Why We Are Unique
- A Unique & Historic Venue with Licensed Bars
- Easily Accessible, Just 2 Miles From Junction 35 of the M6
- Team Building Ethos
Near to: - Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks
- Arnside & Silverdale AONB
- Lancaster, Kendal, Kirby Lonsdale
Early History
Borwick Hall has a rich and colourful history, in 1066 the Manor of Borwick was part of Earl Tostig's lordship and was recorded in the Domesday Book, 1086 as Bereunic, being one of seven manors grouped round Beetham held by Count Roger of Poitou. At one time the plough lands were recorded as being held by the Countess of Pembroke, but the immediate owners were the de Berwick family.
The Bindloss Inheritance
In 1567 Robert Bindloss bought part of the manor, acquiring the rest in 1590. It was this family who brought the fame and wealth to Borwick and their exciting story can only be summarized here.
Borwick Hall - The Buildings
The Pele Tower is the oldest part of the hall. Pele towers were simple dwelling houses built so as to be capable of defense.
The Baronial Hall, its mullioned and transomed windows and porch are beautiful examples of Elizabethan skill in design and execution. The Whittington family built the North and East Wings in about 1550, but Borwick Hall as we now know it reached its full glory in the Bindloss era. The Baronial or Great Hall was built about 1595, following the Unification of England and Scotland.
The
panelled
Room
was used as the gentlemen's retiring room to partake of port and brandy after dinner. In more recent times it was the Trophy room, displaying weapons and arms on the paneling together with stuffed animal heads from hunting expeditions.
The Judges Meeting Room, or justice's room, was more recently used as an estates room. Local tenant farmers would come in here to pay their rents. A door from the outside conveniently leads into this room in order to avoid any disturbance to the rest of the house.
The Courtyard and Spinning Gallery situated at the rear of the main Hall was added to the Pele Tower in 1542. Under the Gallery is a large stone cheese press, and underneath the centre of the courtyard there used to be a well. For many years during the 19th Century this was the only part of the Hall occupied, it served as a farmhouse for a tenant farmer.
The Ghost of Borwick, there are suggestions that the Ghost of Borwick, The White Lady, could be Elizabeth Whittington, one of the infant daughters of the last Thomas Whittington. Margaret Whittington took a husband from her mother's family of Redmayne and her life and death are recorded. We have found no such records for Elizabeth and suspect a young death in sinister circumstances.
