Pictures of Gainsborough Old Hall

a Historic Building in the town of Gainsborough, in the county of Lincolnshire

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About Gainsborough Old Hall

Gainsborough Old Hall is one of the largest and most outstanding surviving examples of a late medieval house in the country. It was built in 1484 by Lord de Burgh after the Lancastrians had wrecked his former home. The house has a fascinating history, with many Royal connections. Here, Lord de Burgh received Richard III, and in 1509 the house was visited by Henry VIII, and in 1540 it became the place where the king was to meet Katherine Parr, widow of Lord de Burgh's eldest son Thomas, who was destined to be Henry VIII's last wife.

The last of the de Burgh family to reside at the Old Hall was Thomas de Burgh, he was Queen Elizabeth I's ambassador to Scotland and Lord Deputy in Ireland. It was his extravagance that forced the sale of the family seat in 1597, a year later he was dead, but the Hickman family to whom he sold the property lived there until 1720 when they moved their family seat to Thonock.

From then on the old place experienced a very chequered history, it first became a parish church, a linen factory, a corn exchange, a mechanic's institute, it once more became a church, then tenements and shops. It also has a history as a theatre, soup kitchen, public house, ballroom, an auction room, and finally it became a Masonic Temple.

Through lack of desire to modernise the house, it was left to fall into disrepair, but somehow or other the kitchens survived as the best example of a medieval kitchen in the country. Much of the Great Hall survived, and the strong brick tower. In the Great Hall visitors can see the finest remaining single-arch braced roof and a most beautiful stone oriel window.

There is nothing of the earlier 13th century fortifications, with the exterior presenting an attractive black and white timber-frame manor house set around a pretty garden in the heart of the town. It is delightfully restored and refurbished to appear much as it did when lived in by the de Burgh's, it is evocative of its Royal "hey-day" especially in the Great Hall, when if you listen carefully you swear you can hear the ribald laughter of Henry VIII.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Gainsborough Old Hall.

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Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Gainsborough Old Hall

Wetlands Waterfoul Reserve	(7.3 miles, 11.8 km, direction W)	Pictures
Doddington Hall	(13.5 miles, 21.7 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Clumber Country Park	(14.0 miles, 22.5 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Langold Country Park	(14.3 miles, 23.0 km, direction W)	Pictures
Hartsholme Country Park	(15.1 miles, 24.3 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Lincoln Castle	(15.2 miles, 24.5 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Lincoln Cathedral	(15.3 miles, 24.6 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Hartsholme Country Park	(15.5 miles, 24.9 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Roche Abbey	(16.3 miles, 26.2 km, direction W)	Pictures
Doncaster Minster	(17.0 miles, 27.3 km, direction NW)	Pictures

All attractions in Lincolnshire
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Recommended towns near Gainsborough Old Hall

Gainsborough, in the county of Lincolnshire (0.5 miles, 0.7 km)
The lovely market town of Gainsborough flourishes along a sweep of the River Trent which opens up pleasant riverside walks revealing much of the areas flora and fauna as well as interesting pieces of modern sculpture.
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Gringley on the Hill, in the county of Nottinghamshire (4.5 miles, 7.3 km, direction W)
This charming hill-top village lies in spacious countryside close to the Chesterfield Canal. It shows an abundance of picturesque red-brick properties including out lying farms with ancient barns and dovecotes.
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Marton, in the county of Lincolnshire (5.1 miles, 8.3 km, direction SE)
Marton is a sleepy village with a long history. In far off Roman times, a small fort guarded a nearby crossing of the River Trent.
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Epworth, in the county of Lincolnshire (9.2 miles, 14.8 km, direction N)
The birthplace of John Wesley and Charles Wesley, early leaders of the Methodist movement
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Ingham, in the county of Lincolnshire (9.5 miles, 15.2 km, direction SE)
Ingham, from its earliest dawning's at the time of the Doomsday Book has enjoyed a tranquil existence. The village lies in a lovely area between Lincoln and Gainsborough, amidst some of the shire's most stunning scenery.
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Saxilby, in the county of Lincolnshire (10.1 miles, 16.2 km, direction SE)
The village is dominated by the Foss Dyke Canal, a waterway built by the Romans and later deepened by Henry I to allow safe passage for larger vessels.
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Skellingthorpe, in the county of Lincolnshire (13.1 miles, 21.1 km, direction SE)
This is a large village lying around three miles from Lincoln which is fringed by the Fosdyke Navigation. Visitors will find a few shops, pubs and an interesting Anglican church.
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Tickhill, in the county of South Yorkshire (13.8 miles, 22.2 km, direction W)
This is a pleasant, somewhat sprawling village lying in rural countryside a short distance from the market town of Maltby
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North Scarle, in the county of Lincolnshire (14.4 miles, 23.2 km, direction S)
The village is small and unspoilt, it has pleasant leafy lanes and a quiet High Street. Of its most picturesque aspects apart from the church, is a George V Post Box.
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Eagle, in the county of Lincolnshire (14.7 miles, 23.6 km, direction S)
The village of Eagle is situated in spacious countryside a short distance away from the historic city of Lincoln.
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All towns in Lincolnshire
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Gainsborough Central Station	(0.7 miles, 1.1 km)
Gainsborough Lea Road Station	(1.0 miles, 1.6 km)
M180 Junction 3	(11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction N)
A1(M) Junction 34	(11.6 miles, 18.6 km, direction W)
Humberside International Airport	(22.1 miles, 35.6 km, direction NE)
Sheffield City Airport	(24.6 miles, 39.6 km, direction W)
Gainsborough Old Hall to London	(133.6 miles, 214.9 km, direction S)

Accommodation & Hotels near Gainsborough Old Hall

Hotel Name
The Angel Inn	(8.1 miles, 13.0 km, direction NW)
West Retford Hotel	(8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction SW)
Ye Olde Bell Hotel	(9.6 miles, 15.5 km, direction W)
Granby Hotel	(10.0 miles, 16.1 km, direction W)
The Crown Hotel	(10.0 miles, 16.1 km, direction W)
Best Western Mount Pleasant Hotel	(11.6 miles, 18.6 km, direction NW)
Red Lion Inn	(11.9 miles, 19.2 km, direction NE)
Best Western Charnwood Hotel	(12.0 miles, 19.3 km, direction W)
Campanile Hotel Doncaster	(13.3 miles, 21.3 km, direction NW)
Clumber Park Hotel LLP	(13.6 miles, 21.9 km, direction SW)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts