SIR RICHARD WHALEY
The architect of the original Whalley family fortune was Richard Whalley, 'the Elder', great grandfather of Edward Whalley, the regicide. Richard the Elder was descended from an earlier Richard, of Darlaston, Staffordshire. Richard Whalley was the husband of Elizabeth Leak; Ms. Leak was heir to the ancient family seat of the Leaks - Kirkton Hall in Screveton, Nottinghamshire, which then became property of the Whalley family.
Richard was Knight of the Shire for the County of Nottingham, and one of the most splendid Sheriffs of that County. He was a Member of Parliament for Scarborough during the reign of Edward VI, 1547-1553.
He had three wives and twenty-five children. His first wife was Laura Brookman, who had five children. His second wife was Ursala Thwaites, who had thirteen children. His third wife was Barbara Cope who had seven children.
A magnificent monument of alabaster was built for him in the chancel of the church in Screveton, Nottingham County. His effigy has him in armor, long beard, hands raised with palms together. His head is resting upon his crest and his feet are upon a whale. The inscription says, "Here lies Richard Whaley, Esq., who lived 84 years and died November 23, 1583."
St. Wilfrid’s Church, Screveton, Nottingham, England
Richard the Elder was a very astute and opportunistic administrator. He was employed by Thomas Cromwell in the desolution of monasteries during the religious upheavals of the early 16th century.
Whalley was granted Welbeck Abbey, Bellers Grange, Hurst Grange and Gledthorpe Grange. A few years later Whalley acquired the chantry of Sibthorpe. Whalley, in his capacity as Crown Receiver for Yorkshire, was later accused and convicted of appropriating Crown funds for his own use. Whalley also spent two periods imprisoned as a result of his many political intrigues surrounding the Duke of Somerset and was finally released from the Tower in 1552 and fined heavily. This was not to be his final imprisonment.
He was imprisoned in September 1552 for illegal alchemical activities through an employee named Richard Eden. A quarrel erupted after Eden's unsuccessful search for the elusive philosopher's stone. Eden then betrayed his former employer and Whalley was imprisoned and fined heavily again. He was forced to give up Welbeck and other properties as a result.
At Queen Mary's accession, Richard successfully repaired his damaged reputation and reacquired massive wealth and extensive properties. Richard's third wife, Barbara, erected the tomb to his memory in the Screveton church. Thomas Whalley, his eldest son, predeceased Richard the Elder in death in 1582. Thus Richard Whalley the Younger, Richard the elder's grandson and father of Edward the regicide, inherited the Whalley estates.
In a field adjoining the church are distinct traces of old foundations which are clearly visible. On this site there stood for centuries a large house known as Kirketon Hall, and that this house was the abode of the Whalleys, and their progenitors, the Leeks and the Kirketons.
Kirketon Hall
