Mexborough and Swinton Times March 18, 1927
Melton Hall
Messrs GW Meanley and Sons Ltd, builders and contractors of Mexborough, have purchased by private treaty Melton Hall and Barnburgh Hall, two handsome mansions lately the property of Captain F.J.O. Montagu.
Messrs Meanley have purchased with the residence in each case a considerable quantity of grounds, including shrubs, foundation bricks, and woodland.
At Barnburgh have brought in all 26 acres of land. Barnburgh Hall is let on a long lease to the Doncaster College Association, one of whom chief official, Capt L C R Rogers, is in occupation.
The lease at Barnburgh Hall does not run out for another eight years, and the new owner has no plans, therefore, for dealing with Barnburgh Hall at present. The grounds will be developed for housing.
Melton Hall is to be divided into a number of separate residences and may possibly be converted into flats. The adjoining land here also will be laid out as a build a safer housing of good quality.
The furniture of Melton Hall will be sold by auction by Messrs Shearman and Johnson, on April 27, and Messrs Meanley will take possession of the property on May 1.
They hope to make considerable progress during the summer with the development of both the Melton and the Barnburgh Estates.
Melton Hall has for many centuries been one of the most charming manner residences in South Yorkshire. The last occupant was a late Honourable Mrs H Linley Wood, mother of the last owner, Capt F.J.O. Montagu, and she has lived there ever since her marriage to her first husband, the late Mr James Montagu, over 50 years ago, to her death last September.
The history of the Hall and the state was published in a recent issue of this paper. One of the distinguished occupants of the Hall the former Dean of York, John Fountayne, and memorials of the Fountaynes, and the Montagu’s abound in the beautiful village church adjoining the grounds of the Hall.
It is anticipated, now that the Montagu estate had been broken up, there will be rapid development both in Melton and Barnburgh, which are admirably situated for the purpose, as suburbs of Mexborough.
In addition to Messrs Meanly, a Company, which has been registered as a Barnburgh Estates Ltd has purchased a quantity of real estate in the Barnburgh parish, and this company is also proceeding to open out bungalow estates between the district of Barnburgh and High Melton