The loss of Holcroft Hall—Part 2

James Tyldesley 1719-1765 had already tried to sell part of the Holcroft Hall estates in 1760, as noted in an earlier post.

In March and April 1765 an advertisement appeared in the St. James's Chronicle or the British Evening Post announcing that further land would be sold by auction on 1 May 1765:

TO be Sold, by Way of Auction, at the

House of Mr. Mathias, being the Eagle and Child 

Inn, at Warrington, in the County of Lancaster, on 

Wednesday the first Day of May, 1765, at Three of 

the Clock in the Afternoon, subject to such Conditions

as shall be then and there produced;

The Fee-Simple and Inheritance of and in a Messu-

age and Tenement, called by the Name of the Hanging 

Birch Farm, situate and being at Holcroft, in the said 

County of Lancaster, with several Closes of Land thereunto

belonging, containing upwards of fifty Acres, after eight 

Yards to the Rood or Pole, or thereabouts, and now in 

the Possession of Joseph Hunt, as Tenant or Farmer 

thereof.

One other Messuage and Tenement, with its Appur-

tenances, situate at Holcroft aforesaid, known by the 

Name of Barrow's Farm, and containing twenty-seven 

Acres and an Half of Land, of the like Measure, and 

now in the Possession of William Lowton, as Farmer 

hereof,

One other Messuage and Tenement, with its Ad-

purtenances, situate at Holcroft aforesaid, known by 

the Name of Gellibrand's, containing nineteen Acres 

of Land, of the like Measure, or thereabouts, and now

in the Possession of William Gellibrand, as Tenant 

thereof.

One other Messuage and Tenement, with its Appur-

tenances, situate at Holcroft aforesaid, known by the 

Name of Shaw's, containing twelve Acres of Land, of 

the like Measure, or thereabouts, and now. in the Pos-

session of Martha Shaw, as Tenant thereof.

Three several Messuages and Tenements, with their 

Appurtenances, situate at Holcroft aforesaid, known 

by the several Names of.Unsworth's, Rabbit Nest, and 

Wren Nest, and the several Closes of Land thereto be-

longing and enjoyed therewith, containing thirty-one 

Acres of Land, of the like Measure, and now in the 

Possession of Francis Broadhurst, as Tenant or Farmer 

thereof.

Several Closes or Fields in Holcroft aforesaid, catlled 

Sudworth's Closes, containing nine Acres and an Half

of Land of the like Measure, and now in the Possession

of John Sudworth, as Tenant thereof. 

SeveraI Cottages or Dwelling-Houses, with the Crofts, 

Gardens, or Orchards, thereunto belonging, situate and 

being in Holcroft aforesaid, of the Yearly Value of Six 

Pounds, and now in the several Possessions of Thomas 

Hurst, John Sanderton, and--- Smiler.

The Reversion in Fee-Simp!e, after the Death of one 

Life, aged Seventy-eight Years, of, and in a Messuage

or Dwelling-House and Premises, situate in Holcroft, of 

the yearly Value of Seven Pounds, and now in the 

Possession of Elizabeth Sculfield, or her Under-tenant.

Also the Reversion in Fee-Simple, after the Death 

of one Life, aged seventy-eight Years, of and in one 

other Messuage or Dwelling-House and Premises, 

situate in Holcroft aforesaid, of the yearly Value of 

Nine Pounds, and in the Possession of Mary Mother.

Also the Reversion in Fee-Simple, after the Death 

of one Life, aged forty-two Years, of and in several

Cottages and Dwelling-Houses and Premises, situate in

Holcroft aforesaid, of the yearly Value of Five Pounds,

and in the Possession of —Caldwell, and others, as

Under-tenants thereof.

Also the Reversion in Fee-Simple, after the Death 

of three Lives, (one whereof is very old and infirm)

of and in a Messuage or Dwelling-House and Premises,

situate in Holcroft aforesaid, of the yearly Value of

Five Pounds, and in the Possession of —Sudworth,

as Lessee thereof.

Also the Reversion in Fee-Simple, after the Death

of three Lives, of and in one other Messuage or Dwelling-

House and Tenement, situate in Holcroft aforesaid, called

by the Name of Winstanley's, containing eleven Acres 

of Land of large Measure, or thereabouts, be the same 

more or less, and now in the Possession of Giles Win-

stanley, the Lessee thereof.

There is a considerable Quantity of very good Water-

Meadowing within the above Estates, with near 300 

fine large Huntingdon Willows, growing on the Banks 

of the Brook adjoining thereto, and there are upwards 

of 1300 fine young Oak Trees, growing within and 

near the Wood belonging to the said Premises, exclu-

sive of the Hedge-row Timber, which is more than 

sufficient for the necessary Repairs of the Premises.

All the above Estates lie very compactly together, 

and are capable of being greatly improved, there being 

good Marl in many Parts of the Premises, which may 

be got at a small Expence.

James Tyldesley, Esq; of Holcroft, will cause the 

Premises to he shown to any Person minded to view 

them; and for further Particulars apply to him; to 

Mr. Bradley, an Attorney at Leigh; or to Mess. Lloyd

and Turner, of Warrington.

The outcome of this sale is not known. James Tyldesley remained at Holcroft Hall until his death. He was buried at Leigh on 7 August 1765. His wife, Sarah Tyldesley neé Hayne or Hanne died the following month and was buried at Leigh on 18 September 1765.  

Holcroft Hall was itself put up for sale in 1768—leading to disputes within the family, detailed in a later posting.