Allestree Hall

Bache Thornhill bought the land in 1795 and demolished the house that stood there.^[4] He commissioned James Wyatt, the notable architect, to build the present Hall and the plans that were drawn up still exist.^[5] One stone in the building bears the date 1802 with the initials J. W. inscribed on it.^[6]

Bache Thornhill was born in 1747 in Derbyshire.^[7] He was educated at Oxford University and in 1761 acquired his father's estate of Stanton Hall which is still the residence of the Thornhill family today. In 1805 he sold Allestree Hall to John Charles Girardot.

John Charles Girardot was born in 1771 into a French Huguenot family. His father was Andrew Girardot and his grandfather was Paul Girardot de Charcourt. He became his grandmother's heir in 1784 and was also an heir of his uncle.^[8] He lived at Allestree Hall for about 20 years and sold it to William Evans in 1824.

William Evans was one of the longest residents of Allestree Hall. He lived there for about thirty years between 1824 until his death in 1856. He was born in 1788 in Derbyshire. His father, also called William Evans, was a very wealthy man. When he died William inherited Evans inherited a share in the Derby Bank, Darley cotton and paper mills, Derby waterworks and Bonsall lead smelting business.^[9] He was also lord of the manors of Brailsford, Alkmonton, Parwich and Newton Grange.^[10]

In 1820 he married Mary Gisborne who was the daughter of the notable clergyman Rev. Thomas Gisborne. The couple had only one child. William became a politician and was a known associate of William Wilberforce. He joined him in his fight against slavery. He and Wilberforce were both prominent members of the Anti-Slavery Society (1823–1838).^[11] A letter exists from William Evans to his sister which mentions that he has recently received correspondence from Wilberforce.

William died at Allestree Hall in 1856 at the age of 68 and his only child Thomas William Evans inherited the property.

Thomas William Evans was born in 1821 at Allestree Hall. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. After he graduated with a Master of Arts in 1846 he married his first cousin Mary Gisborne, the daughter of Thomas John Gisborne of Holme Hall near Bakewell. The couple had no children.

He inherited his father's fortune in 1856. He became a parliamentarian in 1857 and held this position for many years. He was also very prominent in local politics being the first Chairman of the Derbyshire County Council which was a position he held until his death.^[12] He was the Mayor of Derby in 1869 and was made a baronet in 1887.^[13]

He died at Allestree Hall in 1892 and as he had no children he left the Hall to his brother-in-law William Gisborne.

William Gisborne was 67 when he inherited Allestree Park in 1892. He was the third son of Thomas John Gisborne. He had immigrated to New Zealand at the age of 22 and became Commissioner of Lands. He rose to a prominent position in the Civil Service and then in 1869 he resigned and became a politician in the New Zealand Legislative Council. He held this position for the next twelve years.^[14]

In 1861 William married Caroline Gertrude Bridgen in Auckland. The couple had three daughters and one son.

In 1881 the family returned to England to manage the Gisborne estates which William had inherited from his elder brother. In 1892 he inherited Allestree Hall. He lived here for the next six years and died at the Hall in 1898 at the age of 73.

After his death his only son Lionel Guy Gisborne inherited the property. Lionel lived here for a few years but in 1902 decided to rent it to Sir Herbert Raphael.

Sir Herbert Raphael rented Allestree Hall from 1902 until 1913. He was born in 1859 and was the son of Henry Lewis Raphael a very eminent banker. He was educated at Cambridge University and graduated with an honours degree in law in 1886. He practised law for some years but then decided to become a politician. He was the Member for South Derbyshire between 1906 and 1918.^[15]

In 1884 he married Rosalie Coster who was the daughter of Guillaume Frederick Coster. However the couple had no children.

He owned a property in London called Gidia Hall which was subsequently converted to a residential area but he rented Allestree Hall as he wished to live in his electorate.

At the outbreak of World War I he joined as a private in the 2nd Sportsmen's Battalion and he rose through the ranks during the war to eventually become a Major.

In 1913 Lionel Gisborne wished to sell the Hall and so Herbert and Rosalie were obliged to leave. He sold the property to Colonel Herbert Johnson.

Herbert Alfred Johnson was born in July 1866 in Lancashire. He was the son of John Thewlis Johnson who was the owner of a wire company called Richard Johnson and Nephew. Herbert was educated at Cambridge University.^[16] and when his father died in 1896 he and his brother took over the management of the company. He became very wealthy. In 1895 he married Ethyl Barnard who was an American. The wedding was in New York City. The couple had one daughter and one son.

They bought Allestree Hall in 1913 and one year later at the outbreak of the war Herbert joined the armed forces. He became a Colonel of the 17th Manchester Battalion. He was wounded during an attack at Montauban and was sent to a hospital in London.^[17] He recovered and after the war returned to Allestree Court.

On the evening of Saturday 7 July 1923 when he was out in Allestree Park he was struck by lightning during a severe thunderstorm and died.^[18] His wife Ethyl continued to live at the Hall until her death in 1928.