Meols Hall
Encyclopedia
Meols Hall is a historical manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...

 in Churchtown, Merseyside, dating from the 12th century but largely rebuilt in by Roger Fleetwood-Hesketh
Roger Fleetwood-Hesketh
Lieutenant-Colonel Roger Fleetwood Fleetwood-Hesketh, TD, DL, OBE , born Roger Bibby-Hesketh, was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was Member of Parliament for Southport from 1952 to 1959.He was educated at Eton and at Christ Church, Oxford, and called to bar in 1928 at...

 in the 1960s.

History

Meols Hall dates back to the late 12th century, when the manor was granted to Robert de Coudray of Penwortham
Penwortham
-Landmarks:Penwortham Priory was built for the Rawsthorne family and redesigned by the Cumbrian architect George Webster. The priory was demolished due to the rapid expansion of the area and the need for new housing...

. The manor has since passed down through marriage and inheritance, and in the 16th century became part of the property of a branch of the Heskeths of Rufford
Rufford, Lancashire
-Population :-Economy:The village is largely rural with little or no industry. The farmland is grade one agricultural land. In the early 20th century the village was described as "one of the prettiest in South Lancashire" and was a destination for day trips from neighbouring towns...

. 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 took residence in 1919.
Modest additions were made to the house in 1938, but the main reconstruction work was carried out between 1960-64 by Roger Fleetwood-Hesketh
Roger Fleetwood-Hesketh
Lieutenant-Colonel Roger Fleetwood Fleetwood-Hesketh, TD, DL, OBE , born Roger Bibby-Hesketh, was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was Member of Parliament for Southport from 1952 to 1959.He was educated at Eton and at Christ Church, Oxford, and called to bar in 1928 at...

 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
Francis Smith of Warwick was an English master-builder and architect, much involved in the construction of country houses in the Midland counties of England...

, and used stonework from Lathom House, rescued as it was about to be dumped in a disused Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...

 dock.

Meols Hall today

Meols Hall has been acclaimed as "one of the most convincing country houses" constructed since World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, and is a grade II* listed building. The Hall is open to the public for guided tours on spring bank holiday Mondays and between 20 August and 14 September annually.from 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm. Last entries at 5pm.
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