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.

Timeline of The Hall: A Journey Through Centuries

The Hall has witnessed centuries of change from its Jacobean origins in the early 1600s to its role in Britain’s industrial transformation. This timeline traces the key moments in its evolution—from a grand private residence to a hub of innovation linked to the woollen, rubber, and automotive industries—capturing the people, periods, and progress that have shaped its enduring legacy.

Ornate gold frame featuring a black and white image of a historical building with gothic architecture, including bay windows and stone facade, set against a green background. Text reads "History of the Hall."

(1570 - 1631) John Hall

The Hall was built in 1610 by John Hall, a local wealthy mill owner over an existing Medieval house that already existed on the grounds. The original Hall family would leave their mark on the estate, engraving their stone faces above the chimney in the study of the house, which can still be seen today.

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Sir Thomas Hall (1600–1663)

Commissioner in Wiltshire for King Charles I, Sir Thomas Hall, inherited The Hall upon his father's death.

John Hall (1632 - 1711)

Following his father's death, John Hall, a member of Parliament for Wells, Somerset, became head of The Hall. He had no legitimate children and left the estate to his great-niece, Rachel Baynton, who was reputedly his illegitimate daughter.

Rachel Baynton (1695 - 1722)

The rumoured illegitimate daughter of John Hall, Rachel Baynton of Little Chalfield inherited The Hall upon his death when she was fifteen years old.

Portrait of a woman in a blue dress with a gold ornate frame

(1711 – 1773) Evelyn Pierrepont

Famed as an early excavator of the famous Roman Baths, the Second Duke of Kingston, Evelyn Pierrepont “the handsomest man in England” would inherit the Hall upon his mother's death.

Portrait of a man in historical clothing with an ornate gold frame

Elizabeth Chudleigh (1721 - 1788)

The Duchess of Kingston would commit perjury by beginning an improper liaison with Evelyn Pierrepont. After the Second Duke of Kingston died, Elizabeth inherited The Hall and used it as a holiday home.

Portrait of a woman in an ornate gold frame with a green background.

(1778 - 1860) Charles Meadows

After Elizabeth died in 1788, The Hall passed to Evelyn’s nephew, Charles Meadows, who later was created Viscount Newark in 1796 and Earl Manvers in 1806. In the early 1800s, Charles sold the estate.

(1769 - 1828) Thomas Divett

In 1805, the estate was bought by Thomas Divett, a London industrialist who used The Hall as a workshop, store, and accommodation for weavers. In the 19th century, the woollen industry in Bradford on Avon was in serious decline, and The Hall became derelict and fell into disrepair.

Stephen Moulton (1794 - 1880)

Stephen Moulton, a pioneer of rubber engineering, bought the estate and restored The Hall to its former glory.

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(1839 - 1925) John Moulton

A notable benefactor of the town, John Moulton, would reside in The Hall upon his father's death.

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(1864 - 1941) Alice Moulton

Upon her husband John’s death, widow Alice Moulton was left to manage The Hall and bring up her three grandchildren alone - successfully steering the estate through the turmoil of the Great Depression.

A vintage photograph of a woman reclining in a decorative chair while reading a book, framed in an ornate gold frame against a green background.

Alex Moulton (1920 - 2012)

Engineer and inventor Alex Moulton would take ownership of The Hall in 1949. Remembered for his pioneering engineering achievements, Dr Moulton called The Hall his home, living and working within the magnificent Grade I-listed Jacobean mansion.

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Alex Moulton Charitable Trust

After he died in 2012, Dr Moulton gifted The Hall to the Alex Moulton Charitable Trust. The Trust continues to preserve and maintain The Hall and its historic collections - showcasing engineering and design and promoting the estate as a venue for tours, weddings and luxurious stays.