Historic house bought by property developer

Derby City Council bought Allestree Hall and surrounding land in 1946

A 19th Century country house in Derby has been sold to a property developer.

Derby City Council put Allestree Hall, which is in Allestree Park, on the market earlier in the year.

The authority said the building has now been acquired by Staton Young, which plans to transform it into a wedding venue.

The city council said it hoped the development would give the historic home a new lease of life.

'New chapter'

Built in the early 1800s on land once owned by the Mundy family of Markeaton Hall, Allestree Hall was commissioned by Bache Thornhill and designed by James Wyatt, an architect who also directed the building of Heaton Hall in Manchester.

The council acquired the property in 1946 and turned part of the grounds into an 18-hole golf course, which closed back in November 2020.

Since then, the land has returned to nature, becoming the UK's largest urban rewilding project.

Marc Brough, managing director at Staton Young, said: "Allestree Hall presents us with a great opportunity to restore a piece of Derby's history.

"We've got some exciting plans and can't wait to bring this beautiful building back to life."

Kathy Kozlowski, city council cabinet member for governance and finance, said the authority hoped the sale means Allestree Hall "can reclaim its former glory".

"After years of searching for the right buyer, we're thrilled to have found a Derby-based preferred bidder with experience of revitalising historic properties," she said.

"Allestree Hall, a building rich in history and potential, is poised for a new chapter."