Rare 16th-century wall paintings have been uncovered at The Ashes, a former Tudor hunting lodge located in what was once Inglewood Forest, near the town of Penrith in Cumbria, northern England. Now recognised for their national significance, these murals have received enhanced legal protection from the UK government to aid in their preservation.
Painted in the Grotesque style, the artwork features fantastical beasts, foliage, and stylised human and animal faces arranged in decorative panels. Though only parts of the paintings survive today, evidence suggests they once adorned entire interior walls. Among the more vivid motifs are grotesque head profiles and a dog’s head emerging from ornamental vines—possibly designed to imitate luxury textiles.
Initial fragments were discovered in the 1970s on the first floor of the building. More were revealed in the 2010s and early 2020s, both on the ground floor and upstairs. Scientific analysis using dendrochronology—a method of dating timber through tree rings—has determined that the oldest parts of the structure were built using wood felled in the winter of 1561/62, during the early years of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign.
Acting on the advice of Historic England, the UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport has granted additional protections to the lodge and its surrounding buildings. The Ashes retains its Grade II listing—indicating exceptional historic importance—while adjoining agricultural structures and boundary walls, including a pink sandstone barn with 16th-century roof timbers, have now been added to the Grade II list.
“The combination of motifs discovered here is unusual even by national standards,” said Myra Tolan-Smith, Listing Adviser at Historic England. “Together with the newly listed farm buildings, this discovery provides remarkable insight into the evolution of a significant Tudor hunting lodge into a working farm.”
Current owners Jen and Richard Arkell were astonished by what they found: “A small fragment of wall painting—similar to that seen at nearby Dacre Hall—has been visible in the house since before we acquired the property over 20 years ago. However, recent work to the primary upstairs bedroom revealed much more of the composition. Removing old failing plaster to find these remarkable motifs and faces looking back at us is a moment we will never forget.”
The paintings were created using a secco technique, where pigments are applied to dry plaster rather than wet, as in traditional frescoes. Their complex and decorative nature points to the wealth and refined taste of the original Tudor occupants.
Markus Campbell-Savours, Member of Parliament for Penrith and Solway, welcomed the announcement: “It’s quite clear these paintings were a remarkable find, and it’s wonderful news that they have now been protected as part of the building’s listing. We can only hope that local people can enjoy them and the history of Cumbria for many years to come.”
With this new level of protection, both the historic artwork and the lodge’s architectural fabric will be safeguarded for future generations—offering an extraordinary glimpse into life and art in Tudor England.
Rare 16th-century wall paintings have been uncovered at The Ashes, a former Tudor hunting lodge located in what was once Inglewood Forest, near the town of Penrith in Cumbria, northern England. Now recognised for their national significance, these murals have received enhanced legal protection from the UK government to aid in their preservation.
Painted in the Grotesque style, the artwork features fantastical beasts, foliage, and stylised human and animal faces arranged in decorative panels. Though only parts of the paintings survive today, evidence suggests they once adorned entire interior walls. Among the more vivid motifs are grotesque head profiles and a dog’s head emerging from ornamental vines—possibly designed to imitate luxury textiles.
Initial fragments were discovered in the 1970s on the first floor of the building. More were revealed in the 2010s and early 2020s, both on the ground floor and upstairs. Scientific analysis using dendrochronology—a method of dating timber through tree rings—has determined that the oldest parts of the structure were built using wood felled in the winter of 1561/62, during the early years of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign.
Acting on the advice of Historic England, the UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport has granted additional protections to the lodge and its surrounding buildings. The Ashes retains its Grade II listing—indicating exceptional historic importance—while adjoining agricultural structures and boundary walls, including a pink sandstone barn with 16th-century roof timbers, have now been added to the Grade II list.
“The combination of motifs discovered here is unusual even by national standards,” said Myra Tolan-Smith, Listing Adviser at Historic England. “Together with the newly listed farm buildings, this discovery provides remarkable insight into the evolution of a significant Tudor hunting lodge into a working farm.”
Current owners Jen and Richard Arkell were astonished by what they found: “A small fragment of wall painting—similar to that seen at nearby Dacre Hall—has been visible in the house since before we acquired the property over 20 years ago. However, recent work to the primary upstairs bedroom revealed much more of the composition. Removing old failing plaster to find these remarkable motifs and faces looking back at us is a moment we will never forget.”
The paintings were created using a secco technique, where pigments are applied to dry plaster rather than wet, as in traditional frescoes. Their complex and decorative nature points to the wealth and refined taste of the original Tudor occupants.
Markus Campbell-Savours, Member of Parliament for Penrith and Solway, welcomed the announcement: “It’s quite clear these paintings were a remarkable find, and it’s wonderful news that they have now been protected as part of the building’s listing. We can only hope that local people can enjoy them and the history of Cumbria for many years to come.”
With this new level of protection, both the historic artwork and the lodge’s architectural fabric will be safeguarded for future generations—offering an extraordinary glimpse into life and art in Tudor England.
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