Shipley Hall

Shipley Hall
Shipley Hall in the 1890s
General information
Town or city	Derbyshire
Country	England
Coordinates	52°59′37″N 1°20′55″W / 52.9937°N 1.3486°W / 52.9937; -1.3486Coordinates: 52°59′37″N 1°20′55″W / 52.9937°N 1.3486°W / 52.9937; -1.3486
Completed	1799
Demolished	1943
Client	Miller Mundy Family
Design and construction
Architect	William Linley

Shipley Hall was a country estate near Heanor and Ilkeston in Derbyshire, England which now forms a Country Park.

The Shipley estate is an ancient manor that was mentioned in the Domesday Book. From the 14th century the land was covered in extensive forest used for hunting, with a hunting lodge on Shipley Hill. From the 16th century, coal mining began to provide income for the owners.

Shipley Hall was built in 1700, and by 1722 coal mining was an important activity on the Shipley estate. The Hall became the property of the Miller-Mundy family who in around 1765 started running the mines themselves. The Nutbrook Canal opened in 1796 to serve the Shipley Colliery, and the income led to extensive development of the estate. The Hall was rebuilt in 1799 (the building in the above photo) to the design of William Linley of Doncaster, and the grounds were landscaped by William Emes, a follower of Capability Brown.

In the late 19th century, under Alfred Edward Miller Mundy, the colliery was becoming increasingly prosperous, especially with the opening of the Midland Railway. Miller Mundy was regarded as an excellent employer by the standards of the time, with a hands-on approach. Further developments were the building of a model dairy and farm, and the water tower to feed it, designed by W. E. Nesfield, a doubling of the size of the hall and the creation of a cricket ground. The Lodges and gates were designed by Sir Walter Tapper.

In 1887 there was a scandal when Captain Miller Mundy's wife, Ellen, ran off with Charles Chetwynd-Talbot the 19-year-old Earl of Shrewsbury, and then left the country with her three brothers who had skipped bail. They were accused of drawing lots to decide who would kill the eldest brother and heir of Alfreton Hall if he did not sign over outstanding inheritances.