House & Family History: In 1628 Duffield was granted to Thomas Newton, who descended from a Welsh princely family. Newton proceeded to build a new house, which was completed circa 1630. In 1685 the Estate was sold to Henry Coape. The last male member of the Coape family -- another Henry -- died in 1776, when the Estate passed through his daughter to Henry Porter of Nottingham. Porter assumed the surname and arms of Sherbrooke and moved to Oxton Hall, allowing his nephew, Thomas Porter Bonell, to live at Duffield. In the 19th century Duffield was inherited by Col. Charles Henry Colville of Lullington Hall; upon inheriting Duffield, Colville's son remained at Lullington and let Duffield to John Bell Crompton, who ultimately purchased the freehold. Crompton sold up in July of 1860 to Rowland Smith, MP. In 1870-71 Smith settled upon rebuilding the House to meet Victorian needs for space; his architect may have been Thomas Chamber Hine. The last member of the Smith family sold the Estate in 1919 to Andrew Hingley, who let the House and its immediate grounds of 21 acres to St. Ronan's School for Girls; in 1944 the School purchased the freehold, which remained in their possession until the closure of the School in July of 1970. In 1973 the House and a small bit of the grounds were sold to the Derbyshire Building Society to be converted into their new headquarters. The Society demolished the Southwest Wing, moved in, and occupied the House and adjoining modern buildings until their 2008 merger with Nationwide Building Society.

Garden & Outbuildings: A fine Stableblock, possibly Regency, has been converted into a private residence. Also extant are a Coach House and a Gate Lodge. The School's grounds were developed in the 1970s with brick homes.

John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: 2.S. Vol. I, p. 130, 1854.

House Listed: Grade II*

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: Thomas Newton, 17th century. Henry Coape, 17th century. Henry Porter (Sherbrooke), 18th century. Thomas Porter Bonell, 18th century. Col. Charles Henry Colville, 19th century. John Bell Crompton, 19th century. Rowland Smith, MP, 19th century.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

Ownership Details: Today the headquarters of the Derbyshire Building Society

House Open to Public: No

Phone: 08456-004-005

Fax: 01332-844-704

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.thederbyshire.co.uk

Historic Houses Member: No