Fears pillars from former Mosley hall could vanish
FEARS have been raised that stone pillars once part of a grand Staffordshire hall that was the home of Sir Oswald Mosley could be demolished.
Historians and locals claim the pillars currently stand outside a house in Burton, which is subject to a planning application to demolish it, and they fear the large pillars could be lost.
If plans are approved, the house in Rolleston Road, Burton, would be replaced with a specialised disabled-friendly property. There are four large stone pillars that are incorporated into the front of the house, which locals and a Burton historian insist are from the old hall.
However, neighbours claim that the stone pillars attached to the home are from the original Rolleston Hall, which was demolished in the 1920s.
Two neighbours said: “We have been advised of a planning application to demolish this house and rebuild a modern replacement.
“The house is in Rolleston Road and is an iconic landmark and if speaking to any local people they will always know of the property.
“Some of the stone in this property is from the old hall at Rolleston and it would be such a shame to lose such heritage.
“Not only the demolition but the re-building of this property will cause major traffic mayhem on what is already a busy road.”
Rolleston Hall, which was a home for the Mosley family, was eventually demolished in 1925 after it failed to sell at auction four times.
The last Mosley to be connected with Rolleston Hall was Sir Oswald Mosley, the 6th Baronet and wellknown founder of the British Union of Fascists.
Burton historian David Adkins said: “I found this fact [that the pillars are those from Rolleston Hall] recorded in an old journal many years ago.
“I remember because it stated that, ‘parts of the facade were incorporated into houses in Rolleston Road.’ The one next door – Eddystone – also has parts from the hall.
“One of the large stone balls once fell off the front pillar at Eddystone and rolled down the road - I remember handing it back to the owner. I think the house is arguably the best designed house with its neighbour Eddystone - in the whole of Burton. It has always reminded me of a Lutyens-style house - or the nearest we have to one here in Burton.
“From an historic point of view these two houses should be preserved due to their interesting design and historical links to Rolleston Hall.
“The Mosley family were great benefactors to Burton Museum and it would be a tragedy to lose something else connected to them.
“My great-, great-uncle, George Coltman, was agent to Sir Oswald Mosley, so I have always taken an interest in Rolleston matters as well as in the old museum of course.
“If it were to be demolished the pillars/masonry should be preserved for the town in some way.”
Transform Architects, which is acting as agents for the latest planning application, would not comment on what would happen to the pillars when contacted by the Burton Mail.
A marketing report, by estate agents John German submitted before the house was sold in 2019, did say: “A very elegant and desirable individual detached family residence, dating from the 1920s and reputably built by Orton’s the Stonemasons utilising stone reclaimed from Rolleston Hall.”
The application is to demolish the house and build a larger home specifically to cater for a man with disabilities along with a detached hydrotherapy pool building has been submitted to East Staffordshire Borough Council.
It is intended the building would be wheelchair accessible.
The report to the council does not mention the pillars but argues the need to demolish the home.
Asked if it could confirm the pillars were from Rolleston Hall, a spokesman for the borough council said: “The borough council has received a planning application and it has yet to be determined by the planning committee.”
The application is due to be decided in the next few weeks.