Until its demolition in 1937, Broxtowe Hall was situated on the present day site of Broxtowe Lane. Broxtowe takes its name from Brocul, who in ancient times was the holder of the "stoe," or place, and it was made one of the six wapentakes of Nottinghamshire when King Alfred divided England into its present counties. The earliest mention of Broxtowe Hall dates back to the 11th century in which gifts from Gilbert, son of Eustachius de Broculstowe were sent to Lenton Priory. Centuries later the Arctic voyager Sir Hugh Willoughby took up residency of the property. In 1590 the hall fell into the possession of the joint founder of the General Baptist denomination, Thomas Helwys, primarily serving as a centre for Puritans of the region, Broxtowe Hall become a refuge for separatists such as John Smyth who would later become a close friend of Helwys. During the English Civil War it saw action as a stronghold for Parliament and was commanded by the young Captain Thornhagh who after an attack on Shelford Hall was left fatally wounded by a bullet. On the other-hand Aspley Hall (connected to Broxtowe Lane by Aspley Lane, a distance of just 0.9 miles) was garrisoned for King Charles I by the Willoughby family.