Hasells Hall

Summary

Hasells Hall up to 1761

In 1634 the former Chicksands Grange of Hasells was purchased by Robert Britten of Waresley, yeoman. His grandson, Baron Brittain began to rebuild Hasells in c.1698, according to evidence for a legal case of 1722.

What Brittain pulled down is not clear. It is possible that the mediaeval core of the original house lasted till c.1698. It would have been extensively remodelled in either the Tudor or Stuart period. It seems as if the new house incorporated nothing of the older house. It is possible that the western part of Brittain's house was a remodelling of an earlier house. This would explain the odd positioning of the kitchen in relation to the block of principal rooms. This idea is strengthened by the mention of “Old Parlour” in this area in the 1761 inventory. The principal block formed the central section of the south facade of the present house. A hall was flanked by a drawing room on the east end and a parlour on the west, with the kitchen behind them somewhere on the north side of the house. The new house was probably not very large. Indeed, Brittain did not live in the house and the tenant of the previous house, John Dunn, remained in the new house till 1710. After the house was built, Brittain increased his debts substantially, owing £1465 in 1721 on mortgage. The largest single increase was in 1713, so it is unlikely the building of Hasells Hall was a major factor. Three recently built cottages mentioned in 1721 no doubt contributed to this. The collapse of the South Sea Bubble in 1720 probably caused the mortgagees financial difficulties, forcing them to press for the return of their capital. Brittain offered all his family property including Hasells to William Astell of Everton for £4,200. The deal fell through and on 28 and 29 September 1721 Hasells was sold to Heylock Kingsley of Furzen Hall near Biggleswade for a mere £2,342, leaving Brittain with £876 after the debts had been paid.

Heylock came from a well-to-do family of Hitchin haberdashers. His wife Elizabeth was to be the joint heiress of her father, Robert Jenkin. Heylock's grandmother was a Heylock of Abbotsley, another substantial local family.