Built / Designed For: Vernon family

House & Family History: The core of Marple Hall was a 15th century timber-framed house built for the Vernon family. The Marple Estate was purchased by the Bradshawe (also spelled Bradshaw) family in 1606; in the 17th century Col. Henry Bradshawe enlarged the House and sheathed the exterior in red sandstone (the North Façade entrance was dated 1658). The Hall of the House was noted for its stained glass windows. Col. Bradshawe was a Parliamentarian commander during the Civil War; his younger brother, John Bradshawe (1602-59), was one of the judges that presided over the trial and subsequent death sentence of Charles I. In 1649 John Bradshawe was made president of the Parliamentary commission that tried the king for treason, and from 1649 until 1653 he was president of the Council of State. After Richard Cromwell's resignation as lord protector (May 25, 1659), Bradshawe was posthumously hanged and beheaded with Oliver Cromwell. In 1761 the family became the Bradshawe-Isherwoods; the writer Christopher Isherwood (Christopher William Bradshawe-Isherwood) was born very near Marple Hall and spent his school holidays at Marple as a youth. The novelist's father was raised at Marple and had a gentleman's career in the military. In 1929 most of the contents of the House were sold; in 1953 the House was abandoned. In 1940, while living in America, Christopher Isherwood inherited Marple; he had never liked the House and passed its ownership on to his brother, who never lived at Marple. In 1956 Marple Hall was demolished, with only a stone plinth and the 1658 datestone left as a reminder of the house that once occupied the site.

Collections: Most of the contents of Marple Hall were sold in 1929.

Garden & Outbuildings: There was an impressive 1669 Stableblock (with stepped gables and a clock tower) that was demolished in the mid-20th century.

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: Vol. II, p. 40, 1853.

Country Life: XLV, 222, 1919.

House Listed: Demolished

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: Vernon family, 15th-16th centuries. Bradshawe family, 1606-1761; Bradahawe-Isherwood family, 1761 until the 20th century; Christopher Isherwood, 20th century.

Current Ownership Type: Demolished

Primary Current Ownership Use: Demolished

House Open to Public: No

Historic Houses Member: No