Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 11.djvu/115

 10 s. xi. JAN. so, 1909.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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The vocalist mentioned was the celebrated English tenor Thomas Lowe, who sang in Arne's ' As You Like it,' Handel's oratorios, &c. ; he appeared at Vauxhall in 1745, and was manager of Marylebone Gardens from 1763 to 1768 (Brown's ' Biog. Diet, of Musicians'). Ruckholt House must have been rebuilt if it is true, as stated, that it still, in 1828, contained the MSS. of Lord Burleigh.

J. HOLDEN MACMlCHAEL. 10, Royal Crescent, W.

Some years ago I came across the following advertisement in The General Advertiser, 1 Aug., 1747 :

" By desire of several persons of Great Distinction, at Ruckholt House, on Monday next, will be a Grand Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Musick. The Vocal part by Miss Faulkner. To begin at 10 o'clock. Tickets Two shillings. Breakfasting included. Plenty of Carp, Tench, Perch, &c. The best of French Wines, particularly Champaigne, now iii the greatest Perfection."

My curiosity excited me to learn more of this place, where such an entertainment could be obtained at so moderate a cost, with the following result.

Lysons in 1795 says :

" The Mansion House, which was for many years the residence of the Hickes's, stood about a mile from the Church. In the years 1742-3-4, it was in the occupation of William Barton, who opened it as a place of public amusement for breakfast and afternoon concerts, which were held during the summer. It was pulled down about the year 1757."

Brayley in 1803 says :

" About one mile from Leytou, to the south, is the Manor of Ruckholt, where are some remains of an ancient entrenchment, now nearly obscured by trees, which have been planted over the chief part of the area. It is situated on a small eminence rising from the River Lea, and appears to consist ot a square embankment, inclosing a circular one. The latter is about thirty-three yards in diameter, and is surrounded by a moat about six yards in width."

On Rocque's map, 1754, Ruckholt House is marked near Temple Mills, and between Stratford and Temple is a large space of ground called the Hop Ground.

An interesting work is ' A History of the Parish of Leyton,' 1894, by the Rev. John Kennedy, Vicar of St. Catherine's, Leyton. He was for nine years curate of the old church, and is the first vicar of the new church of St. Catherine. He says :

" At the end of the road on the left-hand side of the present Town Hall, there was, until recently, a farm house, known for forty-nine years as Tyler's Farm-house : it was a small, square, compact build- ing surrounded by fields. This farm-house stood on the site of the old Manor House of Ruckholt. It was

situated about a mile south of the church. When, and by whom, built I have been unable to discover, but it appears to have come into the possession of the Hickes family with the manor. Strype says : ' The ancient Manor House and seat of Ruckholt's, belonging lately to the family of Hickes, but sold by Sir Harry Hickes, Bart., in the year 1720 to Ben j. Collier, of whom it was purchased by Earl Tylney, for his eldest son, then Lord Castlemain, its present owner (1756). But this seat has of late years been deserted by its owners, and not long since was con- verted into a public breakfasting house and so continued for about six years, being prodigiously frequented by the gentry, who were entertained here every Monday morning during the summer season, with music and other gaieties ; it is now pulling down, and its materials for sale.' From some of Barton's advertisements in The Dail$ Advertiser, it would appear that tradition callec the old mansion one of Queen Elizabeth's palaces, evidently with no foundation ; it is not, however, improbable that she visited Sir Michael Hicks here, which might give rise to the tradition The nouse was pulled down about the year 75 ,, *ad after a time the farm-house was buiioonthe site. A Mr. Samuel Turner occupied it, and farmed the land until the year 1804, when he died. His son Mr. William Turner came into possession of the farm, his daughter marrying Mr. John Tyler, who at Mr. William Turner's death succeeded to the farm where he lived until the year 1880. when he died.

" There is a stained-glass window in the north side of St. Mary's Church, to the memory of Mr. William Turner, put in by Mr. and Mrs. John Tyler."

The Essex Review, vol. iv. p. 63, January, 1895, in a notice of Mr. Kennedy's interesting work, says :

"The ancient Manor House, with its avenues, groves, and ponds, stood near Temple Mills Lane, and was the principal house of Sir Michael Hicks, secretary to Lord Burghley, and he entertained James I. there in 1604. There are several fine monu- ments of himself and family in the church, and from him descends the present Baronet, Sir Michael Hicks Beach. The manor passed into other hands in 1720, and the mansion (of which no drawing can be traced) was pulled down in 1757."

CHAS. G. SMFTHEBS.

47, Darnley Road, Hacknev.

Rucolt, Ruckholt, or Ruckholt's House formerly stood in Leyton, and was at one time the seat of the Hickes family. For an account see Kennedy's ' History of Leyton,' Fisher's ' Forest of Essex,' Morant's and Wright's histories of Essex, &c.

The " sweet singers of Ruckholt " are immortalized by Shenstone ; and the place appears to have been the resort of fashion for several seasons. Two old ballads refer- ring to it, entitled ' To Delia : an Invitation to Ruckholt-house,' and ' Music in Good Time : a new ballad, 1745,' are to be found in The Gentleman's Magazine for 1814, p. 11.

G. H. W.