> The History of Riber Hall

THE HISTORY OF RIBER HALL FROM THE 1400s

In the reign of Henry VI or early in the fifteenth century, the heiress of the Ribers or Riberghs of Riber, married John Robotham, and was mother of Margaret whom William Wolley had for a wife.  The old documents show the name written De Woley – Wolegh – Woleghe – Woleigh and the Wolleys held the Riber estate for six or seven generations and were particularly memorable if only for their silver, golden and diamond weddings.  The most important family for centuries were the Wooleys of Riber who bought vast tracks of land during the reign of Henry VII.  The wealth originated with the heiress of the Ribers or Riberghs who married John Robotham and whose daughter Margaret married William Wooley.  The last of the Riber house was Anthony, a great historian who wrote a ninety volume history of England, which was not printed before he died and is today in the British museum.  He added an extension on to Riber Hall in 1661, the year of the restoration of the monarchy after the civil war and also of the Eyam plague and in his historic documents described these as the new rooms.  He died in 1668, and on the top cornerstone at the rear of the Hall is the date 1668 carved upside down, which was the tradition when a family had resided in a property of many generations.  In 1668 the lands were sold to Thomas Statham and in 1681 were purchased by John Chappell. 

In 1724 the estate was in two moieties between the two heiresses of the Reverend John Chappell when one was sold to the Walls and the other to Joseph Greatrex in Lyson’s time which has since passed to the Allens.  The Riber estate was a copyhold under the Lordship of Matlock.  Apart from the two famous men who the Wolley’s produced they have been memorable for longevity. One (Adam of Allen’s Hill) lived 76 years in marriage with his wife Grace, who having survived him twelve years, died in 1669.  Supposing her to have been only 16 when she was married in 1581 she must have been 104 years of age at the time of her decease.  The tradition of the family is that she was 110 years of age and that her husband was in his hundredth year at the time of his decease.  Indeed, it appears from circumstances that he could not have been less than 96.  Matlock has no mention in the Doomsday Book.  The supposition is that it was a portion of Metesford.

There is no record of the Wolleys residing at Riber Hall after 1668.  However, George Allen, who rented Riber Hall from his father who lived at Cromford, married Elizabeth Wolley from Allen Hill.   Their daughter was married to a gentleman from Cromford, who died shortly after.  Consequently, she packed her bags and baggage and sailed across the Atlantic and up the Mississipi to Dubuque in Iowa, where her descendants reside today.  Her family prospered enormously and at one stage was the largest estate handled in the State of Iowa. 

The Outrams lived at Riber Hall from the late 1800s until 1922.  The most notable of this family was John William Outram, who stood well over 6 feet, and was still ramrod straight when he visited Riber Hall in the 1970s.  He distinguished himself in the First World War by such an act of heroism that he received the Gallantry medal. 

He was subsequently known as “Hellfire Outram”.  It is interesting to note that Riber Hall has a splendid specimen grafted weeping copper beech, approximately 185 years old, on which the initials JWO are carved and a heart and an arrow to intials which are sadly indistinguishable.  

The Gregorys succeeded the Outrams at Riber Hall, living there when Peter Gregory acquired the Hall and moved in 1922.  Peter Gregory was an antique dealer and restorer with premises on Dale Road and workshop and store at Riber Hall.  He acquired many antiques before his untimely death in 1927, including many artefacts from Wingerworth Manor which was demolished in the mid 1920s.  These include two fireplaces, one being Derbyshire fossil marble, which he installed in the Jacobean wing.  He also acquired an ornate staircase which was not assembled before he died and was not actually assembled until the 1970s and greatly enhances the walled garden and orchard at the Hall. 

Miss Gregory continued to live at Riber Hall and ran it as a most acceptable guest house prior to the Second World War, and a visitor on a number of occasions was Jesse Boots, founder of Boots the Chemists.  Sadly after the war, Riber Hall decayed around her and was close to dereliction when she died in April 1969, even though she was surrounded by priceless antiques collected by her father. 

The Hall was acquired in April 1970 by the Biggin family who, after almost three years making it habitable, subsequently turned it into a restaurant and hotel.  It retains this status today and amongst its peers is highly rated.