Samlesbury Hall

About the museum

Samlesbury Hall was built in 1325 by Gilbert de Southworth as the seat of his family. The first house was a simple building with a thatched roof, quite unlike the black-and-white timber-framed hall seen today. The Southworth family held it until 1678. It then passed to the Bradyll family (1679–1851), the Cooper family (1851–1862) and the Harrison family (1862–1924).

Over the centuries the building has also served as an inn, a private school and a home for fabric weavers. The archive has gaps, but the documented history includes religious persecution, fortunes made and lost, tales of witchcraft and a murder. The hall remained a private residence until 1925.

In that year the philanthropist Thomas Boys Lewis gathered a group of supporters who saved the building from possible demolition and founded the Samlesbury Hall Trust. The charity still owns the hall and aims to protect it for future generations and to let local people use it for recreation. Guided tours cover the history of the hall, its priest hides, the former chapel and the principal rooms. To mark the 700th anniversary in 2025, a new history of the hall by Jason Karl was published.

Highlights

• Timber-framed manor house dating from 1325
• Priest hides and former chapel shown on guided tours
• Great Hall and historic rooms
• Gardens and grounds open to visitors
• Garden Room Eatery and Maria’s Tea Room

Permanent exhibition

• The historic hall – The Great Hall, priest hides, former chapel and historic rooms, explained on guided tours.

Operated by

Samlesbury Hall Trust

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the hall and grounds is by voluntary donation to the Samlesbury Hall Charitable Trust. Guided tours cost £5 per person, with under-16s free. Special event days may have their own charges. Outside food and drink is not allowed.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The ground floor of the hall is step-free via tarmac paths and the driveway. The first and second floors are reached only by staircase; a self-operated stairlift in the Coffee Lounge serves some first-floor rooms. The grounds are mostly flat, though the Fountain Courtyard has small cobbled setts. The Garden Room Eatery is on one level and entered by a ramp. The main hall and the Garden Room Eatery each have an accessible toilet. Blue Badge spaces are limited, near the Fountain Courtyard or outside the Garden Room Eatery. Assistance dogs only are permitted inside the hall; well-behaved dogs are welcome in the grounds and the eatery. Tours include staircases.

Kids & families

• Baby changing facilities

Baby changing is available in each accessible toilet, but no changing mat is provided, so visitors should bring their own. Under-16s join guided tours free of charge.

Getting there & parking

The hall is about 3 minutes from the M6 and about one mile from junction 31 (Tickled Trout Hotel). Sat nav address: Preston New Road, Samlesbury, Preston, PR5 0UP.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

The Garden Room Eatery serves breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea (Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00–15:30, Sunday roast); Maria’s Tea Room is also on site. A gift shop sells the official history book.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The hall is used for weddings, private functions and parties, conferences and meetings, and as a TV and film location. Accommodation is offered in shepherd’s huts (The Hamlet) and The Gatehouse.

Plan your visit