The Hall was built by the Bateman family. They were a well-established Norfolk family who settled at Hartington in the 16th century.[1] Richard Bateman married Ellen Toplis of Tissington and it was their eldest son, Hugh, who built the new manor house at Hartington in 1611.[2][3] In 1862 Thomas Osborne Bateman[4] oversaw the substantial alteration and extension.[2] The work was carried out by Henry Isaac Stevens of Derby.[5]
The house is built to an H plan: the main entrance front has three storeys and three gabled bays, the central bay recessed with an off-centre porch entrance. The dates of building and alterations are recorded on a lintel above the door.[2] It is now a Grade II listed building.[2]
The Batemans remained at Hartington until the 20th century. In 1934 the property was opened as a youth hostel[6] by the Youth Hostels Association (YHA) and became the property of YHA in 1948.[5] Though it retains dormitory accommodation, it has many small rooms with ensuite facilities. There is a restaurant on site, open to the public as well as guests. [7] A popular wedding venue, it also has a bridal suite.[8] It has been claimed that Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed at the Hall during the Jacobite rising of 1745.[9]
^Kelly's Directory of the Counties of Derby, Notts, Leicester and Rutland. Kelly's Directorys. 1891. pp. 220–221.
^Kelly's Directory states that the 1862 refurbishment was conducted by the then owner, F O F Bateman's, father. Frederick Osborne Fitz Herbert Bateman's tombstone gives his father's name, Thomas Osborne Bateman ("Memorial inscriptions: St Giles Church, Hartington". Retrieved 14 May 2009.)
^ ab"Hartington Hall". Derbyshire and Peak District Country Houses and Gardens. Derbyshire UK. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
^Neal, Tim; Neal, Simon (1993). Youth Hostels of England and Wales 1931–1993. YHA. ISBN0-9522254-0-9.