History

A site of strategic importance in Burton Upon Trent

With amazing views over Staffordshire and the River Trent at its major north and south crossing points, the location of Sinai Park House was vital for Romans, Medieval monks, English Civil War armies, and English aristocracy. It all happened in Burton Upon Trent – never mind its famous fine ales.

The historic site of Sinai was first built on by the de Schobenhales in the 1200s with a stone manor house and a moat. The moat on its own is a scheduled ancient monument.

A retreat for rest and recuperation

The location and site of Sinai has a big significance – its ancient healing spring – Chalybeate waters which are salts of iron. Just like Glastonbury, or Tunbridge Wells or Bath, just not so famous!

The spring is why the monks of Burton Abbey chose Sinai Park House for its rest and recuperation retreat after bloodletting.

Accommodation for the monks of Burton Abbey

The monks of Burton Abbey wanted better accommodation alongside their healing spring, so they brought two timber framed buildings up to the site in the 1400 and mashed them together to make the north east wing of Sinai Park House.

The original buildings date from the 1300s. This practice of moving timber-framed buildings around is possibly the origin of the expression ‘to up sticks’.