Appleby Hall

A Manor was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, and there have been several houses on the site until the final building, a Classical-style Stately Home known as Appleby Hall, was built in the 1830s.

[2] The direct line of the Moores as lords of the manor failed three times, and the family were not in constant occupation at the Hall.

[6] By the 1880s the family's fortunes had sharply declined when the Great depression of British agriculture caused revenues to fall considerably.

[3] In 1813, George Moore inherited and sought to improve the poorly drained, waterlogged land of the hamlet, which was prone to flooding, especially in the winter months.

[3] George was a pioneer in agricultural techniques and was described by John Nichols as "the first introducer of the improved system of watering grass-lands in this country", having previously won a gold medal, for under-draining land, from the Society of Arts in the year 1794.

[3] George retained the existing Appleby house as an attachment to the rear of the new classical style mansion he built.

[6] George John returned to Appleby Hall in 1891 and, despite his financial situation, continued to live an extravagant lifestyle with numerous household staff.

[6] George John's will left his widow with money and most of the hall's contents, as well as sizeable capital sums to his brothers and sisters, worsening still the estate's financial situation.

[6] The farmers initially agreed, but later reneged, thinking he was bluffing and doubting he would actually sell the estate the family had lived in for 300 years.

[6] The estate was divided into 49 lots comprising a total of 2786 acres, and included 12 farms, 22 small holdings, 2 inns and about 50 cottages.

[6] After being sold, Appleby Hall was stripped of its valuable materials (interiors and lead roof) and had been completely demolished by 1930.

North East View of Appleby Hall
New Road Gatehouse
The Entrance/Stair Hall of Appleby Hall