1086–1609 The estate that surrounds Bradbourne Hall has always been attached to the nearby
Bradbourne Priory (the remaining building of which is now All Saint's Church). The church itself was recorded in the
Domesday Book of 1086, though it and its surrounding buildings were rebuilt and extended throughout the 12th century, with a large-scale reconstruction work taking place at the beginning of the 13th century. Bradbourne Hall stands upon the site of the rectory for the church. Although the year in which the rectory was built was unknown, it is known to have existed by 1278. It is also possible that it either replaced or incorporated earlier priory buildings. It is known that at one point, three
canons from
Dunstable Priory resided at this rectory, and served the parishes of
Bradbourne,
Brassington,
Tissington,
Ballidon and
Atlow. Geffrey de Cauceis, who held the land, gave it to the Dunstable Priory in 1205. However, during the
dissolution of the monasteries (1536–1541), it was forfeited to the estate of Crown.
1609–1834 Following the dissolution of the monasteries, George Buxton purchased the former
glebe lands of All Saint's Church, which consisted of some 260 acres in 1609. and his grandson Rev. German Buckston succeeded to the position and held it until 1861. Rev. German Buxton married Ellen Ward, who was the daughter of the vicar of
Sutton on the Hill. The Buxtons left Bradbourne when Ellen Buxton's father died in 1834, and so Rev. German Buxton moved to Sutton on the Hill to take his position. Bradbourne Hall was then let out to a series of tenants.
1834–1910 The dates and details of all the tenants that lived at Bradbourne throughout the mid- to late 19th century are not recorded in detail. At one point during the mid-19th century, Colonel David Wilkie – who was involved in the
1859 Indian Mutiny (
4th Bengal Native Infantry) – was a resident at Bradbourne Hall. by
Hartshorne of
John de Sheppey's effigy, drawn by him whilst he was living at Bradbourne Hall in 1893. The
archaeologist,
author and
essayist Albert Hartshorne and his wife Constance Hartshorne were residents at Bradbourne Hall during the late 19th and early 20th century. Though the year in which they moved in remains unknown, ''Kelly's Directory'' (which recorded a history of the house) notes Hartshorne as the resident of Bradbourne Hall in 1891. Constance died there in 1901, and Albert would live at Bradbourne Hall until his death in 1910. == Architecture ==