The Pierrepont family came to England as a result of the Norman Conquest. In the first part of the 17th Century, Robert Pierrepont (1584 - 1643), 1st Earl of Kingston-Upon-Hull, had two sons:
The first son, Henry (1606 – 1680), 2nd Earl of Kingston-Upon-Hull, was the instigator for the first Thoresby Hall being built c.1670 - 1683. An older mansion already existed by the lake, built c.1590, believed to be Elizabethan in character. But Henry’s first Thoresby Hall was a rectangular red brick building with stone dressings, designed by William Tallman, influenced by Italian Palaces. It had two storeys plus an attic, and 13 bays along its front. (Above: Print by J. Walker.)
The second son of Robert 1st Earl of Kingston upon Hull, was William (1607 – 1678). He was a Parliamentarian, referred to as "William the Wise" because his opinions were much valued. His moderate attitude and respect for the King, made him an obvious choice for mediator and negotiator between Charles 1st and the Roundhead movement. It is a fact that Oliver Cromwell himself spent the night at Thoresby in 1651 on his way to the Battle of Worcester at Evesham.
When Henry the first son died without heir, his great nephew, Robert, became 3nd Earl of Kingston upon Hull, but he also died without heir, making his brother William (1662 – 1690), 4th Earl of Kingston upon Hull. It was this 4th Earl who combined what he already possessed in Perlethorpe and Thoresby to form Thoresby Park.
Above: Leonard Knyff's painting of the first Thoresby Hall c.1705. The Stone Bridge (a.k.a. the Green Bridge) is in its original position, leading the Duke's carriage towards Ollerton and Newark beyond.
Below: Peter Tillemans 1715 painting captures the creation of Thoresby Lake.
William the 4th Earl also died without heir, and so was succeeded by his brother Evelyn Pierrepont (1665 - 1726), the 5th Earl of Kingston upon Hull, later upgraded to 1st Duke of Kingston upon Hull in 1715. Evelyn's only son died of smallpox and so he was succeeded by his grandson, also called Evelyn, the 2nd Duke of Kingston. It is this Duke who can be seen in Tillemans painting of 1725 below.
On 4th March 1745, only 58 years after it was built, this first Thoresby Hall was badly damaged by fire, and much property lost.
TO BE CONTINUED...
