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Access statement
Askham Hall

Askham Hall

Askham Hall is a Grade 1 listed manor house with a restaurant, 19 bedrooms and a spa area. It consists of a three storey 13th Century Pele tower, with later two storey additional wings to the rear of the tower, dating from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Due to the listed status and historical nature of the building it is accepted that it cannot be fully adapted for disabled use, however measures have been taken to allow for disabled persons in as much as possible.

Pre–Arrival

  • Tel number: 01931 712350
  • Address: Askham Hall, Askham, Penrith, Cumbria. CA10 2PF
  • Email: hello@askhamhall.co.uk
  • On bus route from Penrith to Askham.
  • Easy access by car, 6.6 miles and 20 minutes from Penrith and M6 junction 40 and a short distance from the A6.
  • Local taxis readily available including specially adapted disabled vehicles.

Arrival & Car Parking Facilities

  • Car parking in courtyard, and drop off points directly outside hotel entrance.
  • Car park level, with good illumination.
  • Gravel car park and cobbled courtyard.

Main Entrance, Reception and Dining Areas

  • Main entrance is wide, with three steps. A wheelchair ramp is available for disabled access.
  • Outdoor surfaces newly paved in either tarmac or level flagstones.
  • Reception and dining areas accessed through wide doorways suitable for wheelchairs. All downstairs areas on the same level with no steps to negotiate. There is a slight incline leading down to the main dining area where the floor is sloped.
  • Main entrance clearly illuminated at night.
  • A large ground floor toilet with separate area for a wheelchair is provided for public and disabled use.

Upstairs areas and bedrooms

  • 16 bedrooms are on the first and second floors, there is no lift.
  • Access to the first floor (Lonsdale and Admiral’s room) is up a very wide staircase with shallow steps. An additional bedroom (Old Dressing Room) is accessed via a small staircase on the first floor.
  • Access to the second floor (Wellingtonia, Cedar and Yew) is up a narrower staircase.
  • There is a public toilet on the first floor but none on the upper floor, all bedrooms have private en-suite facilities.
  • Access to the rear two storey part of the building is down a smaller staircase and along a corridor (Griffin, Cherry and Old Playroom). There are a further five steps leading down to the rooms at the very rear of the building (Medlar, Quince and Park View), including those in the south facing courtyard wing (Rowan, Apple and Sycamore).
  • There are two fully accessible ground floor bedrooms which are accessible from the courtyard (Stable and Tack Room).
  • There is a very narrow hidden stone staircase within the wall which is for novelty purposes only and not suitable for general access to the first floor.
  • The entrances in all bedrooms are suitable for wheelchairs as are the accesses to the ensuite bathrooms.

Spa area and pool

  • A spa with a sauna, treatment room and outdoor heated swimming pool is accessed down a narrow staircase from the rear part of the building or around the outside. The pool conforms to current regulations.

Medieval Hall

  • A refurbished original 16th century Medieval Hall is located on the first floor of the far courtyard wing. This is used for drinks receptions and smaller parties. It is accessible either from the outside via a fairly steep stone staircase or from inside via a wooden staircase with handrails or via the south facing courtyard wing (first floor), so it is not easily accessible for disabled guests.

Gardens and outdoor areas

  • There are 12 acres of gardens on three grass levels. Access is around the side of the building up three small steps, a metal wheelchair ramp can be provided on request.
  • The lower two levels of the garden are accessed via stone staircases with handrails or down steep sloped footpaths. Disabled access to the lower levels is limited due to the nature of the gardens.
  • Please be aware that there is a pond which is clearly visible at the bottom of the gardens. All visitors are requested to keep at a safe distance from the water and not to enter the pond, children must be supervised.
  • The kitchen gardens are on even gravelled and grass ground.

Additional Information

  • The evacuation point in the event of a fire is on the grass in the car park, away from the main building.
  • Dogs are allowed in the reception rooms and in the bedrooms, but not in the restaurant or on the furniture.
  • Fridges are available upon request for the storage of medicines etc.

Bank Barn

Bank Barn is a Grade 11 listed converted agricultural barn with a separate kitchen and events venue. Due to the listed status and age of the building it is accepted that the building cannot be fully adapted for disabled use, however measures have been taken to allow for disabled persons in as much as is practically possible.

Pre-Arrival

  • Address: Bank Barn, Askham, Penrith, Cumbria. CA10 2PF
  • Email: weddings@askhamhall.co.uk
  • On bus route from Penrith to Askham.
  • Easy access by car, 6.6 miles or 20 minutes form Penrith and junction 40 of the M6 and short distance from the A6.
  • Local taxis readily available including specially adapted disabled vehicles.

Arrival & Car Parking Facilities

  • Car parking outside barn and in separate car park.

Upstairs area (Bank Barn)

  • Bank Barn which is on the upper level is accessible by wheelchair through the wide doors on the car park level.
  • There is no lift from the lower area where the toilets are located.
  • Access to the first floor is up a wide staircase.
  • There are no public toilets on the upper floors. 
  • Two raised levels, one of which contains the bar, are at each end of the barn and are accessed up small staircases consisting of four steps.

Additional Information

  • The evacuation point in the event of a fire is in the car park, away from the main building.
  • Dogs are allowed in Bank Barn but not in the gardens.
  • If first aid is required please speak to a member of staff.