Askham Hall

Askham Hall is a large house with a pele tower forming the south wing, dating from the 14th century, with alterations made around 1700. The north wing also dates from the 14th century, while the hall was constructed in the 16th century. The kitchen wing, which incorporates a medieval part at its north end, and the north range were built around 1700. Service ranges are located to the north and west of the courtyard to the west of the house, with a date stone recording Thomas and Anne Sandford from 1574. There have been some alterations in the 20th century to the east and west sides of the kitchen wing.

The three-storey south wing features a five-bay south elevation, an embattled parapet with angle turrets, and windows with recessed flat-arched cross-mullions, including two-light windows on the second floor. The central entrance has an architrave and rusticated surround, a pulvinated frieze, and a broken segmental pediment with a consoled key. There is a blocked trefoil-headed window on the west elevation and garderobe loops at the north-east angle. The hall range includes a gabled porch to the west with a 20th-century extension to the south, and a hall window with five elliptical-headed lights. The east elevation has a two-bay 20th-century extension and a three-light window.

The north wing has a single-storey elevation with a hipped roof and a five-light 20th-century window. The kitchen range features a two-bay 20th-century extension to the west and varied fenestration to the east, including a three-light 20th-century window and early 18th-century first-floor windows with flat-faced mullions. The north range has sashed windows with glazing bars and a first-floor connection to the north service range, which was converted to a cottage in the 1930s with many inserted windows. The west range includes a segmental-arched through passage, with the west elevation displaying a cable-moulded head and stops, along with a datestone featuring an armorial bearing above and a lateral stack. The fenestration is varied throughout the building. The interior has not been inspected as permission was refused. For a more detailed description, refer to the RCHM Inventory: Westmorland and notes.