Dovenby Hall facts for kids
Dovenby Hall is a large, old house located in the countryside near Dovenby, a small village in Cumbria, England. It sits on a huge piece of land, about 115 acres! That's like 87 football fields. This special building is protected by law because of its history and unique design.
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A Look Back at Dovenby Hall's History
The oldest part of Dovenby Hall is a peel tower, which is a strong stone tower built in the 1200s. These towers were used for protection a long time ago. The main house was built later, in the 1500s, for a person named Sir Thomas Lamplugh.
Changes Over the Years
Around the year 1800, the Dykes family took over Dovenby Hall. They made many changes to the house in the early 1800s, giving it a new look.
Several members of the Dykes family were important people in the area. For example, Joseph Dykes Ballantine Dykes was a "High Sheriff" in 1807. This was a special role, almost like a local leader. His son, Fretcheville Lawson Ballantine-Dykes, was even a Member of Parliament for Cockermouth from 1832 to 1836. This meant he helped make laws for the country.
The Railway Connection
A member of the Dykes family was in charge of the Maryport and Carlisle Railway in the 1840s. Because of this, the family had their own private train station near the house! It was called Dovenby Lodge. This special station closed in 1935, and the train tracks were later removed.
From Hospital to Rally Headquarters
In 1930, the local government bought Dovenby Hall from the Ballantine-Dykes family. They used it as a hospital for many years.
After the hospital closed, a famous former rally driver named Malcolm Wilson bought the hall in 1998. He spent a lot of time and effort making the house new again. Today, Dovenby Hall is the home of his company, M-Sport. M-Sport is a big name in the World Rally Championship, and they used to work closely with Ford to build and race rally cars. It's a very exciting place for anyone who loves cars and racing!
