Gawthorpe Hall

Located in Lancashire : near Padiham
Private Residence
Performance Space: Hall
Width: 20' Length: 30'
Built: 1606

Located in the NE corner of the ground floor

Lovely room of mid-range proportions, retaining much of its character though bearing the insinuating influence of Sir Charles Barry's mid-Victorian 'restorations.'

Live experience of costumed performers in the hall indicates that the acoustics would have been good and the sight lines excellent.

Decoration: The oak wainscotting which surrounds the room to a height of 5' is original. The lower panels are square and become elongated and fluted in the ones above.

Renovations

1849--51 Barry renewed some lower sections of the screen and added sideboards as decorative extensions at each corner of the gallery. Other alterations included the massive carved stone chimneypiece on the W wall, tiled fireplace and elaborate replastered ceiling in Jacobean style, perhaps somewhat lower than the original, judging by the restricted height of the gallery.

Current Status

Since 1816, the Great Hall has been known as the Dining Room.