Meols Hall is a historical
manor house
A manor house was historically the main residence of the lord of the manor. The house formed the administrative centre of a manor in the European feudal system; within its great hall were usually held the lord's manorial courts, communal mea ...
in
Churchtown, Merseyside, dating from the 12th century with a 16th-century tithe barn restored for wedding receptions and ceremonies.
History
Meols Hall dates back to the late 12th century when the manor was granted to Robert de Coudray of
Penwortham
Penwortham () is a town and civil parish in South Ribble, Lancashire, England, on the south bank of the River Ribble facing the city of Preston, Lancashire, Preston. The town is at the most westerly crossing point of the river, with major road ...
. The manor has been passed down through marriage and inheritance to the present incumbent. In the 16th century, it was inherited by Alice Kitchin. She married Hugh, an illegitimate son of the Heskeths of Rufford. Subsequent generations have styled themselves or changed their name to Hesketh. Much of the old house was demolished in the mid 18th century, reducing the building to its mid-17th-century core and a wing dating from c. 1695. Meols Hall was subsequently used as a farmhouse, until the family of Charles Hesketh (né Bibby) took residence in 1919.
Modest additions were made to the house in 1938, but the main reconstruction work was carried out between 1960 and 1964 by
Roger Fleetwood Hesketh to his own design. This included the three-storeyed red brick east front built in the style of
Francis Smith of Warwick
Francis Smith of Warwick (1672–1738) was an England, English master-builder and architect, much involved in the construction of country houses in the Midland counties of England. Smith of Warwick may refer also to his brothers, or his son.
Ar ...
, and used stonework from
Lathom House, rescued as it was about to be dumped in a disused
Liverpool
Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
dock.
Meols Hall has been acclaimed as "one of the most convincing country houses" constructed since
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, and is a
grade II* listed building
In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Hi ...
.
See also
*
Listed buildings in Churchtown, Merseyside
References
External links
Meols Hall official website
Buildings and structures in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton
Grade II* listed buildings in Merseyside
Country houses in Merseyside
Grade II* listed houses
{{coord, 53.657, -2.962, display=title