Somersal Herbert

At the time of the Domesday Survey, two manors were held in Somersal, Alcher and Alrie under Henry de Ferrers. The Fitz-Herberts held one of the manors in the 13th century and retained it for centuries and owned Somersal Herbert Hall. In 1803 Richard Fitz-Herbert, the last male heir, passed the manor to his sister Frances, who passes it to her nephew Reverend Roger Jacson upon her death.^[1]

In 1894, Somersal Herbert merged with Sudbury to form a united parish, which had two rural district councillors and six parish councillors.^[1]

Somersal Herbert Conservation Area of 35 buildings, with 12 listed buildings, was established in December 1979 and a Conservation Area Character Appraisal was given the green light in August 2012. The protected area measures 91.5 hectares.^[2]

Brocksford Brook flows to the west of the hamlet and passes under Doveridge Bypass.^[3] The hamlet of Hill Somersal is about 0.6 miles (0.97 km) to the southeast and the hamlet of Potter Somersal is about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) to the northeast.^[4]

Somersal Herbert Hall was built c.1564, incorporating an earlier building from c.1500, and is a Grade I listed building.^[5] The west end of the hall was built in 1712 and there were further additions and alterations in 1840 and 1873.^[1] Highfield House is to the east and Grove Cottage and Marjorie Cottage lie on Grove Lane to the south.^[2]

The Methodist church in the area is dedicated to St. Peter and has a Norman font dating to the 12th century. It was rebuilt, except for the porch, in 1873 in the Perpendicular style. The earlier Fitz-Herberts were buried at the church.^[1] There is a small cemetery near Hill Farm at Hill Somersal.^[4]

• Listed buildings in Somersal Herbert