The hall is on the first storey of the E wing, approached by an external staircase from the courtyard through a heavy iron-studded door at the lower end. It is the largest hall in the county. At the upper end of the hall, the bay adds to the width, measuring 30' across.

The Dacre coat of arms is on a carved stone panel above the entrance.

1602--33 Lord William Howard renovated the hall, raising the height of the ceiling. Materials from the hall and chapel at Kirkoswald Castle were relocated to the chapel, Lord William's study and the great hall. 16th c. paintings on wood panels were installed on the ceiling and on the wall of the high end of the great hall, depicting British rulers from the mythical King Brute to Henry VII. The panels were likely painted by a local artist Lucas Egliment (flourished 1512), also responsible for the chapel ceiling which was signed and dated 'Magister Lucas Egliment Pictor MDXII.'

1628 The high end with its bay window on the courtyard side was screened off as a separate great chamber for the family. The hall's dimensions were reduced to 78' x 24'.