Colton House

from Across the Pool which was over the road in front of Colton House
and much larger prior to the building of the three detached properties currently there.

This is the first of a series of old {'Bonney'} photographs dating from the 1880's and 1890's
[Also see the 'Bonney' picture of High Street on the Village History page}

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.

Colton House and the adjacent grounds, though part of the Bellamour Estate, possess an individuality. The house faces the High Road (Bellamour Way) and is occupied by F Bonney, a prominent local Magistrate, photographer and Botanist. {Note that currently the House is privately owned and occupied and not open to the public.} It probably dates from the reign of Queen Anne and has a wide frontage separated from the road by posts and chains common a Century ago.

Before the erection of the present building a roughly built timber house is believed to have been on the site which was thought to have been occupied by Azeline, a Saxon lord of at least four different manors including Colton - or Coltane as recorded in the Domesday survey. At that time the site was unenclosed and was mainly marsh, swamp and bog. It was protected by a ditch and wooden palisade and ancient records describe it as 'standing in a field not far from the church'.

In 1777 the house belonged to Mr William Pigott, a gentleman of good family and later it was occupied by Lady Blount during the building of the newer portion of Bellamour Hall. In 1795 it was purchased by John Heylinger Burt, High Sheriff of Staffordshire in the 45th year of King George III's reign. Mr Burt, who owned a plantation in the West Indies, sold the house to Mr Horsfall in 1805. Subsequent occupiers included Revd. C. S. Landor and Miss Catherine Herbert.

About 40 years ago {i.e. 1852} the house was occupied by Mr. Mills who ran a boys' school there for some time. It was subsequently occupied by Mrs. and the Misses Hill and later was rented to the present occupier {Mr F Bonney} who has greatly improved the appearance of the house and grounds and these are regarded with considerable interest by all who visit. The house is commodious and at the side are coach house and stables. {Note: the present day newer houses in 'Coachman's Walk' and the nearby Coach House} There are extensive grounds at the back.

Mr Bonney is well known all over the district for his great love of flowers. An almost countless number of visitors in Summer time regard these with the greatest interest. {Note however - above - that the House is currently (2002) in private ownership.} There is an extensive vinery and greenhouses the lawn on the side nearest the {Old} Rectory is shaded by some fine old trees. On the other side of the road which runs through the property is a large extent of land known as 'The Plantation'. There is fishing to be had in the lake and this area was originally known as the Dovecote field.

Mr Bonney, the present owner, has a unique collection of pictures from his Australian experiences of Aboriginal life and adventure and he never wearies of exhibiting them and recounting facts and stories of what they illustrate. Every year the children of the village are permitted to visit the grounds and are regaled with refreshments on the lawn beneath the lofty branches of the trees which shield the back of the house from the wind.

Material written by Alfred Williams and printed in 1892