The hall was built in 1828–32 by Thomas Wright (1773–1845), a banker of Nottinghamshire. It was designed by the architect
William Donthorne. The hall was purchased in 1895 by John Warwick, a brewer of the firm 'Warwick & Richardson' based in Newark. He used it as a family home. He added a ballroom, a billiards room, and a further six bedrooms. In 1936 the property was bought by
Sir Albert Ball, though he never took up residence there. In 1952 the hall was declared a listed building. It is now designated as
Grade II*, for particularly important buildings of more than special interest. The property is listed by
Historic England on the
Heritage at Risk Register. Roof coverings are in fair condition but rainwater disposal is poor, with corresponding internal dampness and signs of active dry rot. The adjacent stables and courtyard structures contribute to the setting of the hall and are now in very poor condition and all at significant risk of loss. The building was purchased by the
British Horological Institute (BHI) in 1972, where its headquarters have been ever since.
Owners • Thomas and Frances Wright, 1828–1845 • Revd. Joseph Banks Wright and Sophia Wright, 1845 • Philip Richard Falkner and Alicia Falkner, 1857–1888 • Mary Frances Falkner, 1888–1894 • John Francis Warwick and Eliza Gertrude Warwick, 1895–1935 •
Sir Albert Ball, 1936–1939 •
Holy Ghost Fathers (Roman Catholic College), 1939–1972 • British Horological Institute, 1972–present ==See also==