The farmhouse dates from the late 16th or early 17th centuries, being the remnant of a much older, and larger, manor house of the de Hoghton family of Hoghton Tower.

[1] The Victoria County History for Lancashire records that Thomas Hoghton was killed at Lea in a family feud in 1589.

[4] Clare Hartwell, in her Lancashire: North volume in the Buildings of England series, revised and reissued in 2009, describes Old Lea Hall as "exceptionally interesting".

[5] Historic England records the building material as a timber frame which was encased with locally-made brick.

[1] A stable block and a barn which form part of the farm complex are both listed at Grade II.