Gainsborough Old Hall

Today’s adventure is to Gainsborough Old Hall. This, it will surprise you to learn, is an old hall, in Gainsborough.

We drove out, about an hour away, and located it easily enough. All the street parking surrounding it was taken so we ended up in the car park next to a pet food superstore.

The hall was built in the late 15^th century and is an example of a late medieval manor house. It was built by Thomas Burgh, basically to show off how wealthy he was. It’s now another English Heritage property, so cost savings again! Nearly all of the hall is open to the public, and there are various signs and placards around the place, as well as a guide in the kitchen who explained about medieval cooking practices. The chief chef, apparently, stood high above the kitchen in his own gallery, shouting out orders and directions to the kitchen boys below (it was exclusively male staffed) much in the manner of Gordon Ramsay on Masterchef. The spits were turned manually – automation hadn’t happened yet – by spit boys who sat in little alcoves to the side of the fire. Must’ve been hot work! 

The chef's gallery inside the kitchen

We also toured upstairs, which showed how the upper levels had been subdivided. After its ownership by five generations of the Burgh family, it was sold to William Hickman, and stayed with the same family, who moved out in 1720 but retained ownership. The Hickmans had substantially invested in the building over a long period, and added such things as the tower, and encasing much of the structure in brick. Since then it has been used variously as workshops, theatre, hotel, tenements and assembly rooms. In the 20^th century it was opened to the public as a visitor attraction, until being taken over by English Heritage.

Ye olde hotel room

Afterwards we picnicked in the grounds, then headed back to our digs. A much shorter outing today after yesterday’s marathon Lincoln day out.