Lytham Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lytham Hall |
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| Location | Lytham, Lancashire |
| Built | 1757–1764 |
| Architect | John Carr |
| Architectural style(s) | Neo-Palladian |
| Governing body | Heritage Trust for the North West |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 1 December 1965 |
| Reference no. | 1219078 |
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Lytham Hall is a beautiful old country house in Lytham, Lancashire. It was built in the 1700s, during the Georgian era. The hall sits about 1 mile from the town center, surrounded by 78 acres of lovely wooded parkland. It's a very important building, listed as a Grade I building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's considered one of the most special historic buildings in England. Lytham Hall is the only Grade I listed building in the Borough of Fylde.
Contents
Discovering Lytham Hall's Past
From Ancient Manor to Grand Estate
The land where Lytham Hall now stands has a very long history. In 1086, it was known as Lidun in the Domesday Book. This book was a huge survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror. Later, in the 1100s, the land was given to Benedictine monks. They built a small monastery there, called Lytham Priory.
After the monasteries were closed down in the 1530s, the land changed hands. Sir Richard Molyneux took ownership of Lytham Priory. In 1606, a local landowner named Cuthbert Clifton bought the property. He built the first house on the site.
Building the Current Lytham Hall
Many years later, Cuthbert's descendant, Thomas Clifton, decided to build a new, grander house. This is the Lytham Hall we see today. It was built between 1757 and 1764. The famous architect John Carr of York designed the house. For the next two centuries, the Clifton family owned a huge estate. At its largest, it covered about 8,000 acres of land.
Changes Through the Generations
The ownership of Lytham Hall stayed in the Clifton family for a long time. John Clifton (1764–1832) inherited it, and then his son Thomas Joseph Clifton (1788–1851) took over. Thomas Joseph made big changes to the estate. He made the parkland around the house much larger.
Later, the house passed to Colonel John Talbot Clifton (1819–1882). After him, his 14-year-old grandson, John Talbot Clifton (1868–1928), became the owner. During his time, a railway line was built along the southern edge of the estate. Some of the land was also sold for building houses.
Lytham Hall During Wartime and Beyond
During the First World War, Lytham Hall was used as a military hospital. After 1919, the Clifton family moved away. First they went to Ireland, then to Scotland in 1922. Because they no longer lived there, the house was not looked after as well.
John Talbot Clifton was a great traveler. He passed away in 1928 during a trip to Timbuktu with his wife, Violet Beauclerk. Violet later wrote a book about her husband, called The Book of Talbot. This book won an award in 1933. She was the last person from the family to live in the house.
Sadly, the family faced financial difficulties. In 1963, Lytham Hall had to be sold. It was bought by an insurance company, Guardian Royal Exchange Assurance, to be used as offices.
Protecting a Historic Treasure
On December 1, 1965, Lytham Hall was officially named a Grade I listed building. This is the highest level of protection for historic buildings in England. It means the building is of exceptional national importance.
In 1997, the Lytham Town Trust bought the building. They received help from a donation by BAE Systems. The trust then leased Lytham Hall to the Heritage Trust for the North West for 99 years. This ensures the hall will be preserved for many years to come.
Exploring Lytham Hall's Design
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Lytham Hall was built in the Neo-Palladian style. This style was popular in the 1700s and was inspired by ancient Roman and Greek buildings. The house is made of red brick laid in a special pattern called Flemish bond. It also has stone decorations and stucco (a type of plaster) features.
The hall has three floors and a rectangular shape. It is built on a stone base called a plinth. The front of the house faces east. It has a central section that sticks out slightly. This section has a triangular top part called a pediment, decorated with Ionic columns. The main entrance also has a pediment and is framed by Doric columns.
You can see four tall, flat columns called pilasters between the first floor and the roof's decorative edge, known as the cornice. The windows on the ground floor have special stone frames called Gibbs surrounds.
Inside the Georgian Home
Usually, in Palladian-style houses, the servants' rooms and utility areas were on the ground floor. The important family rooms were on the first floor. However, Lytham Hall is different. Its main family rooms are located on the ground floor.
Gardens and Other Structures
Around Lytham Hall, there are several other historic structures. These are listed as Grade II buildings, meaning they are also important. They include the Gatehouse, a large stable block, and a big Dovecote (a building for doves or pigeons). There are also the inner gates, a statue of Diana in what used to be a formal garden, and a screen wall. Lytham Hall is often called "the finest Georgian house in Lancashire."
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Lancashire
- Grade II* listed buildings in Lancashire
- Listed buildings in Lytham
