Strelley Hall

05/11/2026

Mulberry Tree Cafe
Mulberry Tree Bakehouse

🎄We have one table left for up to 4 people on our Festive Afternoon Tea, Saturday 28th November🎄 Some spaces also available for Thursday 3rd, Saturday 5th and Thursday 17th December. Interested?? Contact reception on 0115 906 1200 or book online https://www.strelley.com/afternoonteas

05/11/2026

🎄We have one table left for up to 4 people on our Festive Afternoon Tea, Saturday 28th November🎄 Some spaces also available for Thursday 3rd, Saturday 5th and Thursday 17th December. Interested?? Contact reception on 0115 906 1200 or book online https://www.strelley.com/afternoonteas

02/11/2026

MEET THE MEN OF STRELLEY'S WOODYARD
One of the photographs that caught our eye at this year's Heritage Weekend exhibition at All Saints' Church was this picture of five men who worked in the woodyard on the Strelley Estate (date unknown).
Second from the right - Ted Pinchin.
Third from the right - George Garment, the Head Woodsman.
Chumy Bradshaw is also identified in a separate published historical caption of the photograph but it doesn’t say which one he is..
Unfortunately, we don't yet know the names of the other two men, or exactly when the photograph was taken.
But we've managed to uncover quite a bit more about George.
Born in Wilford in 1860, George worked on the Strelley Estate as Head Woodsman. According to local historical research, George would walk all the way from Wilford to Strelley every morning, work a full day on the estate and then walk all the way home again!
While working at Strelley, he met his future wife, May Tyres, who was a Strelley girl. They later married and lived at Woodman's Cottage.
There's another connection to the village. May ran a small shop from the cottage, selling sweets, ci******es and groceries. It was one of only two shops in the village at the time.
The additional information about George comes from an article by Peter Woodward, originally published in My Broxtowe Hundred Journal, and reproduced by the Nottingham Hidden History Team.
And where exactly was the woodyard?
If you come through the main vehicle gates into Strelley Hall, the old woodyard was in the area where the Pavilion building now stands, on your right.
So next time you drive into the Hall, you'll know that you're passing a place that once played an important part in the day-to-day running of the estate.
Can anyone tell us more about Ted Pinchin or Chumy Bradshaw? And does anyone know anything about the other two men in the photo?
We'd love to hear from you, particularly if you have any family stories connected with the Strelley Estate.
Follow for more Hidden Stories of Strelley Hall.

02/11/2026

3 of our Festive Afternoon Tea dates are now fully booked but we still have 2 tables left for Thursday 12th November, at either 12.15 or 12.30; for up to 6 people each.
Call our reception on 01159061200 or book online at www.strelley.com/afternoonteas
£28 per person including elderflower fizz to start

30/10/2026

A BIG SHOUT OUT TO NOTTINGHAM TEDDY REPAIRS!
Have you got a favourite teddy bear that's looking a little worse for wear? Perhaps it's missing an eye, has a hole in its paw or has simply seen better days after years of cuddles!
Well, don't throw it away! It might just need a little TLC from the experts at Nottingham Teddy Repairs, one of the independent businesses you'll find here at Strelley Hall.
Specialising in teddy bear and soft toy repairs and restoration, they help bring much-loved childhood companions back to life, giving treasured bears a new lease of life while keeping their familiar character.
They also create something rather special: memory bears.
These are keepsake bears made from clothing or fabric that holds special meaning, often using the clothes of a loved one who has passed away. It's a beautiful way of preserving precious memories and creating something tangible to treasure for years to come.
And there's more to discover when you visit. The shop also has an old-fashioned sweet selection, with plenty of familiar favourites to bring back memories of your own childhood!
We love having such a unique business at Strelley Hall. It's a wonderful combination of traditional skills, craftsmanship and a real appreciation for the things people hold dear.
You'll find Nottingham Teddy Repairs in the courtyard at Strelley Hall.
Why not combine a visit with a browse around our other independent shops and a coffee or something to eat at the Mulberry Tree Café?
We'd love to know - have you still got your childhood teddy bear? Does it have a name, and have you managed to keep it all these years?
Give Nottingham Teddy Repairs some love and follow Strelley Hall for more shout-outs to the brilliant independent businesses on site.

29/10/2026

MEET NEVILL EDGE – MOTORS, FISHING AND FAMILY LIFE AT STRELLEY HALL
We've been introducing some of the members of the Edge family who lived at Strelley Hall, and today it's the turn of Nevill Cassandra Strelley Edge (1895–1974).
We've got two lovely photographs to share, showing rather different sides of Nevill's life.
In the first, she's behind the wheel of her brother's car in the grounds of Strelley Hall. The Edge siblings seem to have enjoyed their motoring: we've previously shared a photograph of her brother Jim on his Brough motorbike.
The second photograph shows Nevill taking part in a fishing competition. Look closely and you'll spot her brother Roger Edge in the background!
It's always interesting to discover these little glimpses of family life beyond the formal portraits. These photographs capture the Edge siblings enjoying their interests and spending time together, giving us a more personal picture of life at Strelley Hall over a century ago.
Nevill later married Leonard George Humphrys, and they had a daughter, Georgina.
Although we haven't yet uncovered a great deal about Nevill's life, photographs like these help us piece together the stories of the people who called Strelley Hall home.
Follow for more Hidden Stories of Strelley Hall.

25/10/2026

FROM STRELLEY TO CEYLON – THE STORY OF ROGER EDGE
In our Meet the Edge Family – Who's Who? post, we shared this photograph of Roger Francis Edge standing in the snow at Strelley Hall.
Taken around 1912, Roger would have been about 14 years old.
Roger (1897–1984) went on to serve with the Coldstream Guards during the First World War and was awarded the Military Cross.
After the war, much of his working life was spent in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. But one discovery has added a particularly interesting chapter to his story.
In 1936, The London Gazette recorded the official approval of his appointment as Consul of Czechoslovakia at Colombo, with jurisdiction across the island.
Why was Roger chosen for this role and what was the connection with Czechoslovakia? We haven't found a record explaining the appointment.
However, Roger must have been well connected in Ceylon's commercial community – the Import Section of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce lists R. F. Edge as its Chairman in 1947.
In 1945, Roger married Kathleen Dobb, known as Kitty, they had no children.
From a teenager pictured in the snow at Strelley Hall to a First World War officer and a consular representative in Ceylon, Roger certainly led a life that took him far from home.
Follow for more Hidden Stories of Strelley Hall.

23/10/2026

A BIG SHOUT OUT TO THE COACH HOUSE!
Today we're shining a spotlight on another of the independent shops here at Strelley Hall: The Coach House.
If you enjoy finding something a little different for your home, this is well worth a visit.
The Coach House specialises in beautiful, timeless homeware and interiors, with a carefully chosen collection of pieces to inspire you, add character to a room or make a thoughtful gift for someone else.
From decorative accessories and unique finds to touches that help make a house feel like home, there's plenty to discover. The range includes a mix of contemporary and vintage-inspired pieces, with an emphasis on quality and craftsmanship.
And while you can browse and buy some of the collection online, there's something to be said for seeing things in person and discovering an item you weren't even looking for!
We love having independent shops like The Coach House here at Strelley Hall. Each has its own character, and together they make the courtyard a lovely place to spend a little time browsing.
You'll find The Coach House in the Stables Courtyard at Strelley Hall, alongside our other independent shops and the Mulberry Tree Café.
Why not combine a browse around the shops with a coffee, lunch or something delicious from the Bakehouse? There's plenty to enjoy while you're here.
Are you someone who loves finding special pieces for your home? Pop in and see what catches your eye!
Give The Coach House some love and follow Strelley Hall for more shout-outs to the brilliant independent businesses on site.

22/10/2026

We've recently been introducing some of the Edge family members who many of our followers may not know much about. Today, it's the turn of Julia Francis Edge, one of Miss Emily Mary Edge's siblings.
In our last post, we shared a photograph of Julia standing in the snow at Strelley Hall, taken in 1912.
This time, here's a rather different view of her: relaxing on the lawn in front of the Hall, reading a book. This photograph is believed to date from around 1913.
Julia received an interesting education. Alongside her upbringing at Strelley Hall, she studied both cookery and gardening. She attended Heathfield School, the Gloucester School of Cookery and Glynde College for Lady Gardeners in East Sussex.
In 1915, Julia married Dr James William Barnett, who served in the Indian Medical Service. They had one daughter, Cecily.
The photographs capture two everyday moments from more than a century ago: Julia in the snow in winter, and settling down with a book on a summer's day.
Follow for more Hidden Stories of Strelley Hall.

20/10/2026