| Administrative History | Originally named Willersley Hall, Richard Arkwright purchased the estate from Thomas Hallet Hodges in 1782, and had architect William Thomas design him a Georgian style castellated house. The house overlooked Arkwright's mill in Cromford. In 1791 as the house was nearly complete, fire damaged the interior and Arkwright died the following year so never saw it completed. Yet in 1796 his son, Richard Arkwright junior, moved into Willersley Castle and made in the family seat, and concentrated on renovating the gardens. The Arkwright family continued to live at Willersley Castle until 1922. The estate was later bought in 1927 by Methodists and converted into a Methodist Guild holiday centre. During WWII the house was used a maternity hospital by the Salvation Army, after they had to evacuate their hospital in London. Today it is a Christian Guild Hotel. |
| Custodial History | Acquired by Derbyshire Record Office in 1998 |