Of Saxons and Normans

In 1066 King Harold had to defend his kingdom on two fronts. He was attacked by the Norwegians in the North and the Normans in the South.

Harold and his Saxon army gained a decisive victory over the Norwegians at the Battle of Stamford Bridge just outside of York. There was a local tale that after this battle a chase took place ending up with a Norwegian fighting a Saxon on Standing Flat Bridge which still carries the Doncaster - Pontefract road over the River Went about 200 metres on the Pontefract side of the cross roads at Thorpe Audlin. The story is very similar to that of the actual battle at Stamford Bridge. It is so similar in fact that at one time in the 19th Century it was suggested that the battle occurred at Thorpe Audlin.

Harold lost his life and crown to William the Conqueror at Hastings in 1066 and England was subsequently subject to Norman laws and institutions.

King William owned all the land and parcelled it out amongst his followers. They in turn allocated some of their lands to their followers and so on down the line. A grant of land was given in return for services and / or goods. At a later period money replaced some of these goods and services. Not infrequently land was given to churches and monasteries as a form of insurance for the donor's afterlife. It was sometimes stipulated that masses were to be said for the departed souls of the donor and his family.

By 1085 William was somewhat concerned as to who owned what and how much it was all worth. At the Christmas court at Gloucester it was decided to carry out a great survey. This survey resulted in the compilation of the Domesday Book.

The Doomsday Book

Information was gathered about estates across the land and Rogerthorpe, like hundreds of other settlements, made its first recorded appearance.

Briefly the survey set out to answer the questions:

Who owns what now?

Who owned it in 1066?

What was it worth then and now?

How much revenue could it supply?

The return in respect of Rogerthorpe was included in that for Badsworth, Thorpe Audlin and Upton. It would be reasonable to assume that the main settlement was at Badsworth which was probably the centre of a Saxon / Danish estate prior to the conquest. The church for the area is recorded as being at Badsworth. It is thought that after conversion to Christianity landowners provided a church for their estate. This eventually gave rise to the Parish and explains why it was normal, until recent times, for landowners, not bishops, to appoint priests to their churches.

The derivation of the names of the surrounding settlements also seem to suggest that Badsworth was the centre of power.

Badsworth=Baeddi's worth. Baeddi is the name of the first person associated with the settlement and "worth" means an enclosed sure about a village.

Upton is literally the Up Town relative to Badsworth as it is on the hill above.

Thorpe means a farm or very small outlying settlement relative to a larger village. ( in all probability, Badsworth ).

Rogerthorpe is the settlement associated possibly with rye or more likely a person called Rugar.

Thorpe Audlin is the settlement associated with a person named Aldeline or Aldhelm although the Domesday Book simply refers to it as "Thorp".

" In Badsworth, Upton & Rogerthorpe (Manor), 2 brothers had 9 carucates & 5 bovates of land taxable where 6 ploughs are possible. Now Ilbert has 1.5 ploughs and 13 villages & 11 small holders who have 5 ploughs. A church is there and a priest. Meadow, 1.5 acres; woodland pasture, 1 league long & 3 furlongs wide. Value before 1066 £3; now the same.

In Thorpe [ Audlin ] Alsige had 6 carucates & 3 bovates of land taxable where 5 ploughs are possible. Now Ralph has (it) from Ilbert. He himself (has) there 1.5 ploughs and 8 villagers & 6 smallholders who have 3.5 ploughs. There is there, 1 millsite; meadow, i acre. Value before 1066 £4: now 40/-."

For those who enjoy mental gymnastics the following information is useful :-

A carucate of land is that area which will provide enough food to support a household and will thus vary from place to place according to the fertility of the soil. It approximates to about 120 acres.

The Carucate is subdivided such that

1 Carucate=4 Yokes

1 Yoke=2 Bovates

The Carucate was derived from the Caruca, a plough pulled by 8 oxen which was reckoned to be capable of ploughing an acre in the forenoon. The Bovate comes 1 oxen thus is equals 1/8th of a Carucate. ( If you lived in the South of England you calculated in terms of Hides unless you lived in Kent where the unit was the Sulung. The modern move to metrication does have its advantages ! ).

The term plough in the book equates to 8 oxen thus Ilber has 12 oxen ( ie 1.5 ploughs ). The mill would have been a water mill as windmills were not known in this country.

The names of the brothers who owned the land in 1066 are unknown. They were probably 2 brothers who inherited the estate from their father. The Ilber referred to is Ilbert de Lacy of Pontefract Castle.

Rogerthorpe Manor Owners and Residents

Land ownership was a technical business and has its own terms which are worth clarifying.

Although today we often use the terms "village" and "manor" in an interchangeable way there is a difference. A "village" is a small rural community usually principally engaged in agricultural activities. A "manor" on the other hand is a unit of lordship which may include one, some or no "villages". The Lord of the Manor derived his income from the sale of produce on his own land ( the home farm or "desmene" ), rents from dependant tenantry and profits of jurisdiction exercised in the manoral court. A particular lord may have had estates made up of many manors ( sometimes referred to as an "Honour" as in the Honour of Pontefract ) some of which, with their desmenes, he may rent to others. A tenant living in the manor would not be Lord of the Manor and his income would only be derived from sale of produce from the land he was renting plus any income from subletting. Even purchase of the manor house and lands would not necessarily confer the lordship of the manor on the purchaser.

In early times our ancestors banded together for their own defence and to maintain law and order in their society. These groups were usually referred to as "Hundreds" in the South of England and "Wapentakes" in the North. The area over which a manoral court had jurisdiction was known as a "Soke" or "Bailiwick". Thus Rogerthorpe together with Badsworth and Upton formed a Soke which was part of the Osgoldcross Wapentake. All of this was part of the Honour of Pontefract.

the manor and / or lived upon it is virtually impossible because:

• the exact extent of the lands owned by the manor is unknown,
• as mentioned above the residents were not necessarily the owners,
• when land was granted or sold to others it did not necessarily involve the total manor holdings. Parcels of land only may have been transacted.
• In many instances residence / ownership is inferred from documents such as records of fines etc and the inference may not always be correct.

The owner of The Honour of Pontefract, which included Rogerthorpe Manor, at the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 was Ilbert de Lacy of Pontefract Castle. William the Conqueror granted many estates to Ilbert and it is a certainty that Ilbert did not live at Rogerthorpe.

Shortly after the compilation of the Domesday Book the de la Val family acquired the estate because 6 carucates of land in Rogerthorpe and Thorpe Audlin were granted to the Augustinian Canons at Nostell Priory in 1166 by Hugh de la Val.

At some time between 1177 and 1193 Prior Arkentill of Nostell Priory released the claim on the land to Robert de Lacy. This was during the time of Richard the Lion Heart; a period of time we popularly associate with the crusades and Robin Hood. Rogerthorpe is situated on the edge of Barnsdale Forest where the Robin of legend had many adventures.

Much as the thought of Robin entertaining Robert de Lacy in the greenwood is appealing it simply could not have happened. There are many theories as to who Robin Hood actually was and some associate him with this area although at a much later date. One of the many anachronisms in the popular tale is the presence of Friar Tuck. There were no Friars in this country until after the death of King John who followed King Richard.

A survey in 1316 showed that the settlement at Rogerthorpe was in decline. At that time Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, held the Honour of Pontefract.

Thomas was at odds with his cousin Edward II over the latter's excesses and favouritism towards Piers Gaveston ( the King's "friend" ). In 1321 Thomas had Gaveston executed. Thomas himself was beheaded for treason in Pontefract Castle in 1321 after he had been captured by Edward II at the battle of Boroughbridge. Thomas's lands were confiscated by the Crown. These lands, however, were shortly returned to his brother, Henry, Earl of Lancaster, after he led a revolt and replaced Edward II with Edward III. On the death of Henry's son, another Henry, in 1361 the Honour of Pontefract passed to John of Gaunt ( the third son of Edward III referred to in Shakespear's "Richard II" as "Time-honour'd Lancaster" ) who has married Henry's daughter Blanche de Lacy.

In 1343 Sir Simon de Balderstone purchased land in Rogerthorpe from Adam son of Adam de Leythorpe and Robert son of Adam Karkeys. Richard de Balderstone, probably a descendant of Sir Simon, granted his manor of Rogerthorpe to John Ellyswyk and William Cumbulholme in 1442.

There is another jump of almost 200 years to 1610, during the reign of James I, when Walter Rudston is recorded as living here and the plot now thickens.

At the time of his death James I owned the Honour of Pontefract and James was greatly in debt to the merchants of the City of London. The Lord Mayor of London in 1597 was the wealthy man of consequence, Sir Richard Saltonstal. In the early 1600's the resident at Rogerthorpe, and man who started to build the present house, was Samuel Saltonstal whom we shall refer to as Samuel ( I ).

Samuel ( I ) was the son of Samuel Saltonstal of the Rookes in Hipperholm and nephew of the Lord Mayor. We also know that Samuel ( I ) married the daughter of William Rudston of Hayton who is recorded as living in the house in 1610 although neither Rudston nor Saltonstal are evident from a legal case in 1570. Did Samuel ( I ) acquire the estate via the influence of his uncle who perhaps had contacts "in the City" for land which King James had sold to help meet his debts? Perhaps his father-in-law came to live with him or maybe Samuel ( I ) acquired Rogerthorpe by simply marrying the daughter of a previous owner.

The ownership of Rogerthorpe passed to Samuel ( I )'s son Samuel ( II ) who married the daughter of John Flower of Methley. Samuel ( II ) passed the estate on to his son Samuel ( III ) Saltonstal who married the daughter of John Shann also of Methley. Samuel ( III ) was recorded living at Rogerthorpe in 1666 ( the year of the Great Fire of London ). There are records of legal cases involving Saltonstals about tax in 1666 and a dispute in 1602. In November 1995 the name "John Saltonstal" was discovered carved into the stonework on the eastern side of the outer porch of the south facing fire escape doorway.

The Saltonstal family were living at Rogerthorpe before, during and after the English Civil War which resulted in the execution of Charles I, rise and death through natural causes ( in which malaria played a part ) of Oliver Cromwell and Restoration of Charles II. Their assets were seized by the County Commissioners in 1648 but appear to have been returned intact.

Pontefract Castle was the scene of much action during this time and some of this action spilled over into the Rogerthorpe area. During the second siege a group of Royalist horse soldiers broke out and raided Badsworth which must have then been a Parliamentary camp because on 15 March 1645, 67 Parliamentary prisoners, 130 horses and £1000 in cash were captured from Col Brandling's quarters there.

"Extract from Diary of the Castle at Pontefract, during the second siege for the month of March 1645

The garrison of the castle of Pontefract availed themselves of the opportunity they now enjoyed of providing as ample a supply as possible for future contingencies. They made several excursions, and levied heavy contributions on the surrounding country. They seized the cattle, and laid in a stock of provisions. Necessity, they considered, destroyed the claims of private right; and whatever they could seize, they deemed it proper to take for their own use. The inhabitants of the town and the surrounding country, were alternately exposed to the exactions of the royalists and parliamentarians; and were equally insecure which ever party prevailed.

On the 11th of March, Capt. Laborne and another taking a ride from the castle, towards Wentbridge, and meeting with Mr. Ellis, of Brampton, a great sequestrator, and a quartermaster, took them both and brought them prisoners to the castle. They afterwards made excursions to Turnbridge at Badsworth beyond Ackworth, a small station belonging to the enemy, which they attacked, and took Lieut. Col. Lee, Lieut. Col. Ledger, and three horses.

On the 15th a party went out towards Doncaster, and meeting with Col. Branding's regiment, they routed it and took one major, one lieutenant, and about one hundred horse. Another party, on the same night, paid a second visit to Turnbridge, and plundered the enemy's storehouse of whatever it contained."

One of the two ghost stories associated with Rogerthorpe Manor relates to this time. The ghost of a cavalier is said to have been seen by a visiting Frenchman some years ago. There is also a story which says a Royalist Officer returned home to Rogerthorpe and his little daughter ran out to meet him. She was so excited at seeing her father that she ran in front of his horse and was killed. Another version of this tale says the little girl was run down by the horse of a huntsman and was killed. ( The Badsworth Hunt has been in existence since the C18. Could there be a connection? ). Her Grandmother, who was upstairs, witnessed the accident and rushed to the scene and on the way fell downstairs and broke her neck.

Whatever the truth of the tragic tale the Saltonstals fared better than their neighbours at Badsworth Hall. Robert Dolman, a Royalist, owned Badsworth Hall at the start of the Civil War and were ordered to be sold for treason against the parliament and the people by an Act passed in 1652. These estates were purchased by a very eminent parliamentarian, John Bright, of whom the Saltonstals would probably have been very wary.

John Bright came from Sheffield where his father and he were in the lead trade. At the outbreak of war he allied himself with Parliament and rose to great eminence becoming an acquaintance of Cromwell himself and taking part in many of his battles. In 1660, however, John Bright was so active in helping to bring about the restoration of Charles II that he was knighted for his pains and became Sir John Bright. His tomb can be seen in Badsworth Church. ( One of his descendants was Dr Bright of Bristol after whom "Bright's disease" is named and another Bright descendant oversaw the laying of the transatlantic cable ).

In 1709 Susan Saltonstal married into the Sunderland family and records reveal a Sunderland family living here from 1709 to 1720.

In the late C18 Colonel Edward Rawstorne resided with his family at Rogerthorpe Manor. It is highly likely that he spent some of his time in India because in Badsworth churchyard, just outside of the South door, stands a large pyramid-like tombstone with the following inscription :

"In memory of Osmond Alexander a native from the capital of Hindustan. He departed this life on 18th July 1788. In years a stripling, in person handsome, a temper and disposition most amiable, an honest lad and a faithful servant. This stone is erected by direction of his master colonel Edward Rawstorne. In memory of his adoration and regard". In St Anne's Chapel ( once known as the Rogerthorpe Chapel ) in Badsworth church is another memorial that reads :

"To the memory of Elizabeth Jane Rawstorne daughter of Col Edward Rawstorne died August 30 1788 aged 14 years".

The church register gives cause of death of Osmond as "Decline" and Elizabeth as "Consumption". It also gives Osmond's age as about 14. Were they friends in India? Obviously Osmond was very highly regarded.

( In the last century, and early this, the children of the area believed that if you ran seven times around Osmond Alexander's tomb he would appear. Apparently the most anyone did was six circuits before discretion took the better part of valour. )

Perhaps it is no coincidence that the Rector of Badsworth at this time was Rev William Rawstorne. He died in 1790 having been Rector of Badsworth for 52 years. His memorial too is in St Anne's Chapel.

Mrs Kitchingham is recorded as the owner in 1816. The Kitchingham family came from Carlton Husthwaite and Leeds. They bought the adjoining Manor of Upton in 1688. Rogerthorpe and half the manor at Upton was then inherited from the Kitchinghams by Charles Oxley of Ripon.

The tenancy of Rogerthorpe Manor ( described as a farmhouse in 1822 ) passed to Roger and Mary Mason. Roger died aged 60, on 5th December1793 "of inflammation of the bowel" and his wife Mary died, aged 82, on 30 December 1831. Both are buried and commemorated in St Anne's chapel in Badsworth church. Roger and Mary had one child, a daughter named Sarah who was born in 1775.

Sarah Mason married Joshua ( I ) Hepworth and they in turn resided at the Manor house. They had two sons, John Mason Hepworth and Joshua ( II ). Joshua ( II ) was born in December 1801 and John Mason at some time before.

About this period Rogerthorpe's next reputed ghost appeared. It is said to be the spectre of a pale faced child dressed in Victorian clothes who has been seen and heard rattling doors in the Manor house.

Joshua ( I ) went to live in Ackworth where he died in January 1834 leaving his two sons John and Joshua ( II ) at Rogerthorpe.

In 1838 John left Rogerthorpe for Eden Place in Ackworth ( possibly after marrying Sarah, the daughter of Smith and Sarah Newall of Littleborough, Lancashire ) leaving his younger brother, Joshua ( II ) at the Manor. John later purchased Ackworth House in 1865 and let off Eden Place. Joshua ( II ) was later to spend his last years, presumably as a widower, in John's old house at Eden Place. It was here that Joshua ( II ) died, childless, early in 1879.

Joshua ( II ) married Sarah Cope Allott the daughter of Rev George Allott, the vicar of South Kirby. He took an active part in Badswoth parish affairs. In his twenties Joshua (II) was a trustee of the Badsworth Church Estate. This source of church income was financed by rents from land left specifically for the purpose of helping to maintain the churchyard, walls, gates and fabric of the church itself ( with the exclusion of the chancel which was traditionally the responsibility of the Rector. ) In the middle of the C19 he purchased much land in Thorpe Audlin.

In the 1851 Census, when he was 49, Joshua ( II ) Hepworth farmed a total of 270 acres and employed 9 labourers, a groom and 3 female house servants. By 1861 his farm had increased to 300 acres and he employed 8 men and 2 servants on the land as well as a groom, cook and dairymaid.

Joshua Hepworth's personal account book still survives in the John Goodchild Collection in Wakefield. Amongst other things it records that William Pease, a Pontefract joiner, undertaker, decorator ( and mineral water manufacturer! ) painted a room white and grey in 1869 and in 1870 papered much of the rest of the house.

Both John and Joshua ( II ) died in 1879, Joshua ( II ) predeceasing his brother. Joshua (II) left a personal estate of £6000, £100 of which was to go to his successor, William Brackenridge, at Rogerthorpe Manor.

William Brackenridge remained at Rogerthorpe Manor for only a few years and the tenancy passed to Lt Col Ramsden who moved here from Park Hill at Wetherby in the 1880s. It must obviously have been a good move because the Colonel purchased Rogerthorpe Manor from E. B. Oxley of Ripon in November 1891. The Purchase price was £12,000 for the house, manor and 214 acres. ( This gives a rough price of £50 / acre which accords with the price of Badsworth Hall and Manor purchased by Richard Heywood-Jones in the 1850s ). He ran a model dairy farm at Rogerthorpe.

Lt Col William John Frecheville Ramsden saw the light of day on 22 May 1845 at 39 Belgrave Square, London. He was the 4th son of Capt Henry James Ramsden ( late of the 9th Lancers ) and his mother was Frederica Selina Law, 5th daughter of Lord Ellensborough, Lord Chief Justice of England.

On 28 October 1864 he was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards with whom he served until he retired in May 1883 having risen to the rank of Lt Colonel. During his time with the Guards he was posted to Egypt and fought at the battle of Tel-el-Kebir in 1882. He was awarded The Egypt Medal with the Tel-el-Kebir clasp and the Khedive's medal.

Whilst serving with the army he married Miss Mabel Lindsay, 2nd daughter of Lt General the Hon Sir J. Lindsay MP, KCMG ( Earl of Crawford ) on 13th February 1877. They had no children but Miss Lindsay " who is well known for her good works" resided with them for many years at Rogerthorpe.

After Retirement from the Guards he enlisted as a Captain in the Yorkshire Dragoons ( Yeomanry, the forerunner of the Territorial Army ) in 1889 and served with them until 1892. He re-enlisted as a Major in 14th Battn West Riding Volunteer Regt in August 1917 at the age of 72 ready to defend his homeland in the event of a German invasion.

As well as his farming and military interests he found time to be a member of the Badsworth Hunt ( of which he was Master in 1892 ) and travel in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain and Belgium. He was member of the Traveller's Club and the Wellington Club in London.

The Colonel also found time for participating in local affairs. He was a Church Warden at Badsworth church for 40 years ( he still held the post at his death ) as well as being one of the oldest magistrates in the Upper Osgoldcross Division having been created a JP in 1878.

His obituary describes him as a "Conservative of the old school" and for 6 years he served as such on the West Riding County Council for Hemsworth Division.

Perhaps he and his wife saw their finest hours during the 1914-18 War.

In September 1914 the following letter was displayed in the village shop at Thorpe Audlin.

"Are there no young men in Thorpe Audlin from the age of 19 who should rise to take a share in the work of defending England's shores? Let it not be said that Thorpe Audlin was too poor spirited to give any of her sons to help ( in the hour of need ) General Lord Roberts and Kitchener's call to arms - Mabel Ramsden the wife of a soldier and the daughter of a soldier."

So far as could be ascertained at the time there was up to noon Wed (2 Sept 1914) but one recruit from Thorpe Audlin, Albert Hemming, footman at Rogerthorpe Manor, who had joined the Coldstream Guards. ( Albert Hemming appears on the War Memorial in Badsworth Church. He was killed in France on 25th January 1915 ).

The replacement footman was A.E. Hirst who was too old to serve in the Army but his son, Horace, enlisted also in the Coldstream Guards. Thankfully he survived the war.

The Colonel's chauffeur was less fortunate. Joe Dent lost his son John Henry at Hooge in the Ypres salient during 1915 whilst serving with the 2nd Battn Yorks and Lanc. Henry, as he was known locally, has no known grave but name is recorded on the Menin Gate in Ypres.

Apart from exhorting the local male population to enlist both Colonel and Mrs Ramsden contributed practically to the war effort. Mrs Ramsden organised knitting and sewing groups in Thorpe Audlin supplying such items as sandbags and articles of clothing for the troops. The effort must have been considerable because she received a letter of thanks acknowledging the 500 articles of clothing that had been received by October 1914. She also organised letters and parcels to Sgt Allan Marshall from Thorpe Audlin who was a prisoner of war in Germany.

Colonel Ramsden assisted with local military training and served on the appeals panel for those requesting exemption from call up. He obviously took his duties seriously.

Early in 1916 Arthur Eyre, a tailor of Thorpe Audlin, appealed against the call up of one of his sons saying all his sons were in the army and this was the last one at home. If this 26 year old son was to go his business would fold. The appeal was successful. In April 1916 Colonel Marsden made a counter appeal saying he had seen the son in question following the Badsworth Hunt on a bicycle and at another time helping a local farmer therefore his contribution to the tailoring trade could not have been that essential. The appeals panel agreed with the Colonel. Young Eyre was told he had three months in which to help his father sort out the business and then report for Army duty. He survived the war but another young Eyre was not so lucky.

Colonel Ramsden also played his part in keeping the Badsworth Hunt together so that it would still be in existence for the troops to return to after the war. The current Master, Capt Foster, was then away at the front with the Linconshire Cavalry.

The Colonel died on 7th January 1927 at the age of 81 after having been seriously ill for a fortnight.

His funeral took place at Badsworth on Tuesday 12 Jan 1927. It was a simple affair. The coffin was brought from Rogerthorpe Manor on a farm wagon preceded by a posse of policeman led by Superintendent Fairbairn and Inspector Elliot. The bearers were 3 sergeants and 3 company sergeant majors from 1st Bttn Coldstream Guards. These soldiers had come from London for the event under the command of Lt Col Tollemach.

The mourners followed behind the cart. The chief mourners were his 3 nephews Capt. F. Ramsden, Col Ramsden Joddrell CMG and Col Josalyn Ramsden. Miss Lindsay, Major Brown Lindsay DSO, MC and the Rev J.J. Antrobus were also present.

The service, which was choral, was conducted by Rector D.W. Maclagan. The lesson was read by Rev J.J. Antrobus a cousin of the Colonel's. The choir and Badsworth Choral Society sang "The King of love" and "For all the saints". The coffin was carried down the aisle to the strains of Nunc Dimittis played by the organist, Mr Waring.

In June 1928 Mabel Ramsden died and in August Rogerthorpe Manor House, estate and Furnishings which had been left to Colonel Ramsden's nephew, Lt Col Josslyn Vere Ramsden, were sold by auction this was completed on 1st October 1928 with Rogerthorpe Manor Farm with 77.716 acres and "The Manor House and its immediate surroundings of 3.598 acres was purchased by Joyce Ethelin, the wife of John Ralph Patientius Warde-Aldam of Frickley Hall, Doncaster. The Walde-Adams continued to live at Frickley Hall but the next resident at Rogerthorpe was Mrs P.S. Nevile. She lived there until some time after 1936.

Mrs Nevile is remembered in Badsworth for allowing her car, driven by her chauffeur Mr Watson, who was also the gardener at Rogerthorpe Manor, to be used once a year to help transport young members of the choir to Scarborough on their annual treat. It is believed his son Billy Watson still lives in the area. ( the other car used for this treat belonged to the two Miss Heywood-Jones who lived in Badsworth Grange. Their chauffeur was Mr Gray. ) She regularly attended Badsworth parish church, arriving by car, always sat directly under the pulpit and put half a crown ( a considerable sum of money then ) in the collection plate.

On 9th February 1943 the ownership of Rogerthorpe Manor and its 3.598 acres passed to Frank Bramley Jackson, a company director of Jackson's Glassworks on Jackson's Lane in Knottingley. ( By coincidence Mr Birdsall, the present owner of Rogerthorpe, also lived in a house which had also been owned by Mr Jackson )

On 4th January 1944 Jackson had bought the small field of 1 acre and one rood, between the road and the field footpath to Badsworth opposite Rogerthorpe Manor from Minerva Annie Shepperd of Redhill, Castleford the occupant of which was Percy Seal.

On 12th January 1944 Rogerthorpe Manor Farm and its surrounding 77.716 acres passed to Frank Bramley Jackson from owners John Batty Calkeld, of Road Avenue, Blackpool, J.P. and retired Bank Manager; Alexandre Orr Bruce, Raikes Parade, Blackpool, Physician and Surgeon; and Ezra Taylor, "Acacia", Lumley Street, Castleford, J.P. and retired licensed victualler.

In March 1987 Rogerthorpe Manor was once again for sale and this time it was purchased by Melvyn and Caroline Wallis from London. Mrs Wallis knew the area from childhood having members of her family living in Ackworth. The rural surroundings of Rogerthorpe were an added attraction especially for their young family. Mrs Wallis is especially remembered for her cake decorating skills examples of which were photographed for national magazines. Their stay here was to be short. Despite the Wallis's valiant efforts the Manor went into receivership in 1989. ( Mr Birdsall, the current owner, made an unsuccessful bid to purchase Rogerthorpe at this time. )

The next owners were the Wharfe family from Sharlston who took possession in January 1990. Melvyn Wharfe was a property developer and his wife, Anne, was the licensee. they were totally determined that their daughter Joanne should have her wedding reception there. Mrs Wharfe had been taken to Rogerthorpe as a young girl by her parents and had always held it in great affection. They felt that Rogerthorpe had been neglected during the 80s and implied that when they purchased the establishment it was just another somewhat run down public house. From January to June 1990 extensive restorations were carried out including exposing the fine oak ceiling above the bar which had been hidden for years behind "ugly plaster." This restoration may have been too enthusiastically undertaken.