Sutton Scarsdale is a derelict stately home in Derbyshire which dates back to 1724. It lies in ruins after it was ‘asset stripped’ around 1920. Most of the interior of the house was sold and shipped around the world. What you see today is a sorry-looking preserved shell, with a fantastic history.
In its heyday, this house was said to rival nearby Chatsworth with its incredible interiors. That was the aim of the man who commissioned it, Nicholas Leke – the 4th Earl of Scarsdale. It then proceeded to have a number of owners, most notably the Arkwright family, who made their money from the cotton industry at the mills of the Derwent Valley.
In 1919 the house was put up for auction. Its contents included a library, a morning room, a smoking room, a billiard room and a ‘beautiful Ball Room with carved oak ornamentation and gold and white decoration’. It had plenty of places to sleep with 11 main bedrooms and 8 smaller ones! Some photos remain from the auction catalogue too. At this point a true tragedy hit this house. It was purchased not by someone who wanted to live in it, but by a group of businessmen who wanted to sell off anything of value. The interiors were stripped and sold to the highest bidder.
The oak panelling from one room was bought by newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, who planned to use it at his infamous Hearst Castle. Instead though, it remained in storage for many years before being bought by Pall Mall films for use as a set in their various 1950s productions. Another set of panels are now resident in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Even the roof of the house was removed and sold. Knowing this history makes visiting the hall a sobering experience. We still loved being able to walk around the various rooms though and get a feel for the size of each one. It’s a fascinating place to see.
It’s free to visit Sutton Scarsdale hall. The site is operated by English Heritage and there is a small car park for visitors. Occasionally parts of the interior are off limits while conservation work takes place on the walls. There’s another English Heritage attraction across the valley from the hall, which is worth visiting at the same time. The main keep at Bolsover Castle has the most incredible interiors along with a similarly derelict extension.
LOCATION & CONTACT
Address: Sutton Scarsdale Hall, Hall Drive, Sutton Scarsdale, Derbyshire, S44 5UR
MORE ON SUTTON SCARSDALE HALL
Sutton Scarsdale Hall – Official Website
Sutton Scarsdale Hall – Wikipedia