Clayton Hall Grimsby Lincolnshire
Clayton Hall is something that cropped up in our look at St Mary’s Church in Grimsby and Neville Sisson has kindly sent in an old drawing of the building so here is our initial research in Clayton Hall in Grimsby Lincolnshire
Initial pickings were/are looking a little sparse (a Google search showed me as the #1 result 
) The picture I’d like to build is an exact location, date ranges from build to demolition and who lived there.
Information is probably going to be in snippet form with conclusions to be made as and when possible.
The Clayton family were a big name in Grimsby and I think that Christopher Clayton was the son of George Clayton, died 4th October 1716 and buried at St James, who seems to have been something of a character.
We have evidence that when the hall was demolished ‘Yarborough Terrace’ was built on the land and here is another snippet that refers to that.
Yarborough Terrace was built on the site of a rather handsome mansion, the residence of Christopher Clayton
Christopher was born 12 February 1721 and an Attested Copy of Codicil of his will dates 25 August 1793 - this gives us some idea of date.
The last owner of the hall was one Squire Marshall who sold it to Lord Yarborough on the understanding it was demolished as he didn’t want anyone to live in after him (source: A Gossip about old Grimsby by Bates)
That brings us neatly to the book by Anderson Bates, A Gossip about old Grimsby
The British Library dates the first edition of this book to 1893 so presuming the author uses a time somewhere near that we can perhaps garner something from his present tense date referrals.
The mansion was pulled down about fifty years ago
In the last century, the mansion had an uninterrupted view to the Humber, and occupied with it was the garden, containing the old elms,
extending to the West branch of the Haven, (not as it now appears,) over which was a rustic bridge into the fields beyond.
Clayton Hall
George Skelton’s drawing from ‘Old Grimsby’ by Rev. George Shaw 1897
The Exact Location of Clayton Hall
I’d like to pinpoint this on a map, there are some clues. It stood ‘a few yards down the street’ from the site of the church of St. Mary’s
We also know that Yarborough Terrace was built on the site.
I’ll add to this article as and when and hopefully more information will come to light in the comments that follow.
If you know of anything at all connected to the hall please do leave a comment or drop me an email should you prefer
All the best
Rod
Amiguru said,
December 18, 2009 @ 4:09 pm
Rod,
Rumour has it, (courtesy of one Bob Lincoln
writing circa 1913), that “A casual glance at the photo of Clayton Hall should be quite sufficient to prove that as a building it must have been distinctly above the average, both architecturally and otherwise. It was situated on the plot of land occupied by Smiths Bank and The General Post Office, having a frontage in the old days to Baxtergate, and the rear faced the turnpike road, now known as Osborne Street. Tradition has it that it was built by one Christopher Clayton, who resided there some one and three quarter centuries ago. Squire Marshall, rather than allow it to pass into other hands, sold it to Lord Yarborough on condition that it was pulled down. Possibly it may be of interest to know that the late Town Clerk’s wife was born there. When it was pulled down, Yarborough Terrace was built upon it and the trees and those on the opposite side of Baxtergate formed an attractive avenue, but with the rapid growth of the town they disappeared to the regret of all who liked to see nature at its best…………”
With some reservations,
le
N
Amiguru said,
December 19, 2009 @ 12:19 pm
Rod,
In October 1714 Christopher Clayton had the honour to kiss the new king’s hand. i.e. George I.
In fealty and homage, (but I’m not going to kiss your hand!)
le
N
Tracy said,
April 8, 2010 @ 3:43 am
In my family research I came across a record in the Lincoln archives that mentions Christopher Clayton and a Mr. Bartram (who I am trying to prove is my ancestor). The record is found here: http://culturalcollections.lincolnshire.gov.uk/kbroker/lincs/archives/search.ladv?sr=0&cs=ISO-8859-1&sc=lincs&sp_scope=&sm=0&nh=10&ha=2957&tx0=730382&fl0=__dsid:&tx1=&fl1=category&raction=view
It says:
Classification Details
Repository: Lincolnshire Archives [057]
Level: File
Document Reference Number: TDE/E/4/30
Record Details
Lease for 7 years (not executed)
Date: May 1729
Description: Christopher Clayton to Mr Bartram.
Abbey Farme, Wellow. (27)
Sequence Details
This record is part of a sequence of records arranged in a set of levels. It is at the bottom of the sequence. By using the links below you can navigate from here to record(s) which are above or at the same level as this record.
I wonder if this is the father of the Christopher Clayton you mentioned above since it is dated May 1729. I don’t know if this info is useful to you or not, but I came across it in my research. I’m hoping to find the 1st name of Mr. Bartram to see if it is Israel. Do you think Abbey Farm, Wellow is in the same location as Clayton Hall or perhaps a different location?
Rod said,
April 8, 2010 @ 8:28 am
Tracy,
many thanks, all information is useful to have if connected to the page in any way, as this clearly is.
As to Abbey Farm, Wellow that would need looking into but my instinct leads me to think not as Clayton Hall was right in the middle of the town.
I need to do an article on Wellow Abbey and have been waiting to get an aerial photo from the 1940s but alas it looks as though I may have to write it up without it
Best
Rod
Rod said,
April 8, 2010 @ 8:47 am
Random related snippet
Christopher Clayton was High Steward to King George II from 1730 to 1752.
Some work needs to be done here as dates are starting to look, initially at least, a little confusing.
Amiguru said,
April 8, 2010 @ 11:29 am
Rod & Tracey,
Just a few more snippets but it may help in determining the ‘period’ of the Claytons, father and son.
They were both High Stewards of The Borough of Grimsby; Christopher Clayton Senior in 1730 and his son in 1752.
Christopher Clayton who was a bankrupted Corn Factor in London in 1718 is I suspect CC Senior. On 16 May 1719 the said CC was required to “surrender himself and conform to the statutes concerning bankrupts.” Again on 20 October 1719, “And the real Estate of the said Bankrupt, at Great Grimsby, and other places in Lincoln, of 212 I.[i.e. £212] per Annum, is to be sold”
The above event may well have been the start of the rot as far as the above illustrated building was concerned.
By 16 February 1765 CC, (presumably Junior), was dead and the creditors of Christopher Clayton, “late of Great Grimsby
in the County of Lincoln, Esq; deceased, are peremptorily to come in and prove their Debts before Samuel Pechell, sq…”
On 10 February 1781 notice was given to the “creditors and legatees of Ann Clayton, late of Great Grimsby in the County o f Lincoln…”
On 11 April 1793 Christopher Clayton pops up again. Possible grandson or is this the son? “Christopher Clayton, the Reverend William Smelle, [who started the chapel in Silver Street incidentally]and William Bell, Electors of Members to serve in Parliament for the Borough of Great Grimsby in the County of Lincoln”
I think that will do for now as I am a man on a mission…..clue for Rod…….confirmation map to match Oliver’s!
Regards,
Neville
History Hunter said,
April 8, 2010 @ 4:11 pm
I have an ‘Ancient Civic List’ which lists all the ‘gentlemen who occupied the civic chair of this borough from 1202 to 1892′ Im guessing they would be called Mayor nowadays.
In amongst the multitude of names we have
Christopher Clayton 1662
1667
1677
George Clayton 1690
1700
1703
1714
1718
Jonathan Clayton 1720
1722
Christopher Clayton 1726
Jonathan Clayton 1728
Christopher Clayton 1739
1743
1745
1750
Jonathan Clayton 1756
Christopher Clayton 1757
1759
Jonathan Clayton 1760
Christopher Clayton 1762
1769
Obviously due to their names and dates there aremaybe father son and grandson/s.
Hope this is of some use
Rod said,
April 8, 2010 @ 8:00 pm
Neville,
two Christophers - that explains that one - blinding information - as usual of course.
I can’t type much more as the Oliver Map reference has blind-sided me
Cheers and thank
Rod
Rod said,
April 8, 2010 @ 8:02 pm
HH,
that’s superb and is of a great deal of use. It’s just fabulous to watch each article grow and mature like this with more and more information - I absolutely love it and many thanks for helping it along HH
In appreciation
Rod
Tracy said,
April 24, 2010 @ 11:10 pm
In the 1841 census there is a William Marshall living on Haven St. I wonder if this is the Squire Marshall mentioned above and if this is the location of Clayton Hall. However, reading the snippet above by Neville it says the hall “having a frontage in the old days to Baxtergate, and the rear faced the turnpike road, now known as Osborne Street.” I dunno, maybe the census provides another clue? I have found my ancestor’s son, Thomas Capiter, was living on George St. in the 1841 and 1851 censuses. His home must have been in the hood. I love the map which was posted on your St. Mary’s Church page from 1848, http://www.flickr.com/photos/75827322@N00/2318903254/ which shows the streets clearly. I’m still plugging away at my family tree but keep finding ties to stuff you have on your blog. I love it!!
Rod said,
April 25, 2010 @ 6:09 am
Hi Tracy
thanks for the update and pleased to hear the site is of some use, it makes it all worthwhile whne i hear things like this. Rest assured there’s plenty ore to come - hopefully something of interest and use to you as well.
Best wishes
Rod
option911 said,
May 15, 2010 @ 8:17 pm
William Marshall, the mill owner did live in Clayton Hall; he was Squire Marshall and was my GGG grandfather.
Rod said,
May 16, 2010 @ 9:04 am
Option911,
many thanks for the information, really appreciated and welcome to the site.
If you have any information at all that you would like to post then it would be hugely appreciated
All the best
Rod