Sutton Scarsdale Hall. Visited June '12

Me and Royalbobster have been talking of visiting this place for quite a while, so we popped in on the way home from Derpyshire.
It's fully open to the public, but as with most things, it's better when it's closed. No Grandma Flo getting her blue rinse in every frame.

Quick web history.

The ruinous shell of Sutton Scarsdale Hall is seen by many as they travel along the Derbyshire stretch of the M1 motorway. Sutton Scarsdale Hall was remodeled from an earlier outbuilding in 1724 by Francis Smith of Warwick for Nicholas, fourth Earl of Scarsdale and was one of the finest country houses in Derbyshire at that time.

The interior was once very rich with superb plasterwork by Atari and Vassali some of which can still be seen, monumental carved marble fireplaces and a very superior carved mahogany staircase. The whole was set in formal gardens and a fine landscaped park, now parlty given over to agriculture. Much was known of the craftsmen who worked on the hall, thanks to a leaden plaque once attached to the fabric, but now lost.

Following the death of the fourth Earl of Scarsdale, Godfrey Clarke of Somersall Hall in Derbyshire purchased the estate in 1740. Ownership was subsequently transferred by marriage to the Marquis of Ormonde. In 1824 following the Marquises death, Richard Arkwright, son of the Cromford Mill Arkwrights, became the new owner and the estate remained in the family until 1920.

Sutton Scarsdale Hall then fell into a sad state of disrepair. After years of neglect, a consortium of Chesterfield businessmen purchased the property but due to its poor general state, it was decided to dismantle the building and sell off the contents including the lead roof. The hall deteriorated even more until in 1946 Sir Osbert Sitwell of Renishaw Hall purchased the surviving shell with the intention of preserving the remains as a ruin.

Some of the interior fixtures now reside in the United States at the Philadelphia Museum. Sutton Scarsdale Hall is now in the care of English Heritage and is freely accessible to visitors. It is a Listed Grade 1 building.


Pics.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7097/7...09d5f32e_z.jpg
On The Hill by mthompson1, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8142/7...a1978374_z.jpg
Side On by mthompson1, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7212/7...31cec780_z.jpg
Mega Doorway by mthompson1, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7213/7...61b446d5_z.jpg
Grand Central by mthompson1, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7223/7...2c684fed_z.jpg
Down The Path by mthompson1, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7225/7...54963930_z.jpg
Come In by mthompson1, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7104/7...ced31ff5_z.jpg
Plasterwork by mthompson1, on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5031/7...3eb0bd1e_z.jpg
Courting by mthompson1, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8004/7...d095cc00_z.jpg
From The Wild by mthompson1, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7218/7...44c1507d_z.jpg
Breast Action by mthompson1, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7089/7...855a40a0_z.jpg
Framed By Nature by mthompson1, on Flickr

As always, cheers for lookin. :thumb

Beautiful work!!!
Loving the angles and sky's in these!

Right up my street is this place - Cracking pictures :thumb

Lovely stuff there Mr :thumb

last one is best but all are sick-well done.

Stunning work mate.

Enjoyed a little mooch round here last year before experiencing the subterranean hell of a fluorspar mine.

14mm looks good, nice skies boss.

Wow brill photo's, about 15 minutes from us and is on our to do list. Love the way you've captured the place

By 'eck lad 'thas pulling some rate detail out of that camera!

Those skies... Unbelievable.

Cracking work as per usual.