Shirley Association Genealogical Research Website

The Shirley Association has been a member of the Guild of One-Name Studies since 1988 Ragdale
Hall

Ragdale parish church

Church window bearing Shirley coat of arms

Ragdale Hall- now a luxury spa

Ragdale Hall, Leicestershire

Part of the Shirley possessions obtained through marriage. John Shirley 1535 d. 1570 lived at Rakedale, now known as Ragdale estate, Leicestershire. He married Jane Lovett. Their son, George Shirley moved the family seat to Astwell.

"Ragdale Hall was originally a medieval hunting lodge and falconry. The house's Victorian owners added the castle-style turrets, which were fashionable at the time. Later, the hall spent a few years as a nightclub and restaurant before becoming a health hydro in 1973, after it was bought by the owners of a slimming magazine. This is the place to head for peace, quiet and total relaxation in a beautiful setting - the perfect antidote to stressful urban living."

Ragdale Ancient Abstracts

1400 De Banco Roll - Hugh Shyrley, chivaler v Walter the parson's man of Rakedale in a plea of breaking his free warren at Rekedale and taking thence hares, rabbits, pheasants and partridges.

1440 Inquisition Post Mortem Beatrice who was the wife of Hugh Shirley, taken at Leicester on Thursday before the Nativity of St John the Baptist 18 Henry VI. Before Thomas Palmer the escheator and on the oath of John Chaumbleyn of Hathern, Henry atte Halle of Overton, John Nauntell of Hathern, Robert Bernevile of Threngeston, John Kendale of Twycrosse, John Herdewyn of Newebold, William Smyth of Barrow, William Somervyle of Cossington, John Souche of Belton, William Bygge of Rothley, Thomas Bygge of Rothley, John Draper of Thurmaston adn John Smyth and Thomas Ireland both of Cotes, jurors who say that Beatrice held no lands of the King in chief in Co Leices. on the day she died, but they say that a certain Ralph Basset of Drayton knt was seised of the manors of Rakedale, Willughes, Radeclyve etc in his demense as of fee, and granted them to Sir Walter Skyrlow bishop of Durham and others as trustees who granted them to Beatrice from Easter 7 Hen IV (1406) for a term of 8 years at a yearly rent of L20 the reversion of them to Ralph Shirley, knt and his male heirs for ever. After the expiriation of the aforesaid eight years the said Ralph Shirley entered on the afresaid manors and still remains in peaceful possession of them. The manors were not held of the King but of whom they are held the jurors are unaware. Beatrice died on Wednesday before St George the martyr 18 Hen VI. Ralph Shirley is her next heir and aged 40 years and more.

1467 Inquisition Post Mortem of Ralph Shirley esquire. Taken at Loughborough Co Leic. on 12 June 1467. Before Baldwin Porter the escheator and on the oath of William Parker of Loughborowe John Ballarde of the same Robert Payte of the same John Stone of Pakynton, Thomas Spede of Worthington, Henry Hay of Overton, John Harry of Worthington, Hugh Johnson of Segrave, Thomas Boydell of Bredo, Robert Parker of Bredon, Thomas Bertvyle of Tonge and Thomas Dawe of Tonge juroros who say that Ralph Shirley esq was seised in his demense as of fee of the manors of Rakedale and Willowes etc held of Eleanor, who was the wife of Humphrey Stafford, knt. The manors of Rakedale and Willowes are worth L10. Ralph Shirley died on St Stephen's Day last past. John is his son and heir and aged 50 years and more.

1572 Lay Subsidy Ragdall
Jane Shyrley, widow - in lands L12; tax 32s.

Pedigree of the Shirleys of Ettington and Ragdale

John Shirley b 1535 son of Francis Shirley of Ettington and Staunton Harold; d. 1570. Buried in Breedon on the Hill. He lived at Rakedale, now known as Ragdale estate, Leicestershire

m. Jane Lovett 1558. [This marriage brought several manors to the Shirleys: Astwell in the county of Northampton, South Newington (Newton), in the county of Oxford, Dorington in the county of Gloucester, and St. Botolph's Bridge in the county of Huntington].

children:

5. (ii) Ralph Shirley b 1562 Rome, Italy. s.p. He was intended for the church (Priest) but died before taking orders. He was of Stretton, Staffordshire in 36 Elizabeth when brother George granted him an annuity. (He was a pilgrim at the English College at Rome in 9 Nov 1582).

5. (iii) John Shirley s.p. Entered Trinity College, Oxford 1582. In 1590 he was of the Inner Temple and in 1602 was living Grays Inn. He died in the wars in Flanders of a shot in the knee, received in the service of the King of Spain.

5. (iv) Thomas Shirley s.p. Entered Oxford in 1587. In 1602 he was of Grays Inn. He released his interest in Brailesford, Warwick Co to his brother George upon the settling of Shirley upon him for a term of years]

5. (i) George Shirley 1559 d. 1622 Astwell, Northampton Co. Buried in Breedon on the Hill.

He studied at Hart Hall (Later known as Hartford College), in the University of Oxford in 1573. "By the advantage of the most famous and learned tutors, he acquired a knowledge not common of the Greek and Latin tongues, of philosophy, of history, of politics, and other liberal sciences. After he had finished his studies, he presented his service at Court, and undertook the voyage of Holland in 1585 with Robert Earl of Leicester, ever putting himself in those places most eminent for danger and honour".

He entered Gloucester Hall in 1587 and was of Grays Inn in 1602. In 1603 he served as sheriff of Northamptonshire at the time, in company with many gallant men who conducted James the First through that county to his coronation. In 1611, he was created a Baronet. [Note: A William Bell came to London from Worcester to study law. He shared chamber and bed with George Shirley. Bell became a Roman Priest and was executed in 1643].

George Shirleys arms were taken away for 4 years as he was suspected as being a Catholic, although he outwardly conformed to the church of England. (If a Papists refused to come to church on Sunday, they were liable to a penalty of 20 pounds for every lunar month during which they absented themselves). He appears to have died a Catholic. "His piety was so remarkable in his large and bountiful alms, that he merited the glorious title of father and nourisher of the poor, relieving during the great dearth, 500 a day at his gates"

Married
1st Frances Berkeley 1587, daughter of Henry Lord Berkeley (by Catherine, daughter of Henry Earl of Surrey).

(From this marriage, see the Shirley family of Ettington and Astwell, Northants)

2nd Dorothy Wroughton (no children by George).

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The Shirley Association has been a member of the Guild of One-Name Studies since 1988	Ragdale Hall

	Ragdale parish church Church window bearing Shirley coat of arms Ragdale Hall- now a luxury spa	Ragdale Hall, Leicestershire Part of the Shirley possessions obtained through marriage. John Shirley 1535 d. 1570 lived at Rakedale, now known as Ragdale estate, Leicestershire. He married Jane Lovett. Their son, George Shirley moved the family seat to Astwell. "Ragdale Hall was originally a medieval hunting lodge and falconry. The house's Victorian owners added the castle-style turrets, which were fashionable at the time. Later, the hall spent a few years as a nightclub and restaurant before becoming a health hydro in 1973, after it was bought by the owners of a slimming magazine. This is the place to head for peace, quiet and total relaxation in a beautiful setting - the perfect antidote to stressful urban living." Ragdale Ancient Abstracts 1400 De Banco Roll - Hugh Shyrley, chivaler v Walter the parson's man of Rakedale in a plea of breaking his free warren at Rekedale and taking thence hares, rabbits, pheasants and partridges. 1440 Inquisition Post Mortem Beatrice who was the wife of Hugh Shirley, taken at Leicester on Thursday before the Nativity of St John the Baptist 18 Henry VI. Before Thomas Palmer the escheator and on the oath of John Chaumbleyn of Hathern, Henry atte Halle of Overton, John Nauntell of Hathern, Robert Bernevile of Threngeston, John Kendale of Twycrosse, John Herdewyn of Newebold, William Smyth of Barrow, William Somervyle of Cossington, John Souche of Belton, William Bygge of Rothley, Thomas Bygge of Rothley, John Draper of Thurmaston adn John Smyth and Thomas Ireland both of Cotes, jurors who say that Beatrice held no lands of the King in chief in Co Leices. on the day she died, but they say that a certain Ralph Basset of Drayton knt was seised of the manors of Rakedale, Willughes, Radeclyve etc in his demense as of fee, and granted them to Sir Walter Skyrlow bishop of Durham and others as trustees who granted them to Beatrice from Easter 7 Hen IV (1406) for a term of 8 years at a yearly rent of L20 the reversion of them to Ralph Shirley, knt and his male heirs for ever. After the expiriation of the aforesaid eight years the said Ralph Shirley entered on the afresaid manors and still remains in peaceful possession of them. The manors were not held of the King but of whom they are held the jurors are unaware. Beatrice died on Wednesday before St George the martyr 18 Hen VI. Ralph Shirley is her next heir and aged 40 years and more. 1467 Inquisition Post Mortem of Ralph Shirley esquire. Taken at Loughborough Co Leic. on 12 June 1467. Before Baldwin Porter the escheator and on the oath of William Parker of Loughborowe John Ballarde of the same Robert Payte of the same John Stone of Pakynton, Thomas Spede of Worthington, Henry Hay of Overton, John Harry of Worthington, Hugh Johnson of Segrave, Thomas Boydell of Bredo, Robert Parker of Bredon, Thomas Bertvyle of Tonge and Thomas Dawe of Tonge juroros who say that Ralph Shirley esq was seised in his demense as of fee of the manors of Rakedale and Willowes etc held of Eleanor, who was the wife of Humphrey Stafford, knt. The manors of Rakedale and Willowes are worth L10. Ralph Shirley died on St Stephen's Day last past. John is his son and heir and aged 50 years and more. 1572 Lay Subsidy Ragdall Jane Shyrley, widow - in lands L12; tax 32s.
	*Pedigree of the Shirleys of Ettington and Ragdale* John Shirley b 1535 son of Francis Shirley of Ettington and Staunton Harold; d. 1570. Buried in Breedon on the Hill. He lived at Rakedale, now known as Ragdale estate, Leicestershire m. Jane Lovett 1558. [This marriage brought several manors to the Shirleys: Astwell in the county of Northampton, South Newington (Newton), in the county of Oxford, Dorington in the county of Gloucester, and St. Botolph's Bridge in the county of Huntington]. children: 5. (ii) Ralph Shirley b 1562 Rome, Italy. s.p. He was intended for the church (Priest) but died before taking orders. He was of Stretton, Staffordshire in 36 Elizabeth when brother George granted him an annuity. (He was a pilgrim at the English College at Rome in 9 Nov 1582). 5. (iii) John Shirley s.p. Entered Trinity College, Oxford 1582. In 1590 he was of the Inner Temple and in 1602 was living Grays Inn. He died in the wars in Flanders of a shot in the knee, received in the service of the King of Spain. 5. (iv) Thomas Shirley s.p. Entered Oxford in 1587. In 1602 he was of Grays Inn. He released his interest in Brailesford, Warwick Co to his brother George upon the settling of Shirley upon him for a term of years] 5. (i) George Shirley 1559 d. 1622 Astwell, Northampton Co. Buried in Breedon on the Hill. He studied at Hart Hall (Later known as Hartford College), in the University of Oxford in 1573. "By the advantage of the most famous and learned tutors, he acquired a knowledge not common of the Greek and Latin tongues, of philosophy, of history, of politics, and other liberal sciences. After he had finished his studies, he presented his service at Court, and undertook the voyage of Holland in 1585 with Robert Earl of Leicester, ever putting himself in those places most eminent for danger and honour". He entered Gloucester Hall in 1587 and was of Grays Inn in 1602. In 1603 he served as sheriff of Northamptonshire at the time, in company with many gallant men who conducted James the First through that county to his coronation. In 1611, he was created a Baronet. [Note: A William Bell came to London from Worcester to study law. He shared chamber and bed with George Shirley. Bell became a Roman Priest and was executed in 1643]. George Shirleys arms were taken away for 4 years as he was suspected as being a Catholic, although he outwardly conformed to the church of England. (If a Papists refused to come to church on Sunday, they were liable to a penalty of 20 pounds for every lunar month during which they absented themselves). He appears to have died a Catholic. "His piety was so remarkable in his large and bountiful alms, that he merited the glorious title of father and nourisher of the poor, relieving during the great dearth, 500 a day at his gates" Married 1st Frances Berkeley 1587, daughter of Henry Lord Berkeley (by Catherine, daughter of Henry Earl of Surrey). (From this marriage, see the Shirley family of Ettington and Astwell, Northants) 2nd Dorothy Wroughton (no children by George).
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