Moseley Old Hall

Moseley Old Hall has changed much since Charles II arrived in 1651 to the half-timbered house remotely situated in a dense woodland (now surrounded by the suburbs of Wolverhampton). However, the exposed timbers, dark wood panelling, and heavy pieces of oak furniture convey an atmosphere in keeping with its history. Following a cold, wet trek during the night from Boscobel House, Thomas 'the Preserver' Whitgreave greeted a very weary and hungry Charles at daybreak. Offered dry clothes, food, and a proper bed, he was secreted in the priest hole at Moseley Old Hall for two days whilst planning the route for his escape. Thus, the house and its owner facilitated Charles II's journey that eventually led to his exile in France for eight years and his eventual restoration to the throne.

The original four-poster bed used by Charles stands in the King's room, a room that was formerly occupied by the family's Catholic priest. Arranged on three floors, there is public access to approximately half of the house, with several pictures of Charles II displayed throughout. The reconstructed 17th-century Knot Garden can be seen from the little bedroom window on the top floor (see picture at left).

Date of Our Last Visit: July 2005