House & Family History: Ogston is, on the face of it, a grand Victorian Gothic style house. Beneath this confident 19th century display of wealth and standing lurks a much earlier past. Ogston is first mentioned circa 1102 in the will of the Mercian noble Wulfric Spot. The earliest surviving work at Ogston is in the west wing, which is part of the house built by Robert Revell between 1545 and 1555. In 1659 William Revell built a further three-story range to the east of the older house. Ogston descended through the Revells to the Turbutts; around 1767 William Turbutt commissioned Joseph Pickford of Derby to build him a Palladian wing to the south of the earlier work. This new entrance front is largely still extant below the late Victorian work by T.C. Hine of circa 1870. The interior of Ogston owes its character to the Victorian rebuilding. The Drawing Room has a neo-Elizabethan ceiling, the magnificent stone staircase is akin to some of the great Renaissance French chateaux, and the two-story dining room is like an Oxbridge college hall. The current owners of Ogston, the Wakefields, have recently hung the picture gallery in richly-colored Pugin wallpaper, complemented with textiles that maintain the grand 19th century facelift. The spectacular Conservatory (now roofless) was made by W.N. Nicholson of the Trent Iron Works, and much of the grounds were laid out by Markham Nesfield. (We are very grateful to Oliver Gerrish for this history of Ogston).

Comments: Ogston is frequently referred to as "one of Derbyshire's grandest Victorian houses" (though, in fact, its core is Georgian).

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. I, p. 128, 1852.

House Listed: Grade II*

Park Listed: Not Listed

Current Seat / Home of: David and Caroline Wakefield

Past Seat / Home of: Robert Revell, 16th century; Revell family here until the 18th century. William Turbutt, 18th century.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

House Open to Public: No

Historic Houses Member: No