Alderwasley Hall
| Alderwasley Hall | |
| Derbyshire | |
|---|---|
| |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SK326533 |
| Location: | 53°4’34"N, 1°30’50"W |
| Village: | Alderwasley |
| History | |
| Built Late 18th century | |
| Country house | |
| Information | |
| Website: | http://www.alderwasleyhall.com/ |
Alderwasley Hall is a Georgian country house in Alderwasley in the midst of Derbyshire. It is in the Peak District, close to Wirksworth. The house is a Grade II listed building.[1] The house was built in the late eighteenth century, and has substantial nineteenth century additions.
The house is now an independent school, Alderwasley Hall School: a residential special school for children and young people with Asperger's, speech and language difficulties and Acquired Brain Injury.
History
The earliest owners of the land were the Le Fownes in the thirteenth century. No description remains of the original house except the chapel of St Margaret which was rebuilt in the sixteenth century. The Lowes owned the estate during the fifteenth century and the house at this time most likely took an 'H' formation. Nicholas Hurt of Casterne inherited the estate in 1690 when he married Elizabeth Lowe and the estate was transformed. An iron forge was established nearby at Shining Cliff Woods in 1764 and the house was extended in ashlar Millstone Grit sandstone. An eighteenth century deercote is a significant feature of the park and recently restored from ruin. By 1880 the estate was around 3,500 acres with 200 acres of walled deer park. The estate was inherited by Hurt's son, also Francis Hurt who was also High Sheriff.[2]
The Hurts were responsible for building two other country homes on the estate, being Chase Cliffe and Oakhurst House.
The estate was broken up in 1920 and the Hurts sold the house in 1930 when they moved to Casterne Hall in Staffordshire. The house was sold to a Benedictine Order to be used as a school. In 1976 it became a Special School.[1]
The school has extensive grounds, which include a series of ponds.
The parish church of All Saints stands close to the entrance of the school grounds.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Alderwasley Hall) |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 National Heritage List 1109075: St Benets School (Grade II listing)
- ↑ Maxwell Craven & Michael Stanley, The Derbyshire Country House Vol 1