John Clay of Crich, Derbyshire

John Clay originated from Glapwell in Derbyshire, which is about two miles from Hardwick Hall. His parents were Robert and Emma Clay of Glapwell and the family were yeoman farmers who had acquired land and became prosperous working for “Bess of Hardwick”, the Countess of Shrewsbury. John Clay moved from Glapwell to the parish of Crich and is listed there in 1570 when he bought the Tithes and lands, he married twice into well to do families (both widows) first to Mary daughter of William Calton who was “Servant of the Hawks” to King Henry VIII. John and Mary had five children, three daughters Mary, Penelope and Susan and two sons William, who died in infancy, and Theophillus who died without issue. His wife Mary died in 1583 and then John married again to Margaret Pole widow of German Pole. Lord of the Manor of Wakebridge. After his parents died, John Clay sold the lands in Glapwell in 1585 for the sum of £600, which was a fortune in those days, and he bought more lands in the parish of Crich which had been confiscated from Anthony Babington, who was executed in 1586 for being involved in the plot to free Mary Queen of Scots who was being held prisoner nearby at South Wingfield Manor. 

 At the Heralds Visitation of Derbyshire in 1611 the gentry had to prove their descent and John Clay gave his parents as Robert and Emma Clay of Glapwell and his grandparents as John and Joan Clay of Glapwell and according to dates of various events relating to him John Clay must have been born around 1545 and lived well into his eighties. 

When John Clay died in 1633 he requested in his Will to be buried inside the church at Crich in the tomb he had made for his first wife Mary. The large stone memorial is still there today and has an --

-- engraving on top of a gentleman and his wife with the Clay Coat of Arms and their five children are featured around the sides, on his tomb is a long epitaph which reads...

Here lieth John Clay. Gentleman and Mary whom he first did wive,

With her he lived near eight years space in which God gave them children five.

Daughter to William Calton Esq. who unto that king of fame,

Henry the Eighth was Chief Cock Matcher and Servant of his Hawks by name.

And as she had a former match, Charnell of Swakeston in Leicestershire,

So she deceased, this Clay did take the widow of German Pole Esquire.

Daughter of Edward who was son to Sir John Ferrers of Tamworth Knight

She lyes entombed in this church with him to whom she first was plight.

And now this Clay is closed in Clay the fairest flesh doth fade like grass,

He had one sister who unto Stuffyn of Shirebrook married was.

For death doth give an end to all and now this Clay shall rest herein,

All Clay to Clay shall come at last by death the due reward of synne.

Thou death, his death, thy death, is he whose soul doth rest with Christ for aye,

The sting of death can no one flee the greatest monarchs are but Clay.

Another Epitaph near the tomb of John Clay reads... 

Our souls are made of Heavenly Spirit

From whence ye come ye Heavens inherit.

Did know that bodies made of Clay

Death will devour by night or day.

Yet he is as he was I say

Living and dead remaineth Clay.

His very name that nature gave

Is now as shall be in his grave.

Times doth teach, experience tries

That Clay to dust the wind up dries.

Then this a wonder count we must

That want of wind should make Clay dust.

Also in his Will he leaves “The ring I wear with my arms upon it to the eldest son of my daughter Penelope Brelsford”. He left money to be divided amongst the poor people of Crich and money to repair causeways, bridges and highways in the parish he also left money to his servants and left instructions that his tenants in the cottages he owned were to continue to live there and not be expelled. He had large farm called “The Edge” in the parish of Crich and a Manor House near the church and according to the Inventory taken in 1633 after his death in the house was a private suit of armour with other armour and headpieces, 2 haulberts, 2 pikes, 6 bills (military weapons) 4 lead mantles and a crossbow. The house was well furnished and had 23 beds of which 5 of them were 4 poster beds, he had his own coalmine and fields of wheat, oats and barley. He had 6 horses, 52 sheep, 14 lambs, 19 cows,1 bull, 15 pigs, turkeys, ducks, chickens and pigeons and many implements of farming. He had a pair of playing tables and four wooden games, he brewed his own beer and wine and had his own dairy. Behind the church at Crich in a field there still stands today a building known as “John Clay's Barn”. 

His son, Theophillus, died in 1590 and is also buried at Crich.  John Clay had a sister, who married one of the Stuffyn family of Shirebrook, but no brothers are known although his father mentioned in his will, Thomas and Marjorie Clay of Glapwell and Thomas Clay of Rowthorne, no doubt these are related in some way as we find later generations of Derbyshire Clay's using the Clay Coat of Arms.

John Clay References

John Clay was born at Glapwell the son of Robert and Emma Clay.

1570. John Clay purchased the “Rectory and Tithes” of Crich. (TNA.- Ref- Roll 1. Folio 5 No.78. 13 Eliz.).

1581. John Clay witness to the Will of John Sellers of Crich. (Staffordshire Record Office).

1583. April 6th. Agreement between Ambrose Cave of Austrey and John Claye of Crich re vicarage of Austrey. (Derbyshire Record  Office Ref.- D2427/4).

1585. John Clay of Crich sold lands in Glapwell which had belonged to his parents to Anthony Woolhouse of London for £600.  (Derbyshire Record Office Ref.- D187/2/51 + 52).

1586. March 18th. Conveyance from Sir Walter Raleigh of Devon to Francis Aspinell 4 closes and 40 acres in Morleston and Litchurch  Hundred in occupation of Marmaduke Babbington and late

- possession of Anthony Babbington attainted. Witness John Claye and 4 others. (Notts Archives Ref.- 157DD/2P/15/1).

1588. John Clay of the farm called “The Edge” in Crich hath bought land off Babington the traitor. (Sheffield Archives Ref. - ACM.S117, page 188).

Eliz.1. John Clay of Crich. Freeholder of land (£40 income or over).

1588. John Clay gent of Morleston and Litchurch Hundred appointed to have Lance and Horse. (Belvoir Castle Manuscripts).

1588. John Clay of Crich. Appeal to Privy Seal that the sum of £50 be reduced to £25. (Lambeth Palace Library - Ref.- MS3198. folio 417).

1588. The names of the nobility, gentry and others who contributed to the defence of this country at the time of the Spanish invasion. John Clay of Wakebroidge. Gentleman £25.

1588. John Clay of Wakebridge in Crich granted a coat of arms.  (Derbyshire Armoury by Maxwell Craven).

1589. May 3rd. Letters Patent. Tithes of wool and lamb arising out of the parishes of Bolsover, Scarcliffe and Crich in the tenure of John Clay and parcels of the possessions of the Monastry of Derlieghe --

-- which John Clay  had the same by Letters Patent under the  Great Seal dated 26th March 1585 for 21 years under the rent of £10 and 14 pence. (North Yorkshire County Record Office Ref.- ZR1- 31/1).

1589/90. John Clay and others regarding the goods and chattels of Anthony Babbington late attainted of treason. (TNA Ref.- E133/7/959).

1589. John Clay of Wakebridge. Crich.- List of persons for "The Forced Loan". (Belvoir Castle Mss).

1591. Nov.16th. John Clay and others in a court case concerning the property of Anthony Babbington attainted and executed for High Treason. Late of Dethick in the County of Derbyshire. ( TNA Ref.--

-- E134/33 Eliz / East1).

1592. John Clay of Crich concerning Babbington land. (The National Archives Ref.- Deposition Book shelf 8. Book 23).

1592. Tithe Case at Crich. Plaintiff Richard Massie Vicar of Crich and John Claye gentleman and proprietor of tithes concerning tithes of 10 calves of Mather and Wilde and 40 wool fleeces of --

-- Woodwisse. Includes response from Claye. (Staffordshire Record Office Reference - B/C/5/1592/43

1595. John Clay of Morleston / Litchurch 100. Charged with Horse. (Belvoir Castle Mss).

1596. John Clay gent, commissioner in Norton land dispute.

1597. John Clay of Wakebridge. - Letter to John Manners Collector of Loan requesting release. (Belvoir Castle Manuscripts).

1598. John Clay of Wakebridge. Crich. List of persons who have not paid the “Forced Loan”. (Belvoir Castle Mss).

1598. 1599. 1600. 1601. Lay Subsidys. John Clay of Crich taxed in land. (TNA Ref.- E179 93//296).

1599/1600. John Clay of Crich  gent, contributed 20s to the cost of 4 horses for the service of Ireland. (Belvoir Castle Mss + DAJ.17).

1601. Will of Oliver Wheate of Crich. John Clay and his three daughters Penelope, Marie and Susan were left 20 shillings each also in the Inventory John Clay of Crich owes him £14. (Staffordshire 

Record  Office).

1601. Will of Countess of Shrewsbury (Bess of Hardwick). The £100 owed to her by Mr Clay of Crich to be a gift of £50 for him and £50 for his daughter Marie. (Derbyshire Record Office Ref.- --

-- DD/4P/46/3).

1601. May 16th. John Clay gentleman of Crich paid 15 shillings towards setting forth 3 horsemen to Ireland. Ref. - DAJ Vol.24. (Belvoir Castle Manuscripts).

1602. John Clay, Morleston / Litchurch 100 paid Horse Tax. (Belvoir Castle Mss).

1602. PCC Will of George Radford of Crich “Overseer to be my good friend John Clay” - bequest to his god daughter Mistress Mary Clay - 20 shillings in gold. (The National Archives. Kew).

1604. Lay Subsidy. John Clay of Crich taxed in land. £5. (Lambeth Palace Library Ref.- Talbot Papers. Mss 3204 folio 426).

1605/6. John Clay of Crich gent,  made slanderous speeches accusing Earl of Shrewsbury of knowledge of gunpowder plot. (Talbot papers Ref.- MS 3203. Folio 380 Lambeth Palace Library and Talbot      ---

Papers Mss 203).

1608. John Clay gent and Mary Clay received £50 each in the Will of Elizabeth Countess of Shrewsbury. (Chatsworth Ref.-H/278/07 and Nottinghamshire Archives Ref. - DD/4P/46/3).

1608. John Clay of Crich mentioned in Will of John Amott of Crich. (Staffordshire Record Office).

1608. February. Sir John Bentley -Letter to the Countess of Shrewsbury - He reports on assessing land in Crich. " Mr Clay my host this while who hath taken much paynes and given furthur light than -

-more  time could find out" etc. (Ref.- Lambeth Palace Library. Talbot Papers. Ms 3203 folio 563). Credit Dr Wilcockson research.

1608 / 09. Tithe Case at Crich. Plaintiff - John Clay gentleman tithe farmer. - Defendants. Thomas and Ralph Meycocke of Crich concerning non payment of tithes of wool fleeces. (Staffordshire Record  --

-- Office Ref.- B/C/5/1608/46).

c1610. John Clay of Crich taxed in terrain £11 and £15 for his wifes lands. (Ref.-Lambeth Palace Library Ms 3204 folio 318).- Credited to Dr Wilcocksons research.

1610 + 1611 + 1612+ 1613. Lay Subsidys John Clay of Crich Taxed in land. (The National Archives Ref.-E179 93/333 + E179 93/340).

1611. Letter of Attorney of Mrs Rosmund Poole to sue Mr John Clay over a dispute concerning administration of the goods of the late George Radford of Crich. (Sheffield Archive Office Ref.- BFM/2/231).

1613. Will of Walter Spendlove of Heage - bequest to his friend John Clay of Crich. Gent. (DRO Ref.- D2535/M/3/34).

1617. Bargain and Sale. James Roworth of Litton to Robert Bagshawe of Wormhill a third part of a toft and 2 acres of land at Crich in the occupation of John Clay of Crich for £65. ( Sheffield Archive Office

 --Ref.- Bag C/1973 ).

1620. John Clay witness to Will of Francis Feepound of Crich. (Staffordshire Record Office).

1621/22. Lay Subsidy. John Clay of Crich taxed in land. (TNA Ref.- E179/93/339)

1623. Mr John Clay priced Inventory of Gregory Tinker of Crich. (Staffordshire Record Office).

1626/7. Lay Subsidy. John Clay of Crich taxed in land. (TNA Ref.- E179/----).

1626/28. Crich. Indenture of attorney made by John Clay unto William Cavendish esq an obligation wherein the said John Clay stands bound unto the said William Cavendish for performance of the --

--  covenants expressed in the said indenture. Ref.- Hardwick Hall Muniment Register. Box 187. (Now at Chatsworth) - P. Riden.

1628/29. Lay Subsidy. John Clay of Crich taxed in land. £4 -16shillings. (TNA Ref.- E179/93/361).

1628/29. John Clay witness land transfer- Timothy Pusey esq. (Notts -Archives Ref.-157DD/P/102/39+41).

1629. Will / Inventory of John Curtis of Ford. Northwingfield gent, Mr Clay of Crich, owes £10-13s due midsummer next.

1630. John Clay witness to Will of George Marshall of Crich. (Staffordshire Record Office).

1630. John Clay gent priced Inventory of Peter Johnson of Crich. (Staffordshire Record Office).

1632. Will of William Reynolds of Wingerworth -“My good friend John Clay of Crich to be overseer of the Will”.  (Staffordshire Record Office).

1629. Will of John Clay of Crich. (Proved 1634). Daughters Mary, Penelope. (Staffordshire Record Office).

1633. Inquisition of John Clay of Crich gent. (TNA). 

1638-39. Writs of Dedimus. Oaths of allegience from the heirs of deceased persons. Oath on behalf of the heirs of John Clay and a large number of knights. (TNA Ref.- C202/21/2).

1667. Margaret Lynam a Quaker gives her account about their persecution and that in 1661 forty one Quakers male and female were arrested at a meeting in Eyam and marched on foot to Derby gaol and on the way they stopped at Crich and were imprisoned overnight in Squire Claye's barn without food or water or provision for their comfort. (Ref.- Margaret Lynam's Story 1667).

"Slanderous Speeches" given by John Clay of Crich following 'The Gunpowder Plot' of 1605

Speeches spoken to me by Mr John Clay of Crich in the county of Derby gent upon the eigth day of January being Wednesday at his house in Crich aforesaid to me John Dakin in the presence of Thomas Williamson of Wakebridge and others.

Imprimis.- That he thought that there were certain other personage of great honours who was not yet imblasoned in the account of this late intended trouble and that he thought that some of the greatest men of this shire above said could not but very hardly free themselves.

Item.- That the Lord Shrewsbury with some of his greatest familiars had received an advertisement out of the love that the papist bore unto him so that under colour of his happy gout cloaking his not appearance at the Parliament house neither himself nor any other his favourites of accompanyment within the foresaid county should have been by the said treason endamaged.

Item.- He absolutely and diverse times in scoffing manner said that the foresaid Lord meant not to have gone to London till the Spibbes of Pearsie had been blown up.

Item - That the presumptions were great and many. - Item. - Sir John Harpur knight who is a man devoted to the said Lord body and soul absented himself from the Parliament. Quoth he in rejoicing manner they meant to have had a Parliament of their own hereafter. 

Item - He marvelled why Sir Charles Cavendish knight did not go up to London but returned at Leicester.

(The above extract is from a document of 1606 contained amongst the Talbot Papers Ref.- MS 3203 Folio 380 printed here by kind permission of 'The Trustees of Lambeth Palace Library').

Crich Parish

Crich Parish Register 1565

Theophillus Clay buried 2nd March. 1590.

Elizabeth Clay married William Reson September 1592.

Penelope Clay married Thomas Brelsford 6th August 1601.

Robert Clarke married Susanna Wylde 25th Feb.1605. (Sir John Clay`s widowed daughter).

Katerine Clay of Crich baptised 7th October 1607.

Mary Clay married Timothy Pusey 1st December 1608.

Mary wife of Mr John Clay buried 1612. ? (Should be Margaret).

Ann Clay widow buried 24th June 1630.

John Clay gentleman buried 10th June 1633.

Jane daughter of Gervase Clee of Washington baptised. 27th Feb. 1685.

Henry son of Gervase Clee of Washington baptised. 26th July 1686.

 John Clay's Coat of Arms

 John Clay of the parish of Crich in the county of Derbyshire in the year 1588 and was granted a Coat of Arms. The description of the Coat of Arms on his shield is three trefoils between a chevron (an inverted scalloped triangle). The background of the shield is coloured argent which is a French word for silver and the scalloped triangle and trefoils are sable which is the heraldry term for black.

In 1698 Mrs Barbara Clay of Heath in Derbyshire donated to the parish church a silver chalice with the Clay Coat of Arms engraved upon .

In 1778 at an auction in Shirland Derbyshire a four poster bed was put up for sale which had belonged to John Clay of Crich and it had his Coat of Arms inlaid on the middle panel.

 In 1971 the son of a Derbyshire historian discovered in an antique shop a large oak chest and carved on the front were the arms of Clay and Brailsford dated 1616. John Clay's daughter Penelope had married Thomas Brailsford and the oak chest which belonged to them still survives.

The Family of John Clay

John Clay of Crich first married Mary Charnell (Maiden name Calton) a widow who already had four children by her former husband. She bore another five children with John Clay making them a family of eleven but unfortunately their youngest son William Clay died as an infant.

His wife Mary died in 1583 and again he married another widow Margaret Pole (Maiden name Ferrers) whose husband German Pole died in 1588 and left her with his daughter Katherine Pole from a previous marriage.

John Clay's sister Elizabeth became the widow of Edmund Stuffyn of Shirebrook and she too moved into her brother's house at Crich becoming another addition to the family. (In the Inventory of his household goods in 1633 it mentions Mrs Stuffyn's Parlour).

John Clay's son William died as a young boy and his only other son Theophillus Clay had no children which meant that the immediate male line of John Clay was discontinued although it appears he had a brother Thomas Clay in Glapwell the place of John Clays origin, it is also highly likely that the Clay's of Rowthorne in Ault Hucknall parish were his cousins.

John Clay had 19 grandchildren but none with the surname of Clay, his daughter Susan Clay married a man with the surname of Wylde and they had a daughter Dorothy Wylde but she then became a widow and in 1605 married Robert Clarke of Mansfield in Nottinghamshire with whom she had a further 5 children - John, Mary, Susan, Anne and Thomas.

John Clay's other daughter Penelope Clay married Thomas Brailsford of Senor in North Wingfield parish and had 9 children - John, Francis, Thomas, Theophillus, Timothy, Daniel, Nathaniel, Gamalie and Mary. - Penelope died in 1655 and in her Will she requested to be buried in the chancel of the parish church of Crich.

John Clay's other Daughter Mary Clay married Timothy Pusey of Selston in Nottinghamshire and had 4 children - Elizabeth, Maria, Sarah, and Anne.

It must have been a great disappointment to John Clay to have all these grandchildren but unfortunately none to carry on his surname.

'The Forced Loan' 1588

(Talbot Papers.- Lambeth Palace Library Ref.- MS 3198. Folio 417)

John Clay of Crich was  granted a Coat of Arms in1588 and he became required along with the other gentry to contribute to "The Forced Loan" an unpopular scheme which was devised to bring in revenue for the Crown. John Clay being a headstrong man was not happy with this demand of £50 and he found out that others were appealing against it, some having their sum reduced to £25 and some of the gentry being excused from paying anything at all so John Clay lodged an appeal to Thomas Kery, Clerk of the Signet at Westminster Court to write on his behalf to the Earl of Shrewsbury. Lord Lieutenant of the Shire and collector of the loan indicating that £50 was more than he could afford and asking that the sum be reduced to £25.

The Following is an extract from the letter now held at Lambeth Palace Library. (Talbot Papers. Ref.- MS 3198.folio 417).

May it please your honour to be advertised that two gentlemen of Derbyshire, John Clay of Crich and Henry Wiggeley of Middleton have by their humble petitions made mitigation of the sums imposed upon them to lend her Majesty £50 each which as they allege is as much allotted to the best gentlemen of the shire to whose estates and living they find themselves far inferior. Mr Clay affirming that all the living he has is not worth one hundred mark by the year, his wealth is small his debt great and charged with eight children, others who are omitted lend nothing and yet of as good or better substance than they are. - (etc).

From the Court this 24th March 1588.

Signed - Thomas Kery.

Letter from William Parker of Lea. Gent to Sir Humphrey Ferrers of Walton on Trent. 22nd April 1607

(Ferrers of Tamworth Collection. Folger Shakespeare Library Ref.- L.e.590).

Sir, it may please you to be advertised that I have been with Mr Clay who hath acquainted Lord Cavendish with his letter whose answer was (etc) that he had heard very well of the young lady (etc) my Lord desired Mr Clay to make no further motion neither to the Countess nor any speech to the young gentleman so that it seems my Lord is desirous to effect that match (etc).

Your Worships most bounden servant.

Lea. this 22nd April. 1607. William Parker.

(The above mentioned match may have been the Countess of Shrewsburys secretary and estates manager Timothey Pusey who married John Clays daughter Mary a year later in 1608).

Extract of a Letter of Attorney to sue John Clay,  22nd January 1611 (Sheffield Archives Ref.- BFM/2/231).

Know all men by this presentment that I Rosamund Poole (Pole) have authorised Mr James Bacon of Welhay in the county of Nott's my true and lawful attorney. Irrevocabley to implead and sue and arrest for me and in my name by all lawfull ways and means John Clay, Anthony Bradshawe and George Poole gentlemen and Henry Butler the younger yeoman who have by virtue of the last Will and Testament of George Radford late of Crich in the county of Derby deceased did take upon them the administration of the lands, goods and chattels whereby them the said John, Anthony, George and Henry have not accomplished to me for the profit and benefit thereof that they ought to do. For that the administration thereof was meant and ought to be the benefit of me the said Rosamund Poole as nominated in the last Will and Testament of the said George Radford. etc.

(1599. Will of George Radford yeoman of Crich leaves to his grandaughter Rosamund Poole (age 12) certain goods and the yearly rent from his farm interests towards her maintenance and bringing up and appoints his good friends John Clay, Anthony Bradshawe, George Poole and Henry Butler the younger to govern,oversee and to advise the said Rosamund concerning her education and all which shall belong to her).

(1603. Inquisition. - That Rosamund Poole (Pole) is heiress of George Radford and is 16 years of age and that she should have maintenance, goods, education and all necassary things until she be full age of 21 and after the death of his wife the said Rosamund is to inherit his estate). TNA. Ref.- C142/409/100.

John Clay's Manor House

Past historians have referred to the fact that in the late sixteenth century John Clay had a Manor House on the north west corner of the church at Crich in the County of Derbyshire. The Manor House has long since been demolished and very little is known about the building but in his Will and Inventory of 1633 John Clay mentions a substantial number of rooms in his house at Crich including one called "The Church Yard Chamber" which indicates that the Manor House was indeed near the church. An indication to the size of the house is given by the fact that it mentions in his Will / Inventory that the rooms contained 23 beds with 5 of them being 4 poster beds, he also had a number of male and female servants.

There had previously been a medieval Manor House on the same site which by the 1580s had become ruinous and at Sheffield Archives Office there is a document (Ref.-ACM/S/114) which gives rents paid to the Duke of Norfolk for the year 1584 and lists - "George Sellers for the Manor House dekayed and the domayne of Crich".- fifty shillings and sixpence. also for the "Vickers Close" five shillings.

It was just after this period that John Clay acquired the property and either renovated the old Manor House or built a new one.

Five years after John Clay died a Deed of 1638 mentions that Timothy Pusey his son-in-law and his wife Mary (John Clay's daughter) had possession of a capital mansion house at Crich which had formely belonged to John Clay and 5 cottages and a farm called "The Edge".  (Notts Archives Ref.- DD/E/33/1).

The Manor House at Crich along with other properties that had previously been owned by John Clay passed to the grandaughter of Timothy and Mary Pusey, one Mary Dixie of Selston and in her Will  proved in the year 1709. - Mary Dixie widow of Selston leaves to her sons John Dixie and Richard Dixie the Manor of Crich and the house there called "The Hall" she also mentions her grandfather Timothy Pusey and other properties she owned in Crich. (Derbyshire Record Office Ref. - D377/T36/2/1).

In 1718 by Indenture her son John Dixie of Bosworth sells all the lands in Crich which had belonged to his mother Mary Dixie to Thomas Morley of South Wingfield for the sum of £2,950 including "The Hall" - "The Hall Croft" -"The Hall Farm" - "The Fold Yard" - 6 cottages, the tithes, fields and meadows  all which had originally belonged to John Clay of Crich. (Derbyshire Record Office Ref.- D3772/T36/2/3).

The properties at Crich were divided up and sold by Thomas Morley to various people including Mrs Millicent Fuller of Nottingham who in her Will of 1740  (TNA Ref.- PROB 11/702/283) left to her eldest son (from her first marriage) Francis Musters of Colwick the Tithes and Manor of Crich with messuages, cottages, lands and tenements, and again in 1747 the properties at Crich were sold on by the Musters family to Dewhurst Bilsborough and Sir Edward Wilmot.

One hundred years later we find on the 1847 Tithe Map and Terrier for Crich that located on the north west corner of the church was a plot (number 720) called "The Hall Croft" which suggests that this could have been the location of the Manor House.

On the edge of that plot today is a small stone building known locally as "John Clay's Barn".

Part of what was called "The Hall Croft" is now a rough patch of land which is a small wooded area between the church and the barn, some large stones can be seen in parts of the site in the undergrowth and it is possible that the foundations of John Clay's Manor House could still exist below the surface.

Below is a tracing I made of the 1847 Tithe Map for that particular area of Crich and at that time "The Hall Croft" plot number 720 was listed as pasture and was owned by George White. Plot number 722 is the church and I have marked with a cross the location of John Clay's Barn on plot 708.

John Clay's  Farm

Prior to John Clay moving into his Manor House at Crich he owned a capital farm in the parish called 'The Edge' which he had bought from Anthony Babington and a deed of 1584 shows the transfer to John Clay gentleman of  6 messuages, 8 cottages, 6 tofts, 14 gardens and 14 orchards in Crich and also 60 acres of plough land, 40 acres of meadow, 60 acres of pasture, 6 acres of woods at the farm called "The Edge" in the parish of Crich.(Ref.- British Library. Reynolds Mss page 24).

In the Inventory of his Will in 1633 it mentions that in the 'Edge Barn' there was 3 wagons, 2 horse harness, 2 ploughs, 3 iron teams, 1 pair plough irons, 1 pair clivis, 1 wagon rope, 1 sleade, 1 ladder, 4 yoakes, 2 pichmarks, 1 pitch pan and 1 stone trough and growing in his fields was wheat, corn, oats and barley. He had sheep, lambs, cows, a bull, pigs, turkeys, ducks, chickens and pigeons. He also had a dairy and a coalmine, the same farm at Crich is mentioned in various documents up to the present day and is still called 'The Edge'.

 Wakebridge

German Pole was the Lord of the Manor at Wakebridge which is in the parish of Crich, he lived there in a substantial medieval Manor House until he died in 1588 and not long after that his widow Margaret Pole became the 2nd wife of John Clay and he is listed there in 1589 and at other various times but after they moved into his new Manor House next to the church at Crich the Manor House at Wakebridge became vacant and in a Wolley Charter X1 54 it states that - "In 1594 John Clay by Indenture did grant to Thomas Williamson the Manor of Wakebridge and a capital messuage which German Pole deceased did inhabit and the outbuildings,houses and land belonging to the said Manor at a yearly rent of £20".

The Manor House was bought by the Nightingale family of Lea in 1717 and it was demolished sometime in the mid 1700s and eventually in 1772 a new farmhouse was built on the site of the old Manor House which today is called 'Wakebridge Farm'. 

The Inventory of John Clay of Crich, 1633 (Staffordshire Record Office Ref.- B/C11). Transcript by David Clay.

A true and perfect Inventory of all the goods, cattles and personall estate of John Clay late of Crich in the County of Derby. Gentleman, taken, served and praysed the 11th day of June in the year of his majesties reign Charles by the grace of God of England, Scotland, France and Ireland being defender of the faith and the neenth annoys dom. 1633 by Robert Clarke, Richard Pickard, George Taylor, Robert Wilcokson and Richard Archer as followeth.-

His purse, girdell and apparell. - £10.

In the Hall. One table and frame, one little table and frame, two buffet frames, two buffet stools, one sealed chair, four sacks of harnes, two haulberts, two pikes, one forest bill, five brown bills, four leaden mantles, one private armour complete with other old armour with head pieces, one window curtayne and curtayne rod, one pair of playing tables, one little salt box, one land iron, one fire shovel, two pair of tongs, one gallow tree, two hooks, three toasting irons and two salt barrels. - value  £4-16s-10d.

In the Dining Parlour. One table with frame, six buffet stools, two carpets, two livery cupboards, three buffet stools, four old carpets. - value 14 shillings.

One pair of sirginalles and a frame, two sealed chairs with buttons in them, one perese cupboard with a darning edging. - value £3-6s-8d.

Four window curtaynes with rods, twelve cushions, two brushes, one pair of candle snuffers.- value 24 shillings and 4 pence.

In the Little Room under the Chamber Stairs. One serges barrel, two glass bottles, twiggen bottle, pair of brassways, two saddle girthes, three candle poppets. - value 5 shillings and 6pence.

In Mrs Stuffin's Parlour. One sealed bed and a trundell bed, one feather bed, one mattress, one blanket, two coverlies, one pillow, one boulster, prese cupboard, little table with a frame, two turned chairs, curtayne with a year rod.- value £4-16s-6d.

In the Parlour next unto Mrs Stuffin's. Two old bed seads, two mattresses, two blankets, four old coverlies, two boulsters, two spinning wheels, one clothes stool. - value 13 shillings and 4pence.

In the Parlour over the Cellar. One sealed bed and one trundell bed, two feather beds, matteress, three boulsters, five blankets, little table and a frame, a little carpet, four curtayne rods, one press, one trunk, two chests, one handyarn, one mantle screen, one crossbow, one pair of garden shears.- value  £6-13s-4d.

In the Chamber over the Hall. One sealed bed, one trundell bed, three feather beds, three blankets, one mattress, one bed covering, two boulsters, four pillows, seven curtaynes, and five curtayne rods, two turned chairs, two chests, one little table and frame,a covering and a basin.- value  £7-16s-8d.

In the Starching Chamber. One sealed bed and one trundell bed, three feather beds, one mattress, three boulsters, one pillow, six blankets, one bed covering, five curtaynes, three curtayne rods, one little cupboard and a covering, one chest, one napkine press, one turned chair, one buffet stool, ten slippings of yarn and one warming pan. - value  £10-10s.

In the Stairhead Chamber. One feather bed, one trundell bed, one feather bed and a boulster, two blankets, two bed coverings, one pillow, one chair, a cushion, one clothes stool, a writing desk, in the the featherhouse one old bit and some ferne feathers.- value  £2-8s-2d.

Under the Stairhead Chamber Stairs. Three iron maulles and a goosflock. - value  5 shillings.

In the Kitchen. One pair of racks, one pair of cubbords, one fire shovel and a pair of tongues, two gallow hooks, three dripping pans, six spits, one grid iron, five brass pots, three skellets, four kettles, two brass pans, one brassen morter and a pestell, one skimer, three basting laddels, one beef fork, one cleever, two chopping knives, one bread grater, five kits, two frying pans, one iron chaffing dish, one toasting hook,t hree pair of pot hooks, two brass candlesticks, one dish cradle, one little cupboard, one pair of butter wayes, one pigeon, one bowl, one form, five inche boards, one pair of bellows and one mustard ball. - value  £15.

In the Boulting Howse. One cilefate and a cowler, one kimmell, one stick, one peck, one half peck, one quarterine, four wooden bottles, two looms, one tressel, one lantern, one temse, one barrel and one tandish.- value £2-6s-8d.

In the Back Howse. Four brewing vessels, one dresser, two tubs, one brandy arm, a surgon, one peule and a cowler ark.- value  £1-11s-4d.

In the Larder. One flesh axe,  five shelves, one kimnell, two powthering tubs, one kit and one peabowl. - value  10 shillings.

In the Chamber over the Larder. One great chest, two window sheets, four sacks, one bag, two cheese fats, one hopper, six sives, one shovel, one tub, one old cane.- value  16 shillings.

In the Cheese Chamber. One great chest, one straw basket, two cheesefats, cheese board, one bowl, two penbowls, one cheese forme, three cheese boards and one hoope.- value  7 shillings.

In the Chamber over the Back Howse. One old kimwell, one old spinning wheel, one pair of woolwares. - value  3s-4d.

In the Corn Chamber. Two quarters of barley malt, thirty one strikes of dried malt ready ground, three strikes of wheat, two quarters of brewarme, six strikes and a half of barley and some other kind, one strike and a half of payes.- value  £11-7shillings.

In the Little Court Yard. One still. - value  5 shillings.

In the Cellar and Inner Cellar. Five barrels, one loom, four barrels, five silver bowls, twenty two silver spoons, one silver and gilt salter, one safe, one chest, one glass cane, two taptubs, three wine bottles, two pewter flaggons, three salters, one kimnell, one table basket, one dresser, four wooden games, three black pots, seven dozen and a half of trenchers and six glasses.- value  £20-12s-8d.

In the Pewter Chamber. One chest, two sheeffes, one reel, one pound of toe, eight pewter candlesticks, two voyders, two basins and a vase, six chamber pots, six pewter plates, six saucers, forty five pewter dishes, two pewter plates and one puddinger. - value  £3-8s-6d.

In the Churchyard Chamber. One sealed bed, one trundell bed, three feather beds, two boulsters, three pillows, one mattress, three blankets, one coverlie, one rug, eight curtaynes, three curtayne rods, two little tables with frames, two carpets, two chairs, three cushions, one pair of tongues, one fire shovel, one buffett stool, two window curtaynes, two curtayne rods and one looking glass.- value £9-4s-8d.

In the Dairy. One cheese press, one chest and six butter pots, three brass pans, three cheese fats, seven shelfs, two tressells, four ponscions, one stool, one churn, five leaden weights.- value 19 shillings and 6 pence.

In the Mylne. (Mine). One pair of horse rayns and one ox pair, one iron chisel, three mylne pickes.- value 15shillings and 4 pence.

In the Swine Yard. Nine swine, six pigs, five stone trowes and one wooden trowe. - value  £6-10shillings.

In the Coal Howse. Three loads of coals. - value  6 shillings and eight pence.

In the Stable. Three saddles, one horse cloth, four bridles, one shrowde, one lantern, two plowes, four pair of saddles, six sursingles, four wantuns, one bill, two shovels and two pitch forks.- value 31 shillings.

In the Corn Barn. One horse harrowe, one rack, one shack fork, one shovel and two pickforks.- value  4 shillings.

---In the same Barn.-One pair of horse fours,four water barrels,one scoop, one tandish, two short ladders,one stone trough,one three pronged fork.- value.- 10 shillings and eight pence.

In the Coal Howse Chamber. One bedstead, one chaffe bed, two boulsters, two blankets, two coverlies, four shearing hooks, one chest, one axe with other iron hatchets.- value 12 shillings.

In the Cow Howse. One swine trowe, eleven cow sules.- value 12d.

In the Work Howse and the Chamber. Two great chests, one steepfate and one stone trowe, horseware, yoake, one iron team, two  wayne nathes, two framing sawes, one great wymble, one axle tree, six bunches of whyte and barbes gerthes, one barrel, one hand saw, two muck hooks, one plowe buck, a laund, one loge with and ten oxe bowes.- value  £2-19s-2d.

In the Fule Yard. Two stone trewes, one sleade, one wayne side, 800 wood bids, one wheel barrow and some manure. - value  £2-1s-6d.

In the Green Yard. Three culmes and one little stone trewe.- value  34 shillings and 4 pence.

In the Kilne. One pair cloaths. - Value  3 shillings and 4d.

In the Hen Howse. Three turkeys, two ducks, three ducklings, two cocks, seven hens, four cappons.- value 10 shillings.

In the Grounds. Four mares, two colts, six oxen, eight cows, one bull, two heifers, three stears, fifty two old sheep and fourteen lambs. - value  £80-16s-8d.

In the Goose Howse. Some plowe twirles. - value  12d.

In The Edge Barn. Two old waynes, four yoakes, three iron teams, one pair of clivis, one ladder and one horse harness, two piche markes, one piche pane, two plowes, one pair of plowe yoakes, one wayne rope. - value  £4-5s-4d. One wayne, one stone trewe and one sleade. - value  36 shillings.

In the Hall Chamber in a chest. Twelve pair of flaxon sheets, six pair of midling sheets, five pair of canvas sheets, ten table clothes, two dozen of napkins, six towels. - value £8-0s-12d.

Corn Sown. In the Super Breache eleven strikes of wheate and clen corn in the Middle Breache, two quarter of oates in the Neather Chappell Field, three strikes of oates and one strike of payes and in the Tymeflate ten strikes of barley.- value  £11-14 shillings.

Sum Total. - £246 -19s - 8d.