HISTORY

of the estate

Gisburne Park Estate: A Living History

Gisburne Park Estate has a long and fascinating history, shaped by the people who have owned it, lived on it and passed through it over the centuries. From remarkable characters and historic events to family legacy and change over time, the estate’s story is closely tied to both the land itself and the wider history of Britain.

My great grandfather, who founded British Home Stores, bought the sprawling 5,000 acre Ribble Valley estate off the titled Ribblesdale family whose 2 sons were killed in the Great War.

This estate has a rich and extraordinary history. Such a legend was Lord Ribblesdale that King Edward nicknamed him ‘the ancestor’ and his portrait was painted by the famous John Singer Sargent – the work now hangs proudly in the grand entrance of the Tate Gallery, London. When Jacob Astor drowned on the Titanic it was his widow that became the last Lady Ribblesdale. Oliver Cromwell marched his troops onto the estate on 16.08.1648 during the Second Civil War and stayed in the Hall. The estate has had many other notable guests over the years including Winston Churchill to more recently the Queen and Prince Charles. It’s believed over 1 million oaks that have been planted across the estate over the years. One of the estate previous owners, Robert Lister, was murdered by one of the infamous Pendle Witches, Jennet Preston who was later hanged for the crime.

My involvement began in 2003, when I inherited Gisburne Park Estate following my father’s death. I set about transforming a tired but unspoilt shooting and hunting estate into a state-of-the-art luxury holiday village. Fifty years ago, this site was a state-of-the-art dairy farm built by my grandfather. Sadly, as the farming economy changed, the farm became redundant and fell into disrepair. This inspired my father to apply for planning permission for a holiday park, which was granted. The hunting and shooting era are no longer and we are proud to be turning our land into a wildlife sanctuary which our guests can explore and enjoy.

The village of Gisburn, little more than 5 minutes walk from the park, received its Charter for Gisburn Fair in 1260. This is one of the earliest mentions of the village. It was granted by Henry III to the Abbot and Monks of Sawley Abbey. At the centre of the village is the ancient church which is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin. One could assume that the foundations for the present church could have been laid circa 113.

A Royal Visit from King Charles III at Gisburne Park

Gisburne Park has long been a place where national history and private life quietly intersect. In 1979, the then Prince of Wales, now His Majesty King Charles III, stayed at Gisburne Park for a couple of days during a visit to the Ribble Valley to take part in a traditional hunt with the Pendle Forest and Craven Harriers.

He arrived on horseback, riding two of his own horses during the day, and returned to the house to enjoy hot crumpets and Marmite by the fire, which he kindly described as “delicious.” After spending the night at Gisburne Park, he continued his journey through the surrounding villages, drawing crowds eager to catch a glimpse of the heir to the throne. For our family, the visit was not simply a royal occasion, but a reminder of the estate’s long-standing tradition of hospitality and its quiet connection to the wider story of Britain.

Early Settlement and Roman Britain

Evidence of settlement around Gisburn dates back to the 4th century. To the south of the village lies a Romano-British farmstead known as Bomber Camp, where archaeological finds including pottery, tools and domestic objects suggest agricultural activity. The area was also linked to the wider Roman network by a road connecting Ribchester and Ilkley, which passed just south of Gisburn.

Norman Gisburn and the Domesday Record

After the Norman Conquest, Gisburn became part of the feudal system introduced by William the Conqueror. Recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Ghiseburne, it lay within the Hundred of Craven in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Once held by Bernwulf, lordship passed to William de Percy following the Conquest. At the time of the survey, Gisburn was described as waste land, likely a result of the harrying of the North in 1069–70.

A visible reminder of Norman control survives in the ringwork known as Castle Haugh or Cromwell’s Basin, a circular earthwork overlooking the River Ribble to the north of the village.

St Mary’s Church and Medieval Patronage

The church of St Mary at Gisburn was founded in the 12th century, probably by the Percy family. While much of the present building dates from the early 16th century, earlier architectural features survive. The church may once have had a dual dedication to St Mary the Virgin and St Andrew.

Throughout the Middle Ages, disputes arose over patronage between Sawley Abbey and Stainfield Nunnery. Although resolved in the early 13th century, tensions lingered, reflecting the wider religious and political complexities of the period.

Gisburn Manor and the Lister Family

Gisburn manor was originally held by the Percy family before being granted to Sawley Abbey in 1243. From the 14th century onwards, the Lister family gradually established themselves as the dominant local landowners through marriage and land acquisition.

Their early seat was at Arnoldsbiggin, south of the village, before expanding their holdings to include Westby Hall and Lower Hall. In the early 18th century, Thomas Lister built Gisburne Park Hall on the site of Lower Hall, creating the house that forms the heart of the estate today. The Lister family retained ownership of the manor and estate until 1943.

The Lancashire Witches and Jennet Preston

Gisburn is closely linked to the Lancashire Witch Trials of 1612 through Jennet Preston, a local woman accused of murdering Thomas Lister of Westby by witchcraft. Contemporary accounts suggest she had once been well regarded by the Lister family before suspicion fell upon her following Thomas Lister’s sudden death.

Jennet was ultimately convicted at the York Assizes in July 1612 and hanged, her case setting a precedent for the Pendle witch trials held shortly afterwards. Despite the verdict, records show that her family and friends maintained her innocence.

The English Civil War

During the English Civil War, members of the wider Lister family supported Parliament and Oliver Cromwell. In August 1648, Cromwell passed through Gisburn while marching from Yorkshire into Lancashire, almost certainly staying at Lower Hall, now Gisburne Park.

Although the Listers’ sympathies leaned towards Parliament, the lord of the manor at the time was still a child, which may explain why the family avoided serious repercussions after the Restoration of the monarchy.

Today, Gisburne Park reflects centuries of British history, from early settlement and medieval lordship to civil war, witch trials and royal visits, all contributing to the enduring character of the estate.