For Sale: Alton Manor Nr. Wirksworth, Derbyshire

On May 12th, Graham Penny Auctions will be selling Alton Manor, a Grade II Listed, 14 bedroom manor house situated on 26 acres in Derbyshire. The estate boasts a tree lined drive with gate house, walled garden, icehouse, brew house, kennels, a lake (trout stocked) and boat house, a stone courtyard with 4 coach houses and stabling and a separate lodge house complete with two bedrooms, two reception rooms and its own garden. Bidding will start at one million pounds.

Lady Winifred Hilton lived in the house for more than 50 years and sadly passed away last year at age 91. She was the widow of the former Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, Sir Peter Hilton, and she was born Winifred Smith at Tansley, near Matlock, in 1919. Lady Hilton served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in the Second World War, when she was posted to Liverpool and then Northern Ireland, working in special operations on radar, decoding and cyphers. In 1942, she married Sir Peter, whom she met two years earlier when he was billeted in Matlock after being evacuated from Dunkirk. For a truly amazing story regarding Sir Peter and his father, Richard, and their similar war injuries and the doctor who operated on them both, in two separate wars, click here.



Lady Winifred Hilton



Lady Hilton at her 90th birthday party at The Spot, in Secheveral Street, Derby

The Manor originally contained 480 acres. It was held by the Byrons for three or four centuries, and afterwards belonged successively to the Blackwalls, Iretons, and Mellors. From the latter it was purchased by the Hon. Anchetil Grey, whose relative, the Earl of Stamford, sold it in 1747 to the Wilmots, from whom it was purchased by the late James Milnes, Esq. It then passed to that gentleman’s eldest son, who assumed the name of Walthall in lieu of Milnes under the will of his maternal grandfather. A handsome mansion, in the Elizabethan style, was built in 1846-7 by the late Mr. Milnes. The History, Topography and Directory for Derbyshire (1895) adds: “Alton Manor, which forms part of the township, contains 480 acres. It was held by the Byrons for three or four centuries, and afterwards belonged successively to the Blackwalls, Iretons, and Mellors. From the latter it was purchased by the Hon. Anchetil Grey, whose relative, the Earl of Stamford, sold it in 1747 to the Wilmots, from whom it was purchased by the late James Milnes, Esq. The present owner is that gentleman’s eldest son, who assumed the name of Walthall in lieu of Milnes under the will of his maternal grandfather. A handsome mansion, in the Elizabethan style, was built in 1846-7 by the late Mr. Milnes.”  Noted architect Sir Gilbert Scott built Alton Manor to a Jacobean style in an attractive mellow ashlar stone.