Turnhurst
Turnhurst Hall was a substantial house which stood in an area of what is now Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, between Great Chell and the hamlet of Newchapel in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The road linking the two settlements is now known as Turnhurst Road and the area where the former estate was located is now known as Turnhurst.
The most famous resident was canal pioneer James Brindley who is said to have perfected models of his canal locks in the grounds of the house. The estate was originally used for farming, but was later mined for coal and iron ore.
Turnhurst means "estate on the wooded hill", (from Old English, tun means "enclosure, farm or estate" and hurst means "wooded hill").
Turnhurst Hall was a substantial house built around 1700 on the site of a former dwelling set in 110 acres (0.45 km2) of farmland. Never a great or wealthy country seat, Turnhurst is described as being typical of the houses of lesser gentry. A comfortable, roomy, old-fashioned dwelling which was said to have been the last house in England in which a family fool was maintained.
The Hall was divided into two residences from the time of the Alsagers ownership as documented dates of residence confirm. This fact has caused some confusion to historians dating occupancy.
The earliest record known is from the 1539 General Muster Roll of Henry VIII which lists a William Rowley of Turnhurste indicating that there was a residence at the site before the Hall was built. A number of writers refer to still earlier occupation of Turnhurst, but no primary records support this as fact.
The Rowley family was seated at Turnhurst in ancient times and first appears in parish registers in 1626.
Four members of the Bellot family took the title baronet of Moreton in the 17th and early 18th centuries. Sir Thomas Bellot 2nd Bt and Sir John Bellot 3rd Bt were Members of Parliament for Newcastle-under-Lyme. On the death of the 3rd Bt, his brother Thomas took the title of 4th Bt. The last Sir Thomas Bellot was a keen sportsman and panels of several of the upper rooms depicted some of his exploits in the field.
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