Upton Hall


Upton Hall is the headquarters of the British Horological Institute in Upton, Newark and Sherwood, Nottinghamshire, England. It has been the headquarters since 1972. It also houses the Museum of Timekeeping consisting of a substantial collection of clocks, watches and also a library. The Museum is open to the public during seasonal summer opening hours, for special events and for pre-booked Group tours.

History

The Hall was built in 1828 by Thomas Wright a banker of Nottinghamshire. It was designed by the architect W J Donthome.
The hall was purchased in 1895 by John Warwick, a brewer of the firm 'Warwick & Richardson' based in Newark. He used it as a family home. He added a Ballroom, a Billiards Room, and a further six bedrooms. In 1936 the property was bought by Sir Albert Ball, though he never took up residence there.
In 1952 the hall was declared a listed building. It is now a grade II* listed building, making it one of the most treasured 5% of all buildings in the UK.
The property is listed by Historic England as a 'Heritage at Risk'. Roof coverings are in fair condition but rainwater disposal is poor, with corresponding internal dampness and signs of active dry rot. The adjacent stables and courtyard structures contribute to the setting of the hall and are now in very poor condition and all at significant risk of loss.
The building was purchased by the BHI in 1972, where its headquarters have been ever since.

Owners