Dovenby Hall is a country house in of land at Dovenby, about north-west of Cockermouth, Cumbria, England. It is a Grade II listed building.[1]
The oldest part of the estate is a 13th-century peel tower.[1] The main house was built for Sir Thomas Lamplugh in the 16th century and, after the house came into the ownership of the Dykes family in about 1800,[2] it was remodelled for the Ballentine-Dykes family in the early 19th century.[1]
Joseph Dykes Ballantine Dykes was High Sheriff of Cumberland for 1807-08 and resided in the house. His eldest son Fretcheville Lawson Ballantine-Dykes served as Member of Parliament for Cockermouth from 1832 to 1836.[3] The property passed down to Frecheville Hubert Ballantine-Dykes, an Army officer and High Sheriff for 1923–24.
A family member was Chairman of the Maryport and Carlisle Railway in the 1840s.[4] A private station named was provided for the family's use. It closed and the line was lifted in 1935.[5]
The house was acquired by the local authorities from Colonel Ballantine-Dykes for use as a mental hospital in 1930.[6] Following the closure of the hospital, it was bought by Malcolm Wilson, a former rally driver, in January 1998 and, after a major refurbishment, then became home to his M-Sport's World Rally Championship team, which was in partnership with Ford's official team for many years.[6]