The birthplace of William Stenson, Coleorton was a coal mining area from the 15th century.
Coleorton Hall was demolished by the Parliamentarians during the Civil War probably because it was used as the regional headquarters of the Cromwellian forces. Their position allowed them to launch cannon balls towards the Royalist stronghold at Ashby Castle. The Hall was rebuilt at the beginning of the 19th century by the Beaumont family who can trace their family tree back to Norman days.
The Beaumonts have been writers, soldiers, judges and artists, and they have helped to bring literary and artistic fame to the District. One Francis Beaumont was the famous collaborator of Fletcher, the Elizabethan dramatist; another, Sir George Beaumont was the renowned patron of the arts who helped to found The National Gallery in London. Sir Walter Scott, Byron and Southey all visited the Hall, Scott began on his novel “Ivanhoe” on one visit , and Haydon, Wilkie and John Constable stayed and painted there. In the gardens stone urns and pillars contained inscribed verses by Wordsworth, who along with his sister Dorothy were involved in the creation of the Winter garden whilst staying nearby. The Hall has now been converted to private apartments and is not accessible to the general public.
The school, Almshouses and the Church of St John were all founded by the Beaumonts.