Discover our historic country house hotel in the Lake District

A replacement for his home on the Swiss lakes, Legard chose Windermere to continue his passion for sailing and grand parties. The Boathouse with terrace and fishpond, and patriotic memorial, the Temple of Heroes, honouring Nelson, Vincent, Howe and Duncan, were all part of his original vision.

Storrs earns mentions in the diaries of local society for extensive entertainment and sailing competitions; Storrs was created with generous hospitality in mind.

A London wine merchant who inherited a fortune, Watts was attracted to the sales description of Storrs as being ‘one of the most desirable small properties in the Kingdom’. He was the uncle of the famous landscape painter John Constable, who visited in the Autumn of 1806. Watts’ tenure at Storrs was not long-lived but whilst here he entertained local society including the notable poets, Wordsworth, Southey, and Taylor Coleridge.

Benjamin Townson of Barrow in Furness employs local renowned architect, Joseph Pattinson, converting Storrs Hall into a hotel, catering to the new wave of tourists attracted by the fame of the Romantic Poets, and in turn Beatrix Potter. These celebrity writers had all been guests at Storrs Hall. In 1943 it was purchased by North British Hotels, who added the characterful mahogany and stained glass bar from Blackpool Tower.

Storrs becomes the temporary home of St Hughes School, evacuated to the safety and tranquillity of the Lakes from their Lincolnshire location – sat amongst multiple military airfields.

Investing in an extensive renovation programme, restoring Storrs to its previous grandeur with the addition of luxurious modern facilities. It is now under the stewardship of Mark Hindle who has a firm belief in continued investment, with the emphasis very much on a warm welcome and the highest standards of hospitality – in the tradition Storrs was originally created for. There’s even a boat, an elegant Thames Slipper Launch, for the use of our guests.