In  south Staffordshire, at the end of a very narrow lane, and nestling just under the M54, is an unprepossessing brick farmhouse.

Yet it was witness to a remarkable period of English history. Let me take you back more than 360 years to 8 September 1651.

The main entrance of Moseley Old Hall

South facing aspect and knot garden

It’s almost three years since Charles I was executed. The Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell and his Parliamentarians, are firmly in control of the reins of government. Yet there is still widespread opposition to the Commonwealth of England, ruled as a republic, and Charles II (although not crowned for another decade) has just attempted to defeat Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester (just a few miles south of where I live) a few days before, chiefly with the support of Scottish troops. Instead, heavily outnumbered, Charles was defeated, and had to flee for his life. On that dark morning three days later he finally arrived at this Elizabethan farmhouse, Moseley Old Hall, with a small group of retainers.

Built in 1600  by Thomas Whitgreave (and in fact occupied by the Whitgreave family until 1925), it was one of his Catholic and Royalist descendants who gave sanctuary to Charles over the course of a couple of nights, even as parliamentary troops were scouring the countryside in their bid to capture the king. At one point they arrived at Moseley but were convinced by Thomas Whitgreave that he had nothing to hide; the six foot plus king was hiding upstairs in a secret priest-hole, just four feet square and a couple of feet or so deep – hardly a comfortable place for someone of Charles’ stature. In fact it was so uncomfortable that Charles chose to sleep fully-clothed in a four poster bed that is still there in the ‘King’s bedroom’ at Moseley Old Hall. Charles did manage to escape to France, and although in disguise, his height and swarthy complexion almost gave him away on a couple of occasions.

In 1651, Moseley Old Hall would have looked very different than it does today. It started life as a typical half-timbered Elizabethan building – looking rather like Little Moreton Hall that we visited last September. However, in the nineteenth century the outer skin of the half-timbered structure was removed, and replaced with the bricks – a veneer almost – that we see today. Once inside however, the house is pure seventeenth century, and many parts of the house have not changed in centuries.

Moseley Old Hall as it would have looked as a typical Elizabethan half-timbered building.

Moseley Old Hall is not a large property, but it has some real treasures. Many pieces of furniture are original to the property as are several of the altar ornaments in the attic chapel. Normally, Steph and I choose not to take a guided tour, preferring to wander around at our own pace. But because we could see that the hall might become quite congested, we did opt to take the tour, just fourteen of us in our tour. And it was worth every minute.

‘Mistress Whitgreave’ describing the features of an upstairs parlor.

On the ground floor the brew-house retains many of its original features, including a chute from the attic down which grain would have been dropped in preparation for brewing. There is an open kitchen and dining room, and a parlor with several original paintings.

Platters in the brew-house

Slipware – for cider

The kitchen and dining area

The knot garden from the downstairs parlor.

The main feature on the first floor is the King’s bedroom and priest-hole. In the attic there is a Catholic chapel, which could only become an openly acknowledged feature once Catholics were permitted in 1791 to practise their religion under strictly prescribed conditions.

The backstairs leading to the first floor.

The bed in which Charles II slept.

The priest-hole is through this door, under the floor.

Fireplace in the upstairs parlor.

Portrait of Charles I.

The main staircase, leading also to the attic.

The attic.

Original Tudor chimneys.

The Catholic chapel.

The ceiling of the chapel was decorated after 1791 when the existence of the chapel could be openly acknowledged.

Anteroom between the chapel and a bedroom.

The knot garden at Moseley Old Hall

The main gate of Moseley Old Hall.

The gardens are not large, but there is an exquisite knot garden on the south side of the building. Alongside is a small orchard (with a lonely peacock wandering about). recently the National Trust has acquired a small piece of woodland to the west of the property and this has also been opened to visitors.

Moseley Old Hall was full of surprises – not what I had expected at all. Its royal connections certainly make it worthy of preservation as one of the National Trust’s properties. Had Charles been captured who knows what the dynastic consequences might have been. Another case of ‘What if?’