Kelham Hall and Country Park, Kelham, Notts.

Image: © David Hallam-Jones Taken: 31 Dec 2013

Kelham Hall, a Grade I listed building stands in 52 acres of parkland off the A617 road, near to where this road crosses the River Trent. It has long been the seat and property of the Manners-Suttons. The first and second halls on this site were destroyed by fire and this one, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, was completed in 1863. In 1865 Gilbert Scott reused many of these design details, on a much larger scale, for the façade of the Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras Station, that was completed in 1876. In 1903 the hall was sold to the Society of the Sacred Mission and run as a theological college. Later it was occupied by military forces during WWI. The main ‘accommodation building’ at the side of the hall was completed in 1939 to house the monks and the theological students although its first occupants were a garrison of the 'Blues' cavalry and soon afterwards, a group of men from Texas and Oklahoma who were involved in drilling for oil at the nearby Eakring oilfield. The hall was again commandeered by military personnel during WWII. The theological college closed in 1972 due to declining numbers and as a result of a Church of England policy to reduce the high church influence. Since 1973, the hall has been the headquarters of Newark and Sherwood District Council. In 2010 the Council considered selling the building to reduce costs however, this has not happened and parts of it are also available, through the Council, for private functions.

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