page_title: Sutton Scarsdale Hall
section_title: The Arkwright family
hierarchical_section_title: Sutton Scarsdale Hall / The Arkwright family
caption_attribution_description: English: A coloured engraving of Sutton Scarsdale Hall, 1827
context_page_description: Sutton Scarsdale Hall is a Grade I listed Georgian ruined stately home in Sutton Scarsdale, just outside Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
context_section_description: Richard Arkwright Junior (1755–1843) bought Sutton Scarsdale Hall in 1824. He was the son of Sir Richard Arkwright who invented the water frame and had a major involvement in the cotton industry. Richard had his father’s business acumen and prospered in cotton. When he was about 25 he bought the Manchester mill in Millers’ Lane and entered into partnership with the Simpson brothers.
  In 1780 he married Mary Simpson and over the next two decades the couple had eleven children, six boys and five girls. When Richard’s father died in 1792 he inherited a large part of his estate, and at this point he decided to dispose of most of his cotton mill interests and concentrate on property and banking. In this sphere he amassed a very large fortune and when he died in 1843 he was said to be the richest commoner in England.
  After his death his son Robert Arkwright (1783–1859) inherited Sutton Scarsdale Hall. In 1805 much to his family’s dismay Robert married the actress Frances Crawford Kemble (daughter of Stephen Kemble), part of the famous theatrical family. His elder brother Richard wrote a letter to their father shortly after the marriage expressing his hope that the marriage was not legal and saying that Robert will “soon repent of not following the advice of you and Mother”. However the family did not need to worry about Robert’s choice of wife as Frances became a charming hostess and soon made friends in the aristocracy. She was a gifted writer of music and many of her songs are still available today. Her aunt was the famous actress Sarah Siddons and she often dined with Robert’s parents when they were in London.
  When Robert died in 1859 Sutton Scarsdale Hall was inherited by his son, the Reverend Godfrey Harry Arkwright. Godfrey was born in 1814 and educated at Eton and Trinity. He was married twice, first to Frances Rafela Fitzherbert who died in 1856 and then to Marian Hilary Adelaide Pellew. He had three children to each wife, four boys and two girls. His eldest son was Francis Arkwright and it was he who inherited Sutton Scardale when his father Godfrey died in 1866.
  Francis Arkwright was born in 1846 and was educated at Eton. In 1868 he married Louisa Milbank who was the daughter of Mr Henry Milbank and Lady Margaret Milbank. Unfortunately his wife died in 1873. They had only one daughter.  He later married Evelyn who was the daughter of William, 3rd Viscount of Sidmouth but they had no children.
  In 1874 Francis became a Member of Parliament a position he held until 1880. In 1882 he migrated to New Zealand and about this time he left Sutton Scarsdale Hall in the care of his cousin William Arkwright. William inherited the property when Francis died in 1915 as Francis had no male heir.
  William Arkwright was born in 1857. His father was Major William Arkwright and his mother was Fanny Susan Thornewill. In 1884 he married Agnes Mary Somers Cocks who was the daughter of the Hon. John James Thomas Somers Cocks. William was very interested in breeding dogs and wrote a book titled “The Pointer and His Predecessors”.
  In 1919 William auctioned Sutton Scarsdale Hall with the rest of the Estate. A description of the house was contained in the catalogue. It read as follows.
  “The hall is well situated on high ground with fine views, and is a Handsome Classical Building with fine Elevations, built of Stone with Lead and Slate Roof, and contains:-
  On the Ground Floor, Fine Entrance Hall about 40ft. 0in. by 25ft. 10in. and Two Inner Halls ; Two Drawing Rooms about 34ft. 10in. by 23ft. 6in. and 21ft. 0in. by 21ft. 0in. respectively ; Dining Room about 27ft. 7in. by 24ft. 1in. with Strong Room ; Morning Room about 22ft.5in. by 20ft. 7in. ; Smoking Room about 23ft.2in.by 22ft.10in.; Library about 23ft. 0in. by 14ft. 10in. ; Lavatory and W.C's. ; Billiard Room about 23ft. 0in. by 22ft. 4in. with Lavatory adjoining; also Servants' Hall about 27ft. 7in. by 22ft. 10in. ; Housekeeper's Room, Servants' Sitting Room, Butler's Pantry with Bedroom and Silver Closet, Kitchen, Scullery, Three Larders, Laundry, Four Store Rooms, Drying Room, Boot Room, 
caption: Sutton Scarsdale Hall in 1827 shortly after it had been purchased by Richard Arkwright Junior.
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