Clay Houses of Distinction

For a number of centuries a family by the surname of Clay had lived at a place called “The Hill” at Tupton in the parish of North Wingfield in the county of Derbyshire. England. The substantial house where they lived is still there and is set in open countryside. The present house is about 400 years old and still retains its originality. 

Numerous references are made to the Clay family at this residence over the centuries. Clay's are documented in this parish from 1327 and no doubt they were there before that. In 1555 in the Will of Robert Revell he leaves to his son the land at “The Hill” occupied by James Clarke and John Clay. John Clay left a Will in 1558 and his abode is given as “The Hill” again in 1558 in the Will of James Clarke it states that the lease of the farm at “The Hill” which he rents from Mr Revell should eventually go to William Clay. The Clay's became prosperous at the farm and managed to buy the property. Francis Clay built a stone barn adjacent to the house in 1693 and had his initials and that of his wife put on the datestone.

The Clay's continued to farm there through the centuries and there are many references to them in the archives. On the 1845 Tithe Map Fredrick Lord Clay is listed as the owner of the house and 95 acres of land at “The Hill”. This branch of the Clay's later moved to Durham and eventually went to Australia. Today the property is called “Hagg Hill Hall” and has been turned into a self catering holiday home and can accommodate 18 people if you type in “Hagg Hill Hall” on the internet you will find details of this former Clay's historic residence.

Another substantial former Clay house in the town of North Wingfield is a 3 story building called “The Elms” which the Clay's had built in the early 1700s. It was a meeting place for the hunting fraternity and had extensive stables in its grounds of 80 acres. The house is still there today and was recently the subject of a television documentary featuring a young married couple from the locality who had bought the property to restore but were struggling to complete the project on a small budget but they were persevering to return it to its original state.

Clays houses at Wensley in Darley Parish

The stone house at the rear with 3 windows showing was lived in and owned by Job Clay born 1782 (gt. gt. gt. grandfather of David Clay) with his wife Elizabeth and 9 children, they are listed there on the 1847 Tithe Map. Their son Abraham William Clay born 1823 - (gt. gt. grandfather of David Clay) moved into the semi detached cottage on the right of the photograph with the door and window frames painted white. He is listed there in the 1861 Census with his wife Eliza and their son Job Clay born 1854 (great grandfather of David Clay). Job Clay is still living in the same cottage with his widowed mother Eliza in the 1891 Census also by this time with his wife Ada, and their sons Job Clay jnr born 1886 and William Clay born 1891 (grandfather of David Clay)  both sons were born in that cottage.

By the time of the 1901 Census Job and Ada Clay and their 2 sons William and Job had moved next door but one into a house which was behind the fence on the left of the photograph but the house is now demolished and only the site remains. The footpath which runs between the properties was listed as “Clays Lane” in the 1901 Census. Job Clay is listed there on the 1910 Government Survey map, his son Job Clay jnr eventually moved to Liverpool  and his other son William Clay moved to Forest Town near Mansfield in Nottinghamshire in 1920 with his wife Annie Gertrude and had a son William Ernest Clay born 1921 (father of David Clay) at number 2 Second Avenue. Forest Town. The Clay's moved to Mansfield in 1931.

Clays houses in Yorkshire

In the county of Yorkshire there is another substantial former Clay abode. This outstanding building is called “Clay House” and is situated at Greetland in the parish of Elland. There was a house on this same site owned by Robert Clay in 1296 but the name “Clay House” is first mentioned in a document of 1419.

The parish register of Elland begins in 1559 and the Clay's are featured substantially from the beginning when William Clay is buried in 1559 and there are 81 baptisms for Clay's in the register before the year 1600. One entry states.- Robert son of John Clay of “Clay House” baptised 23rd August 1573. - This Robert Clay became the vicar of Halifax.

In one of the windows at the front is etched the Clay coat of arms and the initials of John and Margaret Clay dated 1675 he also carved their initials inside on a stone wall in 1661. John Clay who died in 1693 was the last of the Clay's to live at that particular house and he left “Clay House” to his sister Mary Hopkins, it was sold in 1713 and again in 1897 and the local council bought it in the 1920s. The building is still called “Clay House” and is now used for social functions and is available for hire.