For well over a century, The Hayes has welcomed people to meet, learn, worship, and spend time together. Before becoming a Christian conference centre, however, it was a Victorian family home surrounded by parkland, gardens, and lakes. These photographs offer a glimpse into some of its best-known spaces and the many years of hospitality held within its walls.
The Main House from the lower lake
The Hayes was built for Fitzherbert Wright and his wife, Charlotte, and was named in 1867. By the time an Ordnance Survey map was produced in 1878, the surrounding grounds had already been carefully planted, and a lake and boathouse had been created. This peaceful view from across the lower lake shows how the Main House was designed to sit within its beautiful Derbyshire landscape. It is now hidden by some beautiful trees which make home to many creatures.
The Reading Room in the 1950s
The Reading Room is part of the original Victorian Main House and overlooks the estate. In this 1950s photograph, chairs are gathered around the open fire, creating a welcoming place for guests to sit, read, and spend time together. Its fireplace, decorative cornicing, and wall panelling preserve much of the character of the original house.
The Vinery in the 1980s
Plans from the end of the nineteenth century show a conservatory beside the Main House, and the Vinery remains one of The Hayes’ most distinctive Victorian features. By the 1980s, it had become the light-filled communal space shown here, where guests could sit together, talk, read, and enjoy views across the lawn.
The Lounge in 1920
This photograph captures the Lounge during the opening years of The Hayes as a Christian conference centre. The wicker chairs and simple tables reflect the period, while the coffered ceiling, timber panelling, columns, and fireplace belong to the character of the original house. From its earliest years, the Lounge offered guests a relaxing place to rest and enjoy one another’s company.
The Board Room in 1950
Located on the first floor of the Main House, The Board Room has long provided a more intimate setting for meetings and discussions. This 1950 photograph shows chairs arranged to face the front, with the room’s fireplace, woodwork, and striking ceiling still creating a strong sense of character around the practical conference setup.
Guests outside the Vinery
Although the date of this photograph is unknown, it captures something generations of visitors will recognise: guests making the most of the lawn between sessions. With the Vinery and Main House behind them, people sit in small groups to talk and relax, a reminder that some of the most valuable moments at a conference often happen outside the programme.
The Main Conference Hall in the 1920s
The Main Conference Hall was one of the purpose-built additions created in 1911, during the estate’s early conversion into a Christian conference centre. It gave large groups a dedicated place to gather, separate from the rooms of the former family home. More than a century later, the hall remains central to life at The Hayes and can welcome up to 320 people.
A side view of the Main House in the 1930s
This 1930s view highlights the steep roofs, gables, bay windows, prominent chimneys, and stonework that give the Victorian Main House its distinctive appearance. The open lawn beside the building has also been part of guests’ experience for generations. Today, this is the area where visitors can gather around the fire pits and enjoy time together outdoors.
Haddon Dining Room
Creating a large dining space was essential when The Hayes was converted from a private home into a conference centre. A new dining hall, built as part of the early expansion, could seat 300 people. This undated photograph of Haddon Dining Room, with its long rows of carefully laid tables, gives a wonderful sense of the scale of hospitality The Hayes was designed to offer from the beginning.
A place with many stories
Buildings and rooms may change, but The Hayes has remained a place where people come together. These photographs offer only a small glimpse of its story, a story that continues every time another group arrives to meet, worship, learn, and share life together.
The Hayes is one of 3 exclusively Christian manor house venues run by Christian Conference Trust. To find out more about The Hayes, Highgate House, or High Leigh, simply call our friendly sales team at 0300 111 4444 or click the button below.
