Hawkshead Courthouse

Hawkshead Courthouse is likely a former courthouse, now used as a farm building with a first-floor exhibition hall. The building probably dates to the 15th century, although it may have earlier origins in the 13th century, and has undergone alterations and restorations in 1849 and 1932. It is constructed of stone rubble with ashlar dressings, covered by a slate roof.

The building is two storeys and three bays wide. The east facade features a central passageway with a segmental-pointed arch, containing a replica keystone originally attached to Hawkshead Old Hall. An inscribed stone reads "J. THOMPSON/BOLTON 1849”. Above the arch is a ventilation slot. The first floor has a niche with a lion-head corbel, canopy, crocketed pinnacles and a cusped arch with a fleuron. Straight-headed windows with two cusped pointed lights are present; the window to the left has been renewed, while the one to the right retains original tracery.

The south gable-end has a crow-stepped gable, and two ventilation slots with inner chamfers angled for possible defence. A first-floor window with a four-centred head and traceried lights is also present. A small, lean-to wall, part slate and part crow-stepped, projects to the left and connects the courthouse to the now-demolished Hawkshead Old Hall. The north gable-end also has a crow-stepped gable. The blocked ground floor entrance has a segmental head and is partly obscured by a staircase leading to the first-floor entrance.

The west facade has a wide, flat buttress to the right. A passageway contains a segmental arch with rough voussoirs; an entrance is to the left with ashlar dressings, and a segmental headed entrance to the right. A two-light mullioned window is at the left hand end, above a blocked entrance. A two-light window with cusped pointed heads over the passageway features an inscribed panel marking the 1932 restoration. To the right is part of the former south wing, featuring a fireplace with a bressummer.

The interior features collar and tie beam trusses and a 13th-century fireplace with a three-centred arch and dog tooth moulding, although part of the jamb is missing. Originally part of a monastic grange associated with Furness Abbey. The property is now owned by the National Trust.