- Moresby Hall
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Moresby Hall 
Location Parton, Cumbria Coordinates 54°34′25″N 3°34′26″W / 54.57361°N 3.57389°W Opening date 1999 Owner Jane and David Saxon Moresby Hall is a manor house and hotel in Parton, Cumbria, overlooking the Cumbrian Fells. It is located south of Lowca, off the A595 on the A66-595, 2 miles north of Whitehaven and 12 miles south-west of Cockermouth.[1] Inhabited by nobles since the twelfth century, it one of only three Grade I listed buildings in Copeland and had been cited by English Heritage as being one of the most important buildings in Cumbria.[2]
The name derives from the original builder named Morisceby, Mawriceby or Moricebi as early as 1150, when the Rosmerta Cottage was built using a spiral stone staircase believed to be from an original stone pele tower that preceded the property.[2] The adjacent church site nearby was once a Roman fort. The graveyard of the church contains many of the people who lived and died at Moresby Hall and the hamlet of Low Moresby.
The wealthy Moresby family owned the estate for centuries during medieval times and had contacts with English royalty. Christopher de Moresby fought in the Battle of Agincourt and was knighted by King Henry, and Anne, his great grand-daughter, who was sole heiress of the estate saw her fiance Sir Francis Weston executed by King Henry VIII along with Queen Anne Boleyn.[2]
Later the Fletcher family owned Moresby Hall for a 250 year period and had links with Mary, Queen of Scots, during the 17th century.[2] During this period is underwent some changes by architect Inigo Jones around 1620 and later between 1670–1690, by either William Thackery or Edward Addison.[2]
During the eighteenth century, the house was owned by several owners after Thomas Fletcher died childless and it fell into disrepair, and was used as a farmhouse for some years.[2] It was restored in 1910 and became a small manor house again until 1955.[2]
Until the late 1990s it was owned by High Duty Alloys as a business venue.[2] Then in August 1999, the property was bought by Jane and David Saxon, who turned it into a bed and breakfast hotel.[2]
The hall is reportedly haunted by ghosts and has been subject to paranormal investigations by Most Haunted.[3] Many human skeletal remains have been found in the house including the chimney and under the floorboards.
Moresby Hall neighbors a church and graveyard dating back to the 1500s
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