On this page you will find:
∙ A list of reference books and websites about this district’s history
∙ A list of the history articles published on this website
∙ Your comments about the area’s history
∙ The stories of the men and women whose names are on the Draycott War Memorial
We also get lots of family-history questions – see History Comments. If you can help with a answers, that would be great!
The area of Draycott-le-Moors, now known as Draycott-in-the-Moors, is a small locality, but one with a long and interesting history. The Romans had a base here.
The district covers the village of Draycott, plus the hamlets of Cresswell, Totmonslow, Brookside, Draycott Cross, Stonehouses and Newton, plus the ancient Paynsley estate site, and also the locations of Bromley Wood and the old Draycott Cross/New Haden colliery site (now better known as Huntley Quarry / Huntley Wood). Historic (lost) settlements include Niwetone and Lufamesles.
Old railway line, at Totmonslow before the tracks were pulled up
The area’s industry concentrates largely on farming – although the Blythe Colours Works were once sited here.
The old Colours factory has now been converted into the Blythe Park Industrial Estate, a site for a large number of small workshops and businesses.
An historic old railway branch line from Cheadle, that once bisected the village (through Totmonslow to Cresswell), is closed; the tracks were cleared in 2012 and the route is now used as a greenway. This old line met the Uttoxeter-Stoke main line at Cresswell.
This main line still carries services and passes through Cresswell but doesn’t stop here. Nearest stations now are Uttoxeter and Blythe Bridge.
Books & websites about the area’s history
An extensive history of the district, published in 2006 by Draycott Parish Council, has been written by Matthew Pointon. Copies of his book ‘A History of The Parish of Draycott-en-le-Moors‘ sold out in 2017. However, extra copies can still be ordered via Lulu, the online publishing site .
Some books about the area’s history
# ‘A History of The Parish of Draycott-en-le-Moors’ (2006) by Matthew E Pointon. Cost is £10 – (see above)
# See history works at St Margaret’s History Publications
# ‘Painsley – A History of Cresswell’s Roman Catholic Community’ (1973, reprinted 2005) by Fr Philip Bailey SCJ. This booklet is now out of print, but St Mary’s Church, where Fr Bailey was priest for a stint, hope to reprint it one day. A shortened version can be found on the web – click here (opens as pdf).
# ‘World War Two in Draycott Parish’ by Barry Phillips (2000)
A fuller list of books about the history of the area can be found in the appendix of Matthew Pointon’s book.
Matt has also uploaded some short videos looking back at the history of the village: Draycott History: Blythe Fields ; Draycott-en-le-Moors History: The Origins of Draycott ; Draycott History: The Mystery of the Manor Houses
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Some articles on this website about the area’s history
#Heritage sites
Paynsley Hall ruins placed on English Heritage ‘at-risk’ register
History of Leese House Farm
Cresswell’s ancient water-meadows
Draycott’s history – myths and facts
#Religious history
Three Guides to St Margaret’s Church – republished
750 years of St Margaret’s Church
Preserving Draycott’s ancient church bells
The Chimes Mechanism of St Margaret’s
750th birthday for village church
Mysterious end for Draycott rector
Anthony Draycot – religious zealot
Draycott’s most ancient yews
Draycott Photo: Grave for babies
Find the past in Draycott’s parish registers
Draycott’s Anglican parish registers (1538-1900) go online
The grave of Mary Bagnall – a sad tale of long ago
500 years of the ‘Draycott Dole’
Dominic Barberi – nineteenth century missionary in Cresswell
Augustus Pugin stained-glass at St Mary’s, Cresswell
St Mary’s Cresswell is 200
Death of historian of St Mary’s
Heritage Open Day event at St Margaret’s Church in 2022. Click here for details
#War history
The Draycott War Memorial – our Great-War Dead
….. (More on Sergeant Philip Bagnall … died 1915)
The Perry Brothers – died in WW1, remembered in Totmonslow
The Draycott War Memorial – our WW2 Dead
Draycott’s Remembrance Anniversary
American Army in Cresswell
#Medieval history
The Warrilows of Paynsley
The Norman home of the Draycotes?
‘Draycott-Waste’?
The ‘Hundred’ of Totmonslow
The Heraldry & Patonce Cross of the Draycott Family
Draycott and dragons
#Industrial history
Draycott’s railway tunnel
Thirty years of the A50
New Haden Colliery
Was there coal in Draycott Colliery?
Blythe Colour Works archive – saved!
175 Years Of Colour Making in Cresswell
#Memories & nostalgia
Draycott and its dragons
Some of Draycott’s History mysteries
Missing ‘t’ at Draycott Arms
OLD PHOTO: Blythe Colours Car Rally
Bird In Hand pub
The Draycott Horse-Races
Fox-hunting in old Draycott
One hundred year old photos of Brookside
#Family History
The story of The Glovers
The Vicar of Draycott’s daughter – her story
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LINKS
A Brief Account of Draycott on stokeuk
Recent History of Draycott – on the BBC Domesday Project
Draycott le Moors A guide to the County’s Archive Holdings, on staffordshire.gov.uk
Draycott in the Moors History – on Genuki
Memorial Inscriptions in Draycott – on Genuki
Draycott in British History – on Vision of Britain website
Draycott Parish in British History – on Vision of Britain website
Pictures of old Draycott – on Staffordshire Past Track
Listed Buildings in Draycott le Moors – on British Listed Buildings
Draycott Archives at Staffordshire Record Office
Archive References to Draycott – on county council website
The History of Draycott (the archived website)
The ARCHI archaeological sites database – Saxon & medieval finds
An Account of Draycott in the Moors – on county council website
Eastern Staffordshire History Lab researching the history of seven parishes, including Draycott-in-the-Moors – organised by the VCH
Gravestone Inscriptions at St. Margaret’s Church – downloadable for £3.
Graveyard Inscriptions for Draycott in the Moors for both St Margaret’s Churchyard and Cresswell St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church Graveyard
Draycott-in-the-Moors Parish Register transcripts 1669-1900 – downloadable for £5.50.
Your Comments
Further down this page, see comments on the area’s history.
If you too have comments about the history of Draycott-in-the-Moors, Draycott Cross, Newton, Cresswell or Totmonslow, please use the Comments box at the bottom of the page.
Draycott in the Moors News & Comment Website 
I am hoping that you may be able to help me with a family history question.
My maternal grand mother was Dorothy Glover, daughter of Samuel of Totmonslow Farm. When Samuel died (aged 43) the family moved to a house called “Tosson” in Stone. Dorothy was there at the 1911 census and staying with them was her future husband Joseph Edward Dodson, who at that time was a school master at Liverpool college. Joseph joined up early in the Great War and survived till October 10th 1918.
My mother, Lena Rosemary Dodson (b. 1915) used to tell me that she grew up in Blythe Bridge with her 2 sisters. Granny Dodson (nee Glover) eventually ended up in Cheltenham where the three daughters were educated at Cheltenham Ladies College (funded, I believe by a gift from Balliol College) where my grandfather was at university..
You can see that this history is very sketchy and I would love to find out more about the Glovers and where my grandmother and mother stayed in Blythe Bridge and for how long.
Can anyone help and point me in the right direction to research this part of my past?
Thank You
John Mogg (son of Lena Rosemary Dodson)
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Glover family History – North Staffordshire (re posting by John Mogg)
It would appear that Lena Rosemary Dodson would not have moved to Blythe Bridge until after the death of her father in 1918. I think the first port of call would be the 1921 Census which is now (from Jan. 6th 2022) available to view. (From what I can see, Find My Past appears to be the only provider and it is indicating there may well be a charge). The 1911 Census, when released, was available free in certain public libraries.
Another possibility is that her mother’s married name would be present in commercial directories, as these often listed the name of principal residents although possibly not with the full address. Kelly’s Directories (of or including Staffordshire) of 1921 and 1924 are possible sources but I have not found them online. The William Salt Library at Stafford has an extensive collection of them but is, I believe, closed at the moment. Contact with this Library or the Staffordshire Record Office may throw light on this matter. Earlier Directories will probably list other relatives. I would include Blythe Bridge and adjoining villages (e.g. Draycott in the Moors, Forsbrook) in any search.
It is uncertain that the Glovers had any prolonged link with the North Staffordshire area as Samuel T Glover was born in London in 1858, with his parents Samuel Glover and Elizabeth Weston having married there in 1857 – unfortunately their exact ages are not recorded but the marriage certificate indicates that their respective fathers as Daniel Glover, smith and Charles Weston, farmer.
However, Samuel T Glover is indicated as living at Gorsty Hill,near Cheadle, Staffs. in the 1861 Census, as the grandson of Mary Weston, Elizabeth’s mother. The death of his father in 1860 is no doubt an issue in this regard. [If he had survived another 3 to 4 months and had appeared in the 1861 Census, this would have been very useful in trying to locate him in earlier censuses (1841, 1851) as his age and place of birth would have been recorded].
I struggled in find an image of Elizabeth in the 1861 Census on Ancestry but have just succeeded – her surname had been transcribed as Elover !!! She is there as a Hotel Keeper in Norwood although the name of the hotel is not clear. She was resident with a cousin, Margaret, but again the surname is not very clear.
In 1871, Samuel Thomas is back in the London area with his mother who is indicated in the Census return for that year as a Licensed Victualler at the Queens Arms, Norwood.
Elizabeth had by this time remarried (to a William Henry Collens in 1864) but he died in the following year. She appears with the Collens surname in the 1871 census. However this second husband died in 1865 but, would you believe, she married again (to a Benjamin Carr) in 1874 but he died about a year later!!! By the time of the 1881 Census, Samuel T was back in North Staffordshire and in this and the 1891 Census, his mother was living with him as Elizabeth Carr. She died in 1900 and was buried at Keele cemetery.
Probate records (for Elizabeth and her husbands) have been very useful in indicating places where the individuals died and in most cases a link to other family members.
Samuel Thomas Glover married Amy Walters in 1885 at Draycott (in the Moors), near Blythe Bridge. I have not really looked at Amy’s family but they appear to be local. So examining the Westons and Walters families may be more fruitful than looking at the Glovers.
I have not given up with Samuel and Daniel Glover but I need to turn up some strong evidence if there is to be any progress in getting further back. One needs to be absolutely certain that you have found the right one.
If John Mogg is interested in images of the records I have found, I would be pleased to e-mail these through to him. I would need to be informed of his contact details.
Andrew Bull
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Editor’s note. John, if you read this, send your email address to us at the website and I’ll forward it to Andrew
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Further to my earlier communication, I have tried to access the 1921 Census. I have found some free basic information which indicates that the following Glovers were living in (or around) Tenterden Kent: Dorothy May, Lena Rosemary, Dorothy Mary and Joan. Their years of birth are given and these appear to be correct. There were 2 more people in the household, one of whom was named Martha – possibly servants.
So if they did reside in Blythe Bridge, it would have been later than this.
The 1928 (if it exists) and 1932 Commercial Staffordshire Directories may therefore be worth consulting.
Andrew Bull
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Hello
I am researching the Pennyfather family of Barton Under Needwood and would welcome any help in establishing if the Rev William Pennyfather, who was curate at Draycott between 1576 and 1610, when he died, was related to the families in Barton. Essentially I need to establish who he married and when, and who his parents were and if possible who were his children.
If anyone can help or point me in the right direction to take this forward I would be extremely grateful.
Peter Ellis
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I hope that, by now, you have received some helpful information.
Betty Ware
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I am an old resident now living in Cornwall.
Reading about Margaret Draycot, whose husband was Anthony Babington, executed in the seventeenth century for support of plot to kill Queen Elizabeth and put Mary Queen of Scots on throne.
Margaret was from Paynsley near Cresswell.
Does anyone have any info about her? Any info.
Rosemary Jones
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Here’s a query from the Blythe Colours History Group. We are based at Cheadle History Centre. Can anyone help with an answer?
“…I wonder if you are able to throw some light on the claim in old Blythe Colours literature – which is, that colour making started in Cresswell in 1870.
I have established that the firm of Pigott & Scarratt were almost certainly not there until probably around 1881, but two other names appear in directories for 1872-1880 with the indication that they were colour makers.
However, earlier directories indicate that another fellow, John Docksey, was a colour maker and flint grinder at Cresswell in the period 1860 to1868. In the 1861 census, he is however only indicated as a “flint grinder” at Cresswell Mill. He then disappears from the directories, only to return in 1884 as a flint grinder at Cresswell …. but in the 1871 and 1881 censuses is described now as a “colour manufacturer”!!! In these two censuses he is living in the Blythe Bridge/Forsbrook area – not at Cresswell.
One other matter that is not quite certain is the date of the Wildblood take-over of the Pigott & Scarratt business. Info that I have indicates either 1908 or 1910. I would fancy the 1908 date – as otherwise I would have expected Pigott & Scarratt to feature in the 1908 directory.
Unfortunately the Wildbloods do not appear to have inserted their details in any of the directories immediately after their take-over.
Is it possible that there were two operations working next to each other?
Any information you might have would be much appreciated….
Andrew
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Hi, is there a ebook version of ‘A History of the Parish of
Draycott-en-le-Moors’ available?
Not sure if it’s worth buying a paper copy and having it posted to Australia.
And… can you tell me if it mentions the Bagnall family of Cresswell and Draycott?
Thanks, Michelle Erbacher
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Hi Michelle.
There is no e-book avaialble, but the current version is a paperback, so it is not as heavy as it might be!
The Bagnalls are a long-established local famil round here. You’ll find a number of Bagnalls in the two graveyards… One of the most famous ones is Philip Bagnall who died in WW1. See
EDITOR
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Hello,
Finally making the trip August this year to England on our Family History journey. Looking forward to visiting Draycott, as it was home to our ancestors Fairbanks / Warrilows for many years.
What we are hoping to learn more about is a place called Lees House, which is mentioned numerous times as a residential area for the family back in the 1800’s. Would anybody know the history of this place or where it may have stood back in the day? thank you.
Nari Fairbanks
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Hi Nari.
Your enquiry about Lees House (probably Leeses House Farm) sparked a lot of comment on the village Facebook page. See https://www.facebook.com/groups/draycottfriends/permalink/1757317394553131/
If you are on Facebook, you can join our group and ask more questions if you like.
EDITOR
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Thank you so much for your help, have joined the group, look forward to discussing further.
Nari
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Used to live at Leese Houses Farm for 27 very happy years and only left 5 weeks ago.
Prior to that it was owned by the Windspeares for 14 years. They renovated LHF and converted the cow sheds and stable block across the courtyard (now separate house called The Shippons) and lived there for a few years.
Maureen Myers
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Can anyone comment on the history of pubs in draycott?
There are rumors that the house/houses opposite the draycott arms were once public house and I was wondering what truth there was behind this, and how old, it is if truth?
Lee w
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I recently located a date-stone, carved on the exterior of the church’s nave, dated 1749, which confirms that a major refurbishment took place in St. Margaret’s some three hundred years ago. It’s worth a visit for any eagle eyed parishioners or history enthusiasts!
Lev Wood (secretary, Blythe Bridge History Society)
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I have once more been looking at the history of St Mary’s Catholic Church in Cresswell.
My great great grandmother, Agnes Mary Alexander (Condell) and her brother Charles Alexander (Condell) were brought up by the sister of their father, Major Joseph Alexander Condell of the Hon East India Company. She was Mary Bucknall (née Condell, born Madeira) who was, I believe, organist of St Mary’s Church at one point, as well as a “school mistress” in Draycott (1841 census). She was a widow in 1841.
The children, ages 13 and 11, born in India of an Indian mother, had dropped their father’s surname, probably because he may have disowned them.
Their aunt’s husband had been John Bucknall, who worked in the potteries. They were married in Edinburgh in 1818. I don’t know when they moved to Draycott.
It has been suggested that the children may have been baptised as youngsters in St Mary’s. I have found no baptisms in Madras. On retirement from the army in India, their father married a Scottish woman in Aberdeen and did not mention them in his will.
If there is anyone interested in genealogy and knows where to find information about this Roman Catholic family, Alexander/Condell/Bucknall, I would be very interested to hear from them. I do realise that it is a shot in the dark and apologise for the length of this comment. Can you help?
Sincerely,
Dian Montgomerie Elvin
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Hi Dian,
This might be a bit irrelevant but see what you think.
The ship ‘Skelton’ arrived in Hobart Town in Australia in 1822. Aboard were Henry Cundell (or Condell), Agnes Cundell, Mary Anne Cundell and Margaret Jamison (nee Cundell) with her husband David. All were from Leith. The women were all daughters of John Cundell Esq. of Leith, a brewer who had died in 1810.
In Van Diemen’s Land, Agnes married Thomas Atkinson and Mary Anne married George Brooks (who also came out aboard the ‘Skelton’).
In 1836, Agnes and her husband returned to Scotland and with her sisters she appears to have contested her brother Edward’s sole inheritance of the father’s estate. They were unsuccessful. Agnes and Thomas returned to VDL. Edward appears to have come out to VDL in later years and actually died at his sister Margaret’s house in VDL.
I wonder if Henry Condell was related to the three Cundell women aboard ‘Skelton’? It seems very possible he was a cousin or an uncle? What do you think?
Mark Rowland
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I am researching the English Civil War period, but have been unable to find the sources that link Ashenhurst with the searches at Paynsley Hall and the use of cannon(s) to make it surrender.
Could these be assumptions that have become ‘fact’ over time?
Any help would be appreciated.
Phillip Wheeler
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Considering that my source in my book (‘A History of The Parish of Draycott-en-le-Moors’) was the ‘History of Catholicism in Cresswell’, then I can’t answer as he didn’t record his sources, but you could be right. I’ll dig around
Matt Pointon
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Hi Matt,
I’m still researching Paynsley Hall’s role in the Civil War. Thank you for your reply, but I think the early history authors missed a few references. I list them below. I hope these are of use to you in the future.
Staffordshire Committee Order Book =SoB. (1644)
26th Feb 1644 – NS. Paynsley and Caverswall to be assessed whether to keep or not. SoB p57.
2 &11 March – it’s to be made unservicable. P.62 & 68.
2 April – “disgarrisoning” to be put into execution. p.87
2 July – Earl of Denbigh, C-in-C of all Parliamentary forces in 4 Counties, orders it to be re-garrisoned with 10 men.
1645 May. The Royalist trooper, Richard Simmond’s diary. records Paynsley R (‘rebel’) 50 men in it.
All the best — Phillip Wheeler
Editor’s note: Paynsley Hall, now demolished, was a large, remote manor between Newton and Cresswell
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I am researching Sir Philip Draycott, Painsley Hall and William Draycott (born 11th April 1681) descended from Draycotts of Bainsby and Draycotts of Staffs. He was grandfather of Anna Maria Draycott.
Would welcome any history on Painsley Hall. I read there used to be a painting of the Hall..
Part of the family split from RC to Protestant – but would like to know the year this took place.
Has any one information about Susanne Draycott marrying Squire Bartholomew Burkey (Burkett) of Isel Hall, Cumberland?
Rose Birkett Reynolds (please email me if you can, or press the Reply button above to comment here on the website)
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Had someone knock at the door couple of weeks ago asking about Paynsley farm – their ancestors had were linked to it in some way – anyone able to follow it up?
Maureen Myers
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The wooden beams in the already listed St Mary’s House (next to Cresswell church) were of interest to the heritage inspector from Historic England.
My theory is now that some of them are older than the house, and were taken from Painsley Hall, which was pulled down in the Civil War, 372 years ago.
Fr David Hartley
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As well as a railway, there were many tramroads in the local area. Tramroads are narrow-gauge lines, often horse-drawn that served industrial concerns. There were several around the New Haden pits and one which stretched the Parkhall Colliery just south of Cheadle that can still be clearly traced.
Some of these tramroads were really old, predating the railways considerably and one did connect Cheadle with the Churnet Valley, though not at Oakamoor, but between there and Froghall. It was called the Woodhead Tramroad and was built around 1807. It can be traced for its entire route and incorporated a rather spectacular incline plane to get down into the valley.
Allan C. Baker’s book ‘The Cheadle Collieries and their Railways’ is an excellent place to look if you’re interested in all this and it also covers Foxfield which was built as a colliery line. Alternatively, I have done a lot of research on the topic which I am happy to discuss.
Regards, Matt Pointon
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Does anyone have a copy of the history of Draycott and St Margerats that was written up in the 60’s or 70’s.It was written by the rector at the time but was only 4-5 sheets of typed script.I used to have a copy but it has got lost over the years.It contained a lot of information that current historians might find interesting.
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I have a copy and used it when writing the book. However, some of the scholarship was iffy and annoyingly he never recorded his sources so it’s not as much use as you’d think, although it does stand out as being the first ever written history of the church. Similarly, there was another account written in the 1960s about the Catholic community in Cresswell by a priest but that suffers from the same problems. A fascinating read nonetheless.
Matt
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Matt, any chance of sending a emailing me a copy?
Also have you ever heard of the the priest hole/tunnel from st margarets to paynsley hall? My mother often spoke of it and I have heard about it from several people. I mentioned it before on this site but had no comments.
thanks – mick bettany
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