The Lost Remains of the Abandoned Bramcote Hall

[@CountFosco501]

Thank-you for this wonderful video, Ant. It brings back many fond memories for me as my dad was the groundsman there from 1962 to 1965 when, with very little notice, Trent College decided to cut the prep school adrift and sell the house and grounds to Nottingham University. We lived in a flat in one of the outbuildings you pointed out on the right as you approach Bramcote Hall. It was one of three, the others being occupied by teachers, and was situated on the first floor, directly above the gym. The school had a complement of 80 boys, all boarders, four or five permanent masters and a matron. The headmaster was Tim Bowles, a young man for such a post but very energetic and enthusiastic, and a true gentleman whose sort no longer exist. Mr Bowles was dealt an awful hand by Trent College but took the very courageous decision to go independent and move the school to Gamston, as pointed out by one of your correspondents. The approach to the Hall was wooded on both sides initially, the left side giving way to a football pitch and then the tennis court. The outbuildings to your right, as well as teachers' accommodation, housed the tractor and other tools and maintenance items. Behind the outbuildings was the playground and beyond that, the outdoor swimming pool. This was abutted by some woodland and the school boundary beyond which was the public footpath which diverged from the drive at a right fork just after the vicarage. The boys used to swim naked and could sometimes be seen from the public footpath! I have not returned since 1965 and had no idea that it had all been demolished. Nowadays it would have been listed and preserved. I have a few old black and white photos that I took with my Brownie camera and can scan them to you if you are interested. Thanks again.

[@MINKIN2]

Local to the area. It was our scout camp site in the 80s, I remember the swimming pool and its summer houses still standing empty in the early 90s to my knowledge. As teens we would just camp there in the mid 90s (not as scouts then) and the wall was still standing in to the 00s before it was knocked down.

[@janepatricia8779]

What a lovely building that was Ant,such a shame it was demolished, x

[@NBMedia8928]

Such a shame when these magnificent buildings are left to ruin and demolished 😢

[@another3997]

But all those buildings require proper maintenance, and they require modernising to make them remotely useful. The buildings and land cost a lot of money to buy in the first place, but they cost a lot more in upkeep over time. Exactly where does the money come from? There are huge numbers of buildings that people want preserved, and many are... but the reality is that finding people able and willing to buy and maintain them is difficult.

[@ernestbailey9194]

Excellent video. Why on earth did it not survive. You certainly showed some beautiful stonework. It would have made a spectacular Hotel. The views were to die for.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thankyou. It had such a short life too

[@davidlewin1370]

I remember seeing the swimming pool before it was filled in . As kids we would walk up Baulk Lane, over the ( then new ) A52 and along the path / ridge to the park off town street . The swimming pool was not far into the grounds of the house from the path. By the time we first ventured up there in about 1966 ( as 5 yr olds) the main hall had been demolished. There was also another house ( school?) that was demolished much later - behind / back from Bramcote Hall. I’m sure I was still able to go inside this smaller house ( poss school) late 70s/ early 80s … I seem to remember that by this time it was precarious, with classroom style desks and assorted rubbish in small upstairs rooms . Vaguely remember going back to look again in 1990s , by which time there was little if any trace left. Thanks for the video.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thankyou for watching David. Its lovely to read your memories. Its such ashame this building ad a short life

[@williamwelbourn7932]

Great video Ant. I read somewhere that between the end of the war and 1990 something like 600 Manor house's were pulled down. Deaths, taxes and dereliction being the main reasons.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Blimey thats so sad isn't it

[@binky_bun]

I've been to what became of Bramcote Lorne prep school in Gamston. It's now a private house and I know the guy who lives there. The main part of the house must have been there before the school took it over but I'd just assumed it was always a school until he bought it but now you've explained the history here it makes sense why it's called Bramcode Lorne despite being at the wrong end of Nottinghamshire. The school added all kinds of extensions over the years and at the back is the old portacabin science block but when it was sold it was also listed including the science block so now he has a beautiful mansion with a bunch of rotting portacabins behind it which he can't remove because they're listed along with the rest of it. It's daft that now they apply that sort of protection to some 90's portacabins but buldosed a beautiful building like Bramcote Hall not so long ago.

[@chrisvardy2956]

It was our local Scout camp for years in the 70s. Back then there was still a wing of the hall left that we would use in Winter rather than camping in tents. We also used to practice climbing and abseiling down what was left of the hall's highest wall that was still standing. In the grounds below we had stone raised fireplaces and there were two toilet blocks. The main campfire are (for large campfire gatherings) was on the balustraded levelled area.

[@1975supermike]

We were still climbing and abseiling that building in the mid 80s too. And camping there.

[@sstaggat]

I did the same in the 1980's whilst in the army cadets.

[@shirleylynch7529]

Fab explore. Sad no one with money couldn’t have restored it all to its original glory. Such a loss. But you Ant keep history alive. Thank you. Well done.

[@TheRogey1]

Love the old explore of the mansion,such a lovely setting, shame it was demolished 😢

[@TrekkingExploration]

I imagine the views were once amazing

[@djc8541]

Love these sorts of videos, very interesting, mixed with the old photos and research you do makes them unmissable

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much. I'll keep searching for locations

[@timleech]

We do love to demolish our history in this country don’t we! What was the point of flattering it, even in 1965 it must have been worth £££, just wasteful….same as the destruction of the railways.😢

[@another3997]

The railways were complicated. There were too many, and they couldn't all be sustained, but Beeching went much too far. In the UK, we have an awful lot of history, and an awful lot of historic sites to visit. The problem is, if we kept all the historical sites, there would be no room for anything new. The costs of upkeep becomes prohibitive, and someone has to pay for it all. Almost certainly, those sites that you think shouldn't disappear actually displaced something even older, and that cycle goes back a long way. There's several thousand years of history... we cannot keep all of it.

[@GaryBates-b8m]

Ant, Bearing in mind its use as a scout campsite, the circular feature you saw could have been the Campfire Circle which was set up in the woods. Over the the right of the house - looking from the field there was the "Matrons Garden" , a rokery set out with tufa rocks and in spring used to have flowering plants still. growing. As you came in there was a stable block and the swimming pool was originally a coach cleaning area, similar to the one at Elvaston Castle. I remember camping there when although the hall was in ruins it still stood there and the steps and decoratives were still intact. There used to be a Scout Sign hanging above the entrance and once hosted an international Jamboree. I did an amateur archology report on the site for a course I was doing, but that was passed to the llocal history group, c/w photos of the site. Gaz

[@alanandrews4179]

Great video. I was aware the old hall used to be there but didn't realise what remained to be seen. I moved to Chilwell in 1960 and the most visible part of the old hall was the wooden bridge that spanned Town Street from the hall side to the playing fields on the other side - now the houses in Home Croft. I seem to remember seeing boys in PE kit walking over the bridge one day. The bridge was removed some years ago - probably in the 80s - but was a very significant and well known landmark for many years. I think the stone abutment is still visible on the hall side of the road at the point where the brick wall commences.

[@jondrizzle4554]

Wow great video walked my dog and kids around there for years Always curious of the remains

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much. I'm glad you enjoyed it

[@jondrizzle4554]

You've answered a shed load of questions for my curious brain in your videos of our local area So thanks a lot ant 😂

[@dilwyn1]

Another fascinating explore Ant. Yet another piece of history captured forever by your camera

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much 😊

[@Carolb66]

Very interesting explore Ant, beautiful grounds & few remains to see such a shame that gorgeous mansion is no more. ❤😊

[@TrekkingExploration]

It wasn't that old either it's very sad

[@mikegreyfromnz]

A good explore Ant, thanks for taking us with you.🙂

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Mike

[@shaunbarsby]

This has been great to watch Ant, thank you for taking time to record this. Many years ago as a teenager I and friends used to venture into these woods regularly, leading to a piqued interest in its history. From what I read, after the hall was sold to the university it suffered a major fire which rendered it beyond economical repair, bringing about its demolition. Nothing seems to remain of that now. Another comment mentions other university buildings - there were some that appeared to be akin to lodgings in the direction of the old church tower, however I believe these have also now been removed. The site was used as a scout camp (Hemlockstone Campsite I believe it was called) for a while too. It seems there is even less to see now than 20 years ago which seems sad, although it’s great to see the old steps still standing firm. Keep up the great work, really enjoyed this!

[@angelajones2095]

Another fabulous explore, such a shame it was lost in time, however, with peeps like you re discovering them for us, it makes history come alive! I look forward to seeing the notifications from your channel, I know I am in for a good half an hour if something interesting and relevant, so much content on KZbin is mundane. Your content is anything but! Thank you!

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it Angela and thats very kind of you. I try to keep mixing up the topics a liitle bit whilst keeping to the same formula i'm glad its working :)

[@brooksbank67]

Fantastic. I live just around the corner and never knew it was there. Off for a walk, see you in a bit lol

[@100SteveB]

It is quite amazing at how little is left of that once grand building. I am trying to imagine what it would be like for former pupils of the school that may have gone back to the site over the last few years. Probably astounded at how much it's changed - with little to show that a school was once on the site. I can imagine a former pupil trying to get his bearings - trying to work out where everything he used to know was once situated. I also wonder how the land ended up being returned to nature? These days any land with existing building rights would be worth a fortune to developers. Probably pulled down well before the property market went mad in this country. Nice to see it returned to nature, but also sad to see such parts of our history lost forever. reminds me very much of Derwent Hall.

[@TrekkingExploration]

It must be quite nostalgic and eerie for anyone returning that was once a pupil

[@robincurwood]

Hi Ant,that happens to be my daughter's local dog walk. You missed the restored ice house just down the hill a little ways of the walled garden.And across the road is a local landmark the Hemlock stone.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Ive seen a few comments about this ice house ill have to go back and try to find it :)

[@sarahtaylor123]

I’m not sure if you’re mixing up Bramcote Hall here, with Bramcote Hills House, the footings of which are in Bramcote Park. The ice house is around the side of there in the maintained gardens opposite the Hemlock Stone. At Bramcote Hall site, to the left of the third set of steps, one of the trapdoors to the cellar has caved in and you can see down there. Filled with rubble but it’s definitely a cellar.

[@robincurwood]

@@sarahtaylor123 thanks for the correction I will have to do some of my own investigations.

[@andrewmatley7688]

more great find Ant very interesting Cheers mate

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Andrew

[@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

It is such a shame that it was demolished. Thank you for another in depth history and a search of the remains. As for ideas...... I have posted this before but don't know if you have seen it. The inclined railway down to Ladybower. I know the inclined railway has gone but wonder what if anything remains. Thanks for sharing Ant. I love your videos. Sadly being retired I can't join the channel but I do watch every video all the way through.

[@orwellboy1958]

In my professional career, I must have driven passed there on the A52 loads of times and never knew that was there, now in my latter years ill health prevents me from exploring so your videos are much appreciated. I'd love to see more of this type of content.

[@TrekkingExploration]

I'm so pleased that i can share this. I'll keep searching for more places like this to uncover. Thank you :)

[@janjoel]

Excellent video 😊 but so sad. All that history

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it thankyou

[@lindamccaughey6669]

How sad is it when something like that beautiful building is destroyed. Just loved looking around it. Thanks for taking me along. Please take care

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it Linda. It had such a short existance

[@simonballard6413]

So sad that a lovely old building like that was demolished. But you found some very interesting remains! The lovely weather helped, too. Looking forward to lots more.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it Simon. Its sad it was only around for a 100 years or so

[@jetsons101]

Ant, I may be over 5000 miles away but tearing down such an outstanding structure borders on a sin, wish the pool was still there. Great use of vintage B&W images and early colored postcards. At 20:22 could that "rounded off area that had a fire at one point" have been part of a heating system for the pool water? Ant, your channel and drone work have both come a long way........

[@bobingram6912]

The music and the old photos showing the boys going down to play cricket is almost sad when you flick back to how they look now😢 All that history lying there in ruins, what did the council build with the remains???!!! Nice change Ant👍👍👍

[@another3997]

History is happening all the time. Cities, towns and villages are quite literally built upon what was there before, and they have been for millennia. Our ancient castles, cathedrals and other buildings are often built on sites previously occupied by something older. You cannot keep them all. And all these old buildings require upkeep, which costs lots of money, to the point where it's no longer viable.

[@katiep9192]

Used to walk round there with my grandad as a child looks like it's a lot more overgrown now. I can remember seeing alot more ruins.

[@TrekkingExploration]

I think the last remains stood until the 1980s. Ashame there are hardly any photos :(

[@vickybatchelor6858]

Amazing explore, Ant. Thank you for taking us there with you. Also, your choice of music fits perfectly with what had been such a beautiful property 😊 So sad they demolished it 😢

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Vicky 😁 It is sad considering it wasn't all that old 😞

[@nickboden5866]

So sad, what a wonderful place it was in its heyday

[@edwardcottrell4302]

23:12 I can see my house 😅 I found the steps on a lockdown local explore in 2020 and spent that afternoon researching what was there. I’d since, like yourself spend a few hours wondering around there, very easy to get lost! But I think you’ve covered all that remains in your video, I can’t remember anything more. The roadway you entered the site was locked up a few years ago though and more overgrown. Is surprising just how established the woodland is, considering there was a house there not that long ago.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Its quite sad to think what a short existance it had. Ive seen a couple of comments regarding a ice house but i assume its buried

[@markh-thai]

The perimeter wall could have been a Ha-Ha which was quite common on large properties. I know we had one around Gedling House, some of that still remains today but it took thousands of tonnes of mixed inert filling to part fill.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you for today’s video. An interesting site to explore. Always an enjoyable video to see. See you on the next. Cheers Ant! 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers Martin thank you

[@angelaknisely-marpole7679]

Excellent, thank you!

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it Angela

[@andrewmaurerandrew6801]

Top man yet another amazing video keep them coming 👍👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much :)

[@thatguyfromcetialphaV]

Darley Hall is just the same in Derby. The site of the house is now a coffee shop on Darley Park

[@TrekkingExploration]

I'll have to have a visit :)

[@TheShowgirl25]

Nothing you do is mundane Ant. I really like this kind of thing.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Very kind thank you :)

[@m1cxf]

Not too far from where I live, we used to take our dog there. Some excellent chestnuts can be foraged on that park, the edible type.

[@SAM-zt2uy]

Walking distance from me 😃 the wall you jump up at 25:00 could of been a ha-ha there’s some at Wollaton but if you are looking from the hall you don’t really notice the dip but it keeps wild animals off the gardens without a fence to spoil the view Wikipedia has a good description that makes more sense 😂 Just off the car park at Bramcote there’s a little ice house not sure if you missed that?

[@TrekkingExploration]

Yeah that makes good sence. Thankyou for watching

[@brothermoto1964]

Used to walk the dogs around there. There was an info board I thought regarding the house? Enjoyed it.

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's probably just fell apart and never been replaced 😞

[@hbhmhbhm]

Great video! This house reminds me of Milner Field which was the home of Titus Salt's son. That would make a good explore!

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thank you. I'll have to have a look into that

[@walkinderbyshire]

Was literally talking about this place last night. Great explore.

[@TrekkingExploration]

How strange. Thanks for watching

[@neilsheppard6673]

Excellent explore Ant. At least this one was more accessible and not buried under a reservoir! So why was the building demolished? Maybe there were plans for a housing development that fell through. I'd have thought that was the sort of place the NT would have snapped up for a song, but was probably far too costly to maintain. Many thanks and cheers!

[@TrekkingExploration]

I do wonder how well it was built too. Given it had a short life

[@paulboyle6857]

Bit like the abandoned railways its a shame these buildings were demolished.I live on the site of a former Victorian manor on the outskirts of Rugby(Overslade) & have a few reminders in our garden;my neighbour had parts of the tennis court in his.The building was only demolished in the mid 80,s.Coincedently the Rugby /Nottingham section of the Great Central Railway survived until 1969.

[@matthewtrueblood408]

It reminds me very much of Epperstone Hall in Nottinghamshire, which used to be the police headquarters; then converted into beautiful apartments around 2011/12.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks for watching. I don't think ive been there

[@matthewtrueblood408]

It’s stunning

[@AFExploration]

great upload, more stuff like this

[@TrekkingExploration]

That's the plan! Thankyou :)

[@michaelsnow7252]

Wow I've lived and worked around there all my life and never knew it was there, I'll have to have a look round at dome point

[@TrekkingExploration]

I never knew either until a few Weeks ago I spent around 20 years in the area

[@michaelsnow7252]

I think there was one in chillwell as well but pretty sure it's been built over

[@xr6lad]

I’m assuming that door in the wall was where old horse hearses would back up and they’d unload a coffin through to the church yard? As it appears to be at a higher level.

[@SprocketN]

When I was at school we regularly used the Bramcote swimming baths, I never knew there was a hall in that area.

[@TrekkingExploration]

I went to Bramcote Hills

[@SprocketN]

@@TrekkingExploration I went to school in Chilwell, at the (then) brand new comprehensive school.

[@1975supermike]

There were 2 halls the one in this video and the one at bramcote Woods. Where they built those fake remains.

[@johnspurgeon9083]

Fascinating. I just wonder if the local councils (Broxtowe/Nottingham) may have an old plan of the estate which could be checked against existing ground features. Maybe the Uni may have something.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Yes that would be interesting :)

[@bobjackson6524]

Brilliant Ant,thankyou

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Bob

[@bobjackson6524]

@@TrekkingExploration Ant Ant Aaaaaaant.... Have a good look online at, Baron Hill Estate, Beaumaris, Anglessey. And all its surrounding grounds. It stretches for miles. Great history, And some outstanding hidden features in and around the grounds. Also, Kinmel Hall and old deerpark, Abergele. Hope you get to read this message. Cheers, 👍

[@maxthecat14]

It's a shame they demolished such a lovely building, But it has left a lovely place to walk.

[@TrekkingExploration]

I agree it also had such a short existance

[@nicholasdickenson8117]

The peripheral wall at 26 mins that went on for quite a way. Just a suggestion but could it have been an Ha Ha? Many large properties had them in order to open up the view into the countryside but stop wild animals coming into the gardens themselves. Just a suggestion.

[@patricklinsley1070]

Looks very much like Derwent Hall that's now under Ladybower.

[@TrekkingExploration]

That would have been a nice thing to see before it was lost

[@simonoutdoors8761]

Just Googled and found the Bramcote history group on line, photographs and information about the building. it's sad that in 1965 they was allowed to demolish it they should have been stopped

[@TrekkingExploration]

It had such a short existance :(

[@davidharwood283]

I went camping there, with the cubs back in 1976

[@TrekkingExploration]

I bet its quite eerie

[@paulharrison8152]

Have you checked out the POW camp at Redmires in Sheffield? If you do want to give it a look, I’ve got quite a bit of history info you can use for research.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thats where the road has the super long wall along it?

[@paulharrison8152]

@@TrekkingExploration Yes it is. Go into the woods, you’ll be shocked.

[@Jimyjames73]

Nice building - shame it got knocked down🤔🚂🚂🚂

[@TrekkingExploration]

Such a short life too

[@wrichard11]

I bet the wire fence posts was the tennis court. Wonder if the hole was something to do with the swimming pool filtration system?

[@TrekkingExploration]

The hole i'm still unsure. Some are saying Ice House or Shelter

[@simonoutdoors8761]

It did say that when the wife died in 1914 that it was left to the children and in 1919 they sold off the contents of the house and in 1920 they sold off the house

[@patricklinsley1070]

LIDAR does appear to show the outline of the swimming pool.

[@TrekkingExploration]

I'll have to have a look :)

[@tomtodhunter1776]

The pit where the fire had been, may have been the remains of an ice house.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Its possible isn't it? Thanks for watching

[@1975supermike]

I remember abseiling down it in the 80s with scouts. Before they demolished it.

[@timleech]

Was demolished in 1966

[@1975supermike]

​@@timleechno 90% of it was demolished. The last 10% was there in the 80s we used to camp there when it was a camp site and that was the hall at the top. We used to climb it. Was an amazing campsite and cub/ scout location. So no not 1966.

[@1975supermike]

​@@timleechif you look at 12.20 min. The hole right hand side of that pic was still there in the 80s. I'm guessing 84/86ish I've been in every room. The wall he keeps finding parts of was more complete then and the air raid in the woods was still there. That's the hole he points out. They destroyed it because we all used to go in it.

[@1975supermike]

When I was a kid there used to be an air raid shelter in the woods. It was full of records, a record player and porn mags. Lol the filled it in. I think that was what you pass at 20.38 with the fire in it. Used to go underground.

[@TrekkingExploration]

ohh thats really interesting. Might be like a little time capsual down there

[@mabrouk5058]

You might bump into chicken George up in blue bell woods 😂

[@dylancarter1831]

Goes to show no matter what was their before, nature will eventually overtake anything.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Very true. Even more so in the summer months

[@jackrabbit8196]

Did you find the Ice house?

[@TrekkingExploration]

No although from what i've read its buried?

[@simonoutdoors8761]

sad that its demolished it would have had such character. how was thay allowed to demolish it.

[@mrsgbee]

I understand why Labour destroyed places like this but it makes me a bit angry at the loss of something that could have been a great asset today.

[@a11csc]

another crying shame ant,still a great vid

[@TrekkingExploration]

The views must have been lovely

[@Richard_Barnes]

That site needs some archeology excavation and it would be so interesting to see it 👍🏻

[@TrekkingExploration]

I bet there's plenty hidden

[@butchknapman3939]

Interesting but who owns the land now is it just common land ?

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's council owned now I believe

[@davidthompson8989]

More railways

[@TrekkingExploration]

They'll come 👍

[@davidharwood283]

This area is very haunted

[@jondrizzle4554]

Been walking around there for years still yet to see anything 😂

[@TrekkingExploration]

😂😂😂😂

[@davidharwood283]

@@jondrizzle4554 We saw an apparition back in 1976 wondering the woods, the whole atmosphere seems to be charged

[@shaunbarsby]

I’d agree with this - actually did a little paranormal investigation about 20 years ago that seemed to deliver some interesting results. My dad also said he saw people practicing devil worship there around 1980 - never step foot there again after that!