The history of the estate goes back to Norman times, but by the 17th century it was owned by the Morewood family, who were linked to local industry, mainly in coal mining.

A new hall was built on the estate around 1724–25 by Rowland Morewood, with an additional wing added in 1855 by William Palmer-Morewood (architect Benjamin Wilson).

[4] In 1792 George died and left the estate to his wife Ellen who carried forward the Morewood name and went to court to defend, unsuccessfully, her mining rights.

Beneath the house is a piece of woodland, the upper part of which is intersected by two avenues; one of them which branches off to the other on the right is terminated by a Temple of Diana, and a bust, and the other of them by an obelisk, above and below by a piece of water, the boundaries of which, not being seen from the farthest point of view, the imagination is left to form to itself the idea of unlimited expansion and transform a little fish pond into an extensive lake.

[7] While she was living at Alfreton Hall Clara kept a recipe book during the 1830s which was recently acquired by the Derbyshire Records Office.

According to the Records Office it is a great example of the books of this time with recipes for fashionable foreign dishes such as ‘fromage fondue’, petit choux and ‘Spanish fritters’, but also ‘a cure for dogs who are troubled with the snort’, lip salve and a recipe to wash chintz amongst other delights.

Some of the pages from the book are on their website and can be viewed here William Palmer Morewell died in 1863 and his eldest son Charles Rowland Palmer-Morewood (1819–1875) inherited the Hall.

The servants included a governess, a cook, a butler, nine maids, a coachman, two footmen, a groom and an usher.

The youngest son died in infancy in 1889 and Charles erected the Palmer-Moorwood Mausoleum in the churchyard of St Martins at Alfreton.

They tried to force him to sign over outstanding inheritances, and it was claimed that they had drawn lots to decide who would kill him should he not agree.

At the same time this scandal was occurring the sister of these brothers Ellen Mary Palmer-Morewood who had married Alfred Miller Mundy deserted this family and eloped with Charles John Chetwynd-Talbot, the Earl of Shrewsbury.

However, the 1855 extension, which has Grade II listed building status,[1] was converted into an arts and adult education centre and the land became part of an attractive public park, providing facilities for swimming and other sports.

The property was sold to Genesis Social Enterprise in 2006 by the County Council and was fully restored to its former grandeur and now provides conferencing and banqueting facilities which can be used for concerts, conferences and weddings.