The eponymous Sandfords of Sandford were one of Shropshire’s most ancient families, claiming descent from Thomas de Sandford – who is listed in the Rolls of Battle Abbey as having come over with William the Conqueror – to whom the manor of Sandford was granted in 1070. A later member of the family, Sir Thomas, had fought at Cressy in 1346, whilst the military prowess was further shown by Sir Richard Sandford who was bodyguard to Henry IV at the Battle of Shrewsbury where he was killed in 1403. Sir Richard’s figure in stained glass, of circa 1434– 45, was removed from the windows of Battlefield Church at Shrewsbury and may now be seen in the Sandford Chapel of St Chad’s Church at Prees. The family share a common ancestor with the Sandfords of The Isle (q.v.) in Nicholas de Sandford, of the reign of Richard II, who was Sheriff of Shropshire in 1386 and was married to Alice, daughter of William Boteler, first Baron of Wem.

In the Civil Wars, the family were Royalists; Arthur (d. 1645), the owner of the family estate and husband of Ann, daughter of Francis Kynaston of Oteley, was the elder brother of the noted Cavalier, Thomas Sandford, who besieged Hawarden and Beeston Castles and was finally killed at the taking of Nantwich in 1643. Arthur Sandford’s two sons, Francis and Robert were also Royalists, Robert being taking prisoner at the capture of Shrewsbury in 1644. The elder brother Francis (1587–1653), who succeeded to Sandford Hall, married Elizabeth, daughter of Calcott Chambre of Williamscot, Oxfordshire, and Carnowe Castle, County Wicklow, and he was a commissioner of Prince Rupert. After the Civil Wars, Francis was compounded for £459 for his loyalty. Following his death, an inventory was taken of the contents of Sandford Hall, then a half-timbered house which had, in turn, succeeded a house that was burned down by an incursion of the Welsh in the reign of Henry IV. The inventory gives the rooms of the house, which at that time tellingly included a ‘Gate House Chamber’ and ‘Chapel Chamber’ as well as the ‘Talbot Chamber’, ‘Parlour’ ‘Buttery’ and ‘Dining Chamber’ etceteras.