Moulton Paddocks

Moulton Paddocks is a racing stable in Newmarket, Suffolk, UK operated by Godolphin Racing. It is said to have the capacity for around 200 horses, many of which are of extremely high quality. The stable is currently run by Charlie Appleby.

At one time Moulton Paddocks was known as Fidget Hall, a possible reference to Sam Chifney's Fidget Farm of 70 acres situated at the extremity of the Bury Hill gallop. He named the farm after the sire of a horse he had ridden when young. Owners of Moulton Paddocks have since included: Sir Robert Pigot, Lord William Cansfield Gerard, George Alexander Baird, Sir Ernest Cassel and Solly Joel.

In 1841 Fidget Hall was 64 acres and owned by George Samuel Ford, known in the racing fraternity as "Lawyer Ford". He was a financier to gentlemen and noblemen in distress, and one of the creditors of the bankrupt trainer Will Chifney - brother of Sam. Ford was passionately fond of racing: his horse Poison won the 1843 Oaks and Guaracha won the Coronation Stakes in 1846.

In 1842 William Webber, surgeon and founder of the Norwich Royal Free Hospital for Incurables, owned Fidget Hall. He carried out extensive building work on the property and increased the size of the estate to 313 acres. During this period the name changed from Fidget Hall to Moulton Paddocks. Webber bred race horses and in 1842 the stallion Erymus stood at Moulton Paddocks but died there in January 1847. In 1849 Sir Robert Pigot leased the property from Webber; two of his children were later born there in 1850 and 1852.

Mr Willingham Franklin purchased Moulton Paddocks from Webber in 1857, but sold in 1859 (shortly before he died). Franklin, described as “barrister not in practice”, was the only son of Sir Willingham Franklin (a judge in the supreme court at Madras) and nephew of explorer John Franklin. In 1861 the property was occupied by Captain Astley Paston Cooper, who inherited a baronetcy in 1866 when his father -Sir Astley Paston Cooper, 2nd Baronet - died.

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