By Louise MacCarthy
This article was originally published in August 2025 in Soul Search, the Journal of The Sole Society
Kirklinton Hall was built in 1661 for Edmund Appleby (?- 1698). It was two of his descendants, Joseph and William Dacre who were the last of the Dacres to own/live in Kirklinton Hall. William 1828-1868 was the Vicar of Irthington and Joseph, born 1825, was of unsound mind, was admitted to Coton Hill Mental Asylum in July 1868 and died in Nov 1868.
Mr John Saul bought the Hall in around 1869. In the census of 1851 he was named as John Saul but in the 1861 Census he was named as John Kirklinton Saul. On his marriage certificate in 1852 he is John Kirklinton Saul. The hall became the property of and main place of residence for Mary Fredricka Kirklinton Saul (1815 – 1881), John Saul’s wife, and their son George Graham Kirklinton Saul (1854 – 1927).
The Kirklinton Saul’s added a new wing in 1875 (the hall area which is dated on the end wall).
John and Mary Saul’s son, George Graham Kirklinton Saul, was born in January 1854 and was baptised on 17th February 1854 with that name. He went to Oxford University, Christ Church on the 11th October 1872 but for some reason in 1877 between taking his BA and MA he dropped the name Saul becomin George Graham Kirklinton. From here on he seems to have just used Kirklinton.
George married Mary Alison Dorothy on 1st June 1904. She was perhaps a bit of a mystery, as her name is given as Mary Alison Dorothy Napier formerly Fairbourne, spinster, whilst in the ‘condition’ column it gives ‘single and unmarried’.
His mother, Mary, died in 1891 and had remained the head of Kirklinton House since 1869.
According to the 1922 Electoral Roll George Kirklinton was living in Jock’s Lodge in Farnham, Woking but Kirklinton Hall remained his primary residence until he died in 1927. He was living there in Jock’s Lodge with his wife and a male nurse as well as other staff members.
They lived in Kirklinton Hall until he and his wife Mary moved to Foresters, Windlesham, Surrey in 1926 (Electoral Roll).
George died on 1st Aug 1927 and the Hall and contents were put up for sale in 1928. The contents were valued, including the timber. Although there are sale documents for the sale of the Hall there is no record of the actual sale and the Hall remained the property of George’s Trustees. However the contents were sold.
In his will George Kirklinton gave his wife, Mary, a home for life. He had employed trustees to look after his finances and they were instructed to give her £500 towards a house and contents for the rest of her life. However, she wished to return to Kirklinton Hall and requested to use the money to repair and furnish a small part of Kirklinton Hall which had already been empty for the last 9 years. The trustees sought an opinion from Counsel who found no reason to object. After 2 years she requested to convey the Hall back to the trustees.
One of the Trustees was Mary’s cousin and when he died the other trustees appointed a new member who was not a member or relation Mary. The new trustee was General Campbell who had three daughters who contested this arrangement and implied that they were entitled to some money and the money had been spent incorrectly. Again the trustees sought an opinion from Counsel who found that all was in order.
Mary remained at the Hall until she died in 1936 and the Hall was put up for sale in 1937 but the hall and grounds did not sell. In the 1939 Electoral Register George Kirklinton still held a share of the freehold and rent charges.
