Greenbank House
Encyclopedia
Greenbank House, is a Grade II listed building, located in Liverpool
, England
. It stands within the University of Liverpool
's Greenbank Halls of Residence site, between Greenbank Road and Greenbank Lane.
leased the family house and estate, which consisted of 24 acre
s of land, from the Earl of Sefton
to serve as a country retreat for his young family.
purchased the freehold of Greenbank House in 1809, the year of William Rathbone IV's death. Following his death his wife, Hannah Mary, in accordance with his wishes, made many and substantial alterations to the building. A large part was rebuilt in the Gothic Architecture
Style and a cast iron screen was added to the house to form a verandah
and balcony
. The American artist John James Audubon
dined with the Rathbone family at Greenbank House during his visit to Liverpool in the 1820s.
.
Greenbank was occupied by Hugh Reynolds Rathbone
and Emily Evelyn Rathbone in 1918 on the death of Emily Acheson Rathbone, widow of William Rathbone VI
. Hugh Reynolds Rathbone had strong connections with the University of Liverpool, and towards the ends of their lives Hugh and Emily donated parts of the Greenbank estate to the University as a site for student accommodation. On this land, the University built Derby Hall, opened in 1939.
in 1940, but in 1944 it too was donated to the University, originally for the purpose of housing students. It formed an annexe to Derby Hall until 1963-4, when it was converted for use as a student and staff social club.
Blue Plaque
since 29 July 2001, which honors Eleanor Rathbone
(1872-1946), suffragette
and pioneer of the state-funded family allowance, and her father, social reformer William Rathbone VI
(1819-1902), who created the first system of district nursing. The plaque was unveiled by William Rathbone X at Greenbank House.
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...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It stands within the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
's Greenbank Halls of Residence site, between Greenbank Road and Greenbank Lane.
Original House
The original house was built in the early eighteenth century on part of the Toxteth Park estate. In 1788, William Rathbone IVWilliam Rathbone IV
William Rathbone IV was a member of the noted Rathbone family of Liverpool, England. He was the son of William Rathbone III and Rachel Rutter, and was a Liverpool ship-owner and merchant, involved in the organisation of American trade with Liverpool.Originally a member of the Society of Friends,...
leased the family house and estate, which consisted of 24 acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
s of land, from the Earl of Sefton
Earl of Sefton
The title Earl of Sefton was created in the Peerage of Ireland in1771 for the 8th Viscount Molyneux. The Earls of Sefton held the subsidiary titles Viscount Molyneux, of Maryborough in the Queen's County , in the Peerage of Ireland, and Baron Sefton, of Croxteth in the County Palatine of Lancaster...
to serve as a country retreat for his young family.
Rathbone's Purchase of Property and Estate
The Rathbone familyRathbone family
The Rathbone family of Liverpool, England, were a family of non-conformist merchants and shipowners, whose sense of high social consciousness led to a fine tradition of philanthropy and public service....
purchased the freehold of Greenbank House in 1809, the year of William Rathbone IV's death. Following his death his wife, Hannah Mary, in accordance with his wishes, made many and substantial alterations to the building. A large part was rebuilt in the Gothic Architecture
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
Style and a cast iron screen was added to the house to form a verandah
Verandah
A veranda or verandah is a roofed opened gallery or porch. It is also described as an open pillared gallery, generally roofed, built around a central structure...
and balcony
Balcony
Balcony , a platform projecting from the wall of a building, supported by columns or console brackets, and enclosed with a balustrade.-Types:The traditional Maltese balcony is a wooden closed balcony projecting from a...
. The American artist John James Audubon
John James Audubon
John James Audubon was a French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. He was notable for his expansive studies to document all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats...
dined with the Rathbone family at Greenbank House during his visit to Liverpool in the 1820s.
Continued Use by Rathbone family
Some of the land had passed from Rathbone family control in 1897, when Liverpool Corporation entered into an agreement with the Rathbone Family to purchase the piece of land, part of which is now Greenbank ParkGreenbank Park
Greenbank Park, Liverpool, England, with its focal point of the elegant, placid lake is situated in the south of the city close to the borders of Sefton Park.-Historical background:...
.
Greenbank was occupied by Hugh Reynolds Rathbone
Hugh Reynolds Rathbone
Hugh Reynolds Rathbone was a British merchant and politician, who sat as a Member of Parliament and was a member of the noted Rathbone family....
and Emily Evelyn Rathbone in 1918 on the death of Emily Acheson Rathbone, widow of William Rathbone VI
William Rathbone VI
William Rathbone VI was an English merchant and businessman noted for his philanthropic and public work...
. Hugh Reynolds Rathbone had strong connections with the University of Liverpool, and towards the ends of their lives Hugh and Emily donated parts of the Greenbank estate to the University as a site for student accommodation. On this land, the University built Derby Hall, opened in 1939.
Bequeathed to the University of Liverpool
The house and remaining estate remained in Rathbone hands until the death of Hugh Reynolds Rathbone on 19 January 1940. Between 1939 and 1948 remaining parts of the estate were donated by Hugh and Emily's children. The house itself was requisitioned by the AdmiraltyAdmiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
in 1940, but in 1944 it too was donated to the University, originally for the purpose of housing students. It formed an annexe to Derby Hall until 1963-4, when it was converted for use as a student and staff social club.
Blue Plaque Recognition
The property has been marked by an English HeritageEnglish Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
Blue Plaque
Blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
since 29 July 2001, which honors Eleanor Rathbone
Eleanor Rathbone
Eleanor Florence Rathbone was an independent British Member of Parliament and long-term campaigner for women's rights. She was a member of the noted Rathbone family of Liverpool.-Life:...
(1872-1946), suffragette
Suffragette
"Suffragette" is a term coined by the Daily Mail newspaper as a derogatory label for members of the late 19th and early 20th century movement for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom, in particular members of the Women's Social and Political Union...
and pioneer of the state-funded family allowance, and her father, social reformer William Rathbone VI
William Rathbone VI
William Rathbone VI was an English merchant and businessman noted for his philanthropic and public work...
(1819-1902), who created the first system of district nursing. The plaque was unveiled by William Rathbone X at Greenbank House.