Abbey House, Barrow-in-Furness
Encyclopedia
Abbey House, Barrow-in-Furness
in the modern county of Cumbria
, formerly in Lancashire
(England
), is a Neo-Elizabethan H-plan mansion built by Sir Edwin Lutyens
in 1913-14 as a guest house for Vickers
Ltd and a flat for the Managing Director, Sir James McKechnie
. In its abstracted, military echo of the Tudor style, it prefigures the style of Lutyens' Castle Drogo
. In 1951, having been acquired by the County Council
, Abbey House was made into an old people’s home, and consequently suffered considerable neglect. In 1984 it was sold by the Council and restored as an hotel. Abbey House has been a Grade II* Listed Building since 1949.
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
in the modern county of Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, formerly in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
(England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
), is a Neo-Elizabethan H-plan mansion built by Sir Edwin Lutyens
Edwin Lutyens
Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens, OM, KCIE, PRA, FRIBA was a British architect who is known for imaginatively adapting traditional architectural styles to the requirements of his era...
in 1913-14 as a guest house for Vickers
Vickers
Vickers was a famous name in British engineering that existed through many companies from 1828 until 1999.-Early history:Vickers was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by the miller Edward Vickers and his father-in-law George Naylor in 1828. Naylor was a partner in the foundry Naylor &...
Ltd and a flat for the Managing Director, Sir James McKechnie
James McKechnie
James McKechnie VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
. In its abstracted, military echo of the Tudor style, it prefigures the style of Lutyens' Castle Drogo
Castle Drogo
Castle Drogo is a country house near Drewsteignton, Devon, England. It was built in the 1910s and 1920s for Julius Drewe to designs by architect Edwin Lutyens, and is a Grade I listed building...
. In 1951, having been acquired by the County Council
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
, Abbey House was made into an old people’s home, and consequently suffered considerable neglect. In 1984 it was sold by the Council and restored as an hotel. Abbey House has been a Grade II* Listed Building since 1949.
The Hotel
Abbey House Hotels website describes the hotel and its settings:- Abbey House Hotel is set in 14 acres (56,656 m²) of private woodlandWoodlandEcologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
and gardens. The building has recently seen an extension added with extra rooms, a bar, and a conference rooms (including the DuddonDuddon ValleyThe Duddon Valley is a valley in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. The River Duddon flows through the valley, rising in the mountains between Eskdale and Langdale, before flowing into the Irish Sea near Broughton in Furness...
Suite, Great AbbeyFurness AbbeyFurness Abbey, or St. Mary of Furness is a former monastery situated on the outskirts of the English town of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. The abbey dates back to 1123 and was once the second wealthiest and most powerful Cistercian monastery in the country, behind only Fountains Abbey in North...
Hall and the FurnessFurnessFurness is a peninsula in south Cumbria, England. At its widest extent, it is considered to cover the whole of North Lonsdale, that part of the Lonsdale hundred that is an exclave of the historic county of Lancashire, lying to the north of Morecambe Bay....
Room), that host weddingWeddingA wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
s and other special events. The hotel has 57 rooms, with prices ranging from £70 to £201 per night. The main building includes a large restaurant and another bar.