Highfields, Audlem, 16^th century home of the Dod and Baker families

By John Bellyse Baker

1982 (out of print but reproduced here)

BAK00512

The Bakers Home Page Return to the Home Page of the Bakers Family part of the website

The Bakers of Highfields Story The Story of the Dods and Bakers and of Highfields, Fenton House and Hasfield Court. A journey through the history of Cheshire and Staffordshire, an Anglo-Saxon nobleman who retained his lands after the Conquest, pottery at Stoke on Trent, an encounter with Elgar, and the history of an Elizabethan manor house at Audlem

The Bakers of Highfields The family tree of the Bakers of Highfields

The Dod Family The Family Tree of the Dods, predecessors to the Bakers of Highfields

The Bakers of Fenton House and Hasfield Court The Family Tree of the pottery Bakers of Stoke on Trent

The Bellyse Family The Family Tree of the Bellyse Family

The Farndale Story The main part of this website tells the story of the Farndale family from Yorkshire Descendants of Arthur Baker, the story of the Farndale ancestry is told through the main part of this website You can also return to the Farndale website home page

The Hall Family The genealogy of the family of James Hall, linked to the Baker family through marriage to Arthur Baker

Highfields is a small, half timbered manor house, situated in the southern tip of Cheshire, a few hundred yards from the Shropshire border. In the Township of Buerton, it is about 2 ½ miles South of Audlem, off Woodhouse Lane. Its construction is typical of many that were built, mostly in Cheshire and South Lancashire, using the oak timber from the great forests of Wirral, Macclesfield and Delamere. The coming of the Tudors had brought an end to centuries of fighting; fortified manor houses were no longer necessary. Old customs, however, die hard. All the half-timbered houses of the country, even the Elizabethan ones, are elaborations of a structure and aesthetic that still belonged to the Middle Ages. All adopt the medieval plan of a central dining hall with service rooms and servants quarters at one end; at the other end, the parlour and family apartments.

The first mention of Highfields is in the deed between William Dod of Losford, County Salop, Gentleman and Hugh Chester of Newstrete Lane, County Salop, dated 1st October 1553. In this deed, William “and his heirs forever”, inherit, on the death of Hugh and his wife Alice, various lands and properties, some 500 acres in all. These include the pastures situated in Woodhouse Lane known as the Highfields and Marestalls.

William Dod was the youngest son of John Dod, Lord of the Manor of Cloverley. Cloverley Hall was, at that time, an early moated manor house, built round an open courtyard. John Dodd’s great grandfather was Hugh Dod who, in 1418, married Agnes, daughter and heiress of Roger de Cloverley, from whom he inherited the estate of Cloverley. Hugh's father, John, had married Johanna, the daughter and co-heiress of John Warren of Ightfield, inheriting through her the adjoining Calverhall lands. The Ightfield estate went to William Mainwaring of Peover who had married Johanna’s sister, Margaret. This John Dod, referred to in old documents as John Dod of Calverhall, was the great grandson of Roger Dod of Edge, near Malpas (the Edge Hall estate is still owned by the Wolley Dod family). The Dods had obtained the Edge property when Hova Dod married the daughter and heiress of Edwin, Lord of Edge. Hova Dod (or Dot as the name appears in some documents) was the son of Cadwgan Dot of Malpas. To quote from A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland: “Dot, the Saxon Lord of sixteen manors, either exclusively, or of a considerable portion thereof was joint Lord of Cholmondeley, Hampton, Grappenhall and two thirds of the Bickerton with this very Edwin. Dot was ejected from all his manors (after the Norman conquest), and the circumstance of the heiress of the relics of Edwin 's lands matching herself with a man who bore the name of one so closely connected with her apparent ancestor seems to make this marriage the results of an old family friendship and alliance, and to lead to a deduction of Cadwgan Dot from the Dot of Domesday. A descent in the male line from a Saxon, noticed in that record, would be unique in the county of Chester.”

To return to Highfields. As already mentioned, William Dod of Losford (presumably Lostford, near Tern Hill) inherited various lands including the pastures known as Highfields and the Marestalls from the Chester family in 1553. This deed is a recognition of right in which William Dot received five hundred acres including a house in Woodhouse Lane. There is no payment involved, so one can only assume that William’s wife, whom we know in deeds as “Anne”, was the daughter and heiress of Hugh and Alice Chester. As the Highfields is referred to as a “pasture or close”, it seems that the house did not then occupy the site. In Camden 's Britannia of 1695, Highfields is marked, also Maer Houses, where Mere farm now stands in Woodhouse Lane. Could this be the Marestalls referred to in the document?

Four years later, in 1557, William made the estate over to his son, William Dod of Newstrete Lane “in consideration of £3”. The son, William, would appear to be living with his grandfather, Hugh Chester (his grandmother had died) perhaps helping him to manage the estate. The next document to survive is a marriage settlement of 1568, between William Dod of Newstrete Lane and Margaret Pixley, of Willaston, Shropshire, Widow. In return for making over various parcels of land to his future wife, Catherine and any children of the marriage in the event of his death, William received a dowry “£56.13.4 by installments, to be completed at the feast of Saint Michael 1569”. At the time of their marriage, he further received “one bed” and “such decent apparel as shall be thought decent, meet and convenient for the set Katharin.”

Hugh Chester was still living in Newstreet Lane. It seems probable that William and Katharin moved to Woodhouse Lane after their marriage. Later, probably in 1585, they built Highfields on “the Highfields pasture”. Certainly their elder son, William, was baptised at Audlem and, in 1598, married Eleanor, the daughter of John Gamul, of Buerton Hall, Lord of that manor. The following year William’s father died and the young couple settled at Highfields. They added the oak panelling in the best parlour and the very fine carved fireplace, with the initials and date, WD 1615.

Part of the beautiful carved oak mantelpiece in the oak room, bearing William Dod’s initials and the year 1615

Fireplace in the main bedroom, The magnificent four poster in the main bedroom

In which Prince Rupert, of Civil

War fame, is reputed to have slept

The coming of the civil war brought great tragedy in the district. In 1641, William, now over 60, was one of the principal collectors of a subsidy for the use of King Charles I. Persons whose land or goods exceeded £1 in value were assessed at 8s in the £.

William’s elder son was Thomas, who made his will in 1652. In this will he, being unmarried, left Highfields to his brother, George of Penders End, Buerton, on condition that his father shall continue to live there. William had sold his Buerton estate to George for £200, in 1643 and George presumably built Penders End, which is not mentioned in that document. It seems likely that William made Highfield over to Thomas at about the same time.

A miniature of George Dod (1653-1727) in armour, which is still preserved

The year before Thomas Gamul died; citizen and grocer of London, brother of William Gamul of Buerton Hall and brother-in-law of William Dod. In his will he entrusted £500 to William Dod, with his neighbours, Captain William Massie of Moss Hall and Hugh Hassall, both of Audlem, “where” says Thomas Gamul “I was born”. The money was to be used to build “a convenient schoolhouse and a dwelling house for a schoolmaster in the town of Audlem.” This was to be Audlem Grammar School. The executives of the will were Randle Wilbraham, of Nantwich and Francis (later Sir Francis) Gamul, the Royalist commander at Chester and nephew of the late Thomas. His home, Gamul House in Watergate, has been restored in recent years. The year following the proving of the will a petition was presented to the House of Commons by the children of William Dod: Thomas, George, William junior and sister Alice, all beneficiaries under the will, stating that Randle Wilbraham, one of Thomas Gamul’s two executives had died and that his (Randle’s) executors, Richard Wilbraham, Gregory Markham and Ralph Bolton, refused to deal with Gamul’s estate (presumably on account of his nephew’s Royalist activities). The petitioners had exhibited a bill of complaint in Chancery for the recovery of Gamul’s bequests, but were hindered by the fact that Francis Gamul still survived as executive. They sought remedy, pleading that they “have been imprisoned and suffered very much in their liberties and estates for adhering to the Parliament.” The House granted their request. This is a quite extraordinary document, considering that their father, two years earlier, had been a principal collector for money for the use of Charles I! Subsequently, after the Restoration in 1660, George Dodd, mentioned in the petition and now of Highfields, was Head Constable of Nantwich, collecting a subsidy for Charles II. The Dods of this period appear to have displayed many of the characteristics of the Vicar of Bray!

In 1648 William Dod was appointed overseer for the building at the school and a plot of land was marked out of the Barn Croft, adjoining Audlem Green near Vicarage Bank. However, perhaps because of the difficulties of collecting Gamal's legacy, work stopped for four years, to be resumed in the summer of 1652. It was not ready for occupation until the end of 1655 when the final accounts are drawn up by William Massey and George Dod, acting for his father, for Gamal 's legacy, now worth £802. There is also mention of a legacy of £30 from his late brother, Thomas Dod. George did not outlive his father; the estate passed to his only son, also George, who was to own Highfields for the next 67 years. George matriculated from Brasenose, Oxford in 1670, aged 17. He was admitted to the Middle Temple, June 26, 1672 and called to the bar, May 30, 1679. During this time Highfields appears to have been managed by his cousin, William Dod, son of his father's younger brother who, in a document dated 1662, dealing with the estate of his late father, is referred to as “now resident at Highfields.”

In 1680 George married Charity, the daughter of John Woodroffe of London and Chalderton and niece of Sir George Woodroffe of Poyle and Alvington Court in Gloucestershire. Her father had died when she was four and her estate was administered by the two executors, her grand father and uncle, John Gouldsmyth of Stapeley Manor, near Nantwich. They kept accounts of money dispersed during John's illness and after his death on 1st July, 1664, thus:

	£	s	d
April 1 1664 - Lent to my daughter, Mrs Lettice Woodrooff (Charity’s mother)	2	0	0
For doctor Cox his phisisian, by order from my sonne		10	0
June 1664 - Lent him in mon ‘eyes whilst hee lay sicke att Endfield	19	0	0
Lent Susannah Hulbert his mayde servant for and towards family expenses att London, when my sonne lay sicke att Endfield	1	5	0
July 2nd 1664 - Pd for a Coffine for my sonne	1	10	0
Pd for funerall charges for the Church and the Minister for his sermon	4	14	4
Paid the six barerers which carried him to Church		15	0
Pad two wach men wch wached the Corpes three nights and daies		12	6
Paid for a velvet paull		15	0
19th, Pd Mr. John Gay in full for wine for the funerall	2	11	0
20th, Pd Mr. James Walcott for 54 mourneinge ringes and fashion of them	16	18	0
25th, Pd Mr Francis Stokes in full for physic	6	0	0
27th, Pd Mr Robt pearson for sugar and sweete meates for the funerall	4	1	6
Aug 10th, Pd the Collectors for Chimney money (“much clamour against the Chimney money; and the people say, they will not pary it without force”, Pepys’s diary, 30 June 1662)		18	0
Then follow various sums dispersed by Mr. John Goulsmyth “for my neece Mrs Charitie Woodrooff in Cheshire 1678” (although referred to as ‘Mrs’ was at that time unmarried). She was presumably staying at Stapeley Manor.
July 6^th-30th, Pd for comings to Lichfeild in Lichfeild coach	1	10	0
Pd a sadler in Namptwich for Coveringe a sadle for you wch you rid on in the Cuntry		4	0
Pd for hire of a Nagg to carry you to Shrewsberry		5	0
Pd more when you went to Mr Dods		2	6
for yr Journey to Lichfeild and for a man to bring the horse backe (when you went Backe to London)		5	6
And finally;
Jan 9th 1678 - Sent you to pay what Debts you owed and towards byinge yor wedinge Apparrell	40	0	0
June 7th 1680 - Sent you more for the same uses	12	11	6

George and Charity lived at Highfields for the next forty seven years, having no fewer than seventeen children, seven boys and ten girls. Their second son, Thomas, left Oxford in 1707 to become Rector of Stepney. Edward, born in 1688, was a captain in the Royal Navy. During the earlier part of his service, he was Lieutenant of HMS Dragon. Later he was given command of the Blandford. In Charnock’s Biographia Navalis there is the following report:

“His majesty's ship the Blandford of 20 guns, Captain Dod commander has had the misfortune to fall in with a French squadron of seven sail between Lisbon and Gibraltar and was sent to Brest. The Captain was threatened with being hanged if he did not discover to the Commodore whether there was any English squadron at sea. This he very bravely refused to comply with.” There is a portrait of him, by Kneller, pointing, rather smugly, to a naval battle in the background. The oldest son, George, born in 1681, married his cousin Jane Gouldsmyth of Stapeley Manor. Both their fathers were barristers of the Middle Temple and George had gone to Brasenose with Jane's brother, John. In 1711 they had a daughter, Jane: the following year her mother died in childbirth. A year later her father died, leaving Jane to be brought up by her grandparents. Often she would stay with her Aunt Diana Dod a who lived at Bridgnorth and it was here that she met a young architect, William Baker. She was staying at Bridgnorth with her grandmother in 1736 when the latter died. Jane and William were married the same year and, as her grandfather had died some years earlier, they returned to Highfields.

Jane Baker, nee Dod (1711 – 1783)

William Baker was one of the foremost architects in the north Midlands during the mid eighteenth century. That so much of his work is known is largely due to the survival of an account book kept by him during the years 1748 to 1759, illustrating the nature of his professional work. Over a period of twelve years one can follow in detail the day-to-day life of an eighteenth century provincial architect who was often in the saddle, riding from one job to another, for his practise took him all over the north west Midlands and occasionally into Wales. Perhaps his best known building is the Market Cross or Butter Market at Ludlow which he designed in 1743-4, four years before the commencement of the account book. Montgomery Market Hall and St John’s Church, Wolverhampton among his other works. He was born in 1705, the son of Richard Baker a surgeon of London and Leominster and died in 1771. When his father died on 24th May 1749, he recorded the fact in the account book, adding the information that “he married Mary Smith and both she and my father were born in London as was myself in St Brides parish.” His grand father and great grand father were merchants of Norwich and London, the latter being the youngest son of Sir Richard Baker MP of Middle Aston, Oxford and St Brides, London, the historian. He married Margaret, the daughter of Sir George Mainwaring of Ightfield, Salop and died in Fleets debtors prison, 1644. He was buried at Saint brides in St Brides.

Jane Baker’s husband William (1705-1771), Jane Baker’s father in law Richard and his wife Mary. Beneath them

Whose architectural designs included the Crown is a 17^th century dresser

And the Phoenix in Audlem

Many items of personal memoranda are entered in the account book. The arrival of Captain Dod “for a visit of 13 weeks” is recorded. Some weeks later, scrolled across the page, “Captain Dod went away today”. In 1749 William served as High Constable and a summary of his receipts and expenditure whilst holding office is set down. On the back cover he gives the dates and hours of birth of his four children, Charity, Mary, Richard and William. Richard, who followed him in the profession of architect, was sent to school at Repton, where the Reverend William Astley was then headmaster. A few months before eleven year old Dick was taken there for his first term, his father had begun to build for Mr Astley a house at Wood Eaton, and the school fees for the first two years (£15 12s 2d and £15 7s 7d) were paid by simple subtraction from the sums which the headmaster owed his architect. Pocket money for Dick is a recurring item and occasionally there was a present for the headmaster's wife: “Paid ½ pound tea for Mrs Astley 9s”.

Baker had a kiln at Highfields and sold bricks. There are many payments to the brick maker, Plant and his successor, Barber; also memoranda of the number of bricks made. Receipts and payments in connection with his professional work occur cheek by jowl with entries concerning household and farming matters. At the end of the book there is a summary of the accounts received each year for the sale of cheeses made it Highfields.

In addition to the memoranda about his family and relations he often noted down events of local interest, the deaths, and occasionally the marriages, in the families of his employers:

1751 - March 30. At Bath was married Earl Powis to Miss Herbert; he was 48 and she but 16 years old.

1756 - May 25. On the 25th Miss Cotton of Bellaport being at Derby with her G:mother cotton, at about 8 in the evening she and Mr Wood a grocer in Derby went in a Post Chaise, where at Chester at 4 in the afternoon next day and went to Dublin and married.

1756 - August. Died Mr Prince Astley (only son of Sr John Astley), at Boloon in France, he being obliged to fly from England for wishing ill to His Majesty King George, he died by the effect of drinking, was brought over and buried at Kensington.

10 Sept. Sr John told me he will leave me a legacy in his will which he must now make.

Highfields in the 1970s and 80s is depicted in this The rear elevation

photograph of the front elevation

The fine carved fireplace in the hall, believed to date from circa 1660 Part of the drawing room, with a beautiful inlaid coffer The Welsh dresser in the oak room

Part of the dining room Part of the dining room One of the bedrooms

Sir John Astley of Patshull was a client of long standing. The accounts show Baker making frequent visits and receiving payments from Sir John for plans for Pattingham House and in connection with the new library and parlour added to Patshull in 1754.

On 15th March 1757 there was a great gale “which blew down abundance of trees, unthatch houses &, threw down a number of barns and overturned the top of Acton steeple up on the roof of the church which fell in upon the pews in a ruinous condition.” It is an ill wind that blows nobody good. Under 26th March can be read: “Paid expense to Acton and Nantwich where I was agreed with to inspect the repairs of the Church of Acton (ruined by the wind on the 15th instant) for 42 pound: 3s”.

The years covered by the diary were eventful ones for England. In May 1756 appears “Note the 18th Warr was proclaimed at London against France.” Later that year the loss of Minorca is recorded with the observation: “Admiral Bing is disgract for running away 13 men of war from 12 French - he is brought to England and tried and shot to death for his cowardice.” The next year Frederick the Great's victory over the Austrians at Leuthen is noted: “May 6. A victory gaind by the King of Prussia over the Austrian army near Prague, and Prague taken sword in hand.” The last year of the account book was our annus mirabilis. Two brief memoranda in the autumn stand out from the sober record of receipts and expenses: (October) “Port of Quebec taken”; (November) “French fleet beat by Admiral Hawke.” Abruptly as the record ends with the end of the book 31st December 1759, it was at a time of national triumph which makes a happy finale.

Following the death of William in 1771, Highfields passed to his elder son, Richard Dod Baker. To his younger son William, he left the estate and manor of Fenton Culvert, Staffordshire and a pottery works at Fenton. William was born in 1744, he married Sarah, the daughter of Thomas Bagnall of Fenton with whom he went into partnership as Baker and Bagnall, Potters. His grandson purchased the manor under state of Hasfield and founded the family of Baker of Hasfield Court.

Richard Dod Baker, born in 1743, married Hannah, the daughter of John Hassall of Nantwich. He practised as an architect at Stratford upon Avon where his children were, for some reason, baptised in the name of Hassall. This was done, he explained in his will, “for peace and quietness”. On the face of it, it would seem to have been an excellent way of preventing it. His sister, Charity, having married Lawrence Barrow, a banker who died young, returned to Highfields. She managed the estate for her father and later brother, freeing them for their architectural work. She was, in her later years, and she lived to be seventy eight, an extremely forceful lady, always known in Audlem as “Madam Barrow”.

At about this time a new doctor came to the village, Dr John Bellyse, better known as “Cockfighting Bellyse”. So much has been written about this colourful, if rather questionable, character that it will suffice to say that he was Cheshire 's most successful cockfighter at a time when it was, along with horse racing and fox hunting, England’s national sport.

Dr John Bellyse’s scales and other cockfighting impedimenta The flamboyant Dr John Bellyse of Audlem (1738-1828), last of Cheshire’s cockfighters and greatest of them all, whose son eloped with Hannah Baker

Preserved at Highfields

His son's entry into the Baker family was not without colour. He eloped with Richard's daughter, Hannah, in the time approved manner. She climbed from the bedroom window and they departed by post chaise. The following morning, having read her farewell letter, Richard set forth to the doctor’s abode, the house now occupied by Dr Thornton. He came upon Bellyse sitting reading by his open window and, not unnaturally, expressed himself with some force on the subject of the good doctor's son, John. Bellyse waited for a period of silence before observing, “The ganders as good as the goose, Sir”, and returned to his book. Peace was restored, Richard giving the newlyweds a rather fine inlaid coffer. When Canon Bellyse retired as vicar of Audlem, he very kindly returned it to Highfields! John followed his father in the practise; his son, Richard Baker Bellyse, remembered on the monument in Audlem Square, was the third and last Dr Bellyse of Audlem. John also inherited his father's love of sport. He was one of the founders of the Waterloo Cup and is depicted in the well known print of the first meeting.

Richard's eldest son, Richard Dod Baker, went to Brasenose college, Oxford, from where he wrote a number of rather interesting letters to his cousins Elizabeth and Arabella Thorley, of Chetwynd Rectory, Newport, daughters of his father's younger sister Mary. On getting there in 1801 he said “After a very pleasant journey we arrived at this celebrated seat of learning on Thursday last, and although the college rules did not exact our attention till the 17th, I found everything very comfortable. At Stafford we waited on Mr Whalley. He showed us a grand piano, which my father purchased for 65 Guineas, it appeared to me a good toned one, but when Bessy comes to finger it, we can form a better judgement. On Friday my father introduced me to a Mrs. Smith, a lady of considerable property in the neighbourhood, such an acquaintance will be very pleasant, at least very different from the noisy riot of a college evening; without company of some sort, Oxford, I assure you, would be quite intolerable, and the man who pens himself up in his attice pouring everlastingly over his books, can be compared to nothing better than “Owl in a Desert”. Study, however, affords many an hour's rational amusement, but like anything else there can be too much of it...” Not ideal academic material, the reader may think. In his next letter dated 14th October 1801, he described his rooms and life at Oxford; “I took possession of my rooms on Saturday, and I assure you they are much more comfortable than I expected, my sitting room is as large as, if not larger than, your little Parlour and to appearance, much more comfortable a Bureau, 5 chairs and a table in it, my drawing room (for so I please to call it) is smaller but neater, a glass door out of my sitting room to it, with two chairs and two tables, my bedroom is a little larger than the sitting room with a very comfortable bed, bureau etc, altogether, as if it were our 3 Parlours at Highfields, but a door to each room out of my S.R. I have been this morning with one of the tutors to buy myself a set of tea things, candle sticks, silver teaspoons, sheets, towels etc, and though Oxford is the most imposing place in the world could not, I think, offer us much in such small articles. Figure to yourselves a venerable elderly man and myself with our caps and gowns, choosing and buying the best China, good judges, I'm sure I could not tell China from common ware.

Coloured silhouette of Lt Richard Dod Baker (1784-1806) by J Buncombe, who specialised in painting military and naval officers before they went overseas to serve in the Napoleonic wars

We had a grand illumination on Monday night last; High Street (the most beautiful in the Kingdom) cut an elegant appearance and the different Emblems of Peace etc in transparencies greatly aided add it to the splendour of it. At 7 o’clock in the evening the Oxford Royal Volunteers attended by their band and two cannons fired a Fene de Joye on the occasion. The people seem’d mad, and even now cannons are firing. The Proctors (whose office I dare say you have heard of) were very busy that night, most of the Oxonians went without their caps and gowns, but I did not, though I was afraid of being distinguished, that is, if any of the Mob discovered you to be an Oxonian or a Collegian, they will often throw a squib into one’s Gown, which makes great fun for them, and we are often insulted by some of them, I am told, though I have never experienced any of it.”

In a letter dated 10th December 1801, he talks of examinations; “I dare say, little as you know of this seat of learning, you have heard that our examinations for degrees has always hitherto being laughed at as trifling and a mere matter of form, but they have now assumed a very serious aspect, and as your cousin is to take one, you will not deem the following short account of the new examinations and which I must undergo at all improper. There is now a large room fitted up for the purpose, which will contain, I should imagine 300 persons. There are benches for the vice chancellor, proctors, doctors, heads of colleges and halls etc, who are all required to attend at this most solemn occasion and about 200 students (word missing?) there are perhaps 6 examined at a time, and this occupies from 9 in the morning till 3 in the afternoon; so that whoever thinks of taking the a degree must fag.”

Richard was commissioned in the 17th Leicestershire Regiment. It was the year before Trafalgar. He wrote again to his cousin;

“Highfields

Wednesday 18th Ap 1804

Dear Elizabeth

The necessity of joining the Regt. immediately prevents me coming over to Chetwynd before my departure. I suppose you have heard from Montague (her brother, an officer in the same regiment) or will soon, to inform you of our destination. I received a letter from him on Monday desiring me to hasten my journey to Dublin in consequence of orders from England. He adds “When you take leave off them at Chetwynd assured them all of the trust I ever have in the protection of that Providence which has kindly watched over them and myself through life and that I in nothing doubt a happy return among them.” For my own part I think myself fortunate as I am in the surest road to promotion and all my friends will, I trust, be reconciled to the present separation in the prospect of my return to England hereafter with the consciousness of having acquitted myself in the duties of my profession. As you may not have yet heard from my good friend I must inform you the 17th has received orders from England to hold men in immediate readiness to embark for the East Indies, place of destination Bombay. For me to offer you any consolation would be only an insult to your better sense which will tend to teach you how necessary it is for our well being to acquiescence in the will of an unerring Providence. I am happy to add my mother is much better reconciled to it than I would have expected. Be assured it will be a very great addition to my happiness to hear of your welfare. I am now going to Drayton and on the evening shall place myself in the mail at Woore. Being so hurried you will excuse this scroll. Give my best duty to my good Aunts and love to all my Cousins when you write, and wishing you all the happiness in this world can bestow believe me my dear Betsey.

Your affectionate friend and cousin

Richard Dodd Baker

I hope to reach Dublin this week. Adieu.”

They set sail for India in July, when he wrote; “We embarked on board our respective ships last Wednesday and it is the Admiral's intention should the wind be all favourable to sail this Evening. I am just arrived on shore with Captain Whittey and others in an open Boat thoroughly drenched and I lament my time will not allow me to express my sentiments in the manner I would wish,” a rather ambiguous observation! The names of the ships in the convoy were he tells us; “the Lord Hawkesbury, the Worcester (on which I am on board), the Duke of Montrose and the Airey Castle under convoy of the Culloden 74 guns Sir Edward Pellew Commander.”

Although this letter was written from Portsmouth, the ship sailed from the Isle of Wight, where he sat for his silhouette portrait, by the Newport artist, J Buncombe. The picture hangs at Highfields with his dress sword. During the voyage he kept his own log book, a Journal of a Voyage to the East Indies 1804, in which one can follow the day-to-day happenings on board, followed by the course and the number of knots covered from noon to noon. The greatest distance covered was 215 knots “strong breezes, cloudy with small rain”. 150 to 170 was more usual, about seven or eight knots an hour. Most of the days were comparatively uneventful; however on September 8th we read: “fresh breezes and pleasant. At 10 AM a strange sail seen to the westward. Signal made by the Admiral for the United Kingdom and Alexander to chase her. Suppose her an American. At 2 PM inquire for the Fleet to change their course to east I/I South. At 5 PM the Lord Hawkesbury and Baring reprimanded by the Commodore for not paying more attention to the signals.” The United Kingdom, Alexander and Baring had joined the convoy at Cowes. The voyage ended on Wednesday, December 12th. “At 10 AM anchored off Fort William. At 2 PM disembarked with the detachment and marched into barracks at Fort William.” In 1806 he was taken ill. He died on the voyage home.

In one of the bedrooms is this fireplace, taken from the One of the earliest known photographs of Highfields, dated about 1860, when the exterior

17^th century vicarage at Audlem when it was demolished had a stucco finish so popular with Victorians and had not been marred by the heavy

in the 1970s. The carved legend above the opening chimney extensions of the mid 1880s

commemorates the Duke of Wellington’s visit to

the vicarage on Christmas Eve 1820

Highfields passed to the younger son, William Baker. William knew his priorities; They were fox hunting, shooting and running the estate, and in that order. To do him justice, he would have experienced great difficulty in taking over from his formidable aunt, “Madam Barrow”. He hunted with the local packs, Highfields being in those days within hacking distance of four different hunts. He also kept a private pack, jointly with his friend and neighbour, Richard Corbett, of Adderley hall. A memorable day was Christmas Eve, 1820. The Duke of Wellington was staying with his old cavalry commander, Field Marshall Viscount Combermere who, as Harry Stapleton Cotton, had attended Audlem grammar school with William. On Christmas Eve he and the Duke visited Combermere 's brother, William Cotton, who was vicar of Audlem, from where they later drove on to Highfields. The Cotton’s sister, Hester, commemorated the occasion by carving a fire piece, which remained in a bedroom at the 17th century Vicarage until this beautiful old house was, I think very foolishly, demolished by the church commissioners some years ago. The fireplace was acquired by the writer, and is now in a bedroom at Highfields

North wing built in the mid 1880s One of the main staircases of oak, with its double twist banisters

William Baker died in 1863 to be succeeded by his eldest surviving son, also William. William married Prudence, the widow of a distant cousin John Baker, Lord of the Manor of Fenton Culvert, a wealthy Potter. Tradition has it that John had left her a considerable fortune “on condition that she did not change her name.” By marrying William, she satisfied all parties. They were both keen riders to hounds, no doubt often hunting with William’s younger brother, John, who at different times was Master of the Wickland, Shropshire, Albrighton and North Warwickshire. They had only been married a few months when her horse fell, breaking her neck. William later married his cousin, Louisa Bellyse, daughter of Dr John Bellyse and his wife Hannah Baker. Shortly after their marriage they built Kynsal lodge, the architect being William’s younger brother, Thomas. They had nine children, three boys and six girls With the coming of the railway an annual holiday to the seaside became possible and the family often spent some weeks winding down through central Wales on the old Cambrian railways. The eldest son, John, usually stayed at home to manage the estate, receiving regular instructions from his father by letter. Jack, as he was always called, headhunted from an early age and rode with some success over the sticks. He broke his collarbone for the last time in 1931 at the age of 81 when exercising a horse over fences for his nephew. His father died in 1876.

Three children's Diaries, written by the younger daughters, Charity, 15, and Charlotte, 12, and Emily, 10, exist. From them one can see how very different were the lives of the boys from those of the girls. The former were usually playing cricket, skating at Adderley and, very regularly, “Jack has been out hunting”. We also hear “Tuesday February 18th 1879 Jack has gone to the Waterloo coursing with Mr Boote, of Corbrook, he is coming back tomorrow night; we used to keep some greyhounds, but they were all sold except one, and that died not long ago.” In comparison the girls led very quiet and sheltered life; one reads; “Jack has returned from Shrewsbury. There really does not seem anything to be put, for day after day passes with scarcely any change, but yet I think that is wrong, for if I have nothing else, I ought to write my thoughts.” and a few days earlier “I am going to try and turn over a new leaf and right to my diary, and learn my verse out of my strict scripture textbook more regularly, for I forget them very, very often, when I am sure it is God's will that I should learn my verse.” later we read; “I did not write yesterday. I do feel so miserable, for Miss Evans is vexed with me, and I do try to be as good to be good but I cannot, and I think that she thinks I don't try to be good, but oh! I do, and I pray too, but I feel as though it is all of no use, and the more I hear of good children, the more I long to be one.” Miss Evans was their governess, whose writing can sometimes be seen correcting spelling mistakes. One suspect that the sentiment's expressed were made more for her eyes than from any great piety!

It was a time of Great Depression in farming. In 1884 John Bellyse Baker decided to sell the estate in to emigrate to New Zealand with his young wife, Richmal Mangnall. For the first time in recorded history the land was sold, Highfields with the Home Farm was purchased by a wealthy shipbreaker, Charles Kellock, who added the present kitchen right wing with the bathrooms the bedrooms above. Fortunately the pictures, silver and some of the furniture were moved to the Cedars, in Audlem, where the second son, Richard Dod Baker, a solicitor with his uncle Joseph Bellyse, lived with his unmarried sisters. John became a sheep farmer in New Zealand, where his two elder children, Bellyse and Dorothy were born. He returned to Audlem in about 1890, and died in 1932. Eventually, in 1944, his elder son, Bellyse Baker, bought Highfields back into the family, since when most of the pictures and other contents have returned. Bellyse Baker died in 1947, when the property passed to his only son John Bellyse Baker.

The Author and his wife, photographed in the drawing room of Highfields in 1955

The original house consisted of two gabled blocks joined by a hall, the roof of which ran at right angles to the gables, forming the well known H shape of the period. The house faced due west and was entered by front door into the hall. The south wing contains what was known as the “best parlour”, fully panelled in oak and containing a very fine fireplace, largely original, with the initials of William Dodd and the date, 1615. Two bearded heads, on plinths, on either side of the opening are said to be the to be two Dods, but there would seem to be no reason for supposing this to be so. The panelling of the south (fireplace) wall and east wall is original. It is possible to see that there was a door at some time in the latter wall. The panelling of the other two walls is of a later date, the original having presumably been damaged. The 17th century coffer and Georgian oak dresser are original Highfields pieces. The blue and white dessert service on the latter is Baker and Bourne and was probably brought by Prudence Baker in the 1840s. Behind this room is a very fine staircase with double twist bannisters. Near the bottom of the staircase is a small window which, if it was not blocked up, would look into the drawing room, proving, if any proof was necessary, that this room was a later addition to the house.

The new generation. John Bellyse, born 1956, and Josephine Charity, born 1960, from pastels by Thomas Bradley

In the original north wing is what was originally the kitchen with a heavy, canopied Yorkshire stone fireplace. For many years it has been half panelled in oak and used as a library; more recently as the dining room. The room was still a kitchen in 1771, when the first William Baker refers, in his will, to his daughter Charity’s bedroom as “above the kitchen”. In an early photograph of Highfields taken about 1680, the kitchen extension is single storage. Behind what is now the dining room is a second oak staircase, originally almost as fine as the first with ‘barley sugar’ bannisters. Above both these staircases are second flights leading up into attics, the two sides being unconnected. This arrangement would seem to suggest that the hall had originally an open timber roof, dividing the house into two parts. However it would be unusual for a house built in the late 16th century to be constructed in this manner.

Half panelled in oak, the hall has a very fine carved fireplace thought to date from about 1660. Behind the hall is the drawing room, a later addition to the house. It seems probable that it was added by the first William Baker in about 1740; certainly it was there in 1801, when his grandson, Richard, mentions it when writing from Oxford. The room, loftier than those in the oldest part of the house, is half panelled in oak with a large bay window and a carved oak fireplace, not as fine as the others in the house and almost certainly of Welsh origin. It carries the name and date John Gwyn 1674. William Baker made many alterations to country houses in Wales; it seems probable that it was one that had been replaced during modernisation. In about 1885 the Kellocks demolished the old single storey kitchens, brew and wash houses, and built the present north wing. They also added some very ugly extensions to the chimneys in red Ruabon brick, although, no doubt, they looked very fine to Victorian eyes.

Today an upstairs room has been turned into a natural history museum to house the many cabinets of exhibits collected by the writer’s father and himself. An attic room contains an extensive 00 gauge model railway system, with many scenic effects, depicting the old Great Western, which once used to be the main means of transport to and from Audlem. Its green engines with their highly polished brass work and high sounding names were great favourites in their day. Lord Mildmay of Fleet was one of those locomotives which regularly visited Audlem in the 1920s.

A red letter day for Highfields and for Audlem was Thursday, 24th July 1969, when the Women's Institute organised a “Pageant of Audlem”, using the house and grounds as its setting. It was written and produced by John Burton, whose family for many years owned Kingbur Mill on Audlem canal wharf, now converted into an attractive canal shop. Many local residents took part in the various scenes, which traced the history of the town from its early days when a charter to hold a weekly market was granted by the then squire, Sir Thomas Audelyme. The writer played this part, on a grand little hunter named Felix. A chorus of Combermere Abbey monks was followed by the arrival of Prince Rupert, who is supposed to have visited Highfields in 1644 with a detachment of royalist cavalry. Light relief was provided in a scene depicting the elopement of John Bellyse and Hannah Baker. The former, played by the son of the then vicar of Wybunbury, arrived with a ladder, two assistants, and a sedan chair. The scene ended when the father, played by the Audlem police constable, Stan Smith, sped the loving couple on their way with both barrels of his blunderbuss! The commentary for this stirring pageant was delivered by Judith Chalmers of the BBC. Members of the North Staffordshire Hunt performed noble work as mounted Cavaliers.

Hounds have met at Highfields at regular intervals over the years, and the Cheshire Beagles hold an annual meet with the cooperation of the local farmers. The most recent notable event in the life of Highfields was an emulation of the BBC Antiques Roadshow, when a panel of experts valued antiques brought along by visitors.

A new chapter will soon be opened. The Ministry of Works has agreed to help towards essential restoration, the house being scheduled as a Grade 1 property. Highfields, which is now jointly owned by the author and his son, will then be opened to the public on certain days and should be safe for the foreseeable future.

The Author is indebted to George Dow, for his assistance and valuable experience without which this book would never have been produced, and to Howard Edwards, who took most of the photographs.