Moseley Old Hall

Moseley Old Hall, located in Fordhouses, north of Wolverhampton in England, holds an intriguing chapter in the historical narrative of the United Kingdom. In 1651, it was one of the hiding places of King Charles II during his escape to France following his defeat at the Battle of Worcester. Moseley Old Hall is now owned by the National Trust and is a Grade II* listed property. The estate was initially owned by a Cordsall family, but was purchased by Henry Pitt in 1583.

Pitt constructed the current building around 1600. Moseley Old Hall is best known for its role in Charles II’s escape on 8 September 1651. The King, cold and wet, arrived at Moseley Old Hall disguised as a workman. He was welcomed by Thomas Whitgreave, the owner of the house, his mother Alice Whitgreave, and John Huddleston, the Catholic priest of the house. They gave the King dry clothes, food, and a proper bed (his first since Worcester on 3 September).

Huddleston cleaned and bandaged the King’s feet. Charles was hidden in the priest-hole on the afternoon of 8 September while a confrontation between Whitgreave and parliamentarians took place outside the hall. He later rested on a four-poster bed in the hall. He left the house two days later, having planned out the rest of his escape. He was accompanied by Huddleston.

The Hall passed through various hands until it was purchased by Will Wiggin in 1940, who started to repair the house, but the Second World War interrupted the repair work, which Will Wiggin was unable to complete before his death. The Wiggin family transferred the ownership of the Hall and an acre of land to the National Trust in 1962, and it was opened to the public in 1963. The hall was nearly empty of furniture at the time (of the National Trust's acquisition in 1962).

Most of the furniture and pictures in the hall have been subsequently lent or given to the Trust. In 1981 the roof and brickwork were repaired, and the bargeboards and finials were replaced. It is now fully restored, and furnished with donated period furniture. The original four-poster bed used by Charles stands in the King’s room. Visitors to Moseley Old Hall can explore its various rooms, including the entrance hall, parlour, brew-house, Mr Whitgreave’s room, the King’s Room, dressing room, study and a corridor.

The second floor contains the chapel, ante-room, bedroom, main attic and garrett. The enclosed garden features a 17th-century-style design. The garden contains period plants.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons