Patshull Hall
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Patshull Hall is a substantial Georgian mansion house situated in Staffordshire. It is a Grade I listed building and by repute is the largest listed building in that county.
The Hall was built to designs by architect James Gibbs for Sir John Astley in about 1730. The main facade is of three storeys with seven bays, three of which are pedimented, and tower wings. The west wing, of monolithic proportions, has four storeys. The house was set in a park of some 340 acres created by Capability Brown and including a large serpentine lake.
The estate was acquired in 1765 by Sir George Pigot, ( Baron Pigot from 1766), on his retirement as Governor of Madras. Sir Robert Pigot sold the property in 1848 to William Legge the 5th Earl of Dartmouth, whose son and heir Viscount Lewisham took residence. Substantial extensions and improvements were carried out for him by architect William Burn in the 1880s. The Legges later moved their seat to Plas Newydd on Anglesey.
During the 20th century the house served as a rehabiliation centre in the 1940s and then until the 1980s as an orthopaedic hospital. In 1990 the estate was broken up and many acres were sold for the creation of a golf course,( A classical temple created by Capability Brown was converted to become the clubhouse). The mansion itself was sold for intended redevelopment but was later bought by a private owner who has carried out major restoration. The refurbished Hall is now offered as a venue for weddings, conferences etc.
