Rising supreme: the housethat stayed the course

A medieval manor in Derbyshire survives the building of a 'new hall' and two ancient Wiltshire properties reflect the care and innovation of successive families

- Penny Churchill

A SERIES of owners, from medieval to modern times, have left their mark on three historic country houses that have recently come to the market. The first is Grade II*-listed The Old Hall, a substantial property set in 14% acres of old and beautiful gardens on the edge of the picturesque village of Netherseal. It lies in the extreme south of Derbyshire, bounded to the south by the River Mease, which marks the county border with Leicestershire, of which it was once a part.

The former manor house, which is largely hidden and enclosed by boundary walls, yew hedges and lime trees, stands next to the 13th-century church of St Peter at the heart of the Netherseal Conservation Area. Comprehensively renovated and modernised by its current owners, The Old Hall is now for sale through the Nottingham office of Savills (0115-934 8086) at a guide price of $3.5 million.

In 1192, the Norman Earl Ferrers granted the manor of Netherseal to William de Ridware. Between then and 1648, when The Old Hall was sold, the manor passed by marriage through the de Ridware, de Stafford, de Pipe, Vernon and Mather families. Over time, the estate gradually diminished in size and importance and, in 1614, William Mather sold some land and the lordship of the manor to George Gresley, who built a new manor house to the west of the church, thereby relegating the status of The Old Hall to second place.

In 1648, The Old Hall estate was sold to Zachary Johnson and later passed through the Moore and Jervis families before being sold in lots in 1797. The major purchaser was Maj-Gen George Hewett, who also bought The Old Hall itself. The Hewett family owned the property throughout the 19th century, sometimes letting it and sometimes residing there themselves. They made a number of alterations and additions, including the 1908 wing, built of red brick on two storeys, plus attics.