Above Drakeholes Tunnel

Thursday, 19 August 2010 18:47

A sad sight ...

These two decaying structures are the old gatehouses of Wiseton Hall

They are above the south portal of Drakeholes Tunnel and a short walk up the hill from the visitor moorings and the White Swan Pub opposite the moorings.

Wiseton Hall has a long history, although the present house is not the original one which was replaced in 1960; the then owner, Robert Laycock, felt the old Hall was too big. He inherited the Hall from his father, Sir Joseph Laycock, who was a distinguished soldier and competed in the 1908 Olympics in the Watersport championships (basically motorboat racing!). Have a look at the boat, Wolseley-Siddely here - clickety click - not quite a narrowboat and not really suitable for the Chesterfield Canal!

View from top of south portal of Drakeholes Tunnel

The old Hall (click on the link for a photo and more detailed history) was once the home of the Spencer family - yes, Diana Spencer's (Princess of Wales) ancestors. The Hall was owned by the Acklom Family in the 1760s and then the third Earl Spencer, who married an Acklom. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer in the early 1830s and no doubt came to Wiseton to escape political life.

The gatehouses became redundant when the drive to the Hall was realigned; now the estate village of Wiseton surrounds the Hall and is hidden away behind high walls. A Roman Road cuts through the estate; the Chesterfield Canal meanders through it too, skirting the village.

Remember Man Face Bridge? It is near the village. It carried the main drive to the Hall and for that reason remains more ornamental than other bridges.

I wonder if the pillars at the gatehouses are supposed to reflect the ethos of the Roman Road?

The approach to the hall must have been very grand once and the views across the countryside from the area are spectacular. The families and the visitors to the Hall must have looked at the view near the gatehouses and been impressed too!

PS. We had a good cruise today, met some interesting folks and learned more about the area from "them that knows"! I am going to keep you in suspense as it is late and we have a very early start tomorrow!