21. Copley and Malsis Hall

(Malsis Hall is the old manor house of Sutton)

The family of Copley of Batley had at one time large possessions in the part of he Aire Valley. In the 14th century a Copley was living at Farnhill Hall, another at Glusburn Hall and yet another, Robert Copley, occupied Malsis Hall in Sutton township. For nearly 300 years some member of the Copley family lived at Malsis Hall, and the name is frequently found in local documents of the Middle Ages. John the son of Adam de Copley was lord of the Manor of Sutton in 1381.

There was a very notable gathering at the ancient hall on April 30th, 1484 to witness the signing of a marriage settlement. By this Lionel Copley granted to his son John, on his marriage to Agnes, daughter of Sir Geoffrey Piggott, a large part of his land in Sutton and other places. The document was signed at Malsis with much state. Some of the witnesses were Sir John Savyle, Sir John Pudsey and Robert Nevile. In addition to the knights who witnessed the deed Sir Geoffrey Piggott was present.

In 1541 John Copley, evidently then the Lord of the Manor of Sutton, in a letter made the following complaint to King Henry VIII.

"To the King our Sovereign Lord - Humbly showeth and complaineth your faithful subject, John Copley, Esq. that your said subject and his ancestors were by the space of 200 years and above, lawfully belonged by good and just title of the Manor of Malsis, and did take the same rents and profits peaceably; one Hugh Blakey, of Malsis, yeoman, without any manner of title or grounds, hath of late, with force of arms, in riotous manner, and against your peace, entered into the manor, and the said Hugh hath in forcible and riotous manner, that is to say, with bows, arrows, stones and hot water, keepeth your said subject from the possession of his Manor; and since his unlawful entry hath pulled down, wasted and destroyed divers houses and buildings, hedges and other enclosures, and hath cut down a good part of the woods growing upon the same Manor. And the said Hugh, by his further evil disposition, hath many and divers rights to put his cattle into the pastures and meadows of your said subject, being parcel of his Manor of Sutton, where the said cattle destroyed the grass, and when they had done so the said Hugh took them out again, early in the morning. And also the said Hugh hath many divers times destroyed the corn, meadows, and pastures of the tenants of the said Manor of Sutton, so that they be not able to pay their rents due. And over that, the said Hugh since the Feast of Easter last past, hath eight several times broken the common pound in Sutton, and taken out of the same pound his cattle, being lawfully impounded in the same for hurts and damages done to your said subject. And also the said Hugh of his malicious mind and evil disposition, since Easter last past with an axe did cut to pieces the stocks, made by the inhabitants of Sutton for the Punishments of vagabonds and beggars, and did cast great pieces of them into the fire; which aforesaid evil acts will be a perilous example to like offenders unless the said Hugh may have condign punishment. In consideration whereof may it please your highness to direct your gracious writ to the said Hugh Blakey, commanding him to appear before your highness and your most honourable council in the Star Chamber."

Hugh must indeed have been a disturbing member of the community. It would be of interest to hear his point of view, and to find out his special grievance against the Lord of the Manor and the Sutton folk. He seems to have continued troubling the neighbourhood for two years later we find that one man, perhaps a relative, could endure him no longer. From the record we find that on May 3rd 1543, "with force of arms, viz - sticks and knives and other defensive weapons two men, Richard Garforth of Kyldwyke, husbandman and Nicholas Johnson, late of Sutton under Soun, mylaer or labourer, of premeditated malice, and by the instigation of the Devil, and voluntarily by the order and procurement of a certain Thomas Blakey, late of Newhall within the township of Sutton under Soun, gentleman" assaulted Hugh Blakey. This happened between 10 and 11pm and on this occasion we are told that Hugh was "then and there in the peace of God and of the lord the King". Richard Garforth held Huh while Nicholas Johnson "with a stick to the value of 3d which he then and there held in his hands felonicously gave to the said Hugh Blakey three mortal wounds," …"of which wounds the said Hugh Blakey then and there instantly died".

They left the body in a hut nearby. Evidently they reported their success to Thomas Blakey for the record he goes on to say that he "agreed with the same Garforth and Johnson and willed and ordered that they on May 4th (the next night) about midnight should go to the said shed, and should carry the body of the said Hugh, then to the water of the Ayre and should put and precipitate into the depth of the said water, the said body".

Richard Garforth evidently bought his pardon or turned Kings Evidence for the document ends "Know ye that we of our special grace and certain knowledge have pardoned the said Richard Garforth late of Kyldwyke the murder of the said Hugh &c,&c,… and grant to him our firm peace &c".

Whitaker, the Craven historian, says that Cowling, an adjoining township to Sutton, "in the latter end of the reign of Henry VIII belonged to Thomas Blakey who was hanged and his estate forfeited". In this and later documents Johnson is referred to as "Nicholas Johnson, late of Sutton under Soun," probably he also was hanged.

Malsis was held by the Copley family until 1625 when it was sold to Richard Horsfall. A member of this family planted the beautiful beech trees, for which Malsis has long been noted in the district.

The Spencer family were the next owners and then in 1865 the present hall was built by M James Lund. The carvings over the doors of the old hall have been preserved. They consist of coats of arms and other devices. Most interesting of all is a stone which bears the words "Avery Copley built this house".

The hall is now used as a preparatory school for boys (1923).