The Lancasters - thanks to a fortune founded in iron and coal, George Granville Lancaster bought the Estate at the start of the 20th Century. His wife was from the Hugenot family Champion de Crespigny.  Their son Claude Granville Lancaster, (Jubie) was a Colonel in the Sherwood Foresters and an MP for Fylde and South Fylde.  His sister, Cicely Valencia Lancaster inherited on his death in 1977.  At her demise in 1996 The Kelmarsh Trust took over the estate’s custodianship.

The Trees - the Anglo American Ronald Tree and his wife Nancy rented the Hall from 1928-1933.  Tree used his position as Master of the Pytchley Hunt as a launch pad into British politics becoming MP for Market Harborough.  On their divorce in 1948, Nancy Tree returned to Kelmarsh Hall as the wife of the owner Colonel Lancaster, but the marriage was short-lived.  She is best remembered as a society decorator and partner in the decorating firm of Colefax and Fowler