Ragdale Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ragdale Hall |
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| General information | |
| Type | Historic house |
| Town or city | Ragdale, Leicestershire |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 52°46′32″N 1°1′50″W / 52.77556°N 1.03056°W |
Ragdale Hall is a large and historic building located in the Melton area of Leicestershire, England. Today, it is well-known as a health spa.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The first Ragdale Hall was built in 1785. It was made of wood and was known as Rakedale Hall. Sadly, this original building was destroyed by a fire at some point.
Rebuilding and New Owners
After the fire, the hall was rebuilt using red bricks. It then became known as Ragdale New Hall. This new building was used for hunting activities, including fox hunting.
In 1908, the Cantrell-Hubbersty family bought the hall. They owned it for many years in the early 20th century. Philip Cantrell-Hubbersty, a member of the family, was a leader of the local hunting group called the Quorn Hunt. Since he did not have children, his wife sold the hall in 1955.
Changing Hands
In the late 1950s, Ragdale Hall was owned by a private family for the last time. Mr. Charles Keightley bought the estate in 1956. He and his wife, Olga, moved their five children to Ragdale Hall in 1958. Mr. Keightley worked as a farmer there.
After 1959, a businessman from Leicester named Benton bought the hall. He turned it into a country club. The hall changed hands quickly again in 1963.
In 1968 or 1969, a man named Dimitrios Kaouklis, also known as 'Jim', bought the Ragdale Hall Country Club. He started to make many improvements to the hall. He rebuilt an old part of the building and added 13 new bedrooms. He also put in a conference room and a modern kitchen. A small moat around the hall was filled in after a near-drowning incident. However, Jim faced financial difficulties and sold the hall in 1973.
Becoming a Health Spa
In 1973, Audrey Eyton, who was famous for her "F-plan" diet in Slimming Magazine, bought Ragdale Hall. She transformed it into the Ragdale Hall Health Hydro. This meant it became a place where people could go to relax and improve their health, like a destination spa.
In June 1990, two of the people who started Our Price Records bought the hall. They still own it today. In 2007, a special area with different heat and water experiences, called a thermal spa, was opened at Ragdale Hall.
Where is Ragdale Hall?
Ragdale Hall is located east of the Six Hills junction. This is where the A46 dual carriageway, also known as Fosse Way, meets the B676 road. It is in the area of Hoby with Rotherby parish. The hall is also east of the Charnwood borough boundary.
