It is built in three storeys of roughcast brick with ashlar dressing and a hipped slate roof. The layout is H-shaped with a central block of 5 bays and an overall frontage of 9 bays.[3] In the 1960s the estate covered 12,000 acres, much of it moorland and woodland, and included Bolton Castle.[4]
Bolton Hall was originally built in 1678 for the Marquess, who in 1689 was elevated to be the first Duke of Bolton by a grateful King William III for his support in the Glorious Revolution. It passed down through five succeeding Dukes of Bolton to Harry Powlett, 6th Duke of Bolton, an admiral in the Royal Navy. The sixth Duke died without a male heir in 1794 and the dukedom became extinct, the Bolton estates devolving on his brother's natural daughter Jean Browne-Powlett. She married Thomas Orde, who in 1795 assumed the additional surname of Powlett and was a Tory politician. He served as Chief Secretary for Ireland and was ennobled in 1797 as Baron Bolton.
In 1902 the hall suffered a serious fire and was afterwards rebuilt.[5]
The estate then passed down to Harry Algar Nigel Orde-Powlett, 8th Baron Bolton, who inherited on his father's death.[6][7]
The 8th Baron resided at Bolton Hall, which was originally built in 1675. His residence in 2016 was Wensley Hall, Wensley, Leyburn. He died 10 June 2023.[8] He has been succeeded by his son Thomas Orde-Powlett as the 9th Baron.
