Ravenhill and the Peak Alum works

Ravenhill, a large country house near Whitby, was apparently built by Captain William Child of the Kings regiment of Light Dragoon Guards. Originally from London, he came to Yorkshire with the Army and fell in love with the area, and in 1763 he bought or leased the Peak Alum Works. Ravenscar, then known as Peak, was originally just a few farm buildings and a large farm built on the site of a Roman fort, until in 1774 he built a new house known variously as Ravenhill or Peak Hall.

On the south side of the [Robin Hood's] bay is Stoupe Brow, and at the S.E. angle are Peak alum works. The high promontory forming the S.E. point of the bay is called RAVENHILL. In clearing the ground for the foundation of the hall at this place, erected for the late Captain Child, in 1774, and now the residence of his grandson, the Rev. R. C. Willis, the workmen dug up, from among some ruins, the stone containing the celebrated Ravenhill Inscription, now in the Whitby museum. A picture of Whitby and its Environs, George Young, 1840

The house and Alum Works were inherited by his daughter Ann Willis, who sold the alum works to Robert Campion in 1834. She died at Ravenhill on April 30 1835, and the house was inherited after a legal battle by her only surviving son, Richard Child Willis.

Raven Hall, rebuilt in 1837, is the seat of the Rev. R. C. Willis... History, Gazetteer and Directory of the East and North Ridings of Yorkshire, William White, 1840

He then proceeded to squander his inheritance, blasting some magnificent gardens and battlements out of the sheer rock face, and gambling on horses and woodlice. In about 1840 a William Hammond of London foreclosed on his mortgage, and Richard Child Willis presumably moved back to Kent or Sussex and the rest of his eventful life. Many lurid stories floated around Whitby concerning his time at Ravenhill.

Mr. HAMMOND begs respectfully to give Notice that he has had the Elegant FITTINGS and FURNITURE of RAVENHILL HALL REMOVED to the NEW HALL at SCARBOROUGH, TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION on Wednesday, December 30th, and Two Following Days, at Twelve precisely; comprising Elegant Four-post Bedstead-, and Damask Hangings ; superior | Bedding; Mahogany French Bedsteads; Handsome Winged Wardrobe ; Marble Top Washhand Stand; Spanish Mahogany Toilet Tables ; Large Cheval and Dressing Glasses ; Pedestal Cupboard ; Patent Portable Water Closet ; Drawers ; costly Dining and Drawing Boom Suites, in Fine Spanish Mahogany and Solid Rose- wood, of Chairs, Couches, and Sofas, in Morocco and Chintz; Console Table, Plate Glass; Devonport's Tardiniere. Loo, and Card Tables; Pedestal Sideboards; Patent Coal Boxes; Extending Dining Table. ; Pair of Massive Running Sideboards ; Secretaries; Easy Chairs ; Fittings of Hall ; Dinner, Tea, and Dessert Services ; Capital Culinary Articles, etc. To be Viewed Three Days prior to the Sale by Catalogues only, at 6d. each, to be had at the Royal Hotel, Bell and Talbot Inn, Scarborough -, York Tavern, George and Black Swan Inn, York; Angel at Whitby; Talbot Inn, Malton ; the New Hall of the Odd- Fellows' Lodge, Scarborough ; and at Mr. Hammond's, Estate Agency Offices, 30, Bell-Yard, and 28, Chancery -Lane, London. N.B. The Noble MANSION and ESTATE of about 300 ACRES is to be SOLD BY AUCTION IN APRIL NEXT. Leeds Intelligencer, 19 December 1840

Sales by Auction, &c. RAVENHILL HALL ESTATE, YORKSHIRE IMPORTANT SALE OF THE VALUABLE FREEHOLD PROPERTY. With the Magnificent MARINE MANSION, recently erected of fine Stone from the Estate, together with the RAVENHILL and PEAK HILL FARMS, HOMESTEADS, COTTAGES. COPPICE WOODS, &c., of nearly 400 Acres; also, the MANORIAL RIGHTS. ROYALTIES, &c., &c., of Ravenhill. MR. HAMMOND has instructions to submit for PUBLIC COMPETITION, on TUESDAY. May 25th, at Twelve o'Clock, at the Black Swan Hotel, in the City of YORK. The above Important and Valuable Improving FREEHOLD PROPERTY, exonerated from Land-Tax, and Tithe-free, very eligibly situate in a delightful part of the Sea Coast near the Moors (which abound with Game), between the much-admired Watering Place of Scarborough and the Port of Whitby, commanding extensive Views of the Country and German Ocean, forming a desirable Residence for any Gentleman partial to Field Sports. The splendid Mansion-House, with its Pleasure Grounds, stands on the borders of extensive Cliffs, 700 feet above the level of the Sea, and has been erected within a few years, at a cost of several Thousand Pounds; the whole being finished in elegant style, with every accommodation for a Family of consequence, either as a temporary or permanent Residence ; added to which, at a further cost of nearly Two Thousand Pounds, a magnificent Terrace has been formed on the immense Rock at the borders of the Cliff, overlooking the Ocean for Hundreds of Miles, and surrounded by massive rusticated Stone Walls, in the Castellated Style, with Ornamental Bastions, Seats, &c, leading to numerous winding and tasteful Walks down to the Sea Beach, ornamented with fancy Iron Work, Parterres, &c. &c. The Estate is supposed to possess some valuable Minerals, as Coals and Allum; also, particularly fine Stone is obtained at little expense, -of this Stone the House is built; and the Farms, of about 400 Acres, with Cottages, &c., are respectably tenanted, and adjoin the Grouuds of the Mansion-House. Early Possession may be had, if required. Some fine Oak Timber is on the Estate. The Property is situated about three miles from the celebrated Robin Hood's Bay, eight from Whitby, and twelve from Scarborough,—the society of which, in the Summer Months, will add much to the interest and importance of the Estate, particularly when the railroad, now in contemplation, will be within twelve miles from the Residence. Plans, with Particulars, may had of Messrs. BLANCHARD & RICHARDSON, Solicitors, York; Messrs. DONNERand WOODALL, Solicitor , Scarborough; Mr. BRADDON, Solicitor, 29, Southampton street, Strand; at the Royal York Hotel, George Inn, and Black Swan Inn, York; the Royal Assembly Hotels, and Bell Inn, and Talbot Inn, Scarborough; at the Talbot, Malton; the Angel Inn, Whitby; and Mr. Hammond's Estate Agency Offices, Bell Yard, Lincoln's Inn, and 28, Chancery-lane, London. Hull Packet, 30 April 1841

RAVENHILL HALL, NEAR SCARBOROUGH. TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, BY MR VAILE, (By order of the Mortgagees under a power to sell,) at the Bull Hotel, in Scarborough, in the County of York, on THURSDAY, the 29th September, 1842, at THREE o'Clock in the Afternoon, THE RAVENHILL HALL ESTATE, near Scarborough and Whitby, consisting of a noble Marine Mansion, (recently Erected at a many Thousand Pounds expense with Stone from the Estate,) Terrace and Pleasure Grounds commanding extensive Sea View and delightful Scenery around. Also about 346 Acres of Arable, Meadow, and Pasture LAND, with suitable Farm Buildings and Offices, valuable Timber, Manorial Rights and Royalties. The Land Tax is Redeemed, and the Property is Tithe-Free and eligibly situated the Parish of Scalby, in the North Riding of the County of York, at a convenient distance from the Mail Road from Scarbro' to Whitby, and will be found an agreeable Residence for any Gentleman partial to Aquatic and Field Sports, or for a Person desirous of improving the Property, and working the Minerals, Alum and Stone, with which the Estate abounds. Tho proposed Railway from York to Scarborough will afford any Nobleman or Gentleman residing at a distance the means of easy access to the Property both for himself_and Family. For further Particulars apply to Messrs. DONNER and WOODALL, Solicitors, Scarborough ; or to Messrs. BLANCHARD, RICHARDSON, and GUTCH, Solicitors, York. Yorkshire Gazette, Saturday 27 August 1842

NOBLE MARINE MANSION. TO BE LET, and may Entered upon Immediately, that Beautiful MANSION, "RAVEN HILL HALL," delightfully situate between Scarbro' and Whitby, in the Township of STAINTON DALE, close to the Sea, near Robin Hood's Bay, recently Erected under the Superintendence of the Owner, for his own Residence, at a Cost of many Thousand Pounds, but who has now gone to reside another part of the Country. Without enumerating the Rooms and Conveniences, they may be truly said to comprise every Requisite for a Family of First-Rate Distinction. Attached thereto is about Eight Acres of Pasture LAND, and of the most Magnificent Terraces and Pleasure Grounds to the Sea Side to be found in England. There are also Stables, Coach Houses, and all other Out-Door Offices, commensurate with the Establishment. As a Speculation to convert it into a Splendid Lodging House, there is no question of it being a beneficial one, as it is one of the most Delightful Marine Residences in the Kingdom. May be Viewed, and all Particulars known, on Application to Mr. JOHN HUGILL, Auctioneer, Whitby; Mr. MAJOR HUGILL, Auctioneer, Scarbro'; or to W. H. HAMMOND Esquire, Surveyor and Estate Agent, 30, Bell Yard, London Yorkshire Gazette, 3 October 1846

Beyond this, leading to Robin Hood's Bay is the Peak and Stoup Brow, the sites of extensive Alum works. They are remarkably elevated, the latter being 893 feet above the level of the sea. Raven-hill Hall, late the seat of the Rev. R. C. Willis, with most romantic hanging gardens and terrace crowns the summit. On many accounts they are wirth the attention of the stranger. Theakston's guide to Scarborough, Solomon Wilkinson Theakston, 1847