Samlesbury Hall

Samlesbury Hall is an historic house in Samlesbury, a village in Lancashire, England. It was built in 1325 by Gilbert de Southworth (b. 1270) and was the primary home of the Southworth Family until the early 1600s. Samlesbury Hall was built possibly to replace an earlier building destroyed during a raid by the Scots in 1322. The Hall has been many things in its past including a public house and girls boarding school, but since 1925, when it was saved from being demolished for its timber, it has been administered by a registered charitable trust, the Samlesbury Hall Trust. This Grade I listed medieval manor house attracts over 50,000 visitors each year.

The Hall was built with its solar end windows facing east, as was the practice. When the chapel was constructed 140 years later, it too was built to face east. However, when the chapel was connected to the main hall a further 60 years later, the angle of connection was less than 90° because of the solstice change in the sun's position over the years.

The chapel was originally built by the Southworth family, to upgrade the house to a manor house, which had to have:

1. A large household,
2. A chapel and priest,
3. A store of fish for Fridays,
4. Usually a pond,
5. A water mill and grain store.

Therefore Samlesbury Hall reflects the building styles and religious beliefs from the 14th century to the present day. The house is reputed to be haunted by the ghost of Lady Dorothy Southworth amongst others.

The location has been investigated twice by Yvette Fielding and her team of investigators on their hit paranormal show, Most Haunted. The first time was during the 5th series in 2004 and the second during a Most Haunted Live event in January 2009.

It also appeared on an episode of Ghost Hunters International. Season one episode 10, Castle of the Damned.

Samlesbury Hall is open to the public daily except on Saturdays.