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- Jan 6, 2013
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1. The History
Annesley Hall, near Annesley in Nottinghamshire, is a Grade II listed country house. The Hall dates from the mid-13th century and was the ancestral home of the Annesley family before passing to the Chaworth-Musters. Alice Chaworth, heiress to the Manor of Annesley, married George Chaworth. The Chaworth family then owned the house for the next 350 years. Mary Chaworth, who lived at the Hall in the late 1700s/early 1800's, was the boyhood lover of the poet Lord Byron, but she married John Musters in 1805 who she went on to have seven children with. Earlier a more tenuous Byron link saw the poet's uncle, William Byron, kill William Chaworth in a duel in the Stars and Garter pub in London. The drunken argument over who had more game on their estates saw Lord Byron thrust his sword through Chaworth's stomach. Chaworth died the next day and Lord Byron was later found guilty of manslaughter but got off with a small fine!
The Chaworth-Musters went on to become one of the most powerful families in Nottinghamshire. John Chaworth-Musters was appointed High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire for 1864–65. Alterations to the hall saw the addition of a service wing in 1880. The Chaworth-Musters finally sold the hall in 1972 and the new owners controversially removed many of the 17th century fittings. The hall suffered its first fire in 1997 which caused such serious damage to the hall that it has not been inhabited since then. Annesley Lodge, the former gatehouse (also grade II listed) is in slightly better condition. Annesley Old Church, near to the hall, is Grade I listed. The hall is currently on the Buildings at risk register as ‘deteriorating’. The Hall featured on the popular 2005 show Most Haunted. The council and ground owners are trying to restore the building in order to save it however, unfortunately on 16th May, 2015 two of the three floors of the hall were ruined by another fire.
Archive picture in happier days:
Ariel-view-of-Hall-and-Old-Church by HughieDW, on Flickr
2. The Explore
Last came here back in October 2015. Never got in so thought I’d have another crack. As we pulled up there was a police car parked right outside. We hung around for a while and once they’d gone made our way into the house’s grounds. Although getting into the grounds is relatively easy, getting into either the house or the stables is much more difficult. So much so that we failed on both accounts. Hence, we had to content ourselves with the icehouse, the gazebo in the woods and the grounds. Still, enough to take pictures of to merit a report.
3. The Pictures
The view that greets you when you first arrive:
img6196 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Quick pic or two of the church:
img6290 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Annesley 01 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Not getting in that wat then:
Annesley 02 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Some of the out-buildings:
img6191 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6302 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Fireplace left hanging:
img6192 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6300 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The overgrown gardens are nice:
img6303 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6304 by HughieDW, on Flickr
On to the icehouse:
img6295 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6311 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6309 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Annesley 04 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6296 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Annesley 04 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Hidden away in the woods, never saw this little gem last time:
img6314 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Annesley 06 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Annesley 08 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Half a ball!
img6316 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Nice stone shield:
img319 by HughieDW, on Flickr
That sundial:
img6304 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6291 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6292 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6293 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6294 by HughieDW, on Flickr
View from the front:
img6194 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6321 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Full-frontal with fountain pit:
img6322 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Annesley 09 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Looking across to the stables:
img6195 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6324 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6326 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Again, no way in:
img6330 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img6328 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Annesley Hall, near Annesley in Nottinghamshire, is a Grade II listed country house. The Hall dates from the mid-13th century and was the ancestral home of the Annesley family before passing to the Chaworth-Musters. Alice Chaworth, heiress to the Manor of Annesley, married George Chaworth. The Chaworth family then owned the house for the next 350 years. Mary Chaworth, who lived at the Hall in the late 1700s/early 1800's, was the boyhood lover of the poet Lord Byron, but she married John Musters in 1805 who she went on to have seven children with. Earlier a more tenuous Byron link saw the poet's uncle, William Byron, kill William Chaworth in a duel in the Stars and Garter pub in London. The drunken argument over who had more game on their estates saw Lord Byron thrust his sword through Chaworth's stomach. Chaworth died the next day and Lord Byron was later found guilty of manslaughter but got off with a small fine!
The Chaworth-Musters went on to become one of the most powerful families in Nottinghamshire. John Chaworth-Musters was appointed High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire for 1864–65. Alterations to the hall saw the addition of a service wing in 1880. The Chaworth-Musters finally sold the hall in 1972 and the new owners controversially removed many of the 17th century fittings. The hall suffered its first fire in 1997 which caused such serious damage to the hall that it has not been inhabited since then. Annesley Lodge, the former gatehouse (also grade II listed) is in slightly better condition. Annesley Old Church, near to the hall, is Grade I listed. The hall is currently on the Buildings at risk register as ‘deteriorating’. The Hall featured on the popular 2005 show Most Haunted. The council and ground owners are trying to restore the building in order to save it however, unfortunately on 16th May, 2015 two of the three floors of the hall were ruined by another fire.
Archive picture in happier days:
Ariel-view-of-Hall-and-Old-Church by HughieDW, on Flickr2. The Explore
Last came here back in October 2015. Never got in so thought I’d have another crack. As we pulled up there was a police car parked right outside. We hung around for a while and once they’d gone made our way into the house’s grounds. Although getting into the grounds is relatively easy, getting into either the house or the stables is much more difficult. So much so that we failed on both accounts. Hence, we had to content ourselves with the icehouse, the gazebo in the woods and the grounds. Still, enough to take pictures of to merit a report.
3. The Pictures
The view that greets you when you first arrive:
img6196 by HughieDW, on FlickrQuick pic or two of the church:
img6290 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnnesley 01 by HughieDW, on FlickrNot getting in that wat then:
Annesley 02 by HughieDW, on FlickrSome of the out-buildings:
img6191 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg6302 by HughieDW, on FlickrFireplace left hanging:
img6192 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg6300 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe overgrown gardens are nice:
img6303 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg6304 by HughieDW, on FlickrOn to the icehouse:
img6295 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg6311 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg6309 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnnesley 04 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg6296 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnnesley 04 by HughieDW, on FlickrHidden away in the woods, never saw this little gem last time:
img6314 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnnesley 06 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnnesley 08 by HughieDW, on FlickrHalf a ball!
img6316 by HughieDW, on FlickrNice stone shield:
img319 by HughieDW, on FlickrThat sundial:
img6304 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg6291 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg6292 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg6293 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg6294 by HughieDW, on FlickrView from the front:
img6194 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg6321 by HughieDW, on FlickrFull-frontal with fountain pit:
img6322 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnnesley 09 by HughieDW, on FlickrLooking across to the stables:
img6195 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg6324 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg6326 by HughieDW, on FlickrAgain, no way in:
img6330 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg6328 by HughieDW, on Flickr
I was just trying to remember the name of the shrubs - Rhododendrons, and beautiful ones too. They grow so much bigger over there than they do in Tasmania. 
