talk report - january 2006
25 January: Mr Charles Crosbie - The Heskeths and Rufford Old Hall
Mr Crosbie gave us a very entertaining talk about Rufford Old Hall and the Heskeths. The Heskeths originally came from Hesketh Bank and their arms are a 'Spread Eagle'.
The site of Rufford Old Hall is between the River Douglas and Martin Mere at a 'rough ford'. Some theorists place it as part of Camelot in the Arthurian Legends. William Hesketh came to Rufford in c.1276 and used his monopoly to control the availability of Friday fish both in the river and the mere for sale at his markets at Rufford village.
The lands had been previously owned by the Fitton family and William married the heiress, Maud, in 1276. The family had a habit of marrying heiresses which enlarged their fortune and estates. Robert Hesketh built the original Hall which has been much altered over the ensuing centuries until it is as we see it today. The Hall was built c.1535 to show how wealthy the family had become. It has the only hammer beam roof in Lancashire. The position of the fireplace was of great importance. The fact that in Rufford it is in the long wall (as opposed to the short wall) indicated the wealth of the family. The Hesketh family managed to remain Roman Catholic for much of its history despite Robert Hesketh conforming to the Protestant faith. Over the years the family has become connected to most of the great families of England. Robert Hesketh began to drain Martin Mere, which led to land ownership disputes over which of the landowners around the mere owned the newly drained ground. This dispute lasted for three generations. Sir Thomas Hesketh (1727-78) Became the 1st Baronet and built the New Hall and the Old Hall was let out. Sir Thomas George Fermor-Hesketh (1847-76) the 5th Baronet married the daughter of Thomas Fermor 4th Earl of Pomfret and inherited Easton Neston in 1867. The present Lord Hesketh the 3rd Lord has recently sold Easton Neston and the National Trust has bought several portraits of Heskeths who relate to Rufford Old Hall. These will be put on display when the Hall reopens at Easter. Altogether a most informative talk.