VISITORS flocked to the 'successful' reopening of a 17th-century hall nestled in Cumbria's countryside.

The famous Swarthmoor Hall opened the grounds, the barn cafe and the shop to the public on Friday, March 9 after being closed since March 2020. 

Over the last four years work has been done to refurbish the hall and produce an enhanced visitor experience.

Clare Dent, collections and visitor experience co-ordinator at Swarthmoor Hall, said the opening day was 'good'.

The Mail: Visitors at the café on Friday.Visitors at the café on Friday. (Image: Submitted)She said: "We had a steady flow of people coming to take a look at what we have done. 

"People are just happy to see us again because it is a lovely peaceful place and people in Ulverston have got a long association with Swarthmoor Hall so I think they are just glad to see it open again.

"The gardens are coming back to life now we have got quite a good team of people who are volunteering and helping in the gardens which is lovely - you can see the difference that has been made outside."

The Mail: Visitors at the Old Hall.Visitors at the Old Hall. (Image: Submitted)The team is still putting the final touches to the historic house, which will gradually reopen fully until this summer. 

"The cafe opened, the shop and the ground floor of the old hall because we are still finishing restoration work on the upper floor," explained Ms Dent.

"It is taking a bit longer than we anticipated to be open."

Their guest accommodation has been open since 2023 after being closed for a year for on-site redevelopment works.

Over the summer period, Swarthmoor Hall will see a range of events including a week-long celebration at Swarthmoor Hall in honour of Margaret Fell and George Fox, who were important members of the group that started the Quaker movement. 

This grade-II listed country house was built around 1600 by a lawyer called George Fell and was passed down to his son, Judge Thomas Fell when he died.

Swarthmoor is known as the cradle of Quakerism thanks to Margaret Fell’s marriage to George Fox. The couple founded the Quaker movement in 1652 and Swarthmoor became the headquarters for the new religious movement.