The houses were built for Francis Gawthern in 1733[2] who built them on the site of Vault Hall, a former mansion house of the Plumptre family.

[3] The gates and railings on the forecourt were also erected at the same time and are separately Grade II* listed.

Abigail Gawthern lived until 1822 and her diary survived; it is a remarkable record of the history of Nottingham from 1751 until 1810.

In her diary for 21 August 1798 she records that her visitors were Lord Byron, the two Miss Parkyns (of Bunny Hall), and the two Master Smiths from Wilford Hall.

Abigail Gawthern was buried in St Mary's Church, Nottingham, where her memorial slab was discovered in 2012 during the restoration of the church floor.