A home fit for a Lord Chancellor near Penrith
From the 14th century onwards, Brougham Hall has undergone many transformations in its long history.
Penrith Castle
Ruins in the heart of Penrith
Brougham Hall
There is evidence that a fortified dwelling has been here since 1307 and the remains we see today are a mix of several periods.
The oldest surviving building is Tudor, but the original mansion was first constructed in the 16th century, substantially altered in later years, and then demolished in 1934.
Known in Victorian times as ‘the Windsor of the North’, it was the home of Henry Brougham, who was Lord Chancellor in the 1830s and inventor of the Brougham carriage, the first one-horse carriage, which became the most popular means of independent transport before the arrival of the motor car.
The door knocker is the same as the one on the door at Durham Cathedral and is one of four replicas made in 1927 to replace the 12th-century original, which is now stored in the Cathedral’s treasury.
The property is now gradually being restored. Started by the Brougham Hall Charitable Trust, it has now been taken forward by The Brougham Hall CIC. It offers a wealth of period architecture as well as a café, plenty of space to picnic, craft studios, and specialist shops.
