#abandonedmansion #abandonedplaces #AbandonedplacesUK
We explore an abandoned millionaires mansion.
One of England’s most neglected hidden gems, a heartbreaking memorial to a once grand mansion house.
Irreplaceable architecture and period features fall further into decay and remain at risk to robbery and vandalism.
It all began in 1704 when a politician bought the land to build his family home, the Molyneux family resided here up until 1772, it was then acquired by the county’s high sheriff who commissioned architect Robert Adam to remodel and expand the mansion.
Robert Adam was one of the most important British architects and the interior of this mansion is the finest example of his work in Northern England.
His portrait hangs in his signature octagonal room, its a privilege to see his exquisite work in tact and we are thankful it has remained so for this long.
It passed through a number of wealthy hands over the years.
Its purpose changing multiple times, from residential into a hydropathic hotel in 1912, an army hospital in the 1950s and a private girls school in the 1970s. Finally, after being abandoned for a short while when the school moved out, a local man saved it from demolition in the 1980s and spent over £100,000 in refurbishments, which resulted in it gaining a grade I listing.
The impressive wood panelled dance hall and tapestry room contain a number of classic paintings and a collection of portraits of the former owners.
Queen Ann sits proudly above the fireplace.
Most originals have been relocated to the art gallery but replicas adorn each wall, this room boasts a large King George III above the fire and the impressive Canterbury Pilgrims by William Blake dominates the west wall.
The freemasons used the hall up until 2006, three lodges survive upstairs with the Mason's Marks on the plaster ceilings.
The mansion was sold a final time in 2006 to a company with plans to turn it into retirement flats, 15 years have now passed, no progress has been made on the building and it has been left to decay further, a classic case of investors wanting the land and not the listed building, the sad case for so many of them.
It’s uncertain what the future holds for this crumbling piece of history, the decay since our last visit has spread and we fear it won’t hold on much longer. This classic abandoned location will eventually be a memory, with only images and video to help us remember its beauty.
Will it remain unloved until it finally crumbles?
We return to see what’s changed and document this beautiful 317 year old building for the last time…
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