A Potted History of Prescot House
Webmaster Note: Queen’s College : Queen's College was opened on 15th September 1953, in premises known as ‘The Mount’ Red Hill, Stourbridge, the name of the College deriving from the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in that year. Within a few months of the College being opened the number of pupils increased so much that the adjacent building ‘The Hollies’ was also acquired for school use, and a further period of expansion ensued. The Principal and owner decided in 1958 to move his College to larger premises i.e. Prescot House, Chawn Hill, Oldswinford - a Large Georgian House set in ten acres - formerly owned by Stourbridge Benefactor Ernest Stevens.
[for nearly 800 years the site of what was known, until 1965, as 'Prescot House' has been recorded in a variety of historical documents as: Pircote Grange / Priests Cote / Priests House / Prestcoat House / Prescott Hall / Prescote House / Prescott House / Queen's College]
The earliest recorded reference to the site of 'Prescot House' (Priest's House) dates from 1246.
1291 Pircote Grange was held by the Abbot and convent of Halesowen; they had there a carucate of land, the value of which was 10 shillings., and a fixed rent of 2 shillings and 6 pence, but it does not appear how they gained possession of it. The abbey retained this property until the Dissolution; it was then let out at farm at a rent of 42 shillings.
1538 Pircote Grange and the manor was granted with the other lands to Sir John Dudley.
1553 Percote Grange reverted to the crown.
1557 9th October Prescot House was granted to Sir John Bourne, chief secretary to Queen Mary, and Dorothy his wife.
1597 “Percote Grainge” is on record in an evidence dated 1597 of a case heard before the Court of Marches, “Maidstone versus Lyttleton,” that “Percote Grainge” formerly belonged to the Abbey of Halesowen. [It seems then that Prescot is a corruption of Percote, and that in turn Percote was derived from Priest’s Cote, or Priest’s House. Wollescote Road and Grange Lane today both formerly passed under the single name of Priest’s Lane.]
1699 Josiah Bach's map of Oldswinford shows Chawn Hill with Prescot House.
1750 on a map of the 'Township of Oldswinford' Prescott House and gardens is shown alongside Priest's Lane
1782 on a map of Stourbridge made by Harry Court, a Stourbridge surveyor, the site is shown as in the ownership of Hungerford Oliver of the Grange, Oldswinford, who married Prudence, daughter of Thomas Milward of Wollescote House.
1812 Aaron Attwood owned Precot House. He was the uncle of Thomas Attwood [1783-1856], the political reformer and first MP for Birmigham. Melville Attwood was born at Prescot House 31 July 1812 [also Joseph Attwood]
1822 there is reference to a proposed new turnpike road through a farm south of Prescot Hall, Pedmore.
1828 Pen and pencil sketch of Prescot House dated 18th November 1828 [drawn by Francis Rufford Esq. aged 47]
[for nearly 800 years the site of what was known, until 1965, as 'Prescot House' has been recorded in a variety of historical documents as: Pircote Grange / Priests Cote / Priests House / Prestcoat House / Prescott Hall / Prescote House / Prescott House / Queen's College]
The earliest recorded reference to the site of 'Prescot House' (Priest's House) dates from 1246.
1291 Pircote Grange was held by the Abbot and convent of Halesowen; they had there a carucate of land, the value of which was 10 shillings., and a fixed rent of 2 shillings and 6 pence, but it does not appear how they gained possession of it. The abbey retained this property until the Dissolution; it was then let out at farm at a rent of 42 shillings.
1538 Pircote Grange and the manor was granted with the other lands to Sir John Dudley.
1553 Percote Grange reverted to the crown.
1557 9th October Prescot House was granted to Sir John Bourne, chief secretary to Queen Mary, and Dorothy his wife.
1597 “Percote Grainge” is on record in an evidence dated 1597 of a case heard before the Court of Marches, “Maidstone versus Lyttleton,” that “Percote Grainge” formerly belonged to the Abbey of Halesowen. [It seems then that Prescot is a corruption of Percote, and that in turn Percote was derived from Priest’s Cote, or Priest’s House. Wollescote Road and Grange Lane today both formerly passed under the single name of Priest’s Lane.]
1699 Josiah Bach's map of Oldswinford shows Chawn Hill with Prescot House.
1750 on a map of the 'Township of Oldswinford' Prescott House and gardens is shown alongside Priest's Lane
1782 on a map of Stourbridge made by Harry Court, a Stourbridge surveyor, the site is shown as in the ownership of Hungerford Oliver of the Grange, Oldswinford, who married Prudence, daughter of Thomas Milward of Wollescote House.
1812 Aaron Attwood owned Precot House. He was the uncle of Thomas Attwood [1783-1856], the political reformer and first MP for Birmigham. Melville Attwood was born at Prescot House 31 July 1812 [also Joseph Attwood]
1822 there is reference to a proposed new turnpike road through a farm south of Prescot Hall, Pedmore.
1828 Pen and pencil sketch of Prescot House dated 18th November 1828 [drawn by Francis Rufford Esq. aged 47]
1841 census Francis Rufford [aged 60] occupied Prescot House with his wife, Sophia [54?], his son Francis [18?] and 5 'live in' servants [John Rotheram {25}; James Piff {45}; Sarah Williams {30}; Sarah Nottingham {20}; Sophy Talbot {20} and Gardener George Harris {30}]. Francis Rufford opened his fire brick works in 1802 and it closed in 1936. As well as manufacturing fire-bricks, Rufford & Co made glazed baths, sinks and troughs. Francis Rufford also had banking interests and enjoyed considerable wealth and influence. He was elected MP for Worcester and became Chairman of the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway. In 1856 he became Sherrif of Worcester. His bank failed in 1851 ruining himself and other members of the family. However, the family did manage to hang on to Prescot House and grounds for another 30+ years after the bank collapsed.
1851 census Sophia Rufford [aged 64] [Head of Family] occupied Prescot House with her son Francis [28] [Firebrick and Clay Merchant], sister Maria Whitehead [65], neice Katherine Tongue [27] and 7 'live in' servants [Sarah Hyde {50} House Servant; Eliza Pardoe {23} House Servant; Mary Ann Pardoe {20} House Servant; Samuel Corrie {36} Footman; Thomas Lawrence {20} House servant and John Forde {45} Gardener].
1861 census Francis Tongue Rufford [aged 38] [Landowner, Firebrick manufacture] occupied Prescot House with his wife Elizabeth [46] and 10 'live in' servants [Hannah Hatfield {41} House Servant; Julia Barrett {26} House Servant; Ann Mafrey {25} House Servant; Jane Pardoe {23} House Servant; Catherine McDonald {22} House Servant; Elizabeth Lissiter? {18}; John William Arnold {32} Coachman; Henry Barker {23} House Servant; Joseph Chapman {32} House Servant and Robert William Craik? {28} Head Gardener].
1871 census [No Head of Famly Identified] - it is assumed that The Rufford Family still own Prescot House with 6 'live in' servants [Mary Balkwell {34} Housekeeper; Charlotte ? {28} Laundry Servant; Jane Pardoe {33} House Maid; Jessica Greggor {20} Kitchen Maid; William Arnold {42} Coachman; Thomas Finch {40} Gardener; Thomas Barker {14} Assistant Gardener].
From a map of 1880 [Upper Oldswinford] Prescott House is clearly shown. Its extensive grounds include a walled garden and evidence of a walkway alongside. In front of the House there is evidence of only one formal lawn [The Top Lawn] – the remainder of the grounds given over to pasture. Priests Lane is clearly marked [now Wollescote Road and Grange Lane. ] There is evidence of the Arboretum on the west boundary of the estate with a stream which flowed down to Shepherds Brook.
1881 census John E Barton [56] [Carpet Manufacturer] occupied Prescott House with his wife Sara [55], sons Frederick [29][described as an Australian Squatter!] and Harry [18] [Oxford Collegian]; daughters Katherine [26], Helen [22] and Lilian [16] along with 6 'live in' servants [Ann Powell {29} Housemaid; Sarah Ann Phillips {20} Kitchen Maid; Mary Ann Preen {26} Cook; Elizabeth Chapman {25} Parlour Maid; Jane Eales {30} Laundry Maid and George Daniels {29} Gardener]. John Barton died in 1885.
1888 OS 6 'inch map of Stourbridge - Prescott House
1891 census William Holcroft [aged 65] [widower] [Brick Manufacturer] occupied Prescott House along with his son William T Holcroft [26] and 5 'live in' servants [Elizabeth Pomfrey? {38?} Cook; Rebecca Bulbeck {29?} Parlour Maid; Jane Honeybourne? {23?} House Maid; Isabella Page {17} Kitchen Maid; William Harry Stephens {34} Head Gardener].
1900 Prescott House - Maps show that the three tier lawns have been established and a large pond added to the lower level.
1901 census William Holcroft [aged 75] [widower] occupied Prescott House with his grandson William [21][Accountant] along with 6 'live in' servants [Alice Parkinson {53} House Keeper; Sara Whatmore {29} Cook; Mary Roberts {29} Parlour Maid; Emma Holton {24} House Maid; Ellen Hall {20} Kitchen Maid; William H Stephens {44} Gardener/Domestic]. William Holcroft died January 1902.
1911 census George Harry Holcroft [aged 54] [Firebrick Manufacturer] occupied Prescott House with his wife Annie Gertrude [42], daughter Phyllis Evelyn [9], son John [6] and 5 'live in' servants [Kate Jackson? {37} Governess; Elizabeth Hall {29} Cook; Annie Nitingale? {22} Parlour Maid; Beatrice Alice Green {20} Housemaid; William Jordon {27} Gardener].
1912 - 1957 Ernest Stevens [Holloware Manufacturer] occupied Prescott House from 1912 - 1957 with his wife Mary [who died 1925] and his children. The number of servants employed by Stevens is unknown [until the publication of further census reports]. We do know that the first Head Gardener for Ernest Stevens was William Davis. By 1920 the Glass House Complex is in evidence alongside a formal garden behind the stable block. The ‘Conservatories’ included Palm and Fern House two large vineries, a peach house, a nectarine house, a melon house and a cucumber house., The walled garden appears to have been extended northwards. The whole of the estate is surrounded by fields [some of which were owned by Ernest Stevens and opened up to the Church and Schools for Festivals and Garden Parties. One such occasion was for the Hospital Saturday Garden Fete which raised £147]. By 1940 the ‘walkway’ from the House to the ‘Temple’ folly is in evidence – including the wide herbaciuos borders to the east of the walled gardens. The once pasture land to the north, which provided the milk for the House, is now extensive orchards. Surrounding the estate there is evidence of private houses appearing alongside the north west boundary off Wollescote Road. Ernest Stevens {1867-1957} was a highly successful businessman and one of the principal benefactors to Stourbridge and district, who built Mary Stevens Maternity Home in memory of his wife, and gave to the public the Mary Stevens Park, Stourbridge, Stevens Park, Wollescote, and Stevens Park, Quarry Bank. Ernest Stevens lived with his family in Red Hill, before acquiring Prescott House moving in with his wife and children in 1912. He affected considerable alterations and extensions, notable features being further Italian marble features of marble pillars as installed by the Rufford Family and the Italian Marble Staircase in The Reception Hall, panelled hall and dining-room and the decorative plaster work in the drawing-room. He also added large plate glass windows to the Drawing-Room which overlooked the extensive lawns, the ‘Temple’ folly at the end of a wide and extensive herbacious border walkway and a large and impressive front door porch.] Also housed at Prescott House at this time was a marble statue of a Newfoundland Dog 'Beshaw' trampling a bronze snake. The statue was created by Matthew Wyatt [1777-1862] and displayed in the 1851 Exhibition, acquired by John Corbett for Chateau Impney. When the contents of Chateau Impney were sold Ernest Stevens bought the staue for Prescott House in 1906. It was sold in 1957 and is now displayed in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. At this time there would have been the sounds of many types of birds as Ronald Stevens [son born 1902] had built up a collection of birds to include Cockatoos, Chickens, Bantons and Ducks. Ernest Stevens was a staunch Liberal and President of the Quarry Bank Liberal Club. After 1912 election rallies were held in the grounds of Prescott House and candidates often stayed in the House. Although Prescott House boasted excellent stables and coach-houses Ernest Stevens bought his first Rolls Royce, a Silver Ghost, in 1913 [driven by his cheauffeur] – it was replaced twenty five years later [in 1938] with a Rolls Royce Phantom which he kept until his death. Noel Stevens, during 1934, had a 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Special Roadster which was housed at his Prescott address, Following Ernest Stevens' death in 1957 the family had sufficient wealth with Walcot Hall, Lydbury North, Shropshire [which Ernest Stevens bought for his sons Noel and Ronald in 1933] and Chapel Farm at Emley Castle [noted for its herd of prize-winning Hereford cattle] and therefore did not require Prescott House. It was offered to the Council who refused it and then placed on the open market. It was bought by Johnson Ball to House his expanding 'Queen’s College' in 1958.
Ernest Stevens' first Head Gardener at Prescott House was William Davis whose daughter, Emily Louisa Davis [1899-1968], married Edwin Morris of Lye [1894-1971] on 14th April 1925. Edwin Morris ['Teddy Morris'] went on to become the last Englishman to be appointed Arch Bishop of Wales - three generations later Edwin Morris' great niece and nephew [Lesley and Julian Tromans] attended Queen’s College housed in Prescott House [1958 to 1965]. A Mr. Jones succeeded Mr Davies as Head Gardener where he remained until 1957.c
1851 census Sophia Rufford [aged 64] [Head of Family] occupied Prescot House with her son Francis [28] [Firebrick and Clay Merchant], sister Maria Whitehead [65], neice Katherine Tongue [27] and 7 'live in' servants [Sarah Hyde {50} House Servant; Eliza Pardoe {23} House Servant; Mary Ann Pardoe {20} House Servant; Samuel Corrie {36} Footman; Thomas Lawrence {20} House servant and John Forde {45} Gardener].
1861 census Francis Tongue Rufford [aged 38] [Landowner, Firebrick manufacture] occupied Prescot House with his wife Elizabeth [46] and 10 'live in' servants [Hannah Hatfield {41} House Servant; Julia Barrett {26} House Servant; Ann Mafrey {25} House Servant; Jane Pardoe {23} House Servant; Catherine McDonald {22} House Servant; Elizabeth Lissiter? {18}; John William Arnold {32} Coachman; Henry Barker {23} House Servant; Joseph Chapman {32} House Servant and Robert William Craik? {28} Head Gardener].
1871 census [No Head of Famly Identified] - it is assumed that The Rufford Family still own Prescot House with 6 'live in' servants [Mary Balkwell {34} Housekeeper; Charlotte ? {28} Laundry Servant; Jane Pardoe {33} House Maid; Jessica Greggor {20} Kitchen Maid; William Arnold {42} Coachman; Thomas Finch {40} Gardener; Thomas Barker {14} Assistant Gardener].
From a map of 1880 [Upper Oldswinford] Prescott House is clearly shown. Its extensive grounds include a walled garden and evidence of a walkway alongside. In front of the House there is evidence of only one formal lawn [The Top Lawn] – the remainder of the grounds given over to pasture. Priests Lane is clearly marked [now Wollescote Road and Grange Lane. ] There is evidence of the Arboretum on the west boundary of the estate with a stream which flowed down to Shepherds Brook.
1881 census John E Barton [56] [Carpet Manufacturer] occupied Prescott House with his wife Sara [55], sons Frederick [29][described as an Australian Squatter!] and Harry [18] [Oxford Collegian]; daughters Katherine [26], Helen [22] and Lilian [16] along with 6 'live in' servants [Ann Powell {29} Housemaid; Sarah Ann Phillips {20} Kitchen Maid; Mary Ann Preen {26} Cook; Elizabeth Chapman {25} Parlour Maid; Jane Eales {30} Laundry Maid and George Daniels {29} Gardener]. John Barton died in 1885.
1888 OS 6 'inch map of Stourbridge - Prescott House
1891 census William Holcroft [aged 65] [widower] [Brick Manufacturer] occupied Prescott House along with his son William T Holcroft [26] and 5 'live in' servants [Elizabeth Pomfrey? {38?} Cook; Rebecca Bulbeck {29?} Parlour Maid; Jane Honeybourne? {23?} House Maid; Isabella Page {17} Kitchen Maid; William Harry Stephens {34} Head Gardener].
1900 Prescott House - Maps show that the three tier lawns have been established and a large pond added to the lower level.
1901 census William Holcroft [aged 75] [widower] occupied Prescott House with his grandson William [21][Accountant] along with 6 'live in' servants [Alice Parkinson {53} House Keeper; Sara Whatmore {29} Cook; Mary Roberts {29} Parlour Maid; Emma Holton {24} House Maid; Ellen Hall {20} Kitchen Maid; William H Stephens {44} Gardener/Domestic]. William Holcroft died January 1902.
1911 census George Harry Holcroft [aged 54] [Firebrick Manufacturer] occupied Prescott House with his wife Annie Gertrude [42], daughter Phyllis Evelyn [9], son John [6] and 5 'live in' servants [Kate Jackson? {37} Governess; Elizabeth Hall {29} Cook; Annie Nitingale? {22} Parlour Maid; Beatrice Alice Green {20} Housemaid; William Jordon {27} Gardener].
1912 - 1957 Ernest Stevens [Holloware Manufacturer] occupied Prescott House from 1912 - 1957 with his wife Mary [who died 1925] and his children. The number of servants employed by Stevens is unknown [until the publication of further census reports]. We do know that the first Head Gardener for Ernest Stevens was William Davis. By 1920 the Glass House Complex is in evidence alongside a formal garden behind the stable block. The ‘Conservatories’ included Palm and Fern House two large vineries, a peach house, a nectarine house, a melon house and a cucumber house., The walled garden appears to have been extended northwards. The whole of the estate is surrounded by fields [some of which were owned by Ernest Stevens and opened up to the Church and Schools for Festivals and Garden Parties. One such occasion was for the Hospital Saturday Garden Fete which raised £147]. By 1940 the ‘walkway’ from the House to the ‘Temple’ folly is in evidence – including the wide herbaciuos borders to the east of the walled gardens. The once pasture land to the north, which provided the milk for the House, is now extensive orchards. Surrounding the estate there is evidence of private houses appearing alongside the north west boundary off Wollescote Road. Ernest Stevens {1867-1957} was a highly successful businessman and one of the principal benefactors to Stourbridge and district, who built Mary Stevens Maternity Home in memory of his wife, and gave to the public the Mary Stevens Park, Stourbridge, Stevens Park, Wollescote, and Stevens Park, Quarry Bank. Ernest Stevens lived with his family in Red Hill, before acquiring Prescott House moving in with his wife and children in 1912. He affected considerable alterations and extensions, notable features being further Italian marble features of marble pillars as installed by the Rufford Family and the Italian Marble Staircase in The Reception Hall, panelled hall and dining-room and the decorative plaster work in the drawing-room. He also added large plate glass windows to the Drawing-Room which overlooked the extensive lawns, the ‘Temple’ folly at the end of a wide and extensive herbacious border walkway and a large and impressive front door porch.] Also housed at Prescott House at this time was a marble statue of a Newfoundland Dog 'Beshaw' trampling a bronze snake. The statue was created by Matthew Wyatt [1777-1862] and displayed in the 1851 Exhibition, acquired by John Corbett for Chateau Impney. When the contents of Chateau Impney were sold Ernest Stevens bought the staue for Prescott House in 1906. It was sold in 1957 and is now displayed in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. At this time there would have been the sounds of many types of birds as Ronald Stevens [son born 1902] had built up a collection of birds to include Cockatoos, Chickens, Bantons and Ducks. Ernest Stevens was a staunch Liberal and President of the Quarry Bank Liberal Club. After 1912 election rallies were held in the grounds of Prescott House and candidates often stayed in the House. Although Prescott House boasted excellent stables and coach-houses Ernest Stevens bought his first Rolls Royce, a Silver Ghost, in 1913 [driven by his cheauffeur] – it was replaced twenty five years later [in 1938] with a Rolls Royce Phantom which he kept until his death. Noel Stevens, during 1934, had a 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Special Roadster which was housed at his Prescott address, Following Ernest Stevens' death in 1957 the family had sufficient wealth with Walcot Hall, Lydbury North, Shropshire [which Ernest Stevens bought for his sons Noel and Ronald in 1933] and Chapel Farm at Emley Castle [noted for its herd of prize-winning Hereford cattle] and therefore did not require Prescott House. It was offered to the Council who refused it and then placed on the open market. It was bought by Johnson Ball to House his expanding 'Queen’s College' in 1958.
Ernest Stevens' first Head Gardener at Prescott House was William Davis whose daughter, Emily Louisa Davis [1899-1968], married Edwin Morris of Lye [1894-1971] on 14th April 1925. Edwin Morris ['Teddy Morris'] went on to become the last Englishman to be appointed Arch Bishop of Wales - three generations later Edwin Morris' great niece and nephew [Lesley and Julian Tromans] attended Queen’s College housed in Prescott House [1958 to 1965]. A Mr. Jones succeeded Mr Davies as Head Gardener where he remained until 1957.c
Queen's College, Chawn Hill, Pedmore, Stourbridge 1958.
1958 - 1965 Johnson Ball [Proprieter and Principal of Queen's College established in Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Year 1953]. Johnson Ball moved his expanding college from The Mount, Red Hill, Stourbridge to Prescott House, Chawn Hill in 1958. At this time Prescott House stood in 10 acres of mature grounds. During its time as a school the Reception Hall became the School Assembly Hall, the 'Salon' became the Principal's' Study, the Drawing Room became the Refectory and the TD Room, the servant’s quarters became the lower school classrooms, the main apartments became the upper school classrooms, College Museum, the College Library and Johnson Ball’s personal apartments. The stables and coachhouse became the science lab., changing rooms and gymnasium; the large stable yard became the boy’s playground; the front drive and middle lawn became the girl’s playground. Unfortunately the walled gardens and the extensive Glass Houses became derelict and unused including the Gardener’s Lodge and Arboretum. The 2 acre field became the boys play area during the summer months. Ernest Steven's garaging for his Rolls Royce became the home for Johnson Ball's Bentley. Another feature of the House at this time were the Works of Art exhibited throughout the House. Queen's College closed at the end of the summer term 1965.
1966 After the House contents had been auctioned the main buildings and outbuildings were subsequently demolished and a new housing estate built upon its grounds - the final chapter for many of the large houses and their grounds in and around Stourbridge during the 1960's.
1966 After the House contents had been auctioned the main buildings and outbuildings were subsequently demolished and a new housing estate built upon its grounds - the final chapter for many of the large houses and their grounds in and around Stourbridge during the 1960's.