Low Wood Hotel Purchased by Buckley Brothers

In 1958, Norman Buckley and his brother Kenneth purchased Low Wood Hotel and its surrounding land, establishing family ownership of the property that remains at the heart of English Lakes today. Low Wood had previously been operated by Norman under a lease acquired in 1952, with the hotel welcoming its first guests under his stewardship in spring 1953. When Low Wood became available for purchase, it was offered at auction at Kendal Town Hall. Norman and Kenneth submitted the successful bid of £8,417, acquiring the hotel together with a total of 73 acres. The purchase changed Low Wood from a leased operation into a family-owned property and provided a permanent base from which the hotel business could develop. The following year, the family added The Wild Boar Hotel to its interests, beginning the gradual expansion of the business that would later become English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues.