The Bolton estate belonged to the Scrope family since medieval times, based on
Bolton Castle. After the death in 1630 of
Emanuel Scrope, 1st Earl of Sunderland and 11th
Baron Scrope of Bolton, without any legitimate children, the estate was inherited by
Mary, the eldest of his three illegitimate daughters. She married
Charles, Marquess of Winchester. Bolton Hall was originally built in 1678 for the Marquess, who in 1689 was elevated to be the first
Duke of Bolton by a grateful King William III for his support in the
Glorious Revolution. It passed down through five succeeding Dukes of Bolton to
Harry Powlett, 6th Duke of Bolton, an admiral in the Royal Navy. The sixth Duke died without a male heir in 1794 and the dukedom became extinct, the Bolton estates devolving on his brother's natural daughter Jean Browne-Powlett. She married
Thomas Orde, who in 1795 assumed the additional surname of Powlett and was a Tory politician. He served as
Chief Secretary for Ireland and was ennobled in 1797 as
Baron Bolton. In 1902 the hall suffered a serious fire and was afterwards rebuilt. The estate then passed down to Harry Algar Nigel Orde-Powlett, 8th Baron Bolton, who inherited on his father's death. The 8th Baron resided at Bolton Hall, which was originally built in 1675. His residence in 2016 was Wensley Hall, Wensley, Leyburn. He died 10 June 2023. He has been succeeded by his son Thomas Orde-Powlett as the 9th Baron. ==See also==