Perhaps the Hall's most famous resident was Gervase Elwes, the English tenor, who died in a rail accident in Boston, USA in 1921.
Slowly, any of traces Catholicism vanished and by 1800 they were confined to a few recusant families, itinerant workmen mostly from Ireland, served by a small number of discreet priests.
Close by the Hall, at Billing Lings, Elwes bred horses including two Derby winners, Mameluke in 1827 and Cossack in 1847.
The Elwes family at one time owned the whole of the village of Great Billing with the exception of one house and five cottages.
Married to the Earl of Denbigh's daughter, Lady Winifride Feilding, and having a gregarious nature, he made the Hall and village both the centre of Catholic life and the musical focus for the area.
Elwes was friends with many of the eminent musicians of the day including Ralph Vaughan Williams and Edward Elgar.
In the village of Great Billing is a bronze memorial tablet to Gervase Elwes (d. 1921), the 'beloved squire' and famous singer.