Snitterton Hall

Historical Note

Described by Pesvner as ‘a gem of an Elizabethan Manor House’. At the time of the Domesday book, in 1086, Snitterton was part of the King’s Manor of Matlock and by the early twelfth century was held by Fulcher, second son of Sewalls of Ettington, founder of the Shirley and Ireton families. It is believed that the probable date of the current house is around 1631 and it may well have been built by Col John Milward. Milward was well-connected, ambitious and styled his house to reflect this. Constructed from Ashover Grit from Oaker Hill (which lies half a mile to the North of the house), the ashlar south front is the epitome of small-scale Jacobean architecture, with two cross wings, straight coped gables and a four bay recessed centre of two storeys under the embattled parapet. The main fenestration consists of six-light mullioned and transomed windows, paired on both main storeys of the gable and to the right of the entrance, which has cross windows above and to its left. The attic windows are eight-light variants, and all depend from straight courses. The other serious reflection of the age of Classicism is the doorcase, an attractive Ionic affair having much in common with a somewhat earlier one at Aston Hall. On his death in 1670 Milward left the estate to his third (only surviving son) Henry and a life interest in part of the Snitterton lands to the natural son of the eldest son, John, who had died the year before without legitimate issue. This was George, on whose death in 1711 without issue, it reverted to Henry Fearne of Parwich, who had purchased the remainder from Henry Milward’s heir, Charles Adderley, married to his sister Felicia. He was the son of Sir Charles Adderley of Hams Hall, Warwickshire. Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Fearne, married Edmund Tudor of Stoke Rochford whose descendant in the fourth generation, Edmund died in 1903, leaving it in the hands of Trustees, who eventually sold it to the McCreagh-Thornhills. It was let as a farm from 1816 throughout the nineteenth century. It was then the home of Col. B.G. Davie (married to the heiress), who sold it to the Bagshawes when he inherited Stanton Hall. Francis, sister and heiress of W.M.C Bagshawe brought it to Ernest Carver, who assumed the surname and arms of Bagshawe and on his death in 1936, it came to Maj. Francis Ernest Gisborne Bagshawe, on the death of whose widow in November 1986, it was placed on the market. Our clients acquired the hall in 1997 and embarked upon a full and extensive restoration of the property.