The History of Clayton Hall

The present Clayton Hall, which we use 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 the 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 were not living in the Hall at the time of the April 1841 Census.

The Hall probably originally consisted of a square built around the main stairs.  This would of had a lantern with windows to provide daylight to the centre of the building.  The family rooms were downstairs facing south, and they would open out onto the terraced garden.  There was a large dining room to entertain important guests, as John was very involved in local politics.  The servants wing, which had bedrooms and food preparation area and storage, was at right angles to the Hall.  It was probably separate at first and joined to the Hall at a later date.

John and Mary were wealthy landowners and had three children.  It is worth remembering that the Hall was a family home and that they had about twelve live-in servants to look after them.  The grounds were landscaped and included walks, woods, and ponds, and there was a lawn-tennis court for the newly invented sport.

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 and the fruit trees still situated there are very old.

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.

Eventually a second storey was built above the Billiard Room.  This was a master bedroom with a toilet and bathroom next door, and the room was lined with marble.

The Hall was used as a family home for nearly 100 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. Full Story

The Hall and the wartime buildings became part of Clayton Hall Grammar School for Girls in 1947.  To see a program for the opening of the grammar school in 1948 click here.

The main teaching block and assembly Hall were built in 1963, the technology block in 1978, the mobiles in 1987 and the Sports Hall in 1995.  To see a program for the opening of the extension buildings in 1968 click here

The School has been working hard to keep the heritage alive and make sure that the Hall's history is not forgotten.  As part of Heritage Weekend, the schools doors are opened to the public.

In 1997, the school won a grant of £60,000 to restore a historic garden wall which was originally built in 1840.  Once it was restored, the public were invited to attend a ceremony performed by the Educations Chairman, Cllr John Brooks.