I have never visited Blakesley Hall but have passed by it. Unfortunately, when the more recent renovations were underway the Hall was closed and so on that visit I wasn't able to take the tour.
Going back a few years now and on one of my visits to Birmingham and added to the fact that the Midland Education was still operating on Corporation Street at that time I ventured in for a good look round. On the second floor, whilst I was paying for my purchases I spotted a medium, size box which contained a few old Wills that had been taken from the safe of a city solicitor. They were marked for sale and at approx one or two pounds
each so I decided to have a look through them. I ended up buying four wills and two apprenticeship documents. I was thinking of framing them when I went back to Canada.
One of the wills was made out by a tenant of Blakesley Hall in the late
18th century. The wills are all on parchment and handwritten in copper
plate handwriting which in itself is a work of art. The wills were never framed and I have decided to donate the will made out by the tenant of Blakesley Hall to the Hall since I believe that this is where it belongs. Next time I visit Birmingham I will bring it with me.
Hi There,
Were any of the wills you have in the name of West, my gg grandfather lived close by and his brother had a connection to the hall in the 1800,s