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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 held the lord's manorial courts, communal meals w ...
in
Churchtown, Merseyside Churchtown is a suburb of Southport, Merseyside, England. Historically in Lancashire, it is surrounded by Crossens, High Park and Marshside in the ancient parish of North Meols on the northern fringe of what is now Southport. History In 1575 ...
, 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 in South Ribble, Lancashire, England, on the south bank of the River Ribble facing the city of Preston. The town is at the most westerly crossing point of the river, with major road and rail links crossing it here. The ...
. 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 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. Architectura ...
, and used stonework from Lathom House, rescued as it was about to be dumped in a disused
Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a populat ...
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, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, and is a
grade II* listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Ir ...
.


See also

* Listed buildings in Churchtown, Merseyside


References

{{reflist


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