Pitchford Hall

The house has 42 rooms[1] and is a Tudor timber-framed building on a plinth of sandstone rubble, with rendered infill panels.

The 17th-century tree house, one of the oldest in the world,[1] was remodelled in Gothic style in the 18th century and was Grade II listed in April 1977.

Geoffrey de Pykeford, a crusader, was lord of the manor from 1272 and built the local church of St Michael, which contains an oak effigy of him.

The present house was built c.1560 for Adam Ottley, a Shrewsbury wool merchant, and possibly incorporated elements of the previous medieval structure.

In the last quarter of the 19th century, John's son Charles Cotes commissioned the London architect George Devey to renovate and upgrade the house, which included the removal of the south side of the courtyard[2] and installation of replacement windows, baths and water closets.

[3][7][1] During the Civil War, Prince Rupert, nephew of King Charles I, was concealed from the Roundheads in the priest hole at Pitchford Hall after the fall of Shrewsbury.

[8] During the Second World War, Pitchford was one of the country retreats selected to house the royal family should they need to be evacuated from the capital in case of an invasion.

Other stately homes in England were selected as backups, with Hatley Castle, on Vancouver Island in Canada as the final option in case German troops reached the Midlands.

[1][13] The orangery has been converted to an events space and the library restored in Tudor Gothic style, and the owners are attempting to repurchase furnishings and art sold in 1992.