Winter is here, it's dark around 4pm and this week we have had snow. I picked up some of our Russet and Bramley apples and put them outside in the porch for people to take away - I have never seen the trees so laden. But I think the windfalls will now provide winter food for the birds I have seen lots of interesting mushrooms and toadstools in the garden - but not any giant puffballs which we used to - sliced they went very well with fried bacon!
Inside I have been sorting out my collection of old photos and trying to catalogue them. I have hundreds. Some are old press pictures from the Goole Times whilst many are early postcards which I have bought. Others have been donated by people who know of my interest and have either given me pictures or allowed me to scan theirs.
The majority of my photos are of Goole and Howden but I have a good collection of local villages. Most villages are well represented - Airmyn, Swinefleet, Eastrington, Barmby, Gilberdyke, Newport, Saltmarshe, Laxton etc [this is not an exhaustive list!!]. But some villages seem to have avoided the camera - for example I have postcards of Sandhall but not Kilpin; postcards of Newsholme and Portington but not of Sandholme. But I go to postcard fairs and hope one day to find views of some of these places.
I am enjoying doing some research at the moment on the Goole area. Although the 'new' town is celebrating 200 years of the Knottingley and Goole canal opening on 20th July 1826 I have been looking at the early history of the area.
Potter Grange
I have been having a closer look at Potter Grange [ there seem to have been at least three different houses bearing the name!]
It was part of the Airmyn estate which was, before the Reformation, owned by St Mary's Abbey in York, It then passed to Sir Gervase Clifton who leased 240 acres known as Potters Close.
By 1629 this had passed to members of the Estoft [Eastoft] family who sold it for £1840 to Thomas Vincent, Susan his wife and John his son. It was described as
' that capital messuge tenement or farm known as Potters Closes now or late in the tenure possession or occupation of Robert Gilderdale of Armin Pasture.'
Thomas leased for 21 years at a rent of £40 a year 'A close of land known as the Low Grounds lying in Potters Close in Armyn to Sir Philibert Vernatti, Carlton Hall, West Riding and John Hill, Carlton, West Riding, gentleman' . One of the witnesses was Nicholas Yarburgh
[Philibert Vernatti was one of the original Participants in the drainage of Hatfield Chace and with others sued Vermuyden for the cost of digging the Dutch river. The usual picture of Cornelius Vermuyden is in fact that of Philibert Vernatti] and is in the Usher gallery in Lincoln
The lease allowed the lessee to 'cut dig and make one New River...build and make one good strong sufficient Bridge or passage over the said new River' . This of course was done and the so called Dutch river split the Airmyn estate and there was therefore a bridge built to connect the two parts.
By 1698 the Vincent family of Barnburgh near Doncaster still owned the property and that year rented to Robert Mould of Gowle, yeoman
a 'Cottage or tenement lately rebuilt with brick, with stable; Green Lane with hemp yard, containing one acre; also one little close now called the Messuage, containing 2 acres; Calfe Close containing 6 acres; two closes called Hill Closes containing 14 acres; situated in the Potter's Closes in Great Armine [Airmyn]
The rent was £8 10s each year for 18 years.
However in 1704 we find a later lease between Thomas Vincent and Robert Mould. The rent for this was £107 a year for 21 years.
This was for
the Mansion House lately built, all those several closes and parcels of meadow and pasture in Great Armin and Snaith being the Hemp Yard containing an acre, the Messuage and Calfe Close containing 9 and a half acres, Hill Close containing 14 acres, Sevy Close containing 30 acres, High Grounds or Bushy Closes containing 47 acres, Fowl Sike Close containing 2 acres, Wiman Close containing 13 acres, Chapman Close with half Metham Lane containing 24 acres, two other meadow closes containing 7 acres each, with the Low Grounds, Hills and Moors lying on the north side of the New or Gowle [Goole] River containing in all 138 acres.
This was most likely the house we knew [it has recently been demolished] as Old Potter Grange [ later the Grange industrial estate- and not to be confused with New Potter Grange.
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| A 20th century aerial view of Potter Grange |
The Mould family of Potter Grange
Robert Mould the elder probably originated in the Isle of Axholme. There was a Mould family in Crowle in the seventeenth century and a Robert Mould baptised at Luddington in 1660. There was a marriage at Crowle in 1694 between Robert Mould and Mary Caister.
There were five children baptised at Hook, father Robert, but no mother named
1696 Thomas Mould son of Robert of Goole was baptised
1697 Robert Mould son of Robert of Goole
1699 Alexander son of Robert
1701 Elizabeth dau of Robert
1704 Ann dau of Robert
There was a death in 1721 of Robert Mould of Airmyn. He was buried at Hook
In 1722 Thomas Mould [b 1696] married Helen Lightfoot in Beverley St Mary.
Also in 1722 his brother Alexander married Jane Mitchell in York minster
In 1724 at Hook Ann Mould of ye Potter Close house in the township of Armin married George Wells of Crowle
In 1736 an Elizabeth Mould married Richard Steel at Hook
The family were at Potter Grange throughout the 18th century and played seemingly a prominent part in local affairs.
In 1732 it was recorded [ in the Goole Town book] that 'Alex Mould and John Priestley have built a pew in Hook chappell and they have agreed that John Priestley is to have a seat there for him and his family as long as it shall stand'
Alexander died at Barmby on the Marsh in 1747 but was buried at Hook. This was explained when I found an agreement between Thomas, Earl of Malton and Alexander Mould of Armin, parish of Snaith, gent
'That Alexander Mould, who has leased the tolls of the Derwent for £500 p.a. will not demand any higher tolls or lock dues than those mentioned in an attached schedule'
We can also follow some of the Mould family from their gravestones which are in Hook churchyard.
Thomas born 1696 died in 1734.
Here /lies interred the Body of /Elizabeth the Daughter of Mr. /Tho. Mould of Potter Grange /
who died the 5th of June /1730 Aged 3 Months /
Also Mr. Tho. Mould of Potter /Grange who died the 5th of /Nov. 1734 Aged 38 Years /[ of Potter Close house in burial register]
Also Mrs. Helen Mould Widow /of the said Tho. Mould who /died the 11th of Nov 1764 /
Aged 66 Years /
Also Joseph Mould Grandson /of the Said Tho. Mould who /died the 6th of March 1766 /
Aged 8 Months /
Also THOMAS MOULD Son of the above /named THOMAS MOULD of Potter Grange /
who died March 18th 1812 /Aged 81 Years. He was living in Howden when he died.
In 1761 Thomas Mould [born 1731, son of Thomas and Helen] of Potter Close House married Hannah Hoole at Airmyn. Finding Hannah' ancestery was something of a challenge.
Hannah's father was Rev Joseph Hoole, vicar of Haxey from 1712 to 1736. He was a close friend of the Wesley family at nearby Epworth and there are several mentions of him in Wesley letters but then he became a vicar in Manchester where Hannah was born. He died in 1745 and his funeral took place just as supporters of Bonnie Prince Charlie entered Manchester.
Mrs Sarah Hoole aged 47 married Rev William Romley widower aged 50 and vicar of Whitgift in 1752. His wife had died in 1747 and he had nine children
Hannah Mould died in 1788 aged 51 'of Potter Grange'. Her mother Mrs Sarah Romley died aged in 1793 aged 91. Both are buried at Hook.
Sacred /
To the Memory of HANNAH MOULD /
Wife of Thomas Mould of Potter Grange /
who Died August 20th 1788 /
Aged Years 51 years /
Also Sarah Rowley mother to the /
above Hannah Mould who died June 20th 1795 aged 91 years /
The Mould family continued to live in the area at Knedlington and Howden
The Clark family
The Mould family did not own Potter Grange. And in February 1787 it changed hands.The estate of 459 acres was bought for £10,250 by the Clark family of Spaldington and Pricket Hill [near Wressle]
It was described as
Dwelling house called Potter Grange, Great Armin, including lands known as Hemp Yard, Calf Close, Hill Closes, Seavy Close, Bushy Closes, Foul Sykes, Winan Close, Chapman Close, Little Metham Lane, Great Metham Lane, Westoby Close, Nook Close, Two Weir Closes, Waring Closes, Twelve Acre Closes, consisting of 459 acres 39 perches and generally known as Potter Closes or Potter Grange Farm
Thomas Clark of Spaldington died in 1793 and was buried at Bubwith and his son William inherited.
In 1794 a further deed for the same property was recorded. This refers to John Clark was of Pricket Hill and William Clark who was of Potter Grange. Confusingly in 1809 it was John Clark of Potter Grange who was paying game duty.
The Clark family are the same family who owned property in Asselby and Barmby and who lived at Knedlington. They are a complicated family to untangle so here we will just look at their connections with Potter Grange.
New Potter Grange
In 1803 we get the first mention of New Potter Grange. William Smith of 'New Grange' farmer leased from Samuel Nicholson of Rawcliffe Grange for £250.
the 'Newly erected dwelling house called New Grange, Snaith, West Riding, also closes of land lying on the west side of Potter Grange Farm containing 234 acres consisting of Chapman Close, West Watson's Close, North and West Warings, Foulsike Close, North, South and West Hill Closes, West Moor Closes and Little Moor Close
Witnesses were John Clark and Thomas Eadon
Back to the Clarks
In 1826 at Howden John Clark of Potter Grange married Hannah youngest daughter of Mr Thomas Carter of Howden. This marriage had an effect on Goole history which is still relevant today.
Their daughter Hannah Carter Clark was born at Potter Grange in 1828. But in 1833 not only did John Clark senior die but also his son.
On May 19th 1833 John Clark aged 79 of Potter Grange died. His death is in Airmyn registers but a note says he was buried in Hook Chapel yard. possibly because by then Airmyn churchyard was overcrowded.
Then on 4th November 1833 John Clark age 32 of Potter Grange died; again he is in Airmyn burials but is buried in Hook Chapel yard.
This left Hannah with a five year old daughter and a lot of property! Her Carter family took over Potter Grange and she and Hannah moved back to Howden where they lived in 69 Hailgate, [now the East Riding council office].
The Carter family
The Carter family first came to Howden in the 1770s when Thomas Carter bought the White Horse inn. They were involved with brewing having a brewery at Market Weighton and one at Knottingley. Branches of the family at various times owned the Board inn, the Howden Packet [now the Wheatsheaf] no 87 Hailgate, Hail Farm and mill, the Dog and Duck and probably built the malt kiln, now houses but formerly Glews workshop on Hailgate.
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| The White Horse inn |
Hannah's father, was Thomas jnr who married Elizabeth Cood at Eastrington in 1794. They had children including, John b 1799 and Hannah b 1807.
So it was Hannah's brother John, a wine and spirit merchant in Howden who came to Potter Grange. His wife Sarah had died in 1831. He married Mary Spencer at Conisborough in 1833.
In April 1839 there was an accident at Booth ferry. The newspaper report describes how
On Monday, about noon, as the ferry boat was proceeding across the river with a valuable load of goods belonging to Mr. John Carter, of Howden. wine and spirit merchant, who was removing them to his residence at Potter Grange Farm, near Goole, the boat had reached the main channel of the river, and within a short distance of the Booth Ferry side it became unmanageable, in consequence of the wind blowing fresh from the east, and the ebb tide running very strong, the river being in a very agitated state. The captain of a brig at anchor observing they were in imminent danger threw out a rope to their assistance, but it is believed that in the hurry and confusion of the moment, that they had failed in securing it effectually, as the boat instantly filled and went down, and the whole party were immersed in the water.
We are sorry to state that one of the ferrymen, of the name of John Palmer, and John Wood, Mr. Carter's servant, were both unfortunately drowned. Mr Fish, of Howden, bread baker, who was in the boat at the time of this melancholy accident, was providentially saved, by catching hold of the foot of a chest of drawers which carried him to a considerable distance down the river, until he was rescued by a boat from the brig. Mr. Brook, of Armin, who was also in the boat, caught hold of the bridle of the horse, which swam on shore with him, and the other ferryman, of the name of Woollas. was saved by supporting himself with the oar until assistance was procure . Great credit is due to Mr. Wells for his proper attention in procuring medical aid, and alleviating the sufferings of the survivors, who are all doing well. The two unfortunate men who were drowned have left large families to lament their loss, and we are sorry to say their bodies have not yet been found.
In 1841 John was described as a farmer at Potter Grange and had a young family and six servants including a governess.
Sadly there is a report in April 1843 that the infant William Henry, youngest child of Mr John Carter of Potter Grange had died. He was buried at Howden
John Carter himself died in February 1853 at Potter Grange. He was buried at Howden and described as a wine and spirit merchant
Dr Charles Henry Dunhill
The following year, 1854 John's daughter, Hannah Carter Clark married Dr Charles Henry Dunhill at Howden. He was a member of the large Dunhill family of Pontefract who are credited with 'inventing' the liquorice sweet the Pontefract cake. But there is no evidence that he personally was involved in liquorice growing!!
From his obituary in 1899 we learn that
He commenced his medical career as a pupil of the late Dr Caleb Williams, and entered as a student at the York College of Medicine. Afterwards he studied at King's College London, and became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons and Licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries in 1847. He received the Licence of the Royal College of Physicians of London in 1852, and in the same year graduated as Doctor of Medicine at the University of Aberdeen. After filling some minor appointments, Dr. Dunhill became House Surgeon to the Pontefract Dispensary, and subsequently was engaged in practise for ten years at Cranbrook, in Kent. He came to York for good in 1863, when he suceeded the late Mr James Alien, surgeon, who resided at the corner house of Little Blake Street, now the corner of Duncombe Place.
Charles and Hannah had two children Bertha Maud Clark Dunhill, b 1855 and William Henry Carter Dunhill b 1858 baptised at Cranbrook.
But in March 1863 at York Hannah died suddenly aged only 34 and in August Bertha died aged 8.
So her son William became the heir to Potter Grange.
This is where the stories of Potter Grange and the Dunhill family diverge
The house and land
Thomas Briggs
By 1861 it was tenanted by Thomas Briggs who in 1851 was a butcher on Barge dock side in Goole. He had a son David and wife Ann.
Thomas died in 1864 at Potter Grange. His impressive tomb, shown below, is in Snaith churchyard [thanks Jane for the picture]
His widow Ann stayed on at Potter Grange until her death in 1874. Their son David moved to Womersley and married Elizabeth 'Lilly' Hirst. Their son William Hirst Briggs was born in 1870. David's story then takes an interesting turn, not to be expanded on here but basically he left his family in 1879 and emigrated to Nebraska where he married [bigamously?] and had a second family of 10 children.
In 1881 Thomas Huntington and his family were living at Potter Grange - he was described as draper and farmer.
Also in 1881 William Henry Carter Dunhill aged 23 married Alice Whitaker Norton. Her father Charles was a solicitor in South Wales. William trained as a solicitor and was called to the bar in 1884.
William and Alice had two sons. Marcus Francis Henry was born in 1882 and Carlos Miguel Guillermo was born in 1888.
This is a good place to conclude the first part of the Potter Grange story. I shall write part 2 soon but am now going out to defrost the car after snow yesterday and a sharp frost last night.
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