Branston Hall

The hall, a Grade II listed building,[1] is set in 88 acres (3.56 square kilometres) of wooded parkland and lakes.

[12] Their eldest son was Alexander Samuel Leslie Melville (1829–1919) and he inherited Branston old hall when his father died in 1881.

In 1837 Alexander Leslie Melville constructed a private school on Hall Lane, which was attended by 70 children, each of whom paid 1p-2p per week.

The 1901 Census shows that there were six domestic maids, a butler, three footmen and a groom at the hall as well as outdoor gardening staff.

The Melville family provided land for the village hall and recreation ground on Lincoln Road, Branston in the early 1920s.

Lamium galeobdolon, Galium odoratum and Ruscus aculeatus grow in the beech woods and these are considered to be indicators of ancient woodland.

[18] Other plant species typical of shady woodland include Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Sanicula europaea and Mercurialis perennis.

[19] On the grounds there is a spring-fed well, known as Anne's Well, which it is believed supplied fresh water to the old hall building (photographs here[20]).