She soon made the decision to sell her main property, Newby Wiske Hall, in order to fund the renovations for Nunnington.
Margaret was a strong, principled character, amusing with an infectious laugh. She met Ronald Fife at a country- house shooting party in Cheshire in 1912, during which he proposed. Ronald was a man of action, a professional soldier, serving in a number of colonies overseas including South Africa and India. When not away for duty, he was still a keen sportsman and big- game hunter.
By 1917 the couple had adopted two young girls, Susan and Rosalind, and in less than a year of inheriting Nunnington, renovations had begun turning the rundown house into a true family home.
Just a few of our favourite rooms........
The Stone Hall
At the heart of the house the Stone Hall was a great hall in the 16th-century, a kitchen in the 17th century and by 1921 an entrance hall in which parties were held and table tennis was played. Walter Brierley, the architect engaged by the Fife's to renovate the Hall, reinstated the Tudor origins and the walls were adorned with Colonel Fife's game trophies.
The Smoking Room
In the 17th-century this room was Lord Preston’s bedchamber, with adjacent closet. In imitation of the Court of Versailles he would receive visitors, take meals and sleep.
By the 20th-century the space was used by Colonel Fife as his Smoking Room, and was painted a ‘Georgian Green’ colour with mezzotints adorning the walls.
