Ridware Hall, The Upper House, Hill Ridware

We have received a local historic document that includes a paragraph on Ridware Hall. Ridware Hall, formally known as Upper House was built around 1790 by a Mr Charles Barnes Chadwick, Lord of the Manor of Mavesyn Ridware (1784) The Chadwicks were a wealthy family through advantageous marriages. They had land in Lancashire, including cotton mills. This provided income and a house in New Hall, Sutton.

The old manor house in Mavesyn Ridware, one of the neighbouring Ridware villages to Hill Ridware (others include Hamstall Ridware and Pipe Ridware) was the family home and had been rebuilt in 1718.

We believe that Charles Barnes Chadwick built Ridware Hall (then known as Upper House) just up the hill, in Hill Ridware. Charles had a son in 1793 – Hugo Mavesyn-Chadwick. Hugo and his wife were living in Upper House when in 1829 his father Charles was seriously in debt, and owed a substantial sum of money (originally taken out as a loan to finance the build of Upper House). A deed of trust was set up and arrangements made to repay the money. Hugo Mavesyn and his wife were able to continue to live at Upper House. In return they had to maintain the house in good order and tenantable repair. Charles Barnes Chadwick died in 1832. Hugo’s son Charles De Heley Chadwick was born in 1834. The Upper House was rented out and the Chadwicks lived ‘quietly’ until 1854 when Hugo died aged 61. His son Charles became the man of the house at only 2o years of age. By this time, there was only £4000 remaining of the original debt to be repaid. Charles raised a mortgage for £5000 and then paid off the debt, leaving him £1000 for his own expenses. Unfortunately over the next 20 years, Charles borrowed more money, resulting in his eventual bankruptcy. He was last believed to have been living in Brighton in 1882. The 1851 census reported the following occupants at Ridware Hall.

We believed the Pearsons of the 1851 census are the subjects of the previously listed photo on the Blog