Available onlineNineteenth Century
(page 2 of 13)| Image : | Nineteenth Century Farm Labourer |
| Date: | 1850 |
Owners of Walton Hall: The Pinfolds
The Character of ‘Squire Pinfold’
Henry Mundy describes ‘Squire Pinfold’ in some detail in his diary which he wrote many years after emigrating to Australia in 1844 at the age of 12. In this passage he refers to the fact that Charles Pinfold had been an officer and fought during the Napoleonic Wars, specifically at the Siege of Badajoz in Spain in 1812:
“Now Squire Pinfold was a very eccentric old gentleman The popular story about him was he had been an officer in the Peninsular war, a very fast-going young fellow, and in the siege of Badajoy [sic] he got wounded in the head*. The doctors, to save his life, placed a silver plate in his skull, after which he was very abnormal in his ways, and in fact he was looked upon as a bit mad.
However, he had considerable method in his madness. The Squire owned a considerable stretch of land around Walton. After his return from the war and his recovery, he was found to be heavily in debt. In those days if a man was in debt and had probable means to pay it, in course of time, was placed in the debtor’s prison. The Squire had a very large house on his property with a flat roof floored with sheet lead. So as the law could not arrest him in his house, he chose to lock himself in, and there remained for seven years. He could be seen often taking exercise over the parapet, over his leaden promenade. The rents coming in during the seven years liquidated his liabilities and he left his compulsory retirement and was safe to be at large.” (From Hughes, (L) 2003, A Young Australian Pioneer Henry Mundy, Next Century Books).
*According to online Army Records, Charles Pinfold retired on 17 December 1802, ten years before the Siege of Badajoz, so it maybe the injury he sustained came in an earlier conflict.
In the 1835 Poor Law report an uncomplimentary comment was made about Charles Pinfold: “Mr Pinfold although he is in the Commission, and has qualified, never acts, indeed he has not left his house for several years, and is considered almost insane, and therefore has expressed no opinion”
However, Charles Pinfold was held in high esteem by his tenants and Henry Mundy’s father sought advice from him regarding his family’s emigration. The encounter was described in Henry’s diary:
“Although a rich landholder, he was a genuine and liberal friend to the poor. Perhaps I ought to apologise for digressing so far in describing Squire Pinfold, but I feel grateful to him because I believe it was principally through his advice, that we left that downtrodden country of our birth. Not a very approachable man was the Squire, but father plucked up courage and called on him and stated his case to him and asked his advice telling him there were three chances, either to go to Canada, to Sydney or Port Phillip, adding that he thought Canada might be the best as Diemen’s Land and Botany Bay was where all transported felons were sent.
Squire Pinfold had travelled considerably it was said. He had been all round the world, but it is questionable if he had ever been in Australia. Nevertheless, he was pretty well up in general knowledge of the globe. He seemed pleased that father had consulted him on so serious a matter as emigration, and advised him strongly to choose Port Phillip, adding: ‘There are no convicts sent there. There is very little cultivation, the staple product is wool, the settlers there keep large flocks of sheep. There is plenty of employment for shepherds, which are very much in demand at present. You and your boys ought to go and take up some land and make your fortune, you know well what your prospects are if you stay in England.’ Father thanked him and said he would take his advice, whereupon the Squire put his hand into his pocket and drew out half a sovereign, which he handed to father observing: ‘This will help you a little Mundy. Good luck to you and God speed.’” (From Hughes, (L) 2003, A Young Australian Pioneer Henry Mundy, Next Century Books).
Henry provided the following description of Charles Pinfold in his memoirs:
“Squire Pinfold was a man of athletic build, about six feet in height, his age when I knew him must have been between fifty-five and sixty. One ear I remember was very large and long. He dressed always as a labouring man with smock frock, billcock hat, his legs encased in leather leggings. He drove a team of his own horses, and often I have heard him from where I was on the next farm working, on a cold frosty morning yelling in his stentorian voice: “Sultan, Captain,” at the highest pitch of his vocal powers. He was a recluse as far as the higher class were concerned; he associated solely with the labouring classes. One of his idiosyncrasies was to erect a large marquee on his ground between Walton and Simpson and cultivate a large vegetable garden. Whatever use he made of his vegetables is unknown to me, but it seems to be a freak of his own for pastime.” (From Hughes, (L) 2003, A Young Australian Pioneer Henry Mundy, Next Century Books). The first image on this page shows a nineteenth century farm labourer dressed in similar attire to that which Charles Pinfold was described wearing.
Charles Pinfold features in several local newspapers. In 1818 he was included in a group of local notables who had expressed a desire to have a Savings Bank established in Newport Pagnell. A meeting was held at The Swan Inn in Newport Pagnell on 18th April 1818. The following month the bank was instituted with Charles included in a list of subscribers supporting the bank with an amount of £2 and 2 shillings. A photograph of the Swan Inn appears on this page.
On 10 September 1825 the Morning Post Newspaper reported that a party was hosted by Charles at Walton Manor: “On Tuesday last Charles Pinfold, Esq. gave an entertainment to a large and select Party of Ladies and Gentlemen, at the Manor Farm, at Walton, to celebrate his “harvest home”. The company assembled at the dinner table amounted to 150. The band belonging to the 3rd Regiment of Bucks Yeomanry attended and played several new airs; professional Singers from London were also in attendance, who acquitted themselves in a manner that gave general satisfaction. At nine o’clock dancing commenced in a spacious barn which had been neatly up for the purpose, and was splendidly illuminated with variegated lamps, forming appropriate devices and mottoes. One hundred and fifty couples joined in the delightful amusement. On Wednesday the persons composing the troop of yeomanry cavalry which Mr Pinfold commands partook of his hospitality. The party were highly gratified, and the whole went off with mirth, good humour, and satisfaction”.
The third photograph on this page shows the 'Charles Pinfold Building' on The Open University campus, renamed from 'Offices 6' after Captain Charles Pinfold in 2010.
