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Armitage
Park purchased by Nathaniel Lister in 1759, was originally a moated
manor house. Destroyed by fire, Lister had to rebuild the house on the
present site, which passed through several owners including Josiah Spode
IV . The Hall passed to the order of Dominican Monks in 1896 after the
death of Helen Gulson, Spodes housekeeper. The Hall had been greatly
altered by Spode in 1839 into the building that stands to this day.
This imposing structure of stuccoed brickwork and stone in the Gothic
style with its battlements and pinnacles stands in the heart of the
estate and has retained many of its main features with a three storey
North wing providing attractive office accommodation. The park, drives,
fishpond and ice house all visible on the OD Map of 1884 are still present
to this day and it is said that the sunken gardens were constructed
by Spode to give work to the unemployed miners of the area. The original
Deer Park of the estate has been developed into an 18 hole championship
golf course, St. Thomas's Priory.
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