Carnfield Hall
Encyclopedia
Carnfield Hall is a privately owned country house
located at South Normanton
, near Alfreton
in Derbyshire
, England
. It is a Grade II* listed building. The estate includes around ninety acres of park and ancient woodland
.
The manor was anciently held by the Babington family of Dethick Manor
but was sold in about 1502 to Hugh Revell, a younger brother of John Revell of Ogston Hall
Documents relating to the Carnfield estate date from the early 14th century. The earliest parts of the present structure date from the mid 15th century, but the west facing hall was extensively reconstructed in the 1560s by Edward Revell, son of Hugh.
Robert Revell, (High Sheriff of Derbyshire
in 1700) substantially enlarged and improved the house in about 1710 when a new entrance front was created to the south with an impressive three storey nine bayed gabled facade.
The Grade II listed coachhouse was also built at about this time.
Further reconstructions and additions were made to the hall throughout the 19th century. The architecture of Carnfield Hall is therefore a mix of Elizabethan
, Jacobean
and Victorian
styles.
When Edward Revell died in 1770 the estate passed to his natural son Tristam Revell and on his death in 1797 to a cousin Sir John Eardley Wilmot. Subsequently the Hall had several owners including Joseph Wilson in 1834, Vaughan Radford, and Melville Watson whose widow lived there until 1949.
Structural damage from mining subsidence caused Carnfield Hall to be abandoned in 1960, and it fell into decline. Despite an attempt to demolish the hall, and a plan to convert it into a hotel, Carnfield was eventually bought by James Cartland in 1987. The hall has been extensively restored by Cartland in the intervening years.James Cartland sold the hall to Graham Oliver in March 2011.
Today, Carnfield Hall is open to the public for guided tours of ten people or more by appointment only. Various events such as plays, fairs and nature walks are held throughout the year. The hall and grounds are also hired out for private receptions and corporate events.
In March 2010, Carnfield Hall was the subject of a Channel 4
television programme presented by hotelier Ruth Watson
as part of her Country House Rescue
series.
English country house
The English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a London house. This allowed to them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these people, the term distinguished between town and country...
located at South Normanton
South Normanton
South Normanton is a medium-sized ex-mining village two miles east of Alfreton, Derbyshire and is approximately 155 metres above sea level at one of the highest points, near St...
, near Alfreton
Alfreton
Alfreton is a town and civil parish in Amber Valley, Derbyshire, England, adjoining the Bolsover and North East Derbyshire districts. It was formerly a Norman Manor and later an Urban District. The population of the Alfreton Ward was 7,928 at the 2001 Census...
in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is a Grade II* listed building. The estate includes around ninety acres of park and ancient woodland
Ancient woodland
Ancient woodland is a term used in the United Kingdom to refer specifically to woodland that has existed continuously since 1600 or before in England and Wales . Before those dates, planting of new woodland was uncommon, so a wood present in 1600 was likely to have developed naturally...
.
The manor was anciently held by the Babington family of Dethick Manor
Dethick Manor
Dethick Manor is a 16th century manor house, situated at Dethick, Amber Valley, Derbyshire, much altered in the 18th century and converted to use as a farmhouse. It is a Grade II* listed building....
but was sold in about 1502 to Hugh Revell, a younger brother of John Revell of Ogston Hall
Ogston Hall
Ogston Hall is a privately owned 18th century country house situated at Brackenfield, near Alfreton, Derbyshire. It is a Grade II* listed building.The Revell family of South Normanton held Ogston in the 14th century by marriage to the Deincourt heiress....
Documents relating to the Carnfield estate date from the early 14th century. The earliest parts of the present structure date from the mid 15th century, but the west facing hall was extensively reconstructed in the 1560s by Edward Revell, son of Hugh.
Robert Revell, (High Sheriff of Derbyshire
High Sheriff of Derbyshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Derbyshire from 1568.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been...
in 1700) substantially enlarged and improved the house in about 1710 when a new entrance front was created to the south with an impressive three storey nine bayed gabled facade.
The Grade II listed coachhouse was also built at about this time.
Further reconstructions and additions were made to the hall throughout the 19th century. The architecture of Carnfield Hall is therefore a mix of Elizabethan
Elizabethan architecture
Elizabethan architecture is the term given to early Renaissance architecture in England, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Historically, the period corresponds to the Cinquecento in Italy, the Early Renaissance in France, and the Plateresque style in Spain...
, Jacobean
Jacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
and Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
styles.
When Edward Revell died in 1770 the estate passed to his natural son Tristam Revell and on his death in 1797 to a cousin Sir John Eardley Wilmot. Subsequently the Hall had several owners including Joseph Wilson in 1834, Vaughan Radford, and Melville Watson whose widow lived there until 1949.
Structural damage from mining subsidence caused Carnfield Hall to be abandoned in 1960, and it fell into decline. Despite an attempt to demolish the hall, and a plan to convert it into a hotel, Carnfield was eventually bought by James Cartland in 1987. The hall has been extensively restored by Cartland in the intervening years.James Cartland sold the hall to Graham Oliver in March 2011.
Today, Carnfield Hall is open to the public for guided tours of ten people or more by appointment only. Various events such as plays, fairs and nature walks are held throughout the year. The hall and grounds are also hired out for private receptions and corporate events.
In March 2010, Carnfield Hall was the subject of a Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
television programme presented by hotelier Ruth Watson
Ruth Watson
Ruth Watson , is an English hotelier, broadcaster and food writer.-Early life and career:Born in London, Ruth Watson was educated in London and at Westonbirt School in Gloucestershire...
as part of her Country House Rescue
Country House Rescue
Country House Rescue is an observational documentary series which airs on British terrestrial television channel, Channel 4. The series has also aired on BBC Canada, ABC1 in Australia and Living in New Zealand....
series.