Haughton Hall, once the site of the hospitable mansion of the Holles's, Earls of Clare, is now occupied by a neat farmhouse; part of the wall of the gable end of one bay of the present dwelling seems to be the only relic of this once capacious structure. (1)
Old Hall - moat, with entrance on S shown (actually two watercourses, not a moat). (2)
By the middle of the C14 Haughton belonged to the Longvilliers, then descended to the Stanhopes. Sold to Sir William Holles in 1537. Gervase Holles tells us, "The house itself is an old building with little uniformity in it, as being built at different times. The oldest part of it is the tower at the entrance (with Stanhope heraldry). It appears that the hall was built by the last Sir Willaim Holles (his initials and date 1545 beside the door)." (3)
I am told by "the locals" that extensive foundations were to be found on the site just N of the river where new houses have just been built. (4)
All the farm buildings now occupying this site are of modern construction and of brick (some reused) with the exception of some undateable stone walling in the S face of a barn at SK 6857 7301. Further stone walling is evident along the N bank of the River Maun at SK 6860 7293 giving the impression that the formal gardens of the hall fronted the river; there is no trace of a moat and no local knowledge of such. The property is National Coal Board owned, the tenant farm manager stated that the farmhouse (1) was destroyed by an aircraft in 1943 (a fully loaded Wellington bomber). He confirmed that this was acknowledged to be the site of the original Haughton Hall and quoted a C18 panorama. (5)
John Smythson was commisioned to to draw up plans for additions to the house in 1618 - never executed. In 1691 John Holles became possessed of the Welbeck estate and decided to live principally at Welbeck Abbey. By 1790 Haughton Hall was "in total decay". It was demolished in the early C19 and Old Hall Farm built on its site.(8) (9)
See M4453 for chapel, M7472 for stables, M7471 for bridge, M4451 for farm buildings, M7470 for C19 farmhouse.

<1> Curtis Rev J, 1843-4, A Topographic History of Notts, p 125 (Published document). SNT599.

<2> OS, 1824, 1in, 1st Edn 1824 (Map). SNT1042.

<3> Thoroton Society, 1931, TTS, pp 4-7 (Published document). SNT351.

<4> DOE, AM7 - undated, no author (Unpublished document). SNT52.

<5> Colquhoun FD, 1974, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT582.

<6> Surveyor unknown, 1689, Map of Haughton - NUMD Ne 5 P28 (Map). SNT1966.

<7> Knyff & Kip, 1707-8, View of Haughton (Illustration). SNT1553.

<8> Jones PE, 2006, Lost Houses of Nottinghamshire, pp 28-9 (Monograph). SNT1893.

<9> Smithson J, 1618, Plat at Haughton - RIBA III/4 (Plan). SNT1967.