↓ History

The origins of Carnfield Hall can be traced in its old name (in use until 18th century – Carlingthwaite/Carnthwaite). This means, in old Norse, “an old woman’s clearing”, thus denoting Viking origins. The earliest documents relating specifically to Carnfield date from the early 1300’s in a large collection held at the Derbyshire Record office and at the Hall itself.

Parts of the present Hall date from the mid 15th century when it was lived in by the Babington family of nearby Dethick – ancestors of Anthony who was hung drawn and quartered for supporting Mary Queen of Scots at Wingfield Manor. Alice Babington married Gregory Page so Carlingthwaite and its 500 acres was her dowry. In 1502 they sold it to their relative Hugh Revell soon after he had kidnapped old Mr Page.

The Hall was much reconstructed in the 1560’s by Edward Revell and his grandsons – Edward and George added the great upstairs parlour and the wonderful dog leg staircases and panelled rooms in the early 1600’s.

During the Civil War Francis Revell supported parliament although a warrant was issued by Mr Sitwell for his arrest as a royalist. Sitting on the fence preserved the Hall intact and in about 1700 his grandson Robert Revell turned the house back to front to use the new park for a great avenue which was sadly cut down on 1941/2 for the war effort. He was a close relative (as where his Wife and Mother) of the wealthy Harpur family of Calke Abbey and it seems probable that he set about remodeling his house as a smaller version.

Delusions of grandeur caused debts and his untimely murder at the age of 46 in his bed at Carnfield in 1714. His granddaughter, an orphan at 14 inherited in 1729 and died a year later after marrying the interestingly named Strelley Pegge (of Beauchief Hall, Sheffield). Smallpox killed her aged 20 in Nottingham causing the estate to pass to her uncle, the Reverend Francis Revell who moved in with his Wife, Mistress (a French lady called only Mademoiselle) and two illegitimate children. Another mistress produced the future heir to Carnfield – Tristram, who was looked after when his father died by his cousin Edward Revell who had inherited the estate.

In 1770 Tristram (Lieut. Colonel of the Derbyshire Yeomanry) inherited and was the squire for 27 years. His rights were challenged by a cousin who, many years before had eloped with the coachman Thomas Jenkin and been disowned by her rather grand relations.

At Tristram’s death it passed to his cousin John Eardley-Wilmot (son of Sir John, Lord Chief Justice of England) a well know lawyer and supporter of worthy causes such as the American loyalists who supported England in 1776 and were ejected, and the French revolutionary exiles in 1793. His son Sir John Eardley-Wilmot was an MP who got into financial difficulties and sold Carnfield in 1834 for £18,000 (750 acres) to his land agent Joseph Wilson who had lived in the Hall for many years. Sir John was later made Governor of Tasmania to avoid his creditors. Joseph was arrested in 1840 for debt and sent to Derby Gaol. His arrest warrant is still at Carnfield and records more than £24,000 of debts which would equate to millions today. He died in the Hall of “Gaol Fever” in 1840 whilst awaiting trial. His son in law was a relative of the Wilmot’s and because the estate was bought with Joseph’s wife’s money it survived the bankruptcy and eventually passed to Vaughan Radford his grandson. Born in 1832 he spent his life running his 1000 acres, rarely leaving. His nephew, the Heir ran off to Canada in 1899 to seek his fortune in the gold rush.

He abandoned his young family at Carnfield and never returned. At Vaughan’s death in 1912 the estate had to be sold and was bought by its auctioneer, Melville Watson for £6500 He started some much needed repairs but was murdered in 1914 by his ex brother in law. Somehow his widow survived at the Hall until her death in 1949. Sold to Mr Darbyshire who was involved with starting an explosives factory nearby (a business that is still thriving today). The hall stands within the blast gone!

The Hall was eventually abandoned in 1960 after mining subsidence caused structural damage. Narrowly surviving an attempt of demolition and a conversion into a 70 bed hotel, the Hall fell into terminal decline until 1987 when it was bought with two acres by James Cartland. He has spent the intervening years restoring the Hall (much of it up a ladder himself) and buying back lots of the estate surrounding the Hall, now, about ninety acres of park and ancient woodland. He has also built up an archive of material relating to the history of the estate of which this is a snippet. From a recently discovered Victorian photo album it seems that Cartland relatives must have visited the Hall thus forging another link between the centuries. Coincidence, I wonder?

↓ Regeneration

In September 1987 I saw Carnfield for the first time on a wet and windy day. I had been looking for a house to restore and had looked at numerous candidates. None of them attracted me, but I knew within five minutes that this was the one. Although a total disaster area with leaking roofs, broken plumbing and holes in the walls, this I knew was a wonderful house, or could be; full of character and surprisingly untouched. In a fit of utter madness, for that is the only explanation, I bought it a few weeks later.

October 1987 saw the great storm wreck much of the southern half of England and I didn’t dare phone up for three days to see if Carnfield had survived. Luckily it avoided the storm as its condition was so precarious it would possibly have collapsed. With the backing of the local Council a large grant was agreed with English Heritage to help towards the main work and for the next three years, along with the builders, I spent most of my time up a ladder. A large family of rats moved into the south wing after their old home in a barn was destroyed but they soon left!

Over the last twenty-two years the house has been completely overhauled and it is, I believe, in better condition now then for 400 years. In 2005 I was at last able to buy the fifty acre park directly in front, on which we occasionally hold various events. In 2008 I was able to acquire another thirty-eight acres of ancient woodlands and fields, thus on three sides a buffer against the modern world. Visitors often comment on its rural feel as we are surrounded by industrial estates and major roads with the M1 a mile away. Sadly each year I wonder how long this wonderful place will survive as it is. The most serious problem is a proposed housing development on the adjoining garden centre (now closed) around the 18th century stable block built for the house in 1710.

Hopefully the conservation area made to protect the setting of the Hall in 1991 will stop its development, which, so close to the property, will dramatically alter the rural feel, and there is no doubt that parts will be visible from the Hall. Included in the proposal is the division and altering of the listed stable block into four houses, within a few yards, and in open view, of the Elizabethan west front of the Hall.

Over the years the Hall has become filled with my somewhat eclectic collection. I arrived here with quite a lot and since then I have collected much more, plus inheriting many family possessions. I have to admit it’s getting difficult to fit more in. Soon after I arrived I was lucky enough to be able to buy two large collections of documents relating to the estate going back about fivehundred years. This was the other half of the collection held at the county archives in Matlock. It had been split up in 1912, and other things have arrived over the years including a wonderful 1860’s photo album of the Radford family and the Hall. Hopefully, Carnfield Hall will continue to be improved.

The next project is to restore the woodland which hasn’t been touched for over one hundred years. Three fishponds, one medieval and the others probably dating back to at least 1600 are totally silted up and full of undergrowth. Financial help will be needed. They are shown on the earliest plan of 1693 and the walks and trails on later plans. In May the bluebells stretch for a shimmering mile. It is hoped to be able to open this to the general public in the future. The main problem at the moment are the illegal motorcyclists who cut the fences and damage the woodland, frighten and shoot the wildlife. To be the owner of a place like this brings its problems.

If anyone has relations who worked here I would love to hear about it, or any other stories relating to the previous owners. Any suggestions anyone may have regarding grant funding will be gratefully received.