Old Slepe Hall (St Ives Hall), St Ives

History of Old Slepe Hall

Approximate location of Old Slepe Hall. It was in a house called St Ives Hall on this site that Oliver Cromwell lived during his youth. The house was owned in 1632 by the Lawrence family who were friends of the Cromwells.

In 1688 Sir Edward Lawrence was in residence; in 1740 Taylor White married St Edward’s daughter and the house moved into the ownership of the White family. Their family wealth came mainly from lead mines in Yorkshire.

In 1800 Colonel Taylor White became owner. He lost much of his money on farming projects and rented the house to Rev Rugeley to be used as a school for ladies. The 1841 census lists 26 pupils, one trecher, three servants and four members of the Rugeley family.

One of the servants was an  African  known to people in the town as ‘Mr Sambo.’ He was probably a freed slave known as Andrew Fellowson.

The house was demolished in 1848 and the porch removed to Bluntisham Rectory. The school moved to new premises in Ramsey Road which became known as Slepe Hall.