A photo walk around Ash Hall, Werrington Stoke-on-Trent
Job Meigh & the Ash Hall Estate

Purchasing the Mettle House and Ash Estates

Almost immediately after the dissolution (1835) of the partnership with Hicks & Johnson Job Meigh began to prepare for his removal from Bank House (his house on the site of the current Hanley Town Hall) to a new estate on the higher ground overlooking Hanley in the township of Eaves. He was already familiar with this area since the partnership of Hicks, Meigh & Johnson had been renting land in the vicinity since at least the mid 1820s. 

 

Purchase of the Mettle House Estate

On the 7th of October 1836, after the death of Mary Ash at the age of 90, the owner of the Mettle House Estate, the property was put up for sale at the Kings Head Inn, in Shelton. It was advertised in the Staffordshire Advertiser on the 1st of October 1836:

“VALUABLE ESTATE, WITH COAL MINES, &c., IN THE PARISH OF STOKE-UPON-TRENT. TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION BY MR ADAM WALTERS All that DWELLING-HOUSE, called Mettle House, with all necessary Outbuildings and Appurtenances, and about 49 acres 1 rood 32 perches of Arable, Meadow, and Pasture LAND thereto belonging, situate near the Turnpike Road, between Bucknall and Werrington, and in the parish of Stoke-upon-Trent; which said house and lands are now in the possession of Mrs Ellen Bentley. The above property has strong claims to attention. Few opportunities can occur of investing capital to greater advantage, as the estate abounds in coal of most excellent quality, which, from the vicinity of the estate to the Potteries, will always meet with ready sale. The Land is of good quality, and lies in a ring fence. The tenant will show the premises; and any further information may be obtained at the Office of Mr YOUNG, Solicitor, Lane-End.”

 

Purchase of the Ash Estate

The Mettle House Estate was bought by Job Meigh. He was already negotiating with Charles Harvey for the purchase of the adjacent Ash Estate.
Negotiations were sufficiently advanced towards the end of 1836 for Charles Harvey to give notice to his tenant, John Hassell, who was farming 120 acres of land on both sides of the present Ash Bank Road. 

His farming stock was advertised for sale in the Staffordshire Advertiser on the 26th of November 1836:

“FARMING STOCK. TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, BY MR A WALTERS On the premises of Mr John Hassell, who is leaving his farm, at the Ash, near Bucknall, in the parish of Stoke-upon-Trent, on Thursday, December 1st, 1836; COMPRISING a valuable Dairy of COWS, young Stock, excellent team of Horses, several Wheat and Oat Ricks, about 20 tons of Hay. The hay and straw to go off. Waggons, Carts, and other implements in husbandry, dairy and brewing utensils, and other effects. Particulars in handbills. Sale to commence exactly at ten o’clock.”