Bellamour

Note: The following information refers to Bellamour (Hall) only a few remains of which are visible.
Bellamour Lodge is an impressive building in private ownership on the village side of the B5013

The information below is taken from 'Sketches in and around Lichfield and Rugeley {Williams}
printed in 1892 and kindly supplied by Shirley Carter who, with other residents,
has researched widely into Colton's History.

The large estate at Colton known as Bellamour belonged some centuries back to a family of the name of Aston, the same name as those who, presumably, lived at Bellamour. In 1628 Sir Arthur Walter Aston lived at Colton Hall and later Sir Walter Aston is described as a brave commander of Royalist troops in the reign of Charles I. he distinguished himself at the battle of Edge Hill and was Governor of Drogheda in 1649 when it was taken by Cromwell. In 1651 Lord Aston held the presentation right to the living of Colton but it was in the 1638 that Herbert Aston fixed his residence in Colton after his marriage and erected the old mansion known as Bellamour Hall. It is said he derived possession of it from his father and 'the house being in great measure finished by the benevolence and affection of his friends' who called it BELLAMOUR, the French for 'Good Love'. It is said that Mr Aston was so taken with the name that he used it as a pet name for his beautiful young wife who sadly died 20 years after they were married; he lived for a further 31 years. The loving couple are buried at Colton but no inscription is to be found.

Names of subsequent tenants are uncertain but in 1796 Lady Blount, who had probably possessed the estate for some time, caused a larger house to be built close to the old mansion for her son Edward. This was the present Hall (but see the note above) and numerous alterations and additions were subsequently made. In 1825 the property passed into the hands of Mr James Oldham Oldham, a retired Indian Judge whose name is still venerated in Colton. In Colton Church are several stained glass windows to the memory of the Oldham family: the large East window erected by Miss Helen Oldham in memory of her Father and one in the North aisle by the village's inhabitants. There is also a window in memory of Mrs Oldham and a tablet to Mr & Mrs Oldham and their grandson. [Also note Oldhams Cottages near to the War Memorial and opposite the Greyhound Public House]. In 1851 Bellamour Lodge was built by Mr Oldham for his daughters and it is now occupied by Mrs Harland. It is of modern style and the grounds are tastefully laid out.

In 1857, after Mr Oldham's death, the property was purchased by Mr T Horsfall who was MP for Derby prior to being MP for Liverpool from 1853 to 1868. During his lifetime Mr Horsfall made considerable additions to the estate and improved its general appearance. In the village he was esteemed for the interest he took in its inhabitants. The village schools were erected at his expense and were endowed by him. The new cemetery adjoining [now known as the Closed Burial Ground] was presented by him tot he village as a free gift and he also took a very active part in the erection of the District Hospital in Rugeley [now closed and converted into a Rest Home}. Mr Horsfall also built the Reading Room in the village [see the Hall and Events page on this site}. Mrs Horsfall and her family have continued to reside on the estate since Mr Horsfall's death.

Material written by Alfred Williams and printed in 1892