Located just outside the Georgian harbour town of Whitehaven, Moresby Hall is a historic Grade I listed building due in part to its architectural and historic importance. There are thirteen rooms that are available for reservation, offering “5-star Gold award accommodation.” Moresby Hall welcomes guests who may be traveling for business or tourism. Breakfast is served to guests every morning with a variety of dishes available using predominately locally sourced fresh produce. The Hall's history can be traced back to medieval times with the front façade dating from circa 1620. Jane and David Saxon have welcomed guests to their family home for over 24 years striving to create an ambience where visitors feel "at home" during their stay. Moresby Hall has received various reviews throughout its time of operation, with the quality of service and friendly attention being mentioned frequently by past guests.
Moresby Hall is a bed and breakfast located in the northern part of the United Kingdom in the town of Whitehaven. The three-story building has thirteen guest rooms which can be reserved online. All the rooms are furnished to what the owners believe is “a high standard,” all being individual in their respective styles. All the rooms include beautiful bed linen and towels, an en-suite bathroom, a hairdryer, complimentary toiletries, a “well-stocked” beverage tray, and a complimentary iron and ironing board. Jane, one of the owners and managers of Moresby Hall, says that the four-poster rooms are most frequently reserved by guests as they are more spacious than the other suites offered. The sea can be seen from the Le Meschin room for those desiring a view of the water.
Groups often book exclusive use of Moresby Hall, offering facilities for small weddings, special birthdays, and anniversary celebrations for groups of no more than 40 people. There are also “spacious well-equipped” facilities, according to Jane, where conferences, workshops, and meetings can be held. These events also limit attendance to 40 people at most. These celebrations can be specially catered by the bed and breakfast with menus tailored to the requirements of the group, featuring reasonably priced beers, wines, and spirits as Moresby Hall is fully licensed for alcohol sales.
Within Moresby Hall, one can find a number of reception rooms with wood-burning fireplaces. During colder winter months, guests can utilize these fireplaces at their leisure. These rooms also have tables and chairs where those staying at the hall can “relax, read a book, and enjoy a bottle of wine,” according to Jane. Additional seating can be found within the property’s yard, which encompasses two acres of land. This includes a number of walled gardens as well as private parking and electric car charging points.
The property is within walking distance of the nearby shingle beach at Parton and guests can spend some of their free time there if they choose. Jane notes that some patrons will take pictures of the sunrise and sunset at the beach. Moresby Hall is on the C2C cycle route, so many guests who may be on cycling adventures or walking trips opt to start or finish their trip with a stay at the historic property. The Cumbrian Coastal path is accessible with around a five-minute stroll from the Hall, offering vistas of the Solway Firth. Other notable attractions in the region include the Lakes & Fells in the Western Lake District and Lakeland towns such as Cockermouth and Keswick. Whitehaven has over 250 listed buildings; a harbour and marina, The Rum Story museum which presents a history of the rum trade; and The Beacon Museum with a number of different historical and artistic marine exhibits.
Breakfast is served to guests every morning. The menu for breakfast contains a variety of items and can be found on the property's website, consisting mainly of dishes typical of a full English breakfast. Evening dinner is not currently available (although this is subject to change. Jane says to check Moresby Hall's website for up-to-date information) but there are many restaurants locally with a wide variety of dining options less than 1–2 miles away from the property, including The Peddler, Casa a Roma, and Akash.
Jane and David Saxon, the owners of Moresby Hall, strive to create an atmosphere where the patrons of the property feel that they are at home, can relax, and find peace and quiet. Jane and David say that the establishment is known for being personal, which they believe enables visitors to feel that they are treated with great consideration during their stay. Striving to create an environment where guests can feel relaxed and at home has led to the creation of some significant policies that Jane and David ask people to abide by. One of the most important is that no smoking is allowed anywhere inside the building, per UK law. Additionally, only children over the age of ten years old are allowed to stay on the premises and there is no provision for pets to be allowed to stay with guests, aside from service dogs.
Various events are hosted at the estate which include but are not limited to weddings, conferences, and art and poetry events. Jane feels that the quality of service has helped the business receive many repeat guests during their time of operation. Inquiries are welcomed for small group occasions.
Moresby Hall attracts national and international guests to stay at this establishment. Visitors tend to discover the property by word of mouth or from reviews left by past guests, according to Jane. A person who previously stayed at Moresby Hall described their stay as such: "Outstanding venue, you would struggle to find better. Breakfast was very good, great selection, and it was cooked to perfection. The perfect getaway."
Moresby Hall can trace its history back to the medieval period when the land that it now rests on was originally acquired by the Moresby family, from which the business attributes its name. During this time, the Moresby family came into the possession of many estates through both conquest and marriage. This specific plot of land was eventually purchased by a merchant named William Fletcher. The property passed through the generations of the Fletcher family for a period of 250 years. Following the Fletcher family, the establishment changed possession multiple times and was ultimately transitioned from a manorial residence to a farmhouse. In 1910, it was restored as a manor house again until 1955. Prior to becoming a bed and breakfast, the hall was owned by the High Duty Alloys company and used as a location for corporate hospitality.
Due to its unique architecture and history, the building is classified as a Grade I listed historical building “of special architectural and historic importance.” The current owners, David and Jane Saxon, purchased Moresby Hall as a home in 1999 and converted it into a bed and breakfast. Since they purchased the property, Jane and David have renovated the building, installed two kitchens, built all the en-suite bathrooms, and relandscaped the walled garden. Jane says that her favourite part of owning and operating Moresby Hall as a bed and breakfast is attending to their guests. Even after two decades, she still derives great pleasure from knowing their visitor’s stay was comfortable and exceeded expectations.
Moresby Hall
Whitehaven, England CA28 6PJ
United Kingdom
Bed and Breakfast
Jane and David Saxon
n/a
