Stanley Grange
South of West Hallam station, the farmhouse Stanley Grange stands on the site of the Dale Abbey Grange (WARD). The present buildings date from the *17th (IH) *late 18th century and 19th century. Ward traced an ancient road between the grange and Dale Abbey (C39GM).
The grange existed by *the late 13th century (CLARK) *the 14th century or earlier (IH). It must have been built by 1291. It is first mentioned in connection with Abbot William de Horsley (1332 – 54) who added a 'stone chamber' to existing buildings, after 1291.
It was leased to a farmer. At the dissolution it was rented by a Robert Messe who owed 20s. due next Lady Day. He had been the convent's bailiff at an annual fee of 20s. and received a reward of 12s. His land was granted to Francis Pole in 1542: he sold it in 1544 to John Howe of London, a grocer, and Thomas Powtrell of West Hallam for £102 (given in full in COX18). Its value in 1545 was £5.13.4d.
The ex-Abbot John Bebe found asylum there and died there 12 March 1540-1, followed 2 years later by William Smith, a former canon.
The grange stayed in the Powtrell family, constantly persecuted because they were staunch Roman Catholics: they also sheltered the Jesuits Campion and Parsons (C39GM). In 1611 the grange was occupied by George Peckham, who had married Dorothy, 2nd daughter of Walter Powtrell (a tomb in St Wilfrid's church shows Dorothy with a shield).
In 1616 a small seminary for the education of Roman Catholic boys was established there by Lady Anne Vaux. Details of the boys educated there are in C39GM. In 1635 the school was dispersed due to treachery by a young man called Lumley who, on marriage, conformed and grassed to Archbishop Laud of the Privy Council 8 October 1635. His statement is quoted in C39GM.
16th March 1680 -1 Father George Busby who had been the Powtrells' chaplain for 6/7 years was captured in West Hallam, tried July 1681, and exiled.