Hilton Hall

Hilton Hall is an 18th-century mansion in Hilton, near Wolverhampton in Staffordshire. It began as a 14th-century manor house built for Sir Henry Swinnerton. The Vernon family later owned the estate after Margaret Swynnerton married Henry Vernon in 1547. The house was remodelled in the early 1720s by Henry Vernon, who was High Sheriff of Staffordshire. In the 1830s, a third storey was added while keeping the original Georgian design. The Vernon family also built a hexagonal tower in the grounds to honour Admiral Edward Vernon. He captured Portobello in Panama from the Spanish in 1739. The house passed through different owners before becoming a commercial office and business centre. It is now a Grade I listed building and remains an important example of early Georgian architecture. Visitors find a grand mansion with giant corner pilasters topped by urns. The unusual hexagonal tower stands in the grounds as a memorial. The main block retains its Georgian pediment with a coat of arms. The rear extension once housed kitchens and service areas. The moat, partly filled in during the 19th century, adds to the estate’s historic character.