As early as the 13th Century, the Manor of Helsington belonged to Margaret de Ros, and the original building is believed to date from this period.
The West end of the main block is of medieval origin, probably late 15th Cent. It is said to have a chapel on the first floor West wing with a pre- Reformation window (above). Helsington Manor was owned by Marmaduke de Thwenge and in 1320 was said to be falling into ruin. At his death in 1323 it passed to his son, William de Thwenge, but was said to be have been burnt by the Scots and the herbage rendered nothing.

In 1320 William de Thwenge died holding the chief messuage (dwelling) at Helsington which was waste and worth nothing. In 1374 the property in the estate of Thomas de Thwenge, passed to Robert de Lumley and Elizabeth wife of William Botreaux. In 1405 an inquest found that Thomas, son and heir of Ralph de Lumley died and the manor in Kendal passed to his heir John de Lumley. It was from the Lumley’s that the Lumley fee came of which Helsington laithes was a part.

The year 1511 brings the first reference to Helsington Laithes which passed to George Lumley, Night and 16 th January 1511. The house was probably rebuilt and named Helsington Laithes at this time.

The House then came into the hands of Henry VIII, who in 1539 leased it to Thomas Seymour, Knight, for 21 years from Michaelmas 1540. The tenure was then held by Thomas Bellingham and in 1544 his son, Alan Bellingham, purchased the house from Henry VIII for £137.10s.

The next year he was granted the Lumley fee in the Barony of Kendal by Elizabeth 1. Some years later he purchased several other estates including Levens Hall estate which stayed in Bellingham’s ownership until February, 1689. Having amassed substantial debts they were forced to mortgage and then sell the estate. It was bought by Colonel James Grahme for the bargain price of £24,000, the estate being valued at £40,000 in 1711.

The income to the estate from rents was around £ 1,000 per year and in 1691 Helsington Laithes was let for £140 a year rising to £160 by 1730.

Grahme was appointed Tory representative for Westmorland and Deputy Lieutenant in 1711 and was one of the most substantial of Westmorlands few gentry. Despite this, from 1689 he was apparently in financial difficulties. James Grahme died on 26 Jan 1730 and his estate passed to the family of his only surviving child, Catherine who’s husband, Henry Howard was created Earl of Suffolk in 1745.

Henry Howard died in 1779 and the Levens Estate passed to his Aunt, The Hon. Frances Howard. She Married Richard Bagot in 1783 who assumed the surname Howard. They had one daughter, Mary, who in 1807 married the Hon. Fulke Greville-Upton, who also assumed the name of Howard upon his marriage. He died in 1846 and the estate passed on the death of his widow in 1877, to her nephew, General the Hon. Arther Upton. When he died the estate passed to Mrs. Howards’ fathers great, great nephew, Lt. Col. Josceline Fitzroy-Bagot.
Lt. Col.Bagot was nominated for a Baronetcy on 1 January 1913, but died before patent passed the Great Seal. He was succeeded by his son, Alan Desmond Bagot and then by his uncle Richard Bagot who was a well known author. Richard Bagot was unmarried upon his death and so the estate passed to his great nephew, Oliver Robin-Gaskell J.P., who was the second son of Sir Alan Bagot’s elder sister, Dorothy
by her marriage to Mr. Henry Mellville-Gaskell. He then assumed the name Bagot in 1935 and was succeeded by his son.

After many years of farming under the tenancy of the Martins the property became vacant and after two years of decay in December 1997 Mr Bagot sold Helsington Laithes to the present owners Mr and Mrs. Hague.

A flight of spiral stone stairs in the West wing leads to a small servants room from which a maid is said to have disappeared without trace. Local farm workers claim to have seen a `lady in grey' ghost from this room.