Cantley Hall
Encyclopedia
Cantley Hall is a Georgian
mansion
set in 160 hectares, in the village of Old Cantley
just outside Doncaster
, South Yorkshire
, England
.
called Tochi prior to the conquest
of England
by the Normans
in 1066, after which it probably went to the Everingham's or Everingham Ancestors. By 1209 it was known as Kanteleia, and Cauntele in 1246. By 1280 it was in the possession of Robert de Everingham. By the late 15th century the name of Cantley had been established and remained, while the residents of the estate were the Smith family.
," son of "Darley Arabian
." Although "Flying Childers" was later sold to the Duke of Devonshire
, he was never beaten and is still regarded as one of the fastest horses ever raced. He later retired to Chatsworth House
, Derbyshire
although he mainly covered mares owned by the Duke, as he was too far away from the main breeding centre of Yorkshire
. Between 1785 and 1786, Childers Walbank Childers remodelled Cantley Hall into an impressive country mansion, known for some time as Cantley Lodge, and created the shooting forest Black Carr Plantation. His son William Walbanke Childers was later Canon of Ely from 1803 to 1833. By the mid-19th century, John Walbanke Childers (1798–1886) owned 5700 acres (23.1 km²) in the Riding (ie - Cantley Hall estate), 7400 in Cambridgeshire
and 200 in Lincolnshire
; while his brother Charles Childers was Rector of Armthorpe from 1833 to 1843. In 1893 Mrs Childers, a staunch Anglo-Catholic, was patron for the refurbishment of Cantley Church by Sir
John Ninian Comper.
for extraction of its coal
reserves, and left for their Cambridgeshire
estate.
After World War II
, the Fitzwilliam family faced with quickly declining revenues from their land, started selling off parts of the estate, including Black Carr Plantation in 1950 to Oates Brothers Timber Merchants. By the late 1980s, Cantley Hall was occupied by an old lady relative of the Fitzwilliams and owners of Doncaster Brewery. After she died in 1988, a sale of contents was held, and the house sold to car magnate John Carnell.
In 1990, Carnell sold Cantley Hall to Graham Kirkham, later Baron Kirkham of Old Cantley
, founder and chairmen of sofa
retailer Dfs
.
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
set in 160 hectares, in the village of Old Cantley
Cantley, South Yorkshire
Cantley is a civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 2,830.-Early history:...
just outside Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Early history
Cantley Hall was probably a home from around the 7th or 8th century, owned by a SaxonAnglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
called Tochi prior to the conquest
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
by the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
in 1066, after which it probably went to the Everingham's or Everingham Ancestors. By 1209 it was known as Kanteleia, and Cauntele in 1246. By 1280 it was in the possession of Robert de Everingham. By the late 15th century the name of Cantley had been established and remained, while the residents of the estate were the Smith family.
Childers family
In 1610, Hugh Childers the Mayor of Doncaster from 1604, add Cantley Hall to the existing families traditional home at Carr House, by buying the estate from the Stapleton family. In 1714 Leonard Childers of Cantley Hall bred the famous stallion "Flying ChildersFlying Childers
Flying Childers was a famous undefeated 18th century Thoroughbred racehorse, foaled in 1714, and is often cited as the first truly great racehorse in the history of Thoroughbreds.-Breeding:...
," son of "Darley Arabian
Darley Arabian
The Darley Arabian was one of three dominant foundation sires of modern Thoroughbred horse racing bloodstock, the other two being the Godolphin Arabian and the Byerley Turk. This bay Arabian horse was bought in Aleppo, Syria by Thomas Darley in 1704 and shipped back to Aldby Park in England, where...
." Although "Flying Childers" was later sold to the Duke of Devonshire
Duke of Devonshire
Duke of Devonshire is a title in the peerage of England held by members of the Cavendish family. This branch of the Cavendish family has been one of the richest and most influential aristocratic families in England since the 16th century, and have been rivalled in political influence perhaps only...
, he was never beaten and is still regarded as one of the fastest horses ever raced. He later retired to Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House is a stately home in North Derbyshire, England, northeast of Bakewell and west of Chesterfield . It is the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, and has been home to his family, the Cavendish family, since Bess of Hardwick settled at Chatsworth in 1549.Standing on the east bank of the...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
although he mainly covered mares owned by the Duke, as he was too far away from the main breeding centre of Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. Between 1785 and 1786, Childers Walbank Childers remodelled Cantley Hall into an impressive country mansion, known for some time as Cantley Lodge, and created the shooting forest Black Carr Plantation. His son William Walbanke Childers was later Canon of Ely from 1803 to 1833. By the mid-19th century, John Walbanke Childers (1798–1886) owned 5700 acres (23.1 km²) in the Riding (ie - Cantley Hall estate), 7400 in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
and 200 in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
; while his brother Charles Childers was Rector of Armthorpe from 1833 to 1843. In 1893 Mrs Childers, a staunch Anglo-Catholic, was patron for the refurbishment of Cantley Church by Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
John Ninian Comper.
After 1901
In 1901 the Childers family sold Cantley Hall and its residual 5000 acres (20.2 km²) to the Fitzwilliam familyEarl FitzWilliam
Earl Fitzwilliam was a title in both the Peerage of Ireland and the Peerage of Great Britain held by the head of the Fitzwilliam family. This family claim descent from William the Conqueror. The Fitzwilliams acquired extensive holdings in South Yorkshire, largely through strategic alliances through...
for extraction of its coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
reserves, and left for their Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
estate.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Fitzwilliam family faced with quickly declining revenues from their land, started selling off parts of the estate, including Black Carr Plantation in 1950 to Oates Brothers Timber Merchants. By the late 1980s, Cantley Hall was occupied by an old lady relative of the Fitzwilliams and owners of Doncaster Brewery. After she died in 1988, a sale of contents was held, and the house sold to car magnate John Carnell.
In 1990, Carnell sold Cantley Hall to Graham Kirkham, later Baron Kirkham of Old Cantley
Graham Kirkham, Baron Kirkham of Old Cantley
Graham Kirkham, Baron Kirkham CVO , is an English businessman famous for founding sofa retailer Dfs.Currently Executive Chairman of DFS Furniture Company Ltd, Kirkham is a strong political and financial supporter of the Conservative Party, and is one of South Yorkshire's richest men, with a...
, founder and chairmen of sofa
Couch
A couch, also called a sofa, is an item of furniture designed to seat more than one person, and providing support for the back and arms. Typically, it will have an armrest on either side. In homes couches are normally found in the family room, living room, den or the lounge...
retailer Dfs
Dfs (retailer)
DFS, formerly Doncaster Furnishing Stores, is a national furniture retailer in the United Kingdom which specialises in sofas and soft furnishings. It serves the lower end of the furniture market and offers credit terms on its goods.- History :...
.