Denston Hall, Suffolk

[PixieAnna]

My ancestor Roderick Forbes was employed as a Gardener at Denston Hall, probably from 1819/20 - 1827/28, but I don't know anything about the Hall or the area, nor why this Edinburgh lad and his new bride would have upped sticks and moved so far away.

Does anyone know anything about the Hall that might provide some background info on the size of the estate and the landowner? Or whether employee records still exist?

Also, their eldest child Roderick is shown as christened at Wickhambrook in 1820, and the next, John, was christened at Denston in 1826. Were these seperate parishes? Would Denston records be included in another parish?

Hope someone can help!!!
Thanks,
Pixie

[RosieJ]

Hi Pixie 

A couple of websites that might give you somewhere to start are:

www.a2a.org.uk and www.historicaldirectories.org

Good luck!
Rowena

[PixieAnna]

Thanks Rowena,

I've found small references to Sir John Robinson as the landowner but not much else!!
Maybe I'm doing it wrong!!

Thank you anyway,
Pixie

[Rick]

Hi Pixie

........nor why this Edinburgh lad and his new bride would have upped sticks and moved so far a

It was not that unusual for folk to travel great distances in search of work.  It was also advantageous for landowners to employ folk not from the locality so that "tittle tattle" and rumours about the family were not passed on to family members in the village.

Does anyone know anything about the Hall that might provide some background info on the size of the estate and the landowner? Or whether employee records still exist?

Sir Nikolaus Pevsner thought Denston Hall worthy of note when he surveyed the county in the 1960s.  He describes it an " early C18 house of red brick " but apart from a few references to some interior features, he does not give much information about the house.

The Whites Directory of 1855 describes it thus.........

"A large neat mansion in a small park on the south side of the village, is now unoccupied but belongs to and a great deal of the soil to Wm Pigot Esq., now only 18 years of age."

Also, their eldest child Roderick is shown as christened at Wickhambrook in 1820, and the next, John, was christened at Denston in 1826. Were these seperate parishes? Would Denston records be included in another parish?

 

Denston and Wickhambrook are 2 entirely separate parishes, perhaps your ancestors did not start work at Denston as early as you thought?

http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/denston.htm

http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/wickhambrook.html

Rick

[PixieAnna]

Hi Rick,

Thanks for the post and the links - the churches are lovely!

You are quite right about the dates of employment at Denston - I didn't twig until I actually wrote them down!

I'm still interested in anything to with Denston Hall as it seems Roderick's career as an estate gardener began there. He later moved to Lydbury, Shrops., then to a large estate at Ruabon, Wales, where estate documents suggest that he was sought after and highly regarded by the landowner. It would be nice to know a little about how this came about!

Once again,
Many thanks,
Pixie

[Suffolk Mawther]

I have just checked

Suffolk Houses
A study of Domestic Architecture
by Eric Sandon FRIBA
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
Illistrated by John Western

Nothing on Denston Hall but quite a bit on Gifford's Hall in Wickhambrook

Don't forget that Denston is the abbreviation of the original DENERDISTON, which is said as Denston 

National Archives web site shows the following at Bury St Edmunds RO -
 
Details
GB/NNAF/C15091
Denston
Denston, Suffolk

1 record noted: 
 
Scope 1498-1940: deeds and estate papers
Repository  Suffolk Record Office, Bury St Edmunds Branch
NRA catalogue reference NRA 6967 Denston estate

Best Regards, SM ...

[PixieAnna]

Thanks for your help, SM.

I've been trawling through A2A resources all weekend, but haven't worked my way on to National Archives yet! I've noted your reference for when I finally get there!!

Many thanks,
Pixie

[Forbesfam]

Could Pixieanna get in touch seems we share same gt, gt. grandfather.Roderick Forbes

[Forbesfam]

Pixie Ann .

Roderick Forbes and his wife Jessy mabon  had 20 children he moved as a gardener around England, from Denston to Walcot Hall to Wynnstay Hall.

Pam