Exhibition: The History of Walton Hall

Owners of Walton Hall: The Pinfolds

Charles John Pinfold (1800-1856)

Charles John Pinfold was the only child of Captain Charles Pinfold and his first wife Fanny. Fanny died shortly after the birth which occurred in December 1800 in Colchester. Charles John was baptised a month later on 17 January 1801 in the parish of St Marylebone in London. His father remarried within the year but fathered no more children. Charles John was therefore the sole heir to the Walton estate.

Charles John was educated at Souldrop, Bedfordshire under the Rev. John Webster Hawkesley. He attended Brasenose, Oxford from the age of 18 and gained a BA in 1825. He was ordained deacon at Lincoln in the same year. The following year he was ordained priest at Peterborough. At the age of 28 he married Anna Maria Seagrave (1797-1874) on 10 July 1828 at Castle Ashby in the parish of Lavendon, Northamptonshire. His occupation at the time of his marriage was a Clerk (Clergy). A year later, when his daughter Fanny Maria was born, he was Curate of Lavendon. Charles’ wife Anna Maria was the daughter of Rev. John Seagrave, rector of Castle Ashby, and his wife Sarah. She was baptised on 11 July 1797 at Halford in Warwickshire.

In 1835 Charles and Anna moved to Staffordshire where Charles was installed as the rector of Bramshall near Uttoxeter. The family remained at Bramshall until Charles’ early death at the age of 55 on 21 November 1856. His body was returned to Walton where he was interred on 28 November 1856.

Following her husband's death Anna Maria settled in Lillington, a suburb of Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. In the 1861 census she was described as a ‘landed proprietor’ and employed a coachman, lady’s maid, housemaid and a page. A decade later she was still living in Lillington at ‘Linden Lodge’ with seven servants. Anna Maria died at her home at the age of 77 on 2 July 1874. She was buried with her late husband at Walton. A photograph of their grave can be viewed on this page.