(14) Acklom of Wiseton Hall

Jonathan Acklom of Beverley (1649-1727) purchased Wiseton Hall from the Nelthorpe family in about 1670.  His nephew Richard (1690 or 1694-1758), married twice and his first wife, Elizabeth Stanhope (1697-1722), brought him the High Melwood estate at Owston Ferry (Lincs).  He also owned extensive property at Bawtry (Yorks, WR) which was mostly sold after his death to finance improvements elsewhere on the estate.  Richard’s son Jonathan (1728-1812) carried out extensive enclosure on his estates at Wiseton, Mattersey, Everton, Misson and Scrooby in north Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.  He also rebuilt Wiseton Hall in 1771, and employed William Lindley of Doncaster to extend it in 1787.  At his death, Wiseton passed to his son Richard (1763-1812), who died later the same year, leaving an only daughter and heiress, Esther (1788-1818).  She was described as “a stout and somewhat plain lady of considerable intelligence”, fond of flirting and a great character.  She is said to have fallen in love with John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, heir to the 2nd Earl Spencer, when she was twenty-two and he ten years older, and to have made the fact so plain to him that, although he had not intended to marry, he proposed to her.  They were happily married for four years until she died following a stillbirth; he never remarried and lived at Wiseton Hall until he inherited the Spencer title and estates in 1834.  Wiseton was sold after his death in 1845 to Rev. Christopher Nevile of Thorney (Notts), whose mother was a sister of Richard Acklom (1763-1812); he in turn sold it before 1853 to Rev. Robert Manners Sutton (1813-85).

Wiseton Hall (Nottinghamshire)

Wiseton Hall in 1790, shortly after the addition of the wings

Nothing is known of the Nelthorpe family house at Wiseton, which was demolished when a five bay two-and-a-half storey brick house was built for Jonathan Acklom (1728-1812) in 1771.  The new house was extended by William Lindley of Doncaster in 1787 by the addition of a pair of single-storey bow-fronted wings either side of the main block.  It seems quite likely that Lindley was also responsible for the original design, which is much in the style of his other known houses of this date.  The house shown in an engraving of 1790 was still clearly recognisable in early 20th century photographs, but during the Second World War the house became badly dilapidated and it was demolished in 1960.    

Wiseton Hall in 1909.  Picture courtesy of Lost Heritage - Demolished Country Houses of England 

Wiseton Hall in 2012.

A new neo-Georgian house was then built on the site for Maj-Gen. Sir Robert Laycock in 1962, on his return from the governorship of Malta.  It is a neat rectangular brick house of seven bays and two storeys, with a low-pitched tiled roof.  The drawing room and dining room have handsome marble chimneypieces and the library has fitted Adamesque bookcases.

Previous owners: Jonathan Acklom (1649-1727); to son, Richard Acklam (1690-1754); to son, Jonathan Acklom (1728-1812); to son, Richard Acklom (1763-1812); to daughter, Esther Acklom (1788-1818), wife of John Charles Spencer, Viscount Althorp (1782-1845); to widower (later 3rd Earl Spencer); sold c.1845 to Rev. Christopher Nevile (1806-77); sold before 1853 to Rev. Robert Manners Sutton) (1813-85), who sold (on inheriting Scawby Hall, Lincs in right of his wife) 1863 to Joseph Laycock (d. 1881); to son, Robert Laycock (d. 1881); to son, Brig-Gen. Sir Joseph Frederick Laycock kt (1867-1952); to son, Maj-Gen. Sir Robert Edward Laycock kt (1907-68); to son, Joseph William Peter Laycock (1938-80); to son, Robert Laycock (b. 1973), who sold 1992 to Richard Budge (b. 1947), colliery owner (RJB Mining etc); for sale again 2012.

The Ackloms of Wiseton Hall

Acklom, Jonathan (1651-1738), of Wiseton Hall. The son of Josiah Acklom (c.1623-61) of Beverley; born at Beverley, 14 November 1651.  He married Millicent, daughter and co-heir of Edward Munday of Radbourne (Derbys) and had issue:
(1) Jonathan Acklom, who died while a pupil at Eton.
He purchased Wiseton Hall (Notts) from the Nelthorpe family c.1670; and may have lived partly in Bawtry (Yorks WR) where he also owned property.  At his death he bequeathed his estates to his nephew, Richard Acklom.
He died in 1727.

Acklom, Richard (1690-1758), of Wiseton Hall. The son of John Acklom (1649-1727) and his wife Elizabeth (nee Newbury); born 1690 (or according to some sources, 1694).  He married 1st, 1719, Elizabeth Stanhope (1697-1722) and 2nd, 1726, Elizabeth  (1702-72), daughter of Sir George Cooke bt. of Wheatley, and had issue:
(1.1) Isabella Acklom (b. and d. 1720); 
(2.1) Katherine Acklom (1727-1809), born 13 May 1727, m. 7 May 1759 Rev. Robert Ingram, vicar of Worminghall and rector of Boxstead (Essex) and had issue; 
(2.2) Jonathan Acklom (1728-1812) (q.v.); 
(2.3) Elizabeth Acklom (1730-1811 or 1817), born at Wiseton 15 February 1729/30, m. 24 May 1761 Robert Dalzell (1738-88), son of 5th Earl of Carnwath and had issue; 
(2.4) George Acklom of Maldon (Essex) (1731-1806), Captain in 61st Foot, born at Adwick, 4 February 1730/1, m. Mary Evett (b. 1735) of Colchester and had issue; 
(2.5) John Acklom (1731-1806), Lt-Col. in 61st Foot; born at Wiseton, 21 December 1731;
(2.6) Dorothy Acklom (1733-62), born 28 July 1733; died of smallpox, unmarried, 1762.
He inherited estates at Wiseton Hall (Notts) and Bawtry (Yorks WR) and acquired High Melwood, Owston Ferry (Lincs) by his first marriage.
He died 28 May 1758 and was buried at Bawtry.

Acklom, Jonathan (1728-1812), of Wiseton Hall.  The son of Richard Acklom (1690-1758) and his second wife, Elizabeth (1702-72), daughter of Sir George Cooke bt. of Wheatley; born at Adwick, 12 September 1728.  An improving landlord, who undertook the inclosure of his estates in the 1760s.  He married at Beverley Minster, 7 July 1760 Mary (b. 1737), daughter of Marmaduke Constable of Wassand Hall and had issue:
(1) Anne Elizabeth Acklom (1762-1813), m. 1797 Christopher Nevile (1769-1844) of Thorney and had issue; 
(2) Richard Acklom (1763-1812) (q.v.); 
(3) Mary Acklom (b. 1764), m. George Acklom, son of George Acklom of Maldon (Essex); 
(4) Jonathan Acklom (1765-76) dsp; 
(5) Marmaduke Acklom (b. 1766), ?dsp;
(6) Lucy Acklom (1768-1839), m. 1796 Rev. Charles Constable (b. 1773) of Wassand Hall (Yorks);
(7) Rose Acklom (b. 1770); ?dsp.
He inherited Wiseton Hall from his father in 1758, rebuilt it in 1771 and extended it in 1787.  
He died in 1812.

Acklom, Richard (1763-1812), of Wiseton Hall.  The son of Jonathan Acklom (1728-1812) and his wife Mary, daughter of Marmaduke Constable of Wassand Hall (Yorks); born at Wiseton, 1 June 1763.  He married at Cork, 21 September 1785, Elizabeth (1764-1840), daughter of James Bernard MP of Castle Bernard (Cork) and sister of 1st Earl of Bandon, and had issue:
(1) Jonathan Charles Acklom (1787-89), dsp; 
(2) Esther Acklom (1788-1818) (q.v.).
He inherited Wiseton Hall from his father in 1812 but died a few months later, leaving his estates to his daughter, Esther.
He died in 1812. His widow died at Leamington Spa (Warks) and was buried at Brington (Northants), 25 March 1840; her will was proved in the PCC, 1 April 1840.

Spencer (nee Acklom), Esther (1788-1818), of Wiseton Hall.  The daughter of Richard Acklom (1763-1812) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of James Bernard of Castle Bernard (Cork); born 1788.  Described as "a stout and somewhat plain lady of considerable intelligence, fond of flirting".  She is said to have fallen in love with Viscount Althorp when she was twenty-two and he ten years older, and to have made the fact so plain to him that, although he had not intended to marry, he proposed to her.  Another version of the story says she proposed to him!  She married 13 April 1814 in Upper Brook Street, London, John Charles Spencer (1782-1845), Viscount Althorp (later 3rd Earl Spencer), but had no surviving issue.  She died in London following a stillbirth, 11 June 1818.  On her death the estate passed to her husband and was sold following his death in 1845.

Sources

John Throsby, Thoroton's history of Nottinghamshire, reprinted with large additions, 1796,  vol. 3, pp. 309-11; George Poulson, The history and antiquities of the seigniory of Holderness, 1840, pp. 454-55; Notts Guardian, 26 June 1863, p. 1; L Jacks, The Great Houses of Nottinghamshire and the County Families, (1881); J.M. Robinson, The latest country houses, 1984, pp. 232-33.

Where are their papers?

Acklom family of Wiseton Hall: deeds and estate papers, 16th-19th cents, Northamptonshire Record Office, S(A).

Revision and acknowledgements

This post was first published on 17 March 2013 and was revised 15 October 2015 and 7 October 2024. I am most grateful to the late Dr. Margaret Procter for additional information.