Old Hall Farm is a fine seventeenth century Listed Building Grade II* (Grade 2 star). Grade II* listed buildings are, according to Historic England, ‘particularly buildings of more than special interest’; only 5.5% of all listed buildings in England are graded II*.

Of special interest is the remarkable plaster ceiling in the parlour (see photo).

Photo of parlour ceiling at Old Hall Farm

The current building dates from between 1625 and 1629. It was probably built by Godfrey Froggatt (1597-1664) who bought it from his father Richard Froggatt ((1570-1623). This ‘new’ house replaced an earlier one that Richard Froggatt and his wife Barbara Froggatt occupied in 1606 which was probably an 8 room medieval open-hall house.

The existing house has six rooms; parlour, house, kitchen, parlour chamber, house chamber and kitchen chamber.

More recently Old Hall Farm was the home of Gilbert Prince who was an important local farmer and benefactor in Mayfield and an original member of the Mayfield Heritage Group. Gilbert Prince died in 2015.

The house contains some very fine wood panelling and beams, an inglenook fireplace and fine windows. The building contains three hearths for which the Froggatt family paid two shillings (10p) for each hearth in 1667, 1668 and 1669 respectively through the ‘Hearth Act’.

Of special importance is the parlour ceiling which is thought to have been added a little later after the house was built, maybe 1630. The Derby Building Records Office state: ‘It would be extraordinary to find such a ceiling in a mere farmhouse’. It is thought that this remarkable ceiling might be related to plasterwork found at Cartledge Hall, Derbyshire which has two plaster motifs similar to those found in Old Hall Farm. Godfrey Froggatt had extensive land ownership in Norton in Yorkshire, close to Cartledge Hall and the Derbyshire county boundary.

Footnote:

Old Hall Farm has recently being acquired by Mr Phil Hague. Phil is committed to improving and enhancing Old Hall Farm to emphasise its architectural and heritage importance. The Mayfield Heritage Group will be tracking this work with Phil as it proceeds through the planning and development process. The progress of this work will be regularly featured on our website.