Otley Hall is a superb 15th century moated manor house. It was built in around 1401 by the Gosnold family who lived there for over 250 years. Bartholomew Gosnold travelled to the New World in 1602 and named Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod. In 1607 he established a settlement at Jamestown, which was the first English speaking settlement in the U.S.
The Gosnold family sold the house to the Rebows who let it on a lease for the following 200 years.
During this time the building was badly neglected. Shortly before the World War I the house passed into the hands of Mrs Arthur Sherston. She undertook the complete restoration of Otley Hall, modernised the kitchen and remodelled the east wing.
When Mrs Sherston died there were problems sorting out the inheritance and the house fell into a decline once again.
From 1950 onwards a succession of owners have carried out restoration work on Otley Hall and the current owners have continued this task.
The house is rich in architectural detail.
There are intricately carved beams, herringbone brickwork, decorative plasterwork and pargetting. The Great Hall has mullioned windows, the Banquet Hall has splendid wall paintings and the Parlour contains some fine linenfold panelling.
Otley Hall has are ten acres of formal and informal gardens containing a canal, mount and woodland. There are also nutteries, a rose garden and Tudor features such as a knot and herb garden.
