Hopton Hall

Hopton Hall is a 14th-century manor house near Carsington and Hopton in Derbyshire. It has been the home of the Gell family baronets since 1553, when Ralph Gell acquired the estate. The house began as a two-storey, three-bay manor in the 16th century before Philip Eyre Gell expanded it in the late 18th century. The north entrance front now has three storeys and seven bays, with tower wings topped by pyramidal roofs. The Gell family produced notable figures such as Katherine Gell, Admiral John Gell, and Sir William Gell. The estate once covered 3,700 acres before parts were sold for Carsington Reservoir in the 20th century. The house left Gell ownership in 1989 and later passed to Sir Bill Thomas. The Gell family’s archive is held by the Derbyshire Record Office. Formal gardens and a lake open to visitors during Snowdrop Walk in February and March, and the Rose Garden in summer. The grounds cover 30 acres with 2 km of signposted paths. Visitors find a Grade II listed manor with grand 18th-century extensions and tower wings. The gardens feature seasonal displays of snowdrops and roses, set beside a lake. The surrounding countryside includes part of the former estate near Carsington Reservoir. The Derbyshire Record Office holds documents tracing the family’s history back to the 16th century. The house and grounds offer quiet walks through woodland and formal gardens.