The estate was handed over to the National Trust in lieu of death duties. The House stands on the site of a medieval religious house.
In 1622 the estate was sold to Henry Harpur for £5,350 and remained in the Harpur / Harpur - Crewe family until 1985 when the National Trust took it over. Nothing was thrown away but jumbled together in unused rooms. The house is preserved as it was when the trust took it over. with peeling wallpaper and jumbled objects. Structural work was carried out to ensure the house is safe and weatherproof. All the items were uncatalogued even now new things are being discovered. .
