Drive and Stroll, with Ron Freethy

THERE are several reasons why I enjoy strolling around Samlesbury Hall.

There is plenty of parking, there is a cafe and the stunning back and white hall seems always to be happy earning its keep.

This is the place to have your antiques valued and explore one of Lancashire's most historic half-timbered buildings at the same time.

Sometimes, as on the day that I visited the hall last week, archers are practising their skills by aiming at targets set amid wonderful woodlands.

Typical English sounds, to me, are the crack of a cricket ball on a bat and the swish and thud of as an arrow spins in the air and hits the target.

The sights and sounds of archery give Samlesbury an atmosphere all of its own.

But what about the hall itself?

This delightful building, once hidden by a tangle of woodland, was brought to the attention of the visitor only when the turnpike road from Preston to Blackburn was built in 1826.

The hall had by this time fallen on hard times and it was bough by Thomas Bradyll, of Ulverston.

He removed most of the exquisite oak panelling and used it to decorate his home at Conishead Priory.

Samlesbury Hall was then renamed the Bradyll Arms and became a coaching inn.

In recent times this idyllic spot has thankfully had its dignity restored.

Its lowest point was in 1924 when it was proposed to demolish the hall.

The Samlesbury Hall Trust was set up in 1925. During the 1939-45 war, troops were stationed in the building, which did not do it a lot of good.

The trust, however, has gone from strength to strength, especially since the mid 1980s. The hall is working hard and vans are often parked delivering or collecting the furniture which is sold from displays in the building.

What a place to explore antiques this is.

There is also a good slice of atmospheric history on offer.

Here are facts, folklore, fiction, priest holes and even a ghost for good measure.

The Southworths of Samlesbury were staunch Catholics who stood up bravely for their faith.

In 1562 Sir John Southworth was Sheriff of Lancashire and Queen Elizabeth was satisfied with his work until he refused to give up "the old religion."

In 1595 he died in prison but his daughter endured an even worse fate.

This poor lass fell in love with a Protestant knight and her brothers had him killed, along with his two companions.

Lady Dorothy was sent away to a convent where she died insane.

There are stories of her grief-stricken ghost walking through the woods seeking out the final resting place of her lover.

Samlesbury Hall is, however, a beautiful and pleasant place and the only thing haunting about it is its atmosphere.

It is one of my favourite spots when I'm in search of a drive and stroll.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.