Stokesay Court was built by the rich Victorian era merchant, philanthropist, social conservative, Christian evangelist and church-builder John Derby Allcroft. He purchased the estate (including Stokesay Castle, which he felt unsuitable to reside in) and a small house (too small for his large family) in 1868, a smaller adjoining site in 1874, and non-adjoining land that he chose for his mansion in 1886.

The house saw a claim to fame in the film 'Atonement' where it served as the home of the Tallis family.