Room Hire
We are fortunate to have a number of different sized rooms here at Holy Rood. Our main priority is to our guests who need a restful environment so we are very careful about when to hire out our rooms and for what purpose. Wherever we can, however, we are delighted to share our wonderful facilities and surroundings.
The Holy Rood Community have two properties and extensive grounds, which make this an ideal venue for your event, quiet day, staff wellbeing day, conference or small meeting.
We provide refreshments including home-baked biscuits and/or cake and a fresh lunch prepared on site. We can cater for most dietary requirements if we are aware in advance and we hope to be as accessible as possible. If one of your group has particular concerns please ask them to contact us and we can prepare in advance.
We hope the pictures below will help you complete your booking but we are happy to discuss your needs on the phone and arrange a visit, if that works for you. Keep scrolling down to see photos of our two houses and do consider arranging a visit. Please contact us to discuss potential dates as we book up quickly.
The Group Booking Form is here.
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The Gallery |
The Creative Arts Room |
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Whilst we often display the work of local artists, this room can be arranged as a lecture room for about 40 people, or boardroom style for about 30. Please contact us to discuss your requirements. |
This room is often used by our guests so we cannot guarantee its availability, but please do enquire if you are hoping to use this space for your event. |
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The Library |
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We have an extensive collection of books covering a number of themes relating to health, wellbeing and spirituality. It is also a delightful period room suitable for small meetings and break-out groups. |
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The Old Kitchen |
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This room can be used as a break-out room and stocked-up for refreshment breaks. |
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The Drama Room - First floor (access only by stairs) |
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A large room with comfy seats for discussion groups with plenty of space to move around. It can also be arranged boardroom style, if needed. |
History of Juliet House
This elegant Edwardian house is a fine example of the Arts and Crafts movement with spectacular views across ‘The Flatts’ to the Hambleton Hills. Juliet House is especially known as the former home of Miss Warner, alias Mrs Pumphrey from James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small, with her rather spoilt Pekingese dog, Tricki-Woo. Miss Warner gifted the land opposite Juliet House to the local area in trust so that it would protect her view and be enjoyed by everyone.
“According to Jim Wight’s biography of his father, this character of a rich older woman was based on a Mrs Marjorie Warner of Sowerby, a local socialite. She doted on her pet, a charming Pekingese dog she called Bambi. Warner did, in fact, dispatch hampers of gourmet delicacies - sent by Bambi - to the vets in Thirsk. She caught on that she was the model for Mrs Pumphrey, but apparently harboured no resentment about being included in the stories.” Learn more.
10 Sowerby Road – including our Main Reception
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The Main Lounge |
The Kingfisher Lounge |
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This is a large, comfortable room where groups of up to 15 people can gather. |
This attractive room, furnished in blue and orange, hence its name, is suitable for smaller meetings or as a break-out space. |
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Our Dining Room |
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We usually sit around one main dining table which comfortably seats up to 20. For larger groups, please discuss arrangements with our Programme Coordinator, Carolyn. |
Other Resources (please request; all included in the price)
Wi-fi – the best we can offer in rural North Yorkshire, it can be sporadic.
Projector and screens: Flip Charts and pens;
Please ask for any resources you need.
Leading Quiet Days or Training sessions
The Chapel
The extended Holy Rood Community can help resource your event. We can provide retreat leaders or facilitators in many areas of health, wellbeing, spirituality and counselling. Please let us know what you need and we will advise.
If you would like to organise for your group to stay here, please complete our booking form. To discuss the cost of group bookings, please contact us.
History of Holy Rood House
Built during the late 19th century, Holy Rood House has had several different uses. It was probably built as a residential property but was also school, known as Sowerby Lodge.
It became a Convent in the 1970s when the Sisters of the Holy Rood came from Middlesborough. They were an order which specialised in medical care and planted several of the healing plants in the garden.
The Centre for Health and Pastoral Care took over the running of the building when Stanley and Elizabeth Baxter moved here in 1993.