On the death of Boulsovers Great Grandson, Benjamin Blonk Silcock in 1861 the hall reverted to the ownership of distant relatives. However, by 1864 the hall was being rented by Samuel Plimsoll and his Sheffield born wife Eliza Ann. Plimsoll became an MP and did much to speed up the passing of the Merchant Shipping Act 1876 becoming known as “The Sailors Friend”. In 1872 the estate consisted of 303 acres between Ringinglow Road and the Porter Brook and at that time was divided into nine lots. Sheffield Corporation purchased the hall in 1896 although the family of Arnold Muir Wilson, the well known Sheffied solicitor, J.P. and City Councillor continued to live there until 1909. Between 1911 and 1926 the hall was rented by William Clark, managing director of the Vickers steel firm. By the end of the 1930s the hall was suffering from neglect and vandalism and in November 1935 it was purchased by the Sheffield Association Of Girl Guides.