Acton Scott Hall: An architectural history

It is not known whether there was a precursor to the present hall on the same site, or even the exact year when the Hall was built. However, its strong resemblance to Whitehall in Shrewsbury (built in 1578-82) would suggest a late-16th century date.

Originally the Hall’s main entrance was on the south side, but later additions and a new carriage approach to the Hall saw the main entrance being moved to the north side.

When Thomas Pendarves Stackhouse made the Hall his home in 1807, he found a building that had become dilapidated after many years of occupation by tenants. As his new wife Frances was to put it in 1812, “The small paned leaded windows with no shutters let in wind and rain so that the candles blew out unless protected by a screen. The drawing room carpet was often soaked with the rain that beat in during the night. In winter the only habitable room was the Smoking Room”.

The surrounds of the hall were also in a sorry state with tumble down walls and overgrown gardens. An ambitious building programme was instigated to house Thomas’ parents and their servants. This involved building a large wing on the east side containing a fine dining room in an Elizabethan style, and new servants quarters. The main entrance was switched to the north side and a long curving approach to it was constructed from the main Ludlow Road. A tall entrance porch was built to reflect this change in orientation.


Apart from minor changes, the hall remained in this state until the early 1960s when most of the extensions added in the 19th century were removed.