Annesley Hall: The crumbling Nottinghamshire manor house that appeared on Most Haunted

Spend a few days exploring Nottinghamshire and you’ll soon begin to realise just how deep-rooted the county’s history is.

What many outsiders fail to realise is that Nottinghamshire’s historical ties stretch far beyond the legend of Robin Hood.

From tales of kings and queens at Nottingham Castle to the grizzly 800-year-old gaol at the National Justice Museum, in each corner of the county, you’ll find fascinating stories just waiting to be explored.

But the sad reality is that not every one of the county’s historical sites can be maintained.

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The very nature of these often centuries-old buildings means that they can be left to crumble away.

The finances required to conserve many of these sites are often seen to outweigh their historical value, and so they are left to be reclaimed by time and nature.

There are few better examples of this sad neglect than Annesley Hall, located just north of Hucknall.

The hall was built in the 13th century and became the home of the Chaworth-Musters, one of the most powerful families in Nottinghamshire at the time.

In the centuries that followed, the hall would remain under the Chaworth-Muster’s ownership and was passed from generation to generation.

The Chaworth-Musters family remained in residence until they sold the hall in 1972, ending nearly 700 years of family history in Annesley.

It was at this point, sadly, that the hall’s decline began.

In 1997 a devastating fire ripped through the manor house, causing damage so significant that the hall became uninhabitable.

Seven years later, in 2004, the hall gained national attention after appearing on the popular television show Most Haunted.

During the episode, paranormal investigators claimed to make contact with several spirits, including hanged servants and ghostly children.

A second fire in May 2015 destroyed two-thirds of the roof and upper floors.

As of 2024 there are signs that the privately-owned hall could be returning to something of its former glory.

In March, photos posted on social media appeared to show a new roof being constructed on the main building.

Having played a key role in the history of Nottinghamshire, we can only hope that Annesley Hall and the secrets within exist for centuries to come.