Draft:Moor Hall (Wixford)

Moor Hall is a historic manor house located in the parish of Wixford, Warwickshire, England. It has a long and complex lineage of ownership, encompassing ecclesiastical holdings, medieval tenancies, recusant Catholic gentry, and modern conservation. The building is now a private residence with Grade II* listed status.

Monastic Origins and Early Ownership

Originally part of the estates of Evesham Abbey, Moor Hall was a monastic grange during the Middle Ages. Among early tenants was John Boteler, followed in 1327 by Geoffrey de la More, likely the namesake of the estate. His son John de la More inherited the manor, which passed via marriage to Thomas de Crewe and his wife Juliana de la More. A monumental brass commemorating them, dated ca. 1411, remains in St. Milburga's Church, Wixford.

The de la More, Clopton and Crewe Families

The manor remained with the Crewe family until the early 16th century. Their tenure is attested in parliamentary and ecclesiastical documents, including records in the History of Parliament biography of Thomas de Crewe (1358–1418).

The Burgh and Mitton Inheritance

By the early 1500s, Moor Hall passed to the Burgh family, before being conveyed to Richard Mitton and then to Allen Hood, who sold it to Sir Robert Throckmorton of Coughton Court around 1540.

The Throckmorton Era

The acquisition by the Throckmortons marked a new phase of prominence for Moor Hall. It became a discreet residence for Catholic members of the family and their allies during periods of persecution. Notably, Agnes Wilford, widow of George Throckmorton, lived here between 1605 and 1612 and corresponded with her son Sir Robert Throckmorton, 1st Baronet; her letters are preserved in the British Library.

Catholic Recusancy and Agnes Throckmorton

During the height of anti-Catholic legislation, Moor Hall served as a sanctuary for recusants. Agnes Throckmorton, née Wilford, maintained religious practices in private and supported Catholic clergy under threat. Scholars such as Felicity Heal and Michael Questier have noted the significance of such gentry households in sustaining religious identity.

Later History and Decline

The estate remained with the Throckmortons until the early 20th century, after which it passed through various private owners. Historic deeds, manorial rolls, and land tax documents trace this descent, many now held in the Warwickshire County Record Office.

Modern Custodianship

In the 1960s, Moor Hall was restored by historian and conservationist Barrie Price, who revealed several medieval structural elements. Though no longer part of the Throckmorton estate, the building remains a privately held symbol of Warwickshire’s layered religious and architectural past.

Architecture

The manor displays architectural phases from the 14th to the 17th centuries. Timber framing, gabled roofs, and later brick facings mark its evolution. The archaeological project *Unveiling Moor Hall* provides detailed analysis of its structure.

St. Milburga’s Church

St. Milburga’s Church, a short walk from Moor Hall, preserves many memorials to the Crewe and Throckmorton families. It is also a Grade II* listed building with medieval foundations and post-Reformation modifications.

Lords of the Manor of Moor Hall

The lordship of Moor Hall passed from Evesham Abbey through various hands, including:

• Geoffrey de la More
• Thomas de Crewe
• Sir Robert Throckmorton
• Robert Throckmorton, 1st Baronet
• Private owners post-20th century

External Links

• Victoria County History – Wixford and Moor Hall
• Moor Hall on Historic England
• Throckmorton Family Memoir – Archive.org
• Unveiling Moor Hall – Academia.edu