30
THE BIG INTERVIEW
by Ged Henderson
HALL TO PAY FOR
“It’s a money pit.” Amanda Parker the new Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire is describing the county’s oldest family ancestral hall and her home for almost half a century.
“But it is wonderful living here, I love it,” she adds with a smile. And looking out at its gardens and the rolling hills of the Ribble Valley on a crisp winter morning, you can easily see the attraction.
Browsholme Hall sits proudly amid 600 acres in the tranquil Forest of Bowland. Amanda’s husband Robert inherited the property in 1975, it has been in the hands of his ancestors since the 16th century.
Since moving in the couple, who have been married for 38 years, have worked to build a thriving family business which exists primarily to support the upkeep and maintenance of the house and its contents, which are steeped in Lancashire history.
The heart of the business, which has a turnover of more than £1m and provides work for more than 20 people, is the impressive Tithe Barn – which is one of the Ribble Valley’s standout wedding and events venues.
The barn and other run-down buildings were renovated and opened as a corporate and wedding venue in 2010 after Browsholme’s 500th anniversary in 2007 and has gone from strength to strength.
Amanda says: “It was Robert’s idea to try weddings and events – he was doing some research work around historic houses and saw the potential.
“The new business became transformational for the estate and the house. All the money is ploughed back into its upkeep.”
Being the property’s owner is a labour of love. Amanda adds: “It is such a huge thing. It absolutely takes over your life.”
As well as weddings and events, the hall and its gardens are open to visitors on selected days, there is a coffee shop and short-stay accommodation, including glamping pods.
Amanda, a former Clitheroe Royal Grammar School student who grew up on a farm in nearby Bashall Eaves, is director of the business.
It is the latest chapter in a varied career that has taken her from London and the graduate management development programme at Barclays to running a paintball business and founding two IT and AV companies.
The paintball business, which was based on the estate, was another diversification idea from Robert, who is also managing director at Clitheroe Auction Mart.
Amanda set up her first IT business with a friend supplying SMEs with hardware, software, programming and maintenance.
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