Summary : Guest house, formerly, and incorporating fabric from a Benedictine Nunnery, (NY54SW6). The building walls are partly of mid 13th century date, with additions and alterations of the 16th and early 17th century for the Graham family, and further 17th century alterations for John Aglionby (a 1694 date stone was removed to the Stable block), with an early 18th century east facade for Henry Aglionby (HAA cipher over the entrance). The building as a whole is of two and a half storeys, nine bays and double span. The Medieval walls are of large blocks of red sandstone rubble with 16th century extensions of smaller sandstone rubble. The 18th century work is of red sandstone ashlar. The roof is of green slate with numerous ashlar ridge and chimney stacks. The central three bays of the building project. The building was referred to as the nunnery of Armathwaite in 1200 but was often destroyed and rebuilt due to Scottish raids. In 1538 it was leased to Leonard Barrow, granted to William Graham in 1553 (his son, Fergus, married Barrow's daughter). In 1690 it was sold to Sir John Lowther and exchanged for Drumburgh Castle in 1694, remaining in the Aglionby family (through the female line) until 1893. |