Barlow, who married Manchester based physician Matthew Alexander Eason Wilkinson (1813–1878) and moved away. Frances Wilkinson died after a brief marriage but her husband and his second wife Louisa Letitia, née Walker (c.1826–1889) lived at the hall with their six children. The gardens at Middlethorpe Hall are credited with inspiring the career of their daughter Fanny Wilkinson, the first professional female landscape designer in Britain. For most of the 19th and early 20th century the house remained in the Wilkinson family but was let to various tenants. From 1851 it was occupied by a girls' boarding school for 30 years. In 1972 it became "Brummels" night club. In 1980 it was acquired by Historic House Hotels, who improved and restored the grounds and outbuildings with hundreds of trees planted and the addition of a ha-ha and lake. A dilapidated late 17th-century dovecote was restored, the kitchen garden was replanted, and stable buildings were converted and extended for additional hotel accommodation. The Hall and grounds were then gifted to the National Trust by the directors of Historic House Hotels (HHH). The hall continues its present use as a hotel under the existing HHH management. Three National Trust directors joined the HHH board and all profits will go to Trust funds to provide for the long-term care of the house. The gift had been under discussion for almost 30 years and in 1997 the National Trust accepted restrictive covenants over the property. Trustees of the National Trust completed the transfer deal in September 2008 by declaring the Hall together with two other properties inalienable. It is envisaged that arrangements will be put in place for the gardens and grounds of the hall to be open to visitors, along with tours of the ground floor rooms. Members of the Trust are of course welcome as hotel guests, as are members of the public. References External links Country houses in North Yorkshire Grade II* listed houses Grade II* listed buildings in York Hotel spas Hotels in York National Trust properties in North Yorkshire Tourist attractions in North Yorkshire Country house hotels