Crofton Hall Estate dates from the 13th century and was the family seat of the Brisco family. The founder of the Brisco lineage settled at Brisco, Carlisle at the time of the Norman conquests. Around 1390 Iswold Brisco obtained the Manors of Crofton, Whinnow & Dundraw when he married Margaret Crofton, daughter & heir of Sir John Crofton of Crofton.
The buildings you can see are the pantry and stable block (so I’ve been told) and the hall itself was attached to the left wall.
500 years of occupation (1390-1936) of the Crofton Estate by the Brisco and Crofton family ended when Crofton Hall was sold to the Land Settlement Association for small holdings to be established for unemployed men in Cumberland, the North East and Wales who had become unemployed due to the decline of traditional industries such as mining.
In its heyday the estate featured Crofton Hall itself with adjacent stable block, walled garden, formal gardens and subterranean icehouse (in the land opposite the car park), Coachman’s house, stone entrance archway with gatehouses, deer park and lake; not to mention several estate farms and other houses.
After the Brisco family, Crofton Hall big house appears to have had a number of residents and uses (it was a school!) but the house appears to have been allowed to deteriorate and fall into a state of dis-repair., and was finally demolished in the 50s.
There are a number of structures associated with Crofton Hall that remain today with parts of the Crofton Hall estate now listed and details available on the English Heritage website Images of England. These include
- Entrance Gate Arch (grade II - c1826)
- The Coach House and Stable Block (grade II - 1826)
- The Ice House (grade II - c1826)
- The South Lodge (grade II - c1826)
- The West Lodge (grade II - c1826)
- Greenways Estate House (grade II - early 1900's)