History of Hawkesley
by JV Melling
HAWKESLEY, more anciently known as Hawkeslow, is an old moated residence in the parish of King's Norton which gave its name to the family of Hawkeslowe, whose heiress, Agnes Hawkeslowe, brought it in the early years of the fifteenth century to Nicholas Middlemore, a younger son of Thomas Middlemore and Isabel Edgbaston. The Middlemores owned Hawkesley House and farm for 15 generations until they sold it in the early 1900's. The site of Hawkesley Junior and Infant Schools is part of that estate together with Hawkesley Hall (just above the School) which was once part of the estate . It may have been the home farm (i.e. producing food that went directly to the 'big' house).
John Middlemore succeeded to the whole of Hawkesley in 1633-4, but his affairs seem to have become very much involved, and in 1637 he was imprisoned for debt in Worcester gaol where he remained until his death about sir, years later.
His eldest son, William, was involved in still Greater difficulties through his loyalty to the King in the Civil War. His house at Hawkesley was seized and garrisoned by the Parliamentary forces early in 1645.
The Civil War
Charles I became King of England in 1625
He believed that God had made him King and that he could rule without the help or advice of Parliament. This caused a quarrel between him and the men who served in Parliament. A civil war broke out in 1642, between those who followed the King and those who supported Parliament.
The King's followers were called Royalists and the soldiers of Parliament got the nickname, Roundheads because they cut their hair very short.
At first the Roundheads were no match for the Royalists who were led by Prince Rupert, nephew of the King. He would ride ahead of his cavalry bravely charging at, and scattering his enemy.
Oliver Cromwell was given the command of the cavalry, for Parliament. He quickly trained his men and soon they were fighting and winning battles against the Royalists.
Hawkesley House
During the Civil War, large houses were used by the Roundheads. The owners of these houses, who were wealthy people, were turned out and a large number of soldiers called a garrison was put in their place. From these houses the garrison could raid the property of Royalists or attack Royalist soldiers marching through the area. After a raid they would return to the house and be safe from attack.
Hawkesley House, which was near Longbridge, was owned by the Middlemore family. They owned a great deal of land in Kings Norton. The Roundheads turned them out of Hawkesley and placed a garrison of over 100 men in their place.
The man who led these Roundheads became known to the Royalists by the nickname "Tinker Fox". His real name was John Fox and he had been a sword maker in Birmingham before the war. The Royalists made fun of him by calling him Tinker, which means the mender of kettles and pots.
"Fox set up a third, garrison, Hawkesley a house belonging to the Middlemore family, Roman Catholics, who held considerable property in that district. It was, occupied and fairly strongly garrisoned. The importance its possession was that it completed the chain of fortified houses that commanded the main roads leading into or out of the north-west and east side of the county. The garrisons appear to have been thorns in the side of the Royalists."
In May in the same year, the house was besieged by the Royalists, and surrendered to the King on the 15th, because 'the soldiers would not fight when they perceived it was the King's army', although there 'was a month's provision and ammunition' in the house. According to Clarendon, 120 men, besides the Governor, Captain Gouge, were taken prisoners. The house was burnt after the surrender, but was somewhat rebuilt by William Middlemore about 1654 .
In 1645 the garrison at Hawkesley, the old house, of the Middlemores, was destroyed by Rupert. This was done on the 13th May in that year at. the beginning of the celebrated Leicester March, which terminated so disastrously at Naseby.
Richard Symonds belonged to the Kings Lifeguard of Horse. He was an eye-witness to this and many other events.
"Saturday, May 10th. The King quartered at Inckburrough Magna com Wigorn, 9 miles from Worcester. Sunday May 11th. The King marched to the rendezvous of the whole army of foot and His Majesty with his own regiment of foot and horse guards only marched to Saltwiche (Droitwich) com Wigorn. The headquarters of the army this night is at Bromsgrove.
His Majesty stayed at Droitwich till Wednesday. In the time his Highness Prince Rupert sat down before Hawkesley house, one Mr. Middlemore owns it. Lord Astley's tertia of foot made the approaches (which were left for us with a great deal of advantage to us) big banks and a lane and trees."
"Captain Backster`s troop of Horse was killed here and some foot soldiers and pioneers.
On Wednesday, about. two of the clock in the afternoon, the King left Wiche and went with his guards to the leaquer before Hawkesley and just as His Majesty appeared in view it was delivered into the mercy of the King and the Officers and that they might be free from the insolence of the common soldiers. In this house was a months provisions and ammunition but the soldiers would not fight when they perceived it was the King's army. Gouge, the son of Dr. Gouge, was the Captain of foot and Governor, and Wichcott commanded the horse; 60 foot and about 40 horse.
After Lord Astley had the pillage of the House; and the soldiers the prisoners; the house was set on fire. "
William Middlemore died in 1663 and was succeeded in turn by his three sons, John, who died in 1681, William, who died in 1711, and George. The latter in 1723 settled Hawkesley on his eldest son, John.
Richard Middlemore, the son of John, succeeded him about 1734. In 1903. the year before his death, he conveyed Hawkesley to his second son, Richard. who left it to his three daughters and co-heirs, Anne, Mary and Martha. Mary, afterwards the wife of Samuel Hoitt, died childless, leaving her share to her sisters, who in 1869 sold the whole to their kinsman, William Middlemore of Birmingham.