23. A FINE AND PROVENANCED JAMES / CHARLES I SIX LEG OAK REFECTORY TABLE, HASELOUR HALL, STAFFORDSHIRE, EARLS OF DERBY, CIRCA 1620-1640.

The rectangular top of two matched deep boards, above a frieze with stop-fluting to one
long and both short sides, raised on six inverted baluster and cup-turned legs, each
headed by original S-scroll and leaf-carved spandrels and joined by high plain stretchers, 299cm wide 89cm high 80cm deep

Provenance - Haselour Hall, Harlaston Nr Tamworth, Staffordshire. Purchased in the 1980’s.

Haselour Hall, originally in the possession of the Arderne family, passing to the
Stanley family in 1413, upon the marriage of Sir Thomas Stanley (b. 1392) to the sole
Arderne heiress, Matilda (b. 1396). The hall remained in the possession of the
Stanley family until 1508, when John Stanley died without leaving a male heir. The
manor of Haselour continued to be passed through the female line, to the families of
Staunton, Smith and Huddleston, until in 1557 Lucy Huddleston married John
Brooke. The hall remained in the Brooke Family until it was sold to Samuel Dilke in
1672, so ending the lineal descent from the Ardernes and Stanleys which had lasted
for over 350 years. Haselour Hall is noted as the possible resting place of Henry, Earl of Richmond, upon his march from Lichfield to the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, where his victory
over Richard III led to his accession to the throne as Henry VII. It is thought the present hall, although possibly retaining parts dating back to the Arderne ownership, may have been built by the Stanleys. Principally it dates from the 16th century. The half-timber building retains many Tudor features - including the layout without corridors, transomed windows, vast ancient fireplaces and refined oak panelling. The panelling of the old dining hall is especially fine. The chimneypiece in this room - which depicts the Battle of Hastings - is a splendid example of 16th Century oak carving.