Hopton Hall Gardens
Hopton Hall is situated near Wirksworth and lies on the edge of the White Peak in the Peak District National Park.
The gardens at Hopton House have been tastefully restored and many new features have been added, including the 1 acre walled garden now has an intricate pattern of rose beds with a latticed pergola and a dovecote, the famous crinkle-crankle wall at Hopton once supported climbing fruit trees.
The visitor can explore around 2km of paths along the croquet lawn & rosewalk, around 2 ornamental ponds which lead to the wildlife llake, Aboretum, Laburnum tunnel and Birch Avenue.
The woods on the estate are blanketed with stunning displays of Snowdrops and Acronites, small yellow, buttercup like flowers. A well marked path snakes its way round the woods where several different varieties of snowdrop to see. The snowdrop gardens open every February.
Tea and refreshments are also available on the terrace.
History of the Estate
The Manor of Hopton, the seat of the de Hopton family in medieval times, was purchased by the Gell family in 1553 by Ralph Gell (1491–1564).
John Gell was created a baronet in 1642, the Baronetcy became extinct in 1719 and the estate itself passed to John Eyre who changed his name to Gell. The house was originally built in the sixteenth century by Thomas Gell but was later was extended and remodelled by Philip Gell in the late eighteenth century. Philip Gell's daughter and heiress, married William Pole Thornhill, on his death the estate passed to his cousin Henry Pole, later known as Henry Chandos-Pole-Gell in 1886.
Oliver Cromwell was once a visitor to the house and has a bedroom named after him.