An 800-year-old home where oak panelling and ancient floors sit alongside a heated pool and football pitch

The Old Hall in Netherseal, Derbyshire, a Grade II*-listed property, is a substantial home set within 14¾ acres of gardens on the edge of the picturesque village of Netherseal. This medieval residence, largely hidden by boundary walls, yew hedges, and lime trees, stands adjacent to the 13th-century church of St Peter, nestled in the heart of the Netherseal Conservation Area. The property is currently for sale through the Nottingham office of Savills with a guide price of £3.5 million. With a history spanning over 800 years, The Old Hall has seen numerous transformations by its various owners. The most recent custodians, Adam and Lizzy Devey Smith, have resided there for the past 14 years with their four children, enhancing the property with modern amenities while respecting its historical integrity. Their additions include a vast orangery, an outdoor kitchen, a heated swimming pool, and a sunken terrace. Mrs. Devey Smith describes the estate, which also features woods teeming with wildlife, a lake, and a football pitch, as "an absolute children’s paradise within a tranquil private oasis." The Old Hall offers extensive accommodation, totaling 10,560 sq ft across three floors. The ground floor comprises a formal reception hall, four large reception rooms, a bespoke Mark Wilkinson open-plan dining kitchen, the magnificent orangery, and a secondary kitchen and utility room. The first floor hosts the principal bedroom suite, a family bathroom, three additional double bedrooms, and two more bathrooms. On the second floor, there are three further bedrooms, a bathroom, and various storerooms. Additionally, the property includes a self-contained flat, suitable for dependent relatives or staff. The historical lineage of The Old Hall dates back to 1192 when Earl Ferrers granted the manor of Netherseal to William de Ridware. The manor passed through several prominent families—de Ridware, de Stafford, de Pipe, Vernon, and Mather—until 1648. In 1614, William Mather sold a portion of the land and the lordship of the manor to George Gresley, who constructed a new manor house, thereby diminishing the status of The Old Hall. However, The Old Hall continued to be a significant property. In 1648, The Old Hall estate was acquired by Zachary Johnson, subsequently passing through the Moore and Jervis families before being sold in lots in 1797. Major-General George Hewett became the principal purchaser, including The Old Hall itself. The Hewett family owned the property throughout the 19th century, making several alterations, notably the 1908 wing built of red brick. In 1928, Ernest J. Manners of Worthington Brewery purchased The Old Hall. He later acquired and demolished the 'new' Hall built by Gresley and, in 1931, installed exceptional linenfold panelling from Drakelow Hall in The Old Hall's dining room. Manners also expanded the property and hosted numerous society events. His wife, Alice Meakin, created a vibrant African garden, the structure of which remains visible today. Mrs. Manners was deeply involved in village life, with the hall's lawns hosting local school sports days and the house sheltering evacuated children during the Second World War. The property remained with the Manners family until her death in 1980. #HistoricHome #LuxuryProperty #CountryHouse #Derbyshire #Netherseal #RenovatedProperty #PeriodFeatures #ModernAmenities #Savills #HistoricHome #LuxuryProperty #CountryHouse #Derbyshire #Netherseal #RenovatedProperty #PeriodFeatures #ModernAmenities #Savills

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