Description: This picture shows the exterior East front and main entrance of the Hall (image from Wollaton Hall estate catalogue). The word 'Broxtowe' is probably a corruption of 'Broculstowe' meaning the dwelling-place, or stowe, of somebody called Brocul. Who Brocul was is not known, but the name appears to be one of Saxon origin, and as Broxtowe was the head of a weapontake, we may assume that it was a place of importance long before the Conquest. In the early eleventh century a certain Gilbert, son of Eustachius de Broculstowe, made gifts to Lenten Priory, and the wording of the gift is of importance for it refers to a toft 'on the east part of the church,' so evidently in those far-off days there was a church at Broxtowe. Broxtowe Hall is said to have been erected by Thomas Smith, one of the great banking family, about 1700. Perhaps, however, Thomas Smith merely altered the then empty house, for what architecture is left looks rather earlier than 1700, say about 1660. It was the home of Thomas Helwys, leader of the early Baptists. Broxtowe Hall was demolished in 1937. (information from www.nottshistory.org.uk)