Gainsborough Old Hall
Gainsborough · DN21
Amenities
Summary
One of the best-preserved medieval manor houses in England — a late-15th-century timber-framed and brick manor with a great hall, kitchen tower, and two-storey solar range, managed as a museum in central Gainsborough.
About this location
Gainsborough Old Hall in Lincolnshire is a late-15th-century manor house in the centre of Gainsborough, built largely between 1460 and 1480 by the Burgh family. The main hall is a large timber-framed great hall with an open-truss roof; attached to the hall are a kitchen tower and a brick-built solar wing. The whole is a remarkably complete example of a medieval English manor house — the roof structure, the kitchen equipment, and the room sequence are substantially intact.
Richard III visited the hall in 1483. John Wesley preached in the hall in the 18th century. The hall is managed by Historic England and is open as a museum, with rooms dressed as period interiors. The great hall is available for events and film hire.
For productions, Gainsborough Old Hall gives a medieval great hall interior — open roof truss, stone-flagged floor, fireplace — at a scale appropriate for domestic drama rather than castle epic. The kitchen tower gives a complete medieval kitchen sequence. Hire through Historic England.
Access notes
- Parking
- On-site parking available — confirm crew-vehicle capacity with the venue.
- Loading access
- Loading access not listed. Confirm access points, door widths, and lift availability with the venue before the day.
- Public transit
- Gainsborough has mainline rail and regional bus connections. Check the nearest station and allow for equipment on-foot from transit.
Ask us about this location
Quick question before you enquire upstream? We often know day-rate ranges, permit lead times, or a direct-to-owner shortcut not shown on the source page.
On the map
Gainsborough — drag to pan, scroll to zoom.
Access process
English Heritage
English Heritage manages 400+ properties in England. Its commercial filming team centralises bookings across the portfolio.
- Lead time
- 4–8 weeks standard; longer for major interiors or out-of-hours access.
- Fees
- Day rates by property and scale. Reduced rates for registered charities, students and low-budget indie productions — ask explicitly.
- Out-of-hours access (before/after public opening) is the standard way to shoot popular properties.
- Drone work requires a separate CAA-compliant risk plan and English Heritage sign-off.
- Insurance baseline: £5m public liability.
FAQ
- Do I need a permit to film at Gainsborough Old Hall?
- Yes — filming on or around Gainsborough Old Hall typically requires a permit. Allow roughly 5–10 working days lead time for most UK councils. Interior shoots on private property may also need owner consent.
- Is parking available at Gainsborough Old Hall?
- On-site parking is available at Gainsborough Old Hall. Capacity varies — confirm crew-vehicle numbers with the venue before the day.
- How much does it cost to film at Gainsborough Old Hall?
- Gainsborough Old Hall sits in the £ band. Typical UK film-location day rates range from under £200 for simple interior shoots to well over £1,000 for period properties and landmark venues. Confirm with the venue directly.
- What crew size is suitable for Gainsborough Old Hall?
- Gainsborough Old Hall can take a medium-sized crew of up to around 15 — most commercial, music-video, and short-form productions fit comfortably.
- Has anything been filmed at Gainsborough Old Hall before?
- Gainsborough Old Hall appears on Filmshoot's UK location index because it has a documented track record or strong characteristics for film and photography. Specific production credits aren't displayed unless publicly confirmed by the venue — ask the venue directly or check ScreenSkills and IMDb Locations for verified credits.
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