History of Thurcroft
Thurcroft Estates from 1464
See also Timeline
In 1936 The Thurcroft Estate including Thurcroft Hall comprised 380 acres.
The Marrian deeds held at the Sheffield Archives provide some details of the Thurcroft Estates from 1464.
The deeds relate mainly to copyhold property in the manors of Laughton-en-le-Morthen and Slade Hooton, Yorkshire. Thurcroft itself appears to have been copyhold, though there are very few deeds relating to the capital messuage itself. The deeds do not appear to form a complete title to the estate.
Thurcroft was at an early date in the possession of the Mirfin family. William Mirfin's messuage in Thurcroft is mentioned in 1493. It continued in this family until 1644, when Robert Mirfield died without children, leaving a widow Margaret (Nee Ellis) who was his step-sister and daughter of Bernard Ellis, Recorder. She married secondly William Beckwith, whose family held property at Aldborough and Ripon. He is first mentioned as William Beckwith of Thurcroft, esquire, in 1653.
The Beckwiths continued at Thurcroft until the early years of the 19th century. The marriage of a later William Beckwith to Elizabeth Woodifield in 1714 brought the Manor of Trimdon in County Durham to the family.Elizabeth was the daughter and heir and executrix of the last will and testament of John Woodifield, late of Fishburn, in the County of Durham) The last of the family to be 'of Thurcroft' apparently got into financial difficulties, raised what money he could on the Thurcroft estate and moved to Durham. When his son came of age in 1817 the estate was mortgaged for £10,000.
Attested copy of exemplification of recovery
George Robinson, esquire, v. Tinmouth Dixon of 40 messuages, 700 acres of land, meadow, and pasture, 50 acres of wood and common and all appurtenances in Thurcroft, Brookhouse, Carr, Laughton-on-le-Morthen and Kirklevington. William Beckwith the younger, esquire vouched to warranty. Exemplification made 25th June, 1817. Copy made 4th October, 1817.
Source: Marrian Deeds. Reference: Mar D/213
Joseph Wheatley of Rotherham, was appointed in October 1817 to receive the rents and profits of the estates.
Mortgage by lease and release. 4 Oct 1817
William Beckwith the elder late of Thurcroft but now of Herrington (in the county of Durham), esquire, and
William Beckwith the younger, his son, to Ralph Peters of Platt Bridge (near Wigan in the county of Lancaster), esquire,
Thomas Tipping of Fulshaw (near Wilmslow in the county of Chester), esquire, John Burton and Samuel Stocks both of
Manchester, merchants. Also parties are George Robinson formerly of Easington but now of Hendon Lodge (in the County of
Durham), esquire, John Dunn of High Cocken (in the county of Durham), gentleman, William Williams of Durham, gentleman,
William Shields and Richard Shields, both of Durham, merchants. Conveys the capital messuage called Thurcroft with all its
outbuildings etc. and all the lands appertaining to it containing 205 acres, lately in the occupation of Hart Sitwell,
esquire, deceased and now occupied by Thomas Butler, esquire; the messuages and lands in Brookhouse, Carr, and Laughton
occupied by Thomas Parker and containing about 190 acres; the messuage and lands in the same places occupied by Thomas
Mottram and called the New Orchard and containing about 94 acres; the messuages and lands in the same place in the several
occupations of William Limb, Nathaniel Inman and others (listed); the messuages and lands called the Carr Farm, occupied by
John Parsonson and containing about 104 acres; the messuages and lands containing about 81 acres occupied by Robert Kneeves.
For a mortgage of £10,000 at 5 per cent interest per annum. The deed recites earlier deeds of 1813, 1816 and 1817 to provide
annuities out of the same estate, and deeds of 1817 to lead to a recovery.
Deed of assignment
John Gregson and Robert Burrell both of Durham, gentlemen, and Martin Dunn of the same, merchant and
alderman, to Oswald Milne of Manchester, merchant and trustee of Ralph Peters, Thomas Tipping, John Burton and Samuel
Stocks who are also parties together with William Beckwith the elder and William Beckwith the younger, George Robinson and
John Dunn. 4th October, 1817.
Deed appointing a receiver
William Beckwith the elder and William Beckwith the younger, (the mortgagees being parties
also) appoint Joseph Wheatley of Rotherham, gentleman, to receive the rents and profits of the estates. 4th October, 1817.
Source: Marrian Deeds. Reference: Mar D/156-158
In 1824 and again in 1833, the Thurcroft Estates were advertised For Sale by Auction.
It was not until 1841 that the last representative of the family surrendered the estate in the Manor Court of Laughton-en-le-Morthen and John Drabwell, late of Conisborough , was admitted.
William Fretwell Hoyle of Rotherham, gentleman, steward of the manor of Laughton-en-le-Morthen, appointed Abraham Story, John Ward, and Graville Leveson Gower Ward, all of Durham, gentlemen, to be his deputies to take surrender from William Beckwith now of Yetholm Hall, Roxburgh, and from William Beckwith the younger, late of Trimdon House but now of Silksworth, Durham, a lieutenant colonel of infantry. All their copyhold lands in the manor of Laughton went to John Drabwell, late of Conisborough.
A similar appointment was made by by Henry Owen of Worksop, steward of the manor of Slade Hooton of Henrietta, dowager Countess of Scarborough, to Abraham Story for the same purpose in January, 1841.
The Drabwells were at Thurcroft only a very few years. A lease dated 1859 records Harriet Drabwell of Bawtry, widow, to Charles Frederick Younge of Thurcroft Hall, esquire. The messuage called Thurcroft Hall with all its outbuilding and gardens etc., the close called The Park containing about 9 acres, and another small piece of ground, with all rights of hunting and preserving game etc. over the whole Thurcroft estate. For a term of 10 years and 3 months from 25th March, 1859 at a yearly rent of £100.
The estate was later acquired by the Marrian family, who also held land in the Manors of Laughton-en-le-Morthen and Slade Hooton. Mary wife of Thomas Marrian, died aged 62 at Thurcroft Hall on 12/08/1879. Thomas Marrian died age 79 at Thurcroft Hall on 15/08/1883.