Not far from Tong, in a secluded lane, is a tiny cottage called Hobbal
Grange, which is associated with the wanderings of Charles II. when
a fugitive from Worcester. Here lived the mother of the loyal Penderel
brothers, who risked their lives in harbouring their illustrious guest.
We mention Hobbal more particularly as since the Flight of the King was written we have had it pointed out pretty conclusively that "the Grange" of to-day is only a small portion of the original "Grange Farm" converted into a labourer's dwelling. The greater part of the original house was pulled down in the eighteenth century. In an old
plan, dated 1739, of which we have a tracing before us, there are no
less than seven buildings comprising the farm, which was the largest
on the Tong estate. In 1855 it was reduced to eighty-six acres. In
1716, Richard Penderel's grandson, John Rogers, was still in
residence at Hobbal.
Near Whiteladies is the rival establishment Blackladies, a picturesque
red-brick house with step-gables and mullioned bays. As the name
implies, this also was a nunnery, but there are but scanty remains of
the original building. There is a stone cross, and some other
fragments are built into the masonry; and in the stables may be seen
the chapel, where services were held until sixty years ago. Part of the
moat also remains. A lane near at hand
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is still known as "Spirit Lane," because the Black Nuns of centuries ago have been seen to walk there.