Sutton Scarsdale Hall

[melodysparks]

Sutton Scarsdale Hall, a photo by Melodysparks (Chris Preedy) on Flickr.

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.

Comments

[aadarshinah.livejournal.com]

oh wow! this is just...wow

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Remember my other shot called Doorway?

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/melodysparks/5644346100/)

It was taken at the same place, this shows what is beyond the doorway

[aadarshinah.livejournal.com]

I've noticed a trend: I like all your framed pics like this.

well, actually, I like almost all of your pics, so maybe that's the trend instead.

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

Thank you that means a lot.

I am happy that I am able to please people with my photography and show them how I veiw the world.

I have a thing for architecture and statues with my photography I love to find different angles and unusual lighting when I can but there are so few places that work so well.Maybe thats one of the reasons I love using black and white on some of my architecture photographs

I got to admit that I have really got to get out and about and do some more intense photography soon I have just been lacking inspiration recently

[aadarshinah.livejournal.com]

tell me about it. I've wanted to do nothing but nap for days now.

but i love your pics - maybe because I've a think for architecure and statues too. buildings are so much more interesting than people, so eternal and often mysterious....

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

Yes they are and no matter what they look like there is alway a beauty in them, a history a legacy that has been passed on to other generations. Unfortunately there are so many building being lost due to poor upkeep and neglect and maybe by capturing some of these old buolding before they are totally neglected to fall into rack and ruin I can pass a little of that legacy on to the next generation with my photography

[aadarshinah.livejournal.com]

::nods sadly::

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

I have to find somewhere else with a couple of amazing buildings to photograph for when I have my week off. Chatsworth is one place I am visiting as I always do every autumn but I will have to pull out the road atlas and see where else I can wander to

[aadarshinah.livejournal.com]

england is full of lovely old buildings. I'm sure you'll find something.