Sir Walter Gough
d I have researched continuously into the history of Old Fallings Hall. It is commonly known to have been built by Sir Walter Gough in 1720 and rebuilt in 1840 (or redesigned); however evidence also suggests a previous post medieval manor house dating from the 16th or 17th century, supporting an architectural report which states that there is a possibly earlier wing of an adjacent gabled house with early 17th or 18th century brick work. This evidence states that the Gough family were important land owners in the West Midlands, starting with John Gough, a wool merchant during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I who died in 1596 as a wealthy man. His son was a draper, and purchased Old Fallings manor house in Bushbury parish, with his son following and buying Bescot Manor. The Civil War saw John giving £1,200 to the cause of King Charles, after going to his lodgings and demanding to see the King on his passing through Wolverhampton.
The grandson of John Gough, Henry, became Sir Henry Gough in 1678 and bought Perry Hall and its manor near Handsworth, later becoming a Member of Parliament for Tamworth. The Gough’s were a family of traders, thus leading his brother Richard, to continue this tradition by sailing to the Mediterranean, Middle East and making 4 trips to China as a merchant. He rebuilt some of the church at Edgbaston and purchased its manor with the money he made.
The son of Sir Henry Gough was Sir Walter Gough, who in 1728, inherited Bescot Manor, Old Fallings Manor and Perry Hall, due to his father’s death. He married, to my research and belief, Martha Harwood, which may explain why the Staffordshire Encyclopedia states that he can be seen with his arms impaling Harwood over the front door of Old Fallings Hall (although this can no longer be seen). However, this seems peculiar because to impale means to render helpless or torture or kill. The surname 'Harwood' means Grey (Har) and Wood (wudu) and derives from a part of an Anglo-Saxon tribe's ancient legacy in Lincolnshire (as Harwood is a town in Lincolnshire). Could this potentially refer to an Anglo-Saxon settlement at Old Fallings, perhaps from the tribes of Lincolnshire thus depicting the history of the site? Or was the family somewhat linked?
He was an intellectual writer who was musical, but died two years after his father in 1730, leaving his son, also Sir Walter, to succeed him and run the family estates and manors for many years. In 1742 he married Mary Hunt, adding her family’s farm of Winson Green to his estates. These dates suggest that Sir Walter Gough rebuilt the previous Old Fallings Manor, to create the present Old Fallings Hall (some aspects which had been changed in 1840). The family has a continued history of the title 'Sir', perhaps due to a past baronetcy granted by the Royal Crown many centuries ago.
The grandson of John Gough, Henry, became Sir Henry Gough in 1678 and bought Perry Hall and its manor near Handsworth, later becoming a Member of Parliament for Tamworth. The Gough’s were a family of traders, thus leading his brother Richard, to continue this tradition by sailing to the Mediterranean, Middle East and making 4 trips to China as a merchant. He rebuilt some of the church at Edgbaston and purchased its manor with the money he made.
The son of Sir Henry Gough was Sir Walter Gough, who in 1728, inherited Bescot Manor, Old Fallings Manor and Perry Hall, due to his father’s death. He married, to my research and belief, Martha Harwood, which may explain why the Staffordshire Encyclopedia states that he can be seen with his arms impaling Harwood over the front door of Old Fallings Hall (although this can no longer be seen). However, this seems peculiar because to impale means to render helpless or torture or kill. The surname 'Harwood' means Grey (Har) and Wood (wudu) and derives from a part of an Anglo-Saxon tribe's ancient legacy in Lincolnshire (as Harwood is a town in Lincolnshire). Could this potentially refer to an Anglo-Saxon settlement at Old Fallings, perhaps from the tribes of Lincolnshire thus depicting the history of the site? Or was the family somewhat linked?
He was an intellectual writer who was musical, but died two years after his father in 1730, leaving his son, also Sir Walter, to succeed him and run the family estates and manors for many years. In 1742 he married Mary Hunt, adding her family’s farm of Winson Green to his estates. These dates suggest that Sir Walter Gough rebuilt the previous Old Fallings Manor, to create the present Old Fallings Hall (some aspects which had been changed in 1840). The family has a continued history of the title 'Sir', perhaps due to a past baronetcy granted by the Royal Crown many centuries ago.