Sutton Scarsdale Hall, near Chesterfield, pre-1920. Sutton Scarsdale Hall was originally built in the 17th century, but was remodelled into one of the finest Baroque mansions in the county by Francis Smith of Warwick in 1724. At this time the house was owned by Nicholas, fourth Earl of Scarsdale. The Earl died whilst heavily in debt due to the lavish rebuilding of the hall he had commissioned. The hall, and all its estates, were purchased by Godfrey Clarke of Somersall whose son Godfrey was lord of the manor until 1786. Between 1820 and 1919, the hall was in the possession of the Arkwright Family, but was sold by William Arkwright to Haslam Construction Ltd. This company stripped the house of all of its furnishings, and took the roof and some masonry for other construction projects. By 1946, the building had deteriorated to such an extent that arrangements were made to demolish it. However, three days before the demolition machinery were due to move in on the hall the shell was saved by Sir Osbert Sitwell, who was persuaded to buy it by a local resident Harold Taylor. The hall was later given over to the Department of the Environment in the late 1960s. In 1971 emergency repairs were started to secure the building from further decay, and it is now possible to walk around the preserved ruins. This photograph shows the front facade of the hall, which has huge fluted pilasters and a Gibbs Surround doorway. The house has now fallen into ruins, though some of it is preserved in Philadelphia Museum. (Photo by NEMPR Picture the Past/Heritage Images/Getty Images)Sutton Scarsdale Hall, near Chesterfield, pre-1920. Sutton Scarsdale Hall was originally built in the 17th century, but was remodelled into one of the finest Baroque mansions in the county by Francis Smith of Warwick in 1724. At this time the house was owned by Nicholas, fourth Earl of Scarsdale. The Earl died whilst heavily in debt due to the lavish rebuilding of the hall he had commissioned. The hall, and all its estates, were purchased by Godfrey Clarke of Somersall whose son Godfrey was lord of the manor until 1786. Between 1820 and 1919, the hall was in the possession of the Arkwright Family, but was sold by William Arkwright to Haslam Construction Ltd. This company stripped the house of all of its furnishings, and took the roof and some masonry for other construction projects. By 1946, the building had deteriorated to such an extent that arrangements were made to demolish it. However, three days before the demolition machinery were due to move in on the hall the shell was saved by Sir Osbert Sitwell, who was persuaded to buy it by a local resident Harold Taylor. The hall was later given over to the Department of the Environment in the late 1960s. In 1971 emergency repairs were started to secure the building from further decay, and it is now possible to walk around the preserved ruins. This photograph shows the front facade of the hall, which has huge fluted pilasters and a Gibbs Surround doorway. The house has now fallen into ruins, though some of it is preserved in Philadelphia Museum. (Photo by NEMPR Picture the Past/Heritage Images/Getty Images)
Sutton Scarsdale Hall, near Chesterfield, pre-1920. Sutton Scarsdale Hall was originally built in the 17th century, but was remodelled into one of the finest Baroque mansions in the county by Francis Smith of Warwick in 1724. At this time the house was owned by Nicholas, fourth Earl of Scarsdale. The Earl died whilst heavily in debt due to the lavish rebuilding of the hall he had commissioned. The hall, and all its estates, were purchased by Godfrey Clarke of Somersall whose son Godfrey was lord of the manor until 1786. Between 1820 and 1919, the hall was in the possession of the Arkwright Family, but was sold by William Arkwright to Haslam Construction Ltd. This company stripped the house of all of its furnishings, and took the roof and some masonry for other construction projects. By 1946, the building had deteriorated to such an extent that arrangements were made to demolish it. However, three days before the demolition machinery were due to move in on the hall the shell was saved by Sir Osbert Sitwell, who was persuaded to buy it by a local resident Harold Taylor. The hall was later given over to the Department of the Environment in the late 1960s. In 1971 emergency repairs were started to secure the building from further decay, and it is now possible to walk around the preserved ruins. This photograph shows the front facade of the hall, which has huge fluted pilasters and a Gibbs Surround doorway. The house has now fallen into ruins, though some of it is preserved in Philadelphia Museum. (Photo by NEMPR Picture the Past/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

20 pictures show the vanished country houses of Chesterfield and Derbyshire - including Wingfield Manor, Sutton Scarsdale Hall, Alfreton Hall and Wingerworth Hall

These pictures into the past show some of the lost country houses which once dotted the countryside around Chesterfield and Derbyshire.
By Julia Rodgerson
Published 20th Dec 2021, 13:14 BST
Updated 27th Feb 2024, 13:06 BST

They include a ruined mansion which once served as a backdrop to a Hollywood film, the former manor homes of the wealthiest and best-known Derbyshire families and several houses built on the historic sites of much older Medieval country seats.

Chesterfield and District Civic Society has produced a list of lost, or much reduced, country properties within a 10-mile radius of Chesterfield.

Others not pictured include Wingfield Manor at South Wingfield, Whittington Manor, Walton Hall, Spital House, Sutton Scarsdale Hall, Park House at Pilsley, Linacre Hall at Brampton and Caus Hall at Old Brampton.

We’ve also included photos and illustrations of historic lost buildings from the archives, including Melbourne Castle.

Others not pictured include Wingfield Manor at South Wingfield, Whittington Manor, Walton Hall, Spital House, Sutton Scarsdale Hall, Park House at Pilsley, Linacre Hall at Brampton and Caus Hall at Old Brampton.

The last mansion built by Bess of Hardwick, completed in the 1590s for her second son William Cavendish. The civic society said: "Because his first wife died young, William never moved to Oldcotes from Hardwick and the house was little used. Later sold to the Pierrepont family, who lived there for a time but in 1700 dismantled Oldcotes. Some of the facing stonework was used to build High House nearby. A farm now stands on the site of Oldcotes."

5. Oldcotes, Heath

The last mansion built by Bess of Hardwick, completed in the 1590s for her second son William Cavendish. The civic society said: "Because his first wife died young, William never moved to Oldcotes from Hardwick and the house was little used. Later sold to the Pierrepont family, who lived there for a time but in 1700 dismantled Oldcotes. Some of the facing stonework was used to build High House nearby. A farm now stands on the site of Oldcotes." Photo: philip.riden

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A 17th Century house demolished by the National Coal Board in the early 1950s. It was originally occupied by the Woolhouse family and later their successors, the Hallowes family.

6. Glapwell Hall

A 17th Century house demolished by the National Coal Board in the early 1950s. It was originally occupied by the Woolhouse family and later their successors, the Hallowes family. Photo: philip.riden

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A small country house built in the late 18th Century on the site of an older house. It became a tenanted farmhouse in the late 19th Century and has since been largely demolished.

7. Romiley Hall, Clowne

A small country house built in the late 18th Century on the site of an older house. It became a tenanted farmhouse in the late 19th Century and has since been largely demolished. Photo: philip.riden

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The present building is a much reduced fragment, dating in its present form from the mid-19th Century, of a large mansion built by Sir Peter Frescheville in 1604. The civic society said: "It stands on the site of earlier houses going back to Domesday Book, when the manor of Staveley was held by the Musdard family, the Freschevilles’ predecessors. There is a fine heraldic datestone over the modern main entrance."

8. Staveley Hall

The present building is a much reduced fragment, dating in its present form from the mid-19th Century, of a large mansion built by Sir Peter Frescheville in 1604. The civic society said: "It stands on the site of earlier houses going back to Domesday Book, when the manor of Staveley was held by the Musdard family, the Freschevilles’ predecessors. There is a fine heraldic datestone over the modern main entrance." Photo: jason chadwick

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