The earliest parts of the present structure date from the mid 15th century, but the west facing hall was extensively reconstructed in the 1560s by Edward Revell, son of Hugh.

[2] Robert Revell, (High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1700) substantially enlarged and improved the house in about 1710, when a new entrance front was created to the south with a three-storey, nine bayed, gabled facade.

[5] Subsequently, the hall had several owners including Joseph Wilson in 1834, Vaughan Radford, and Melville Watson, whose widow lived there until 1949 when it was sold to Noel Darbyshire.

Despite an attempt to demolish the hall, and a plan to convert it into a hotel, Carnfield was eventually bought by antique dealer James Cartland in 1987.

In March 2010, Carnfield Hall was the subject of a Channel 4 television programme presented by hotelier Ruth Watson as part of her Country House Rescue series.