A remarkable 16th-century mansion with a fascinating royal and architectural history has gone on the market for a guide price of just £550,000–£600,000, offering house-hunters the extraordinary opportunity to live like an Elizabethan lord for roughly the price of a London flat.Barlborough Hall, a Grade I-listed Elizabethan stately home dating back to 1583, is set to go under the hammer later this month. The sprawling property near Chesterfield, Derbyshire, comes complete with around 14 acres of land and almost 16,000 square feet of accommodation.
A mansion dating back to 1583
Historic Barlborough Hall with 14 acres hits the auction market. (Photo: SWNS)
The magnificent 440-year-old hall was built for Sir Francis Rodes, a judge who took part in the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots. The property is also believed to have been designed by renowned architect Robert Smythson, whose architectural legacy includes nearby stately homes such as Hardwick Hall and Wollaton Hall.Barlborough Hall sits within approximately 14 acres of gardens, woodland and lawns. The estate also forms part of a Grade II registered park and garden, further adding to its historic significance.
‘An exceptional property in every sense’
This stunning 16th-century mansion could be yours for £550,000. (Photo: SWNS)
According to SWNS, James Vandenbrook, associate director at BTG Eddisons Property Auctions, which is handling the sale, described Barlborough Hall as an exceptional property with enormous potential.“Barlborough Hall is an exceptional property in every sense,” he said.“It is not often that a Grade I-listed Elizabethan house of this scale, with such a remarkable architectural history and so much land, comes to the market at auction.
Live like an Elizabethan lord for the price of a London flat. (Photo: SWNS)
“The fact that it dates back to 1583 and is associated with Robert Smythson, whose work includes Hardwick and Wollaton halls, gives it a very special place in the history of English country houses.“It is also a property with enormous potential for its next chapter. Of course, any future use will need to respect its Grade I listing, its historic significance and the necessary planning and other consents, but the scale and setting of the estate make it a fascinating proposition for the right buyer.”
Why is Barlborough Hall being sold?
Grade I-listed Barlborough Hall heads to auction on September 30. (Photo: SWNS)
The historic hall is being offered for sale following the closure last year of Jesuit-run Mount St Mary’s College and Barlborough Hall School, which had occupied the building since 1939.The school went into administration in July 2025, while other parts of the wider estate were sold this summer.Vandenbrook added that the property was a building of “genuine national architectural significance” and said there would likely be considerable interest in its future.“Whoever acquires it will have the opportunity, and indeed the responsibility, of becoming the next custodian of a unique house that is more than four centuries old,” he said.
Barlborough Hall to go under the hammer on September 30
Barlborough Hall is scheduled to be auctioned on September 30, with a guide price of £550,000–£600,000.While the relatively modest guide price may put the historic mansion within reach of some house-hunters, any prospective buyer will have to take into account the responsibilities and restrictions that come with owning a Grade I-listed property. Its future use will be subject to the relevant planning requirements and conservation considerations.For the successful bidder, however, the sale represents a rare opportunity to become the custodian of a centuries-old English country house, complete with extensive grounds and a remarkable connection to the country’s architectural and royal history.
