 2000s after being derelict since World War I. There is also a private red brick house in the corner of Wallingwells which was built in the 20th century.

Although now divided into four with three adjoining cottages, it remains a beautiful house, not having changed appreciably. It has 3 floors, but looks higher than any three-storey house. It has large sash windows, a flat roof at the back, and pitched roofing at the front. The hall has exquisite gardens, orchards and woods, and nearby is a private lake. In total the hall has over 20 chimneys, over 50 windows including a glass dome, more than 20 bedrooms, and 7¾ acres of land, now mainly fields and gardens. Although there is said to be a "Curse of Wallingwells Hall".