Externally apparently a mostly 17th and 18th century building, detailed fieldwork by the South Yorkshire County Archaeology Service in the early 1980s (Birch and Ryder 1988) demonstrated the survival of significant 12th century masonry incorporated in the present structure. The manor house was probably built by the de Warrennes (possibly as a hunting lodge for Hatfield Chase) and transferred to the crown with Hatfield Chase in the 14th century. The hall stands within a large square enclosure known as the Manor Garth nearly 200m square, "which seems to have been ditched or moated" (ibid, 65). This manorial enclosure has been developed to the north west of the house although a watching briefs conducted in the early 1990s SMR 433 and 3675 confirmed the survival of archaeological deposits in these areas. Unknown potential for pre conquest landscape.