Samlesbury Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Samlesbury Hall |
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| General information | |
| Location | Samlesbury, Lancashire |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 53°46′10″N 2°34′22″W / 53.7695°N 2.5727°W |
| Completed | 1325 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Gilbert de Southworth |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated: | 25 July 1952 |
| Reference #: | 1361389 |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: Lodge to Samlesbury Hall | |
| Designated: | 27 February 1984 |
| Reference #: | 1074096 |
Samlesbury Hall is a very old and interesting house in Samlesbury, Lancashire, England. It is about 6 miles (10 km) east of Preston. Gilbert de Southworth built it in 1325. It was the main home for the Southworth family for many years, until the early 1600s.
Samlesbury Hall might have been built after an earlier building was destroyed. This happened during a big attack by the Scots in 1322. Over time, the hall has been used for many different things. It was once a public house (like an inn) and even a school for girls.
In 1925, people saved Samlesbury Hall from being torn down for its wood. Since then, a special group called the Samlesbury Hall Trust has looked after it. This group is a registered charity. The hall is a Grade I listed building, which means it's very important historically. More than 50,000 people visit it every year!
You can visit Samlesbury Hall almost every day, except on Saturdays.
Contents
History of Samlesbury Hall
Before the Southworth family owned Samlesbury, the d'Ewyas family lived there.
The Southworth Family Era
Gilbert de Southworth from Warrington became part-owner of the manor. He married Alice d'Ewyas. People believe he built the Great Hall around 1325. Later, his great-grandson, Thomas, added the south-west wing. The Southworth family owned their part of the manor until 1677 or 1678. Edward Southworth sold it to Thomas Bradyll.
Thomas Bradyll never lived at the hall. He took many of its inside features to use at his own home, Conishead Priory. After that, he rented the hall to people who wove cloth by hand.
From Inn to School
In 1830, Samlesbury Hall became an inn called the Bradyll Arms. Then, in 1850, John Cooper bought the building. He rented it to Mrs. Mary Ann Harrison. She turned it into a co-educational boarding school. This school was based on the ideas of an 18th-century Swiss teacher named Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi. The school was very modern for its time. It even had ideas similar to the Montessori system, which came much later.
The Harrison Family and Renovations
Joseph Harrison, a well-known businessman from Blackburn, bought the hall in November 1862. He spent a lot of money making it new again. His oldest son, William Harrison, lived at the hall until 1879. Sadly, William's life ended tragically. He had a bad fall on the ice earlier that year, which caused serious injuries and deep sadness.
Joseph Harrison, William's father, passed away the next year in 1880. Ownership of the hall then went to Joseph's youngest son, Henry. Henry lived in Blackburn and was the mayor of Blackburn from 1880 to 1881. He was also given a special honor for his work in the town.
Saving Samlesbury Hall
Even though the Harrisons still owned the hall, Frederick Baynes and his family rented it for several years. Frederick Baynes was also a mayor of Blackburn. When Henry Harrison passed away in 1914, the hall was passed down to his nephew, Mr. M. J. C. Johnston.
The hall was empty from 1909 until 1924. A building company bought it then. They planned to tear it down and build new houses. But people wanted to save the historic hall! They raised money from the public. In 1925, the hall was bought and given to the Samlesbury Hall Trust. This trust has been taking care of it ever since.
Architecture and Design
Samlesbury Hall was built with its main windows facing east. This was a common building practice back then. About 140 years later, a chapel was added. It was also built to face east.
When the chapel was connected to the main hall 60 years after it was built, the angle was a bit off. This was because the sun's position changes slightly over many years. The Southworth family built the chapel to make the house a true manor house. A manor house needed a large household, a chapel with a priest, and places to store food like fish and grain.
Because of all these changes, Samlesbury Hall shows us different building styles. It also reflects the religious beliefs from the 1300s all the way to today.
More to Explore
- Grade I listed buildings in Lancashire
- Listed buildings in Samlesbury
- Samlesbury witches – Learn about a famous trial for witchcraft.
- John Southworth – A member of the Southworth family who died for his Catholic beliefs.
- Bluebird K7 – A world record-holding speedboat that was built in Samlesbury.
