The manor was purchased by William Charles Kerr in 1857 and was succeeded by his son, Russell Kerr senior. Upon his death in 1910, the house succeeded to his son Sir Russell James Kerr, KB DL JP (1863-1952). He was called to the bar in 1887 and was appointed as a JP in 1893. He also served as a Captain and Hon Major in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of th Gloucestershire Regiment unitl 1902 and served again the First World War.

In 1910 he succeeded his father as lord of the manors of Newnham and Ruddle and he also served as a Verderer of the Forest of Dean from 1916. He was promoted to Hon. Lt-Col. when, in 1917, he became a Deputy Lieutenant for the County.

Sir Russell was elected as an alderman of the Gloucestershire County Council in 1908 and became Chairman of County Council from 1920 until 1931. Sir Russell's eldest son was killed in the First World War and his younger son and grandson both died in the Second World War. He later moved to Hill House, in Newnham, and "The Haie" was conveyed, before his death, to his nephew Andrew Kerr. It was the Kerrs who renamed the property "The Haie" It was eventually converted to apartments.

In 1811 Haie Hill Tunnel was built (picture right) . Said to be the first of its kind, to connect Soudley and Ruspidge, with their associated collieries and ironworks, to the the River Severn at Bullo Pill. Bullo was second only to Lydney, further south, for its importance in transporting the industrial products of the Forest of Dean via the River Severn.