'Yanwath Hall shows that border houses could be comfortable and stylish residences. The single-storey hall was a spacious well-lit apartment with a vigorous roof and a large service area to serve it.'

The 2 rooms created from the original hall in the 16th c. still feature beautiful Tudor oak linenfold panelling.

The present 'smoke room,' created at the high end of the hall, has 6 oval panels painted with heraldic devices over the late 19th c. doorway, and 3 panels with painted figures to the right. The Lawson coat of arms has been inlaid over a painted shield on the centre lower panel above the door.

This room is reached by the stairs at the lower end of the hall.

'The figures were, he believed, all originally black but were painted after the fire without the knowledge and the regret of the then Earl of Carlisle. Little reliance can be placed on their present colours. I) The Bull comes no doubt from the Dacres. A bull was their crest, their cognisance and their slogan 'A read bull! A read bull! A Daker! A Daker!' was a well-known cry in Border warfare. A red bull is now the sinister supporter to the arms of the Earl of Carlisle. 2) The Griffin comes also from the Dacres, who had for supporters to their arms two Griffins, as shown by the achievement over the entrance gate to the Castle and on their tombs at Lanercost... 3) The Dolphin comes from the Greystokes; two dolphins are the supporters of the Greystoke arms on the tomb of Thomas Lord Dacre at Lanercost. 4) As for the fourth beast, be it stag, hart or unicorn, he knew not from whence it came nor was authority given by those who had guessed for their guesses.'

'In 1537, the Hall was furnished with a cupboard, a long settle, two chairs, three carpets to put on the tables, a dozen cushions and a 'hanging candlestick in the middeste of the chamber'. In the Buttery were linen table cloths, towels and napkins for those who dined with the Abbot.'