Former country house and school to be converted to luxury hotel and spa
A former Lancashire school will be converted into a luxury hotel, retreat and spa, and exclusive weddings and events venue.
Grade II-listed Wennington Hall, on the outskirts of the Lune Valley village of Wennington, was acquired from Lancashire County Council by Clitheroe-based James’ Places in summer 2022.
The group, trading as Bowland Inns & Hotels, has secured planning permission for change of use of the former historic large country house and school, and work is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
Wennington Hall will operate under the James’ Places brand alongside the company’s established collection of country hotels, village inns and wedding and events venues.
James Warburton, chairman of James’ Places, said: “Wennington Hall will be a fabulous addition to our family of remarkable buildings and businesses.
“There is so much potential here, not just in the hall itself but in the extensive collection of buildings once useful to the school but now in need of fresh ideas.”
He added: “It’s such a beautiful building in stunning gardens and grounds in an idyllic rural location, and yet it’s less than 20 minutes to Lancaster and the M6 motorway.
“Crucially, it is also less than 40 minutes to Morecambe, home to the Eden Project North, the most significant tourism development for Lancashire and the wider North West region for years.”
James’ Places already operates five popular and successful weddings and events venues, including the 15th century Mitton Hall at Whalley, the Georgian country house Eaves Hall at Clitheroe, and the Victorian masterpiece Falcon Manor at Settle in the Yorkshire Dales.
It also operates Holmes Mill, Clitheroe, on behalf of its parent company, Bowland Inns & Hotels.
The multi-award-winning restoration and rejuvenation of the historically important former cotton mill is the home of Bowland Brewery and its tasting parlour, Bowland Beer Hall.
The conversion of Wennington Hall from school to hotel will see an additional 37 bedrooms added to the company’s bedroom stock, taking the group total to more than 160 rooms.
Bringing the currently redundant building back to life will see the creation of up to 60 full and part-time jobs on completion.
The acquisition and redevelopment of Wennington Hall is a significant step for Bowland Inns & Hotels as it continues to expand and strengthen its position in the weddings and events sector.
