Description: Handwritten on the image is " The Seat of Leonard Fosbrooke Esquire".
Waterway traffic has always been important to the village of Shardlow and in the second half of the 17th century, Wilden Ferry, near Shardlow had become the head of the Trent navigation. This part of the Trent was leased from the Cokes of Melbourne Hall by the Forsbrooke family. They tried to monopolise river traffic between the ferry and Nottingham and were so successful that Shardlow Hall was built out of the profits.
The original frontage of Shardlow Hall faced the road from Aston Lane to Great Wilne (now the footpath), the original building being 1684, with additions and a new frontage being added when the new turnpike (London Road) was put through in the 18th century. The new frontage was built to a design by Smith of Warwick and Joseph Pickford of Derby fame.
It is an imposing building, consisting of a main brick built block, with wings either side, and became the seat of the Sutton family. It is now used as offices.
This image is one of a collection by the famous local antiquarian, Thomas Bateman, of Middleton by Youlgreave. (1821-1861). Bateman organized his collection by inserting them into a 4 volume copy of Lysons Magna Britannia, Derbyshire, creating a fascinating and unique illustrated record of the county. The purchase of the collection for Derbyshire Libraries was made possible by the generous bequest of Miss Frances Webb of Whaley Bridge, well known local historian, who died in December 2006.