HistoryThe stunning Grade II Georgian mansion belonged to the Brownrigg family from 1677 - 1800. Most notably the house was occupied by the famous Cumberland doctor and scientist William Brownrigg (1711-1800) who was renowned for his experiments with mine gas and the art of making common salt.
In 1771, together with the American scientist and diplomat Benjamin Franklin he used Derwentwater to prove his theory of 'pouring oil on troubled waters' by calming the unsettled lake with olive oil!
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More recently in April 2007 Ormathwaite Hall played host to a 50th birthday party for a car!
The stunning green Sunbeam Talbot, that today has only 26,000 miles on the clock came back to its anscestral home to celebrate it's half century. Now owned by Doug Handby from Pembrokeshire, the entire Handby family joined in with the celebrations.
"We had a wonderful stay at Ormathwaite Hall, and we thoroughly enjoyed meeting the past friends of our beloved car"
