Bank Hall Estate
Encyclopedia
The Bank Hall Estate is the demesne
of the jacobean
mansion house of Bank Hall
, including much of land around the village of Bretherton
, which is owned by the Lilford Trust.
, North Wales in 1240. The estate covers many acres of land that surround a jacobean hall which was constructed by the family in 1608, situated to the west of the village of Bretherton
. The Banastre's Estate and wealth grew from farming and leasing land, which continues to this very day with the current management.
, Tarleton
, Croston
and Much Hoole
. In summer 2009, the Bank Hall mansion and 18 acres (72,843.5 m²) of gardens was signed in a 999-year lease from the Lilford Estates over to the Heritage Trust for the North West
and Bank Hall Action Group
, with plans for restoration.
Bretherton
village for most of its existence was an almost self-supporting, self contained 'subsistence agrarian economy'. Major changes to the village have occurred within living memory; well-paid employment opportunities coupled with rationalisation of farming facilitated people to escape their low income agrarian lifestyle and move to local urban centres. Since then the village has become a dormitory village, with the majority of the residential properties now owned by their residents, but some are still leased from the estates. As the decline in British farming affected the village population and agracultural industry, many of the farms and barns have been converted into residential properties attracting wealth.
The plans will include a refurbishment to the access road to Bank Hall, with traditional estate fencing and walls re-constructed and the re-planting of hedges and trees to prevent further visual impact to the local area and wildlife.
Demesne
In the feudal system the demesne was all the land, not necessarily all contiguous to the manor house, which was retained by a lord of the manor for his own use and support, under his own management, as distinguished from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants...
of the jacobean
Jacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
mansion house of Bank Hall
Bank Hall
Bank Hall is a Jacobean mansion south of the village of Bretherton in Lancashire, England. It is a Grade II* Listed Building. The hall was built on the site of a previous building in 1608 during the reign of James I by the Banastre family who were Lords of the Manor. It was extended during the 18th...
, including much of land around the village of Bretherton
Bretherton
Bretherton is a small village and civil parish in the Borough of Chorley, Lancashire, England situated to the south west of Leyland and east of Tarleton. Its name suggests pre-conquest origins and its early history was closely involved with the manor house Bank Hall and the families who lived there...
, which is owned by the Lilford Trust.
History
The Estate began when the Banastre family moved to Lancashire from PrestatynPrestatyn
Prestatyn is a seaside resort, town and community in Denbighshire, North Wales. It is located on the Irish Sea coast, to the east of Rhyl. At the 2001 Census, Prestatyn had a population of 18,496.-Prehistory:...
, North Wales in 1240. The estate covers many acres of land that surround a jacobean hall which was constructed by the family in 1608, situated to the west of the village of Bretherton
Bretherton
Bretherton is a small village and civil parish in the Borough of Chorley, Lancashire, England situated to the south west of Leyland and east of Tarleton. Its name suggests pre-conquest origins and its early history was closely involved with the manor house Bank Hall and the families who lived there...
. The Banastre's Estate and wealth grew from farming and leasing land, which continues to this very day with the current management.
Management and Ownership
The Estate is owned by the Lilford Trust and managed by Acland Bracewell & Co Ltd who also own properties in the villages of Mere BrowMere Brow
Mere Brow is a small village in Lancashire, England, situated between Tarleton and Banks, just off the A565 road. It is 6 miles east of Southport and 10 miles south west of Preston. It is administered by the West Lancashire District Council and the Tarleton parish council...
, Tarleton
Tarleton
-Population :-Economy:As a result of soil on the former mossland, a major economic activity in Tarleton is market gardening, particularly growing salad crops....
, Croston
Croston
-External links:**** chorley.gov.uk....
and Much Hoole
Much Hoole
Much Hoole is a village and civil parish in the borough of South Ribble, Lancashire, England. The parish of Much Hoole had a population of 1,851 at the time of the 2001 census.-History:...
. In summer 2009, the Bank Hall mansion and 18 acres (72,843.5 m²) of gardens was signed in a 999-year lease from the Lilford Estates over to the Heritage Trust for the North West
Heritage Trust for the North West
Heritage Trust for the North West / Heritage Trust North West is a registered Building Preservation Trust, established in 1978 as a charity and company....
and Bank Hall Action Group
Bank Hall Action Group
The Bank Hall Action Group is a voluntary group which aims to raise public awareness and secure the future restoration of Bank Hall, a Jacobean mansion house near the banks of the River Douglas, in Bretherton, Lancashire....
, with plans for restoration.
Bretherton Village
The present Bretherton includes the ancient village of Thorp, the position of which appears to have left no trace.Bretherton
Bretherton
Bretherton is a small village and civil parish in the Borough of Chorley, Lancashire, England situated to the south west of Leyland and east of Tarleton. Its name suggests pre-conquest origins and its early history was closely involved with the manor house Bank Hall and the families who lived there...
village for most of its existence was an almost self-supporting, self contained 'subsistence agrarian economy'. Major changes to the village have occurred within living memory; well-paid employment opportunities coupled with rationalisation of farming facilitated people to escape their low income agrarian lifestyle and move to local urban centres. Since then the village has become a dormitory village, with the majority of the residential properties now owned by their residents, but some are still leased from the estates. As the decline in British farming affected the village population and agracultural industry, many of the farms and barns have been converted into residential properties attracting wealth.
Key
| Grade | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Grade II* | Particularly important buildings of more than special interest. |
| Grade II | Buildings of national importance and special interest. |
Features
Features within the Bank Hall Estate range from listed buildings and gardens to natural geographic features.| Name | Photograph | Grade | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Douglas River Douglas The River Douglas, also known as the River Asland or Astland, is a river that flows through Lancashire and Greater Manchester in the north-west of England... |
N/A | The River Douglas River Douglas The River Douglas, also known as the River Asland or Astland, is a river that flows through Lancashire and Greater Manchester in the north-west of England... had a major impact on the local landscape as a large embankment was constructed to provide defence from the tidal river waters. There are numerous land drains and ditches from the estate which drain into the river, the bridge behind the Bank Hall Lodge crosses one of them. The Douglas Navigation Douglas Navigation The Douglas Navigation was a canalised section of the River Douglas or Asland, in Lancashire, England, running from its confluence with the River Ribble to Wigan. Authorised in 1720, it opened in 1742, but its working life was short, as it was bought out by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Company in... provided coal movements from Wigan Wigan Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total... , but when the Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Leeds and Liverpool Canal The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is a canal in Northern England, linking the cities of Leeds and Liverpool. Over a distance of , it crosses the Pennines, and includes 91 locks on the main line... was constructed the Douglas was returned to its state as a river. |
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| Bank Bridge |
Bank Bridge consists of two bridges that carries the A59 road A59 road The A59 is a major road in the United Kingdom that runs from Liverpool in Merseyside, to York in North Yorkshire.-Merseyside:The A59 begins in the centre of Liverpool at the mouth of the Birkenhead Tunnel, and heads north out of the city, first as Scotland Road in Vauxhall, then Kirkdale Road,... over the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Leeds and Liverpool Canal The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is a canal in Northern England, linking the cities of Leeds and Liverpool. Over a distance of , it crosses the Pennines, and includes 91 locks on the main line... and the River Douglas River Douglas The River Douglas, also known as the River Asland or Astland, is a river that flows through Lancashire and Greater Manchester in the north-west of England... , which cross the estate on the west side. Both the Canal Bridge No. 11 (built 1790) and Tarleton Bridge (built 1821 using a previous bridge footings) are Grade II listed structures as is the Bank Hall Warehouse which is situated between them. The warehouse was constructed in 1790 of Red brick in an English garden wall bond, with sandstone dressings, a slate roof. The warehouse is a rectangular plan with three bays and three storeys and was used for storage for goods and crops from the farms which were transferred to canal boats to be taken to market. The warehouse and yard are still used by the estates. A photograph from 1910 shows the bridge before it was extended. |
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| Bank Hall Lodge |
The building next to Bank Bridge was a gate house to the mansion known as 'Bank Hall Lodge'. Behind it is a small bridge which was restored in 2006 by the tenants. The building is owned by the estate and is private property. There is no access to the hall due to increased traffic on the A59 road A59 road The A59 is a major road in the United Kingdom that runs from Liverpool in Merseyside, to York in North Yorkshire.-Merseyside:The A59 begins in the centre of Liverpool at the mouth of the Birkenhead Tunnel, and heads north out of the city, first as Scotland Road in Vauxhall, then Kirkdale Road,... . The building is also known as "Bank Lodge", and can be seen on the 1928 Ordnance Survey Map. A noteable feature is the large Beech Beech Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:... tree at the front of the building, it is recorded in 1896 that the tree was to be taken down, but was saved by Mrs Powys (Lady Lilford) as she wanted to consult her husband about its removal. The tree remains today towering over the Lodge. |
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| Bank Hall Farm |
Bank Hall Farm, the home farm is situated opposite the potting sheds at the north end of the walled garden to the east of the house. The farm house failed to be sold in 2008, and continues to be leased by the Estates. The pigsties have been demolished, but other outbuildings survive and the farm yard pond has since been filled in. | |||
| Bank Hall Bank Hall Bank Hall is a Jacobean mansion south of the village of Bretherton in Lancashire, England. It is a Grade II* Listed Building. The hall was built on the site of a previous building in 1608 during the reign of James I by the Banastre family who were Lords of the Manor. It was extended during the 18th... Mansion |
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Bank Hall is the centrepeace to the Estate and was where for years the owners of the estate lived until the death of the last resident owner, George Anthony Legh Keck George Anthony Legh Keck Lt.Col. George Anthony Legh Keck was born in 1784 at Stoughton, Leicestershire and was the son of Anthony James Keck and his wife Elizabeth . George Anthony Legh Keck was a member of the Legh family that lived at Lyme Hall at Lyme Park, Cheshire. His wife Elizabeth from Atherton Hall in Atherton... in 1860. The east wing courtyard was demolished in 1940's while occupied by the army. The building has been left since 1972 to fall into disrepair, however the Bank Hall Action Group Bank Hall Action Group The Bank Hall Action Group is a voluntary group which aims to raise public awareness and secure the future restoration of Bank Hall, a Jacobean mansion house near the banks of the River Douglas, in Bretherton, Lancashire.... formed in 1995, continue to raise funds and public awareness, but the hall still awaits restoration. |
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| Bank Hall Gardens Bank Hall Gardens Bank Hall Gardens comprise of land around Bank Hall, in Bretherton, Lancashire, England. The gardens contain specimen trees including a yew thought to be the oldest in Lancashire. Many architectural features, statues, low garden walls, conservatory and greenhouses have gone but there are plans to... |
Some Trees Under Preservation | Bank Hall Gardens is the 18 acers of immediate grounds to surround the Mansion House, the gardens have many specimen trees including what is thought to be the oldest yew Taxus baccata Taxus baccata is a conifer native to western, central and southern Europe, northwest Africa, northern Iran and southwest Asia. It is the tree originally known as yew, though with other related trees becoming known, it may be now known as the English yew, or European yew.-Description:It is a small-... tree in Lancashire. The arboretum Arboretum An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study... planted by George Anthony Legh Keck, with numerous varieties of flowers. The walled garden is a key feature and there are plans to renovate it and the greenhouse into a 'heritage garden' as part of the restroation project. The Bank Hall Action Group Bank Hall Action Group The Bank Hall Action Group is a voluntary group which aims to raise public awareness and secure the future restoration of Bank Hall, a Jacobean mansion house near the banks of the River Douglas, in Bretherton, Lancashire.... have been clearing the grounds since 1995, and continue to hold events in the gardens. The gardens are not listed, but some of the trees are under presevation orders. |
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| Bank Hall Barn |
Bank Hall Barn is a grade II listed Elizabethan long barn which was built in the early 17th century. The barn was extended to the east in the early 19th century and used as a tithe barn Tithe barn A tithe barn was a type of barn used in much of northern Europe in the Middle Ages for storing the tithes - a tenth of the farm's produce which had to be given to the church.... for the Estate. In 2004, after years of neglect, it was converted into residences. The barn is 75 metres (246.1 ft) long, and once housed animals, the hay barn, and farm machinery. During the 1930s the East end of the barn was used by the Seddon-Brown family for housing their Bentley Bentley Bentley Motors Limited is a British manufacturer of automobiles founded on 18 January 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley known as W.O. Bentley or just "W O". Bentley had been previously known for his range of rotary aero-engines in World War I, the most famous being the Bentley BR1 as used in later... s. The area between the fields by the A59 road A59 road The A59 is a major road in the United Kingdom that runs from Liverpool in Merseyside, to York in North Yorkshire.-Merseyside:The A59 begins in the centre of Liverpool at the mouth of the Birkenhead Tunnel, and heads north out of the city, first as Scotland Road in Vauxhall, then Kirkdale Road,... and the barns was once the "Timber Yard", and now is the site of garages, a gym and private gardens. Before redevelopment the Timber Yard was neglected and a store for old farm machinery. |
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| Coach House Building |
Coach House Building The Estate offices, blacksmith's forge and coach house were housed in the building in the centre of the farm. The Estate offices moved into the hall at the end of the Second World War. The forge was used from the early 20th century by gamekeepers for their 'shoot' in the estate, and this section of the building is still used by the 'Bank Hall Gun Club'. The coach house, was where the coaches were maintained and has its own inspection pit. The building was mostly vacant until 1999 when the estates gave the Bank Hall Action Group Bank Hall Action Group The Bank Hall Action Group is a voluntary group which aims to raise public awareness and secure the future restoration of Bank Hall, a Jacobean mansion house near the banks of the River Douglas, in Bretherton, Lancashire.... permission to use the coach house as a refreshments area and the Estate offices as a visitor centre, which opened in 2000. On 20 January 2007 the visitor centre suffered a fire, causing smoke damage, and a temporary visitor center was opened in the coach house, while the refreshments moved to the farm house kitchen for the snowdrop events in 2007. The Coach House continues to function as a visitor centre while the estate office remains derelict. |
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| Carriage Drive |
Not Listed | The Carriage Drive cuts through the parkland, connecting the hall to the village of Bretherton. It is lined with Lime trees and Rhododendron Rhododendron Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers... bushes and has the following three buildings on it. |
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| Crossford Lodge |
Not Listed | Crossford Lodge was the gardener's house occupied by Charles Thompson, the Head Gardener. He worked at for the estate from the age of 16 until he died in his 90s. The Crossford Lodge gardens once had Yew Taxus baccata Taxus baccata is a conifer native to western, central and southern Europe, northwest Africa, northern Iran and southwest Asia. It is the tree originally known as yew, though with other related trees becoming known, it may be now known as the English yew, or European yew.-Description:It is a small-... trees but these were removed in 2001 due to the poisonous berries they produce. The house can be seen as 'Crossford Lodge' on the 1828 ordnance survey map, before it was extended and became the 'Bank Hall Kindergarten'. |
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| Gamekeeper's Lodge |
Not Listed | Gamekeeper's Lodge was the next building that could be seen on the carriage drive; it was sold on 11 January 2007 then demolished in 2008 and replaced by a modern single-story building. The Gamekeeper's Lodge once had aviaries which were used for breeding Pheasant Pheasant Pheasants refer to some members of the Phasianinae subfamily of Phasianidae in the order Galliformes.Pheasants are characterised by strong sexual dimorphism, males being highly ornate with bright colours and adornments such as wattles and long tails. Males are usually larger than females and have... s for the shoots held on the estate. |
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| Bretherton Lodge |
Not Listed | Bretherton Lodge is a red brick building at the end of the carriage drive by the gate. It may be referred to as 'The New Lodge' (1928 Ordnance Survey Map). The Estate manager's books from the 19th century refer to the labour and materials required to construct the 'New Lodge'. The Thompson family lived here for many years; Charles Thompson lived here as a boy. The building is today leased by the estate. | ||
| Bank Hall Windmill |
The first Bank Hall windmill was constructed in 1741. Local maps from 1845 show 'Bank Mill' between Bank Bridge and Plocks Farm (just off the A59 road A59 road The A59 is a major road in the United Kingdom that runs from Liverpool in Merseyside, to York in North Yorkshire.-Merseyside:The A59 begins in the centre of Liverpool at the mouth of the Birkenhead Tunnel, and heads north out of the city, first as Scotland Road in Vauxhall, then Kirkdale Road,... ) within the estate. The Windmill was formerly a three storys high corn mill which was converted into private housing in the 1950s. The Kneen family lived in the northwest wing of the mansion house while the work was in progress. Today the windmill is a Grade II listed building and stands as a reminder of the corn trade that used to thrive in the area. |
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| Carr House Carr House Carr House, is situated within the Bank Hall Estate, half-way between the villages of Tarleton and Much Hoole at the extreme north-west of the village of Bretherton, Lancashire... |
Carr House Carr House Carr House, is situated within the Bank Hall Estate, half-way between the villages of Tarleton and Much Hoole at the extreme north-west of the village of Bretherton, Lancashire... is a house on the estate built by the Stone family in 1613 and was once the home of Jeremiah Horrocks Jeremiah Horrocks Jeremiah Horrocks , sometimes given as Jeremiah Horrox , was an English astronomer who was the only person to predict, and one of only two people to observe and record, the transit of Venus of 1639.- Life and work :Horrocks was born in Lower Lodge, in... , the first person to predict and observe the Transit of Venus Transit of Venus A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth, becoming visible against the solar disk. During a transit, Venus can be seen from Earth as a small black disk moving across the face of the Sun... , in 1639. It is thought that Jeremiah was the tutor of the Stone family's children while he resided with them at Carr House. |
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| St John the Baptist's Church, Bretherton St John the Baptist's Church, Bretherton St John the Baptist's Church, Bretherton, is in the village of Bretherton, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Chorley, the archdeaconry of Blackburn and the diocese of Blackburn. Its benefice is united with that of St Michael and All Angels, Croston... |
St John the Baptist's Church, Bretherton St John the Baptist's Church, Bretherton St John the Baptist's Church, Bretherton, is in the village of Bretherton, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Chorley, the archdeaconry of Blackburn and the diocese of Blackburn. Its benefice is united with that of St Michael and All Angels, Croston... is the Anglican Church in the village of Bretherton. The church is the resting place of the Clare family who resided at Bank Hall during the early 20th Century. |
Future Development
In February 2011 planning permission was granted for Bank Hall Action Group and Urban Splash to restore the mansion house, and its surrounding 18 acers of gardens and walled garden/ greenhouse area into residential dwellings with a heritage garden, visitor centre and tearoom. To enable the project to succeed there is a need to build enabling development on the old orchard site next to the Bank Hall walled garden, therefore reducing the impact on the historic building and gardens.The plans will include a refurbishment to the access road to Bank Hall, with traditional estate fencing and walls re-constructed and the re-planting of hedges and trees to prevent further visual impact to the local area and wildlife.
See also
- Bank HallBank HallBank Hall is a Jacobean mansion south of the village of Bretherton in Lancashire, England. It is a Grade II* Listed Building. The hall was built on the site of a previous building in 1608 during the reign of James I by the Banastre family who were Lords of the Manor. It was extended during the 18th...
- Bank Hall Action GroupBank Hall Action GroupThe Bank Hall Action Group is a voluntary group which aims to raise public awareness and secure the future restoration of Bank Hall, a Jacobean mansion house near the banks of the River Douglas, in Bretherton, Lancashire....
- Bank Hall GardensBank Hall GardensBank Hall Gardens comprise of land around Bank Hall, in Bretherton, Lancashire, England. The gardens contain specimen trees including a yew thought to be the oldest in Lancashire. Many architectural features, statues, low garden walls, conservatory and greenhouses have gone but there are plans to...
- Carr HouseCarr HouseCarr House, is situated within the Bank Hall Estate, half-way between the villages of Tarleton and Much Hoole at the extreme north-west of the village of Bretherton, Lancashire...
- BrethertonBrethertonBretherton is a small village and civil parish in the Borough of Chorley, Lancashire, England situated to the south west of Leyland and east of Tarleton. Its name suggests pre-conquest origins and its early history was closely involved with the manor house Bank Hall and the families who lived there...
- Listed Buildings in Bretherton, Lancashire