Elizabeth Vaux, a Catholic recusant leased the hall in 1599, intending to establish John Gerard and other priests in a college in the house.

The Privy Council heard of the plan and raided Kirby Hall, hoping to capture the priests, who, with exception of Hugh Sheldon, evaded the search.

During the 1780s, George Finch-Hatton had begun renovating the hall's interior drastically into 18th century style while preserving the exterior intact, he removed and sold the Tudor wood panelling, in exchange for wallpaper and pediment.

The Hall began its slow decline when George and Lady Elizabeth's newly built palatial mansion Eastwell Park was finished and the family moved there entirely.

These include: episode 6 ("Protest and Communication") of Kenneth Clark's Civilisation,[10] and Patricia Rozema film adaptation of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park (1999)[11][12] and A Christmas Carol for Ealing Studios in 1999.