The site has been occupied since the Bronze Age right up to the present. A moated manor house has existed here since at least 1250. The Grade I listed Tudor gatehouse was built in the early sixteenth century. Despite the name of the house it is interesting to note that it has, in fact, never been a religious house. However, a chapel was recorded on the site in 1455.
The Horse Pasture Wood is shown on the earliest maps of the Priory dating from the 1700s. The parkland to the east is typically eighteenth century and could well have been planted by Charles Mellish (d.1796) who was known to have been a prolific tree planter.
In 1829 the house was rebuilt in the Tudor style on the cellars of an eighteenth century building for the Mellish family. It was at this time that the terrace was laid out in the Italian style with brick balustrading, cypress planting and ornamental urns. The lower lawn was laid out with 'V' shaped planting beds in a fan arrangement.
Between 1873 and 1876 the north front was remodelled by George Devey together with a number of other alterations. Shortly after this, c.1880, the southern arm of the rectangular moat was converted to form the lake.
Since 1982 there has been a comprehensive replanting of both the gardens and the Horse Pasture Wood. (2)
See MNT26610 for earlier Deer Park.

<1> Notts Historic Gardens Trust, 1995-1997, Notts Historic Parks and Gardens Files (Unpublished document). SNT4553.

<2> Biggadyke J, 1995, Hodsock Priory - Register Review Report (Unpublished document). SNT4559.