A unique experience awaits the visitor to Sutton Scarsdale Hall. There is an overwhelming feeling of sad demise. This great shell of a structure, open to the elements and devoid of contents, still retains a great aura of dignity and tries to distance itself from reality. It is easy to imagine this grand country house in its heyday, rivalling the splendour of nearby Chatsworth House.

Following the remodelling of a 17^th century house in 1724, Sutton Scarsdale Hall was probably the finest country house in Derbyshire at that time. The work was carried out by Francis Smith for Nicholas, fourth Earl of Scarsdale. A notable feature was its finely decorative plasterwork by Italian artists Artari and Vassalli, traces of which may still be seen to this day. The East or Garden Front with it's Corinthian Order and Pediment bearing the Earls of Scarsdale coat of arms, creates a magnificent vista which, when viewed from a distance gives the impression of a complete building.

Following the death of the fourth Earl of Scarsdale, Godfrey Clarke of Derbyshire purchased the estate in 1740. Ownership was subsequently transferred by marriage to the Marquis of Ormonde. In 1824 following the Marquises death, Richard Arkwright son of the Cromford Mill Arkwrights became the new owner and the estate remained in the family until 1919.

Sutton Scarsdale Hall now fell in to a very sad state of disrepair. After years of neglect, a consortium of Chesterfield businessmen purchased the property. Due to the poor state of the general fabric, it was decided to dismantle the building and sell off the contents including the lead roof. Once the interior was open to the elements, deterioration was irreversible. In 1946 Sir Osbert Sitwell of Renishaw Hall purchased the surviving shell with the intention of preserving the remains as a ruin.