History of the hall

Ragdale's Early History
The village of Ragdale is first reported as an Anglo-Saxon settlement situated near the Roman Camp at Six Hills. During the reign of Edward the Confessor (c 1050 AD) the village consisted of six plough lands and was valued at 16 pence. Seric, a freeman “held 3 curacates at Ragdale”. The name of Ragdale has had a number of variations over its one thousand year existence. The village has been known as Ragendale (mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086), Rakdale, Radgdale on the Willows, Rachedale, Rekedale, Rakedale, and more recently Wreakedale through to the early 1800’s, when the village became known by its modern name of Ragdale. The interpretation of the name is said be “a settlement in a crooked valley” or a break or “rake” which forms a deep “dale”. This deep dale starts about a quarter of a mile to the north the village and extends southwards for a mile, where it narrows to allow a small brook to pass to Hoby and then into the River Wreake. The village is situated on the banks of this small brook, which flows southward from the Wold Hills through this picturesque dale.
The 1086 Domesday Book shows that there were 20 people living in the settlement and the land, now under Norman rule, had been revalued at 20 shillings. It was held by “Hugo under Robert De Buci”. William the Conqueror later bestowed the land on his nephew, Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester. Hugh later gave it as a dowry, with his daughter Geva, to Geoffrey Ridell, and it then passed through Maud, their daughter, to her husband Richard Basset, Justice of England, in the reign of the Norman King Stephen (1135-54).

The Shirleys
The Shirley family is believed to be of Saxon origin with an historic family seat at Ettington Park in the Stour, Warwickshire. In 1296 Warwickshire’s first Member of Parliament in the reign of Richard II was Sir Ralph Shirley. To complicate historical matters many subsequent Shirley heirs were called Ralph. In 1389 another Ralph, Lord Basset of Drayton, holder of the manors of Rakedale and Willows, died without issue. He passed the lands to his nephew Sir Hugh Shirley of Staunton Harold, who also owned Breedon-on-the-Hill and was the son of Lord Bassets’ sister Isabella and her husband Sir Thomas Shirley. This transfer of ownership, however, carried an unfortunate clause. A condition of the inheritance stated that Sir Hugh Shirley was obliged to adopt the name and arms of Basset. Since Hugh refused to change his name and arms, probably because those of the Shirley family were more ancient and respectable, he never officially came into the possession of the manor.
Sir Hugh was taken to court and sued by his cousin Edmund, Earl of Stafford and grandson of Lord Basset, who claimed that the lands should have gone to him as a result of Hugh’s refusal to take the name of Basset. Sir Hugh did not live to see the dispute resolved as he died in the battle of Shrewsbury in 1409. (Shakespeare commemorated Sir Hugh Shirley in the words of Prince Hal; “The spirits of valiant Shirley, Stafford, Blunt are in my arms now.” [Henry IV part I, act V, scene IV]). The dispute over the lands and names continued until it was settled by King Henry VI in 1423, when the lands of “Rakedale, Willowes, Radcliffe, Barrow upon Soar, Dunton and Whatton” were handed over to Sir Ralph Shirley and his “lawfully begotten” male heirs. Ralph Shirley served under King Henry V in his war against the French and was at the siege of Harfleur in 1415. In 1423 the Shirley family established their family seat at Staunton Harold when the same Sir Ralph Shirley married Margaret de Staunton, who was heiress to her family estate. An original manor house stood at the time on the same site as the Palladian-style Hall that stands at Staunton Harold today. The modern Hall was built by the 5th Earl Ferrers, Washington Shirley, in the 18th century.
In 1545 John Beaumont of Gracedieu, the representative of King Henry VIII in the dissolution of monasteries, obtained a licence from the King to sell to Sir Francis Shirley of Staunton Harold, the rectory and vicarage of Rakedale. The estate formerly belonged to the priory of Canwell in Staffordshire. The priory, which was dissolved by Henry VIII, had been given, by Pope Clement VII, to Cardinal Wolsey for his founding of the colleges at Christ Church and Ipswich. Wolsey, who had fallen out of favour with Henry VIII, was detained for treason and died in Leicester on his way to the Tower of London. Under the ownership of the Shirley family, All Saints Church now belonged to the manor of Rakedale and was included in the parish of Rakedale.

The original Ragdale Hall, often referred to as the “Old Hall” was located down in the dale of Ragdale beside the existing church of All Saints’, a mile from the modern Ragdale Hall that we know today. The Old Hall was built by Sir John Shirley in the 16th century in the Elizabethan Period (1558-1603). Originally it was built as a falconry lodge and was used solely for this purpose for many years. The Old Hall was only ever occupied when a hunting party was present; otherwise it was largely closed up and used only for keeping the hunting hawks. During this time the Shirley’s main residence always remained at Staunton Harold Manor. The Old Ragdale Hall was greatly refurbished and embellished in 1629 by Sir Henry Shirley, who was descended from the falconer of King Henry IV. Sir Henry Shirley had a penchant for heraldry and his own arms, set into the fireplace of the Old Ragdale Hall, had 52 quarterings. It was dated 1631 with the initials H.D.S. for Henry and Dorothy Shirley. This beautifully carved wooden fireplace, complete with coat of arms and initials, can still be seen in the Newark Houses Museum in Leicester.
The old Ragdale Hall was reputed to be one of the finest of its kind in the whole country. It was later extended by Sir Robert Shirley, a grandson of Sir Henry Shirley, who had an illustrious career, being made a Peer in 1677 and 1st Earl Ferrers in 1711. Robert frequently resided in the Hall while hunting and kept his hawks in their own room (the stone trough from which they were fed still remained in the Hall until the end of the 19th century). Remarkably a hunting hawk was of enormous value at that time and could be equal to the value of a whole village. Hence hawks were very well cared for by their aristocratic owners. Robert used the old Ragdale Hall solely when hawking.
In 1785 the “New Hall” was completed and from that year the Earls Ferrers never again used the old Ragdale Hall as their periodic hunting residence. The old Hall was converted into two semi-detached farmhouses and rented out by the Shirley family to local farmers and tradesmen, who used it as their home for over 100 years. It passed into the hands of Caroline, Duchess De Sforza Cesarini, in 1837 following the death of her grandfather the 7th Earl Ferrers. Caroline never lived at the Hall but continued to rent it out to local people. Consequently the Old Hall became gradually more and more neglected until it was finally demolished in 1956

The “New Ragdale Hall”, built in 1785 in the Late Georgian period by the 6th Earl Ferrers in the neoclassical style, was a large, cemented building, considered modern for its time. It was situated on an elevated position north of the village of Ragdale, and was surrounded by an ornamental water-filled moat. It is described in Nicholls’ History of Leicestershire as “the modern house” and is said to command “a delightful prospect” over the surrounding countryside, especially to the south where “the country in front forms an extensive valley, the Wreke running through it, whence gradually rising into hills, it has the appearance of a grand amphitheatre, seated on which are Burrow Hill, Billesdon Coplow, Tilton-on-the-Hill, Quenby Hall, and Gaddesby Church as principal objects”. Nicholls goes on to say “Melton Mowbray on the left, backed by Stapleford Hall, with several intervening churches, have a good effect”. This elevated position affords the house spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. On a clear day from the embattled roof of the Hall, one can see great distances. “It is supposed the extent of the view from East to West upwards of 30 miles” (History and Antiquities of Leicestershire).
The New Ragdale Hall was also originally built for hunting purposes but very soon foxhunting had taken the place of falconry. Although owned by the Earls Ferrers the New Hall was occupied on a rental basis by a number of gentlemen residents throughout the 1800’s until 1908 when it was finally purchased from the Earl Ferrers Estate by Albert Cantrell-Hubbersty. The Cantrell-Hubbersty family ran the Hall and estates for the next 50 years and, being a fervent hunting family, were the mainstay of the Quorn Hunt and kept fox-hunting alive in Leicestershire through two World Wars. The Cantrell-Hubberstys finally sold the Hall and Estate in 1955. After a series of ill-fated attempts to turn the Hall into successively a farm, a ‘Country Club’, an hotel and a Conference Centre, the majority of the estate was sold to a local farmer and the Hall was bought by Tom and Audrey Eyton (famous for ‘The F Plan Diet), who owned Slimming Magazine, and run as a ‘Health Farm’. The ‘Health Hydro’ theme continued under a number of owners until it was bought in 1990 by Garry Nesbitt and Michael Isaacs, former owners of ‘Our Price Records’, under the name of ‘Ragdale Hall (1990) Ltd’. A series of improvements and extensions have subsequently turned the Hall into a world renowned enterprise, one of the most successful employers in the area, which consistently wins industry awards.

The Duchess of Sforza Cesarini
Once upon a time Robert Shirley, Viscount Tamworth, a wealthy young man, fell in love with a servant girl in his father’s house. The result of their affection was a daughter, Caroline. The young man died, and the desperate girl threw herself on the mercy of the child’s grandfather, the 7th Earl Ferrers. His Lordship was bewitched by the child’s likeness to his son, from whom he had been estranged for several years. From that day she was his constant companion, and when he died she was entrusted to the care of his great friend Charles Mundy of Burton Hall.

The story was told by T.R. Potter in typical Victorian style when he compiled Walks around Loughborough in 1840.
“It was, I think, about nine years ago that a decently dressed woman, but evidently of plebeian habits, arrived at Burton hall, and first earnestly requested, and then imperatively demanded, to see a young lady, then a cherished inmate of the mansion. The stranger’s request was peremptorily refused. “Then force only will remove me from this spot!” was the impassioned exclamation that followed the stern denial. The lady of the house, awed by the woman’s firmness, at length relaxed, and it was arranged that she should be permitted to walk around the room in which her daughter was sitting at her drawing, but with the express proviso that she should not address her, or in any way discover herself. This hard and trying stipulation was at length assented to, and the mother was taken round the room under pretext of showing her the paintings and furniture. Years had rolled by since she had been separated from her daughter, and the child had grown to a beautiful girl. The tide of maternal feeling was high. (I know not whether filial feelings were equally excited, or whether the young lady was conscious that it was she on whose bosom she had hung that was so intently upon her.) Pictures and furniture went unnoticed – she only saw her daughter. Her tears soon blinded both her eyes and she could see no more. She was hurried from the room and never again, I believe, beheld the face of her child. That mother now keeps, or kept, a small public house at Syston and that daughter is now the Duchess of Sforza and wife of one of the most accomplished men in Europe.”

Mr Potter notes that the House of Sforza was founded in 1369 and that Caroline’s husband was related to the Dukes of Milan and the famous Medici family. Elsewhere, he says “We lately had the pleasure of seeing the Duchess of Sforza, who will succeed to this estate (Ragdale) pointing out to her liege Lord her green acres around this hill [Six Hills]”.

By the time Caroline came to live with Charles and Harriet Mundy at Burton, their resources were dwindling and their mortgage increasing. Her own fortune was tied up within the slow and ponderous Courts of Chancery, and to begin with, there was a battle to get sufficient money to cover her education and prepare for her future in high society. Within a few short years the Mundys were forced to leave Burton, Their lives were now centred on Caroline; much of their time was spent travelling around Europe at her expense. Great was their delight when she and their son, Charles John Henry, fell in love and became engaged, but great was their foreboding when they realised how the courts would view such a match. No ward of court could marry under age without consent so it was essential that the engagement should be kept secret from the ears of the court before formal application could be made. To the outside world Caroline was free and unattached, at home the lovers were inseparable.

In 1836 Mr. Mundy said of his ward “She is immensely admired and is engaged to dance for the whole evening before she has been ten minutes in a ballroom. Her brilliant eyes, almost transparent skin, elegant though quiet manners, graceful motion (though not an active dancer) and the universally admired, elegant, though simple style in which my wife dresses her, have combined to render her decidedly the Belle of the season.

While in Italy news of the engagement reached a certain Mrs. Pole. Threats of revelation were made and Charles withdrew his suit. All the family’s hopes were crushed. Visits to the Continent continued and in March 1837 Caroline was the toast of Rome. Proposals came thick and fast and a short dalliance with a Captain Rodney Mundy involved secret meetings, disguises and false names. There was one man, however, who had fallen head over heels in love with the delicate English Rose many months earlier but, having heard that she was engaged, he had made no formal approach. The background of the Duke Sforza Cesarini was as romantic as that of Miss Shirley herself. Having already settled their estates on a daughter born prior to their marriage, his parents had sent him to a foundling hospital where he was brought up, being then apprenticed to a painter. Only some two years earlier had his true identity been revealed and his inheritance restored to him.

In all good fairy tales, the prince and princess live happily ever after. Caroline married her Duke and settled in Italy. She became lady of the manors of Ragdale and Ratcliffe and, some years later, Mr Potter again took up the story in his inimitable fashion.
“A few years ago a strange couple came from Leicester, every day for nearly a fortnight, making sketches of the Hall and its surroundings. The artist and his wife, as they were supposed to be, became favourites with the villagers and were treated with that hospitality for which Ragdale is so well known. It was only when they were taking their leave and leaving a handsome donation for the peasantry, that it was discovered that they were the Duke and Duchess of Sforza! The little bells of the Church soon proclaimed, in the most handsome notes, “God bless our landlord and landlady, the duke and Duchess”. That was a proud day for rural Ragdale. “Be careful to entertain strangers, for some thereby have entertained angels,” occurred to more than one of the inhabitants of the Dale of the Wreke”