A NEWLY completed hamlet of luxury shepherd’s huts is helping to secure a sustainable future for one of the region’s oldest and most historic stately homes.
Samlesbury Hall has stood in beautiful grounds near Preston since the 14th century and boasts a rich and colourful past linking it to the Samlesbury Witch trials and the legendary White Lady ghost.
Now, trustees of the Grade I listed medieval manor house have finished an ambitious £500,000 scheme to bring glamping to the site with 28 state-of-the-art shepherd’s huts.
Income generated from the family-friendly accommodation will be used to fund the ongoing maintenance of the hall to ensure it is preserved for future generations.
Sharon Jones, director of Samlesbury Hall, said the creation of The Hamlet was the culmination of three years of careful planning and hard work.
“We are over the moon with The Hamlet. The shepherd’s huts sit beautifully in the grounds of the hall and offer people the chance to experience a stay in this very special setting.”We knew from the outset that we wanted any accommodation on site to be of an extremely high standard so we developed the site slowly – as funding became available – and to make sure it was done in a way that was sensitive to its surroundings.
She added:
“It is already proving very popular with guests attending weddings at Samlesbury, but also with extended families and groups of friends who are able to book a number of huts in a cluster to enjoy a really magical time away together.”
The first record of Samlesbury Hall appeared in 1325 with the building enjoying a rich and fascinating history over the centuries.It was saved from demolition in the 1920s and is now run by registered charity the Samlesbury Hall Trust.
Each of the 28 shepherd’s huts provides central heating, double bunk beds made from European oak, memory foam mattresses and en-suite facilities.
They are grouped together in twos, threes and fours around a firepit so that guests can enjoy toasted marshmallows and hot chocolate before bed.
In total, the creation of The Hamlet cost £500,000 including £144,000 in grant funding from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Investment.
Income generated from glamping in the huts will help to fund not only the general update of the hall but also essential, large scale projects such as a forthcoming replacement of the roof.
Sharon added: “We are very proud of the offering at Samlesbury and we believe The Hamlet will help ensure this magnificent property continues to be maintained and protected for future generations.”
For more information or to book a stay in The Hamlet please visit www.samlesburyhall.co.uk
