History
The present Clayton Hall, which is used as part of the college, is at least the third Hall on or near the current site. There was a Hall on Clayton Road where Barn Court is currently situated. This belonged to the Lovatt Family, local landowners at the time. The second Hall was opposite the Nuffield Hospital, it eventually belonged to Mary Lovatt Booth, the sole survivor of the Lovatt and Booth families. She was a local heiress and married John Ayshford Wise in 1837. The Hall and the family are featured in John Ward's book, Stoke-upon-Trent of 1842.
The family did not live at Clayton Hall, as it was a little run down at the time. They had a new Hall built on the present site as newlyweds. In order to provide more private grounds Clayton Lane was moved to its present position, however, it originally ran through the College grounds. The Hall appeared to be occupied by the family by November 1841. Their elder daughter planted a tree near the drive, and there is still a plaque there now. The family was not living in the Hall at the time of the April 1841 Census. John Ayshford Wise and his wife were wealthy landowners and had three children.
Behind the Hall were separate laundry rooms, a stable and a coach house, and food storage areas for fresh produce from the estate. The orchard dates from this time. By 1891, when the Hall was put up for sale, a single storey Billiard Room had been built. This is the present Library. The ceilings in this area are highly decorated with papier-mâché and pierced coving, and the rooms that were used by the family have chimney breasts for open fires.
The Hall was used as a family home for nearly one hundred years until 1939. It was then taken over during the Second World War as a training base for Fleet Air-Arm apprentices, and extra outbuildings built. Only the gymnasium, chapel and minibus garage remain from this time. The Hall was painted in camouflage during the war time. It was used as a navy training camp, where a "fake boat" was built to train thousands of young men and women.
Read more about this topic: Clayton Hall Business And Language College
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