Another Hidden Gem !!
Another hidden gem, tucked away out of sight of the main road, Ranby Hall near Barnby Moor, is an imposing Georgian listed country house.
Another hidden gem, tucked away out of sight of the main road, Ranby Hall is an imposing Georgian listed country house.
The Hall near Retford is a large Grade II* listed country house and dates back to the late 18th century (around 1775-1800), possibly containing an earlier core, and is an excellent example of Georgian architecture with prominent chimney stacks and its white rendered exterior standing out over the landscaped parkland it sits in.
Architecturally, the Hall is of imposing Georgian architecture built of stuccoed brick with a strip cornice and parapet behind which is a hipped Welsh slate roof. The east wing is of three storeys and the return south wing is of two storeys built in the neo-classical style with four pilasters surmounted by a low pitched pediment. The east wing with columned portico fronts a sweeping driveway. The Hall sits quite a way from Ranby and is actually closer to Barnby Moor than the village its named after.
The east façade was remodelled in the early-19th century by Mr Hugh Blaydes Esq who had likely purchased the site shortly after his marriage in 1800. In 1828, Ranby Hall was bought by the Duke of Newcastle who’s estate at Clumber was just 7 miles away. Its new role was to act as the Dower House to Anna Maria Pelham-Clinton, Dowager Duchess of Newcastle under Lyne. By 1853, Ranby Hall was referred to as being the residence of the 'Ladies Clinton', the unmarried daughters of the 4th Duke of Newcastle under Lyne. Alterations were made in the early 19th century along with the addition of a series outbuildings, giving shape to what we see today. In the later-19th century, further land in the Ranby area was purchased by the 5th Duke of Newcastle.
To the east of the main house, there is a walled kitchen garden, built to provide the Hall with fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and also cut flowers. Gardeners would work under the supervision and watchful eye of the head gardener, who lived on the job in what is known as the “Gardeners Cottage”. This still stands and is now a private residence. The walled garden had a range of lean-to glasshouses on its south facing wall and these glasshouses were heated thanks to a coal/coke fired boiler. Tool and potting sheds were also provided.
On the estate, there was a number of cottages to house the workers of the estate. Low Farm and Ranby Hall Farm provided work for the workforce and an income for the estate. Modern farming methods have now taken over with just one man now farming what would have been work for dozens of men and woman.
Diggle’s Lodge and Ranby Lodge at the entrances to the estate kept the riffraff out and both still stand today. Diggle’s Lodge was the main entrance to the estate though you’d never know it today.
It was sold by the Duke of Newcastle in about 1912. Ranby Hall was bought by Mr J Harold Smith who sold it to Mr Charles Francis Darley of the brewing family from Thorne near Doncaster, remaining in the family until 1983. Mr Darley only occupied a small part of the house, the rest being cared for by a single housekeeper and a man-servant/chauffer. The Hall was first listed as Grade II* on 1st February 1967.
It was sold by his descendants by auction on 21th October 1983. The house and grounds sold for £110,000, the contents for £118,000. The buyer, a local businessman, planned to turn it into a country restaurant but on the evening of September 14th 1984, it was extensively damaged by fire caused by two Calor gas heaters, was fought by 40 firemen but three quarters of the building was gutted. So much of the history and fine features were lost in the fire and the Hall was a sad sight for the next few years.
The Hall stood derelict with no roof and in a very poor condition. The grounds became overgrown and the building was close to complete ruin until a Jordanian Family bought the house and renovated it, putting the roof back on and rebuilding the property. Most of the original features were lost in the fire and the layout was somewhat different to how it once was. Having been repossessed in 2018, The Hall is now owned privately and is currently in the stages of being renovated and can been seen from the footpath on Green Mile Lane.