A Jacobean Legacy Rooted in Industry and Innovation
The Hall is a striking Jacobean mansion with origins in the early 17th century, steeped in history and industrial heritage.
Over the centuries, it has been home to influential figures connected to Britain’s booming woollen, rubber, and automotive industries. In the 19th and 20th centuries, The Hall stood at the crossroads of industrial progress, playing host to pioneers whose innovations shaped regional and national economies.
Today, this Grade I-listed Jacobean mansion stands as a testament to centuries of craftsmanship, engineering brilliance, and industrial ambition—its historic rooms and intricate architectural details reverberating with the legacy of the woollen, rubber, and automotive pioneers who once shaped its story.
"The best-built house for the quality of a gentleman in Wiltshire"
Described as "the best-built house for the quality of a gentleman in Wiltshire" by John Aubrey, the 17th-century antiquarian and writer, The Hall was built in 1610 for John Hall, a local wealthy mill owner, over an existing manor house that was remodelled into the Jacobean manor house it is today.
The architect is unknown, although it was originally speculated to be the English architect Robert Smythson, who designed Longleat House in Warminster. However, evidence points to a local man, William Arnold, who was responsible for Montacute House in South Somerset.
After the death of John Hall, the estate passed through his illegitimate daughter Rachel Bayntun via a special act of parliament after marrying into one of England’s most powerful families. Upon Rachel's death, her son, Evelyn Pierrepont, became the 2nd Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull and would inherit The Hall.
But it was Evelyn’s marriage that drew infamy. He secretly wed Elizabeth Chudleigh, a charismatic and controversial figure who had already married another man years before. When Evelyn died in 1773, his disinherited family members challenged the will, exposing Elizabeth’s prior marriage and launching her into a sensational trial for bigamy in 1776. She was found guilty at Westminster Hall—but escaped punishment due to her title.
After Elizabeth's disgrace and Evelyn’s death, the Pierrepont line ended, and The Hall eventually passed to descendants of Rachel Bayntun. By the mid-19th century, the estate would leave aristocratic hands altogether.
The Hall and Its Noble Ties
“Amongst the most interesting of their kind in England.”
Once described by Country Life as “amongst the most interesting of their kind in England.” The magnificent seven acres of landscaped grounds offer tranquil seclusion and undisturbed privacy, where secret hidden corners, towering ancient trees, deep ponds, and local wildlife await discovery.
The grounds of The Hall are as rich in history as the building itself—shaped over generations by practical needs, changing fashions, and personal vision.
The Hall and the Moulton Legacy
In the 19th century, The Hall became the home of Stephen Moulton, an industrial pioneer who introduced the vulcanisation of rubber to Britain. His son, John Moulton, and later his grandson Dr Alex Moulton, continued the family legacy. Dr Moulton was a renowned engineer, inventor of the revolutionary Moulton bicycle, and a key contributor to the suspension design of the iconic Mini car alongside good friend Alec Issigonis.
The Moulton family preserved and lived at The Hall for generations, blending heritage and craftsmanship in one remarkable place. After Dr Moulton’s passing in 2012, The Hall and its estate passed to the Alex Moulton Charitable Trust for conservation and preservation.
