Arrival - 2005

This October marks a very special milestone for us - 20 years since we (Mark and Clare Oglesby) first set foot in Goldsborough Hall and began the journey that would completely transform it.

Back in 2005, Goldsborough Hall was a shadow of the grand home it once was - not the five-star luxury you see today. The once-beautiful state rooms were crumbling. Rainwater ran down the inside of the walls. Ceilings had collapsed. The attics were home to rats and squirrels rather than guests. The gardens? Outside, there was little more than patchy lawn and weed-filled borders.

It would have been easy to walk away. But we knew the Hall had a story worth saving and we had a vision. It was going to take every ounce of determination (and quite a few cups of tea) to bring it back to life - and a future worth fighting for.

The Restoration Journey

Over the last two decades, we’ve poured our hearts, energy, and countless hours into breathing new life into Goldsborough Hall. Every ceiling rebuilt, every wall restored, every window repaired has been part of a bigger vision: to honour the Hall’s rich history while creating a place that people could love, celebrate, and make memories in.

Wedding couple kissing under blossom trees inside following a wedding ceremony. String quartet behind them and wedding guests looking on — *Now the Drawing Room is an elegant space for weddings and parties - back to its former glory. Image by Peter Rollings*

The state rooms were bare, stripped back and crumbling. The Drawing Room and Library, once cold and empty, are now elegant backdrops for civil ceremonies, comfy seating and evenings where the party lasts well into the night. Every cornice, every gilded detail, lovingly restored to its former glory.

Though Kings and Queens once dined here, the Dining Room was a shadow of its former self. Nothing of its stately glory remained. But refurbed and redecorated, it’s once again a beautiful place to dine - especially with our 3AA rosettes!

*A true fine dining experience - the 3AA rosette Dining Room is filled with warmth and life*

The Bedroom Revival

Once there was just bare plaster and broken windows and now there’s sumptuous 5-star suites - our bedrooms really tell the story of Goldsborough Hall’s transformation more than anything else. The peeling paint and empty shells have been replaced with grand four-poster beds, beautiful bathrooms, and views fit for royalty.

An empty room with a bay window with broken pieces — *The Lascelles suite - a great example of how the bedrooms were empty, broken and unloved*

Blank rooms had crumbling ceilings and little or no character left to save - now they’re award-winning spaces designed for comfort, elegance, and romance. It’s hard to believe that these rooms, once filled with dust and broken floorboards, are now the 5-star bedrooms our guests never want to leave. Each bedroom has been restored to reflect the Hall’s grandeur, balanced with modern comforts and style.

Wooden four-poster bed with gold curtains and a leather sofa in the foreground. Bay window with curtains — *The Byerley Suite - transformed into a romantic retreat with four-poster bed and sweeping views*

The Gardens

The gardens, once barren, are now bursting with colour year-round - with award-winning borders, the romantic Lime Tree Walk, and kitchen gardens that are as beautiful as they are productive.

The transformation of the gardens has been breathtaking. Our main borders now burst with summer colour, the Lime Tree Walk frames countless wedding ceremonies, and the kitchen garden overflows with flowers and fresh produce for our 3 AA Rosette dining.

Today’s Goldsborough Hall

Two decades on, the Hall is almost unrecognisable from the derelict building we first saw. We’re proud now to hold an AA 5-Star rating for accommodation and 3 AA Rosettes for dining, with our gardens regularly winning accolades. Every day, we welcome guests from near and far to enjoy weddings, stays, and events in surroundings that are both historic and alive with new stories.

Looking Ahead

This anniversary isn’t just about looking back at what’s been achieved - it’s about what’s still to come. The Hall will always be a work of love, and we’re excited for the next chapter in its history.

Image of a stately home with two borders either side flanked by beech hedges — *20 years ago, we saw the potential. Here’s where we are today. And tomorrow? The story continues... Image by Ben Cummings*

To everyone who has visited, stayed, dined, celebrated, or simply admired the gardens over the past 20 years - thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to the next 20 years of Goldsborough Hall.

Mark and Clare Oglesby

Goldsborough Hall