Thomas Steade was born 1728 in Burrowlee House which had been built by his father, Thomas Steade Senior, in 1711. The Steade family had lived originally in Onesacre, near Oughtibridge for centuries.

Steade married Meliscent Pegge of Beauchief who was 21 years his junior and, one of the Strelley Pegges - who had been lords of Ecclesall Manor (which included Nether Edge, Bents Green, Millbouses, Greystones, Whirlow, Crookes, Brincliffe etc.)

The east lodge for the parkland was built in 1777 following creation of turnpike road (Penistone Road).

Steade built Hillsborough House in 1779, naming it after his patron Lord Downshire who lived at Hillsborough Castle in County Down. At the same time as the Hall several outbuildings and a walled garden were constructed including the Coach House.  The whole was set in a substantial enclosed park. 

Thomas and Meliscent had 7 children, all sons. Meliscent herself was one of 11 children.

Steade was a well-known figure i'n Sheffield, but it is not clear what his business was. In directories of Sheffield and Derbyshire, he is invariably described as "Thos. Steade of Hillsborough House, Gent". So probably much of his time was spent looking after his estate.

Steade was a Feoffe, or landowner, of the parish of Ecclesfield. He was a founder member of "The Monthly Club" which was established in 1783 as a Gentleman’s Dining Club (they dined between 2-5 p.m.) at the Angel Inn on Angel Street in Sheffield. They met "on the Thursday nearest the full moon" and paid 1 shilling and 3d for the dinner and this included "malt liquor". Also 2d was to be paid to the waiter; while absentees had to pay the landlord a fine of 1/-'

Steade died in 1793 and was buried in Ecclesfield Church, apparently donating 50/- to Onesacre School. In his will he left his wife the sum of £105 plus £225 a year financed from profits and rents plus £10 for his sister Alice. The Will was witnessed by Samuel Holroyd, Ann Wood and George Fieldsend, people of some standing and also business associates. Steade owned 10 properties in Wadsley and possibly part interests in other properties elsewhere. His widow died at the age of 85 in 1835.

Thomas’s son Broughton Steade inherited the house in 1793 on his father’s death. 

He was a magistrate and High Sheriff of Derbyshire, born in 1774.  

He changed his name to Broughton Benjamin Pegge Burnell and later, when he inherited his uncle’s estate he changed it again to Broughton Benjamin Strelley Pegge. 

He had inherited Beauchief Hall in 1796 and sold Hillsborough Hall in 1801 to John Rimington Wilson of Broomhead Hall.