Walworth Castle

The history of Walworth Castle 1605-1759


	In 1605 Elizabeth Jenison died and her will requested to be buried in Heighington parish church and that "No black be worn". Her estate inventory listed her clothes, furniture, household possessions and utensils, farm equipment and stock. Her farm stock comprised of 50 bullocks, 3 bulls, 34 cows and calves, sheep, ewes and lambs 150, hogs 15, horses - geldings 4, mares 3, swine 40, together with corn in the barn and standing corn. They valued her estate at £954-10-1d. William Jenison "the elder" inherited the estate on his mother's death but did not live there.
	In 1610 and 1612 William was imprisoned for refusing to take oath of allegiance to the Crown and being a Roman Catholic. This brought great hardship and suffering to the family, and debt and dilapidation to the castle. In 1634 William Jenison died and the first John Jenison inherited Walworth Castle.
	In 1678 Titus Oates "The Informer", arrested John Jenison's eldest son Thomas Jenison at the London house of Sir Philip Tyrwhitt. Oates accused Thomas Jenison of being party to a plot to assassinate King Charles 11. Thomas was imprisoned in Newgate Gaol. The Roman Catholic chaplain at Walworth, John Smith, was ordered to horsewhip any Jenison Jesuit who visited the house.
	In 1681 the estate was divided by an order of Chancery. Three fifths was awarded to Robert Jenison, which comprised of the Castle, Wrynook Farm, North Farm, and East Farm. Two fifths of the estate went to John, the eldest son of the second marriage.
	In 1687 Ralph Jenison bought the whole Walworth estate from Robert for a gross sum of £6,205. In 1689 Walworth was one of the many Papist houses of County Durham searched for arms to prevent rebellion against King William and Queen Mary.
	In 1704 the Walworth Castle estate was passed to ten years old, Ralph Jenison, "The Young Ralph". Ralph became a Member of Parliament for Northumberland in 1727 and 1734. It is likely that the interior decoration to doors, ceilings and windows at Walworth Castle which can be seen today in Reception, Ballroom, Staircase and Hansard's restaurant are those which were chosen and paid for by Ralph Jenison. In 1759 he died and his widow was forced to sell Walworth Castle due to his debts which had been incurred by his lifestyle and the renovation of the Castle.

<< previous | next >>