A CUMBRIAN mansion has been given a special commendation for an award.

Nertherby Hall, near Longtown, had been nominated for the Historic Houses Restoration Award.

The Grade II mansion house was nominated for the restoration of its stables.

The project aimed to bring the Victorian stables back to life in the original style.

According to the Netherby Hall website, the intention was also that they could be used, rather than being a museum piece.

The project included restoring the stables complex to be used again as working stables, coach-houses, groom quarters and to house all the facilities required for maintenance.

The complex has now been restored.

The guiding principle behind the conservation were to reinstate and restore as closely as possible to the original design.

They used the most recent historic evidence of when the stables were being used to do this.

Gerald Smith, owner of Netherby Hall, said: "Hopefully what we are starting in a corner of North East Cumbria will inspire others to appreciate the value of preserving historic buildings in a way that allows them to continue to function for the purpose for which they were constructed.

"One of the attractions of Netherby Hall for me when we bought it in 2014 was the chance to take a stand against this well-meaning destruction of our past.

"Included in the plans for the stables was to create a meeting room to accommodate pre-booked parties coming to learn about how the stables of great houses such as Netherby Hall work and as a conference centre, named the Moot Hall, which is available for hire.

"We are thrilled to say we have achieved this goal and look forward to what 2021 brings"

The judge was especially delighted to see the stables being used again and called the work "most impressive and a model of conscientious restoration".

Historic Houses was founded in 1973 by a group of individuals who were caring for some of the country’s most important and best-loved historic places.

The Restoration Award was created in 2008.

It recognises outstanding examples of the work being carried out by private owners to protect and preserve the historic buildings in their care.