Yew Tree Hall has stood at the heart of Lorton for nearly two centuries. Once the malting barn for the Jennings Brewery, it was built in 1828 and still carries that same sense of craftsmanship and warmth today. With its traditional barn-like stonework and timber beams, the hall oozes character and history.
A Building with a Story to Tell
Overlooking Wordsworth’s thousand-year-old yew tree (the very tree that inspired his poem “Yew Trees”) and sitting beside the beautiful Boonbeck Bridge, the Hall is truly part of the local landscape.
A History Steeped in the Lakes
The Vale of Lorton, stretching from Cockermouth towards Buttermere, has long been a source of inspiration for poets, preachers, and travellers. The Hall’s namesake yew tree, featured in a BBC programme on Fascinating Trees, is believed to be over 1,000 years old.
It has witnessed a remarkable history. John Wesley, founder of Methodism, and George Fox, founder of the Quakers, are both said to have preached beneath its branches in the 18th century. After a storm in the 1800s reduced its vast 27-foot girth to 13 feet, the tree endured, still standing proudly by Whit Beck, behind the Hall. The Cockermouth Mayor’s Chair was even crafted from its fallen wood, carrying its legacy into civic life.
Listed Heritage, Living Future
Built originally as a malting barn in 1828, Yew Tree Hall has been the much-loved focal point of the community since it became the official village hall in 1909. Grade II listed in 1986, the village hall is now the community centre and is entering a new chapter, one of renewal and care.
WK Design Architects of Cockermouth have been appointed to draw up redevelopment plans. Together, the Yew Tree Hall Management Committee and Lorton Parish Council have formed a joint working group to guide this project.
Trusted Commitment
One of the first village halls, Yew Tree Hall (a registered charity), has been run by a management committee since 1921. All trustees, the Committee rely on the goodwill of its members and a number of volunteers.