Brayton Hall & Park Estate History

Brayton Hall, the seat and property of Sir Wilfred Lawson, Bart, was a beautiful mansion, occupying a pleasant situation, 1.5 miles east of Aspatria.

Brayton estate formed a joint township with Aspatria and was granted by Allan, second Lord of Allerdale to Ughtred, whose posterity assumed the local name. It was afterwards possessed by the Salkelds and was sold by three co-heiresses to the ancesters of Sir Wilfred Lawson, whose family was long seated at Isel, but anciently resided in Yorkshire, and derived their descent from John Lawson Esq of Fawksgrave, in the reign of King Henry III.

 Sir Wilfred Lawson married the heiress of Isel and was knighted by James I. He died without issue and was succeeded by his nephew William Lawson Esq, who espoused the sole heiress of Hesket. Sir Wilfred Lawson, his son who married the daughter of Sir Edward Musgrave of Hayton, was created Baronet by Charles I. He bequeathed the manor of Isel to his grandson, William and the manors of Brayton, Bassenthwaite, Hensingham and Loweswater to Wilfred.

Sir Wilfred Lawson, Bart, son of William was M.P for Cockermouth, as also was his son and successor of the same name whose two sons, Wilfred and Mordaunt, died without issue, after which the estates descended to Gilfred Lawson, Esq of Brayton who died in 1749 and was succeeded by his brother Alfred, who died in 1752.

Sir Wilfred Lawson, his son was a knight of the shire for Cumberland in 1761 and died unmarried in 1762 when he was succeeded by his brother, Sir Wilfred Lawson, whose son much improved the mansion and adjacent grounds, and laid out extensive botanic gardens

The estate was purchased in 1939 by Henry Dryden Ward from Wolsingham, County Durham and in 1945 after the war his son Robert Henry and his wife Lena moved into Home Farm with their 2 young sons Dryden & Barrie. The family have remained here.

The hall fell into disrepair and the stonework was taken to Wolsingham by Henry Dryden Ward and Rogerley Hall was built on the outskirts of the village.

Brayton Hall & Stables

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