Our Raby team are hard at work at Gainford Hall undergoing vital repairs to restore the Elizabethan manor and its beautiful Dovecote. The Hall is currently on Historic England’s Heritage-at-risk register and hasn’t seen any major restoration for over 100 years. Its story stretches all the way back to the early 1600s when it was originally built for the Vicar of Gainford, Reverend John Cradock. We want to save this remarkable building and return it to its former glory so it can be enjoyed as a residential property by future generations.
The restoration project is being overseen by our Buildings Manager Phillip Dent, Maintenance Manager Michael Bennett and our experienced team who have been undertaking the ongoing repairs which include re-roofing, chimney repairs and leadwork. There is a huge task ahead in replacing and restoring all of the lead windows and our latest apprentices Jack Addison and Daniel McCauley have been learning the trade and proving invaluable with stonework and joinery repairs. This project seeks to maintain as many of the Hall’s original features as possible and we are committed to using local suppliers including C.S Scaffolders and Middleton Forge.
Michael Bennett, Maintenance Manager at Raby Estates
These important renovations for Gainford Hall are due to be completed in early 2022 and Savills are now marketing the property as a residential let (see the brochure). We hope this future use will secure tenants who will take pride in maintaining this historic building and we believe a residential use will create minimal disturbance for neighbours, with little intervention to the historic building itself. We are also hoping to convert the outer farm buildings to employment use which will bring more jobs to the area.
To find out more about our other restoration projects and future developments at Raby visit our Development and Property pages.
Gainford Hall, Elizabethan manor
The Gainford Hall outbuildings served the Hall as a working farm through the 19th & 20th centuries