Padley Manor

Gatehouse and Chapel

This building has been known by a variety of names, the ones above are but a few.

Although there is no written evidence of it, it is thought that this manor was here before the norman conquest, in time it was given over to the Bernac family by William the Conqueror for services rendered,  as was the custom at the time the Bernac family changed its name to that of the house and land it was given, they became known as the Padley Family.

The Padley family lived and prospered here for about 350 years during which time they developed the site with a medieval manor house built onto the existing building in about 1350.

At some time during the early years of the 15th century the male line failed leaving a surviving daughter, Joan, as sole heiress. She married Robert Eyre and they made Padley their home. The family continued to prosper and they completed the manor house and added a fine Gatehouse, the status symbol of the day. Robert died in 1459 and Joan in 1468. Four generations of the Eyre family lived here but again a daughter, Anne, inherited.  She married Sir Thomas Fitzherbert of Norbury in 1534.

Padley had become a safe haven for missionary Catholic priests seeking refuge where they could but knowing that capture would result in death.  In 1587 the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots and the threat of a Catholic Spanish invasion in 1588 stirred up considerable anti Catholic suspicions.  Up to this time, although considerably  deprived in many areas of their lives (as a Catholic it was not permitted to hold any public or professional office or gain a degree from a university, or be a member of the army etc) it had been possible to continue their lives quietly, paying their fines for non-attendance at the church etc.  However, things changed dramatically, new laws were passed making it a capital offence to harbour or assist a priest, the charge being High Treason.  With the threat of invasion the government decreed that certain prominent Catholics should be arrested and imprisoned.  A raid was carried out at Padley by George Talbot, the Earl of Shrewsbury, on 12th July 1588. Sadly, it coincided with a visit from not one but two priests, Nicolas Garlick and Robert Ludlam, This resulted in the whole family, including the servants being arrested and taken to Derby jail.  The priests were tried, found guilty and executed near to Derby Bridge on 24th July 1588.

The manor was confiscated and passed through various hands before eventually returning to the family, William Fitzherbert of Swynnerton, a cousin, who inherited the property in 1649 but was forced to sell because of heavy debts. It seems that Padley Manor was never lived in again:  a subsequent owner pulled the house down and sold the stone as building material. The Gatehouse remained intact and was used as a cow shelter and hay barn.