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{{Infobox Historic Site | name = Billys Home| native_name = | image = Wide image of Knowsley Hall.jpg| image_size = 250| caption = Knowsley Hall| locmapin = Merseyside| map_width = 200| map_caption = Location in Merseyside| alt = | latitude = 53.4380| longitude = -2.8384| coordinates = | coord_parameters = | coord_display = title| coord_format = | location = Near [[Liverpool]], [[Merseyside]], England| gbgridref = SJ 444 938| area = | elevation = | formed = | founded = | built = | built_for = [[Earls of Derby]]| demolished = | rebuilt = | restored = | restored_by = | architect = [[John Foster (architect)|John Foster]], [[William Burn]],<br>[[W. H. Romaine-Walker]],<br>[[Claud Phillimore, 4th Baron Phillimore|Claud Phillimore]]| architecture = | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | governing_body = | designation1 = Grade II*| designation1_offname = | designation1_type = | designation1_criteria = | designation1_date = 9 June 1952| delisted1_date = | designation1_parent = | designation1_number = 1253241| designation1_free1name = | designation1_free1value = | designation1_free2name = | designation1_free2value = | designation1_free3name = | designation1_free3value = | designation2 = | designation2_offname = | designation2_type = | designation2_criteria = | designation2_date = | delisted2_date = | designation2_parent = | designation2_number = | designation2_free1name = | designation2_free1value = | designation2_free2name = | designation2_free2value = | designation2_free3name = | designation2_free3value = }} |
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{{Infobox historic site |
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| name = Knowsley Hall |
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| native_name = |
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| image = Knowsley Hall, Merseyside-6116302107.jpg |
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| image_size = 250 |
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| caption = Knowsley Hall |
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| locmapin = Merseyside |
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| map_width = 200 |
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| map_caption = Location in Merseyside |
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| alt = |
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| coordinates = {{Coord|53|26|17|N|02|50|15|W|display=inline,title}} |
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| location = Near [[Liverpool]], [[Merseyside]], England |
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| gbgridref = SJ 444 938 |
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| area = |
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| elevation = |
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| formed = |
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| founded = |
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| built = |
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| built_for = [[Earls of Derby]] |
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| demolished = |
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| rebuilt = |
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| restored = |
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| restored_by = |
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| architect = [[John Foster (architect, born 1786)|John Foster]], [[William Burn]],<br />[[W. H. Romaine-Walker]],<br />[[Claud Phillimore, 4th Baron Phillimore|Claud Phillimore]] |
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| architecture = |
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| visitation_num = |
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| visitation_year = |
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| governing_body = |
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| designation1 = Grade II* |
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| designation1_offname = |
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| designation1_type = |
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| designation1_criteria = |
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| designation1_date = 9 June 1952 |
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| delisted1_date = |
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| designation1_parent = |
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| designation1_number = 1253241 |
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}} |
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''' |
'''Knowsley Hall''' is a stately home near [[Liverpool]] in the [[Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley]], [[Merseyside]], England.<ref name=hall>{{Citation |url=http://www.knowsleylettings.co.uk/ |title=Welcome to the Estate |access-date=7 October 2010 |publisher=Knowsley Hall |archive-date=23 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923121158/http://www.knowsleylettings.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is the ancestral home of the Stanley family, the [[Earls of Derby]].<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle=Derby, Earls of |volume=8 |pages=64–69 |short=1}}</ref> The hall is surrounded by {{convert|2500|acre|km2}} of parkland,<ref name=hall/> which contains the [[Knowsley Safari Park]].<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk/ |title=Knowsley Safari Park |access-date=7 October 2010 |publisher=Knowsley Hall |archive-date=4 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101004034122/http://www.knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Though the hall is still owned by the Stanley family, it is no longer a family home,<ref name=pp222/> but is instead used for corporate events, conferences and weddings.<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.knowsleyhallvenue.co.uk/ |title=Knowsley Hall |access-date=7 October 2010 |publisher=Knowsley Hall |archive-date=22 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822135131/http://www.knowsleyhallvenue.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 1953, it has been designated a Grade II* [[listed building]].<ref name=images>{{NHLE |num=1253241|desc=Knowsley Hall|access-date=18 August 2013|mode=cs2}}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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| ⚫ | Originally Knowsley was a medieval hunting lodge in the estate of [[Lathom House]]. It was inherited by the [[James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby|10th Earl]] in 1702 who developed the lodge into a large house. A dairy (since demolished) was designed by [[Robert Adam]], 1776–77.<ref>[[Howard Colvin]], ''A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840'', 3rd ed. (Yale University Press) 1995, ''s.v.'' "Adam, Robert". Adam also designed interiors and furnishings for Derby House, London.</ref> The house was given [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] [[battlement|castellations]] and extended further about 1820<ref>Approximate date given in Colvin 1995, ''s.v.'' "Foster, John".</ref> to designs by [[John Foster (architect, born 1786)|John Foster]], [[William Burn]] (who provided a boathouse and bridges in the park)<ref>Colvin 1995, ''s.v.'' "Burn, William".</ref> and other architects. In the early 20th century it was "tidied up" by [[W. H. Romaine-Walker]] for the [[Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby|17th Earl]]. After the [[World War II|Second World War]], the buildings were considerably reduced by [[Claud Phillimore, 4th Baron Phillimore|Claud Phillimore]], and ceased to be lived in by the family.<ref name=pp2178>Pollard and Pevsner, pp. 217–218.</ref> A smaller – but still substantial – family residence was built in the park.<ref name=pp222/> |
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[[File:Arms of the Earl of Derby 02666.jpg|left|thumb|Arms of the Earl of Derby.]] |
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| ⚫ | Originally Knowsley was a medieval hunting lodge in the estate of [[Lathom House]]. |
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[[File:Edward-Stanley-14th-Earl-of-Derby.jpg|left|thumb|Edward Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, became Prime Minister three times.]] |
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==Earls of Derby== |
==Earls of Derby== |
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{{main|Earl of Derby}} |
{{main|Earl of Derby}} |
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[[Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby|Thomas Stanley]] was rewarded with the title of Earl Derby in 1485 by [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]] as a reward for his support at the [[Battle of Bosworth Field]] which led to Henry's gaining the crown. |
[[Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby|Thomas Stanley]] was rewarded with the title of Earl Derby in 1485 by [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]] as a reward for his support at the [[Battle of Bosworth Field]] which led to Henry's gaining the crown. The title was taken from the [[West Derby Hundred|West Derby]] [[Hundred (county division)|Hundred]], a division of [[Lancashire]] in the South of the county (and not from the city of [[Derby]]). In 1495 Thomas entertained Henry VII at Lathom House and at Knowsley, which was then still a hunting lodge.<ref>Anon. pp. 2–3.</ref> [[Thomas Stanley, 2nd Earl of Derby|Thomas, the second Earl]], fought with [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] at the [[Battle of Guinegate (1513)|Battle of the Spurs]] in 1513.<ref>Anon. p. 3.</ref> [[Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby|Ferdinando, the fifth Earl]], was a poet and a patron of writers, including [[William Shakespeare]]. He held the position of Earl for only one year before dying from [[arsenic poisoning]].<ref name=anon3/> [[James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby|James, seventh Earl]], was involved in the [[English Civil War|Civil War]] as a [[Cavalier|Royalist]] supporter of [[Charles I of England|Charles I]]. [[Charlotte Stanley, Countess of Derby|Charlotte]], his wife, withstood a siege at Lathom Hall for ten weeks in 1644. James fought with Charles I at the [[Battle of Worcester]], was taken prisoner and beheaded at [[Bolton]]. He became known as the "Martyr Earl".<ref>Anon. pp. 4–5.</ref> The massive rebuilding of Knowsley in the early 18th century was carried out by [[James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby|James, the tenth Earl]] who had become wealthy through his marriage.<ref name=anon6/> [[Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby|Edward, the twelfth Earl]] had a great interest in horseracing and founded the [[Epsom Derby|Derby]] and the [[Epsom Oaks|Oaks]] horseraces. He created the State Dining Room for the visit of [[George IV of the United Kingdom|George IV]] in 1820–21. In the grounds of Knowsley he maintained a [[menagerie]] which contained 94 different species of mammals and 318 species of birds, many of which were rare and valuable.<ref name=anon7>Anon, p. 7.</ref> [[Edward Smith-Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby|Edward, the 13th Earl]] created a large library of works relating to [[natural history]] and was a champion of [[Edward Lear]], whom he commissioned to paint animals from the menagerie.<ref>Anon. p. 8.</ref> |
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[[Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby|Edward, the 14th Earl]] was a politician who became [[Prime minister|Prime Minister]] three times. |
[[Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby|Edward, the 14th Earl]] was a politician who became [[Prime minister|Prime Minister]] three times. He was responsible for steering the [[Slavery Abolition Act 1833|Slavery Abolition Act]] through Parliament and in his third administration the [[Reform Act 1867|Second Reform Bill]] was passed.<ref name=anon9/> The political tradition was maintained by [[Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby|Frederick, the 16th Earl]] who became [[Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform|President of the Board of Trade]] and later was appointed [[Governor General of Canada]]. While in Canada he presented the [[Stanley Cup]], the country's premier trophy for ice hockey.<ref name=anon9/> Also a politician, [[Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby|Edward George Villiers, the 17th Earl]], was [[Secretary of State for War]] for two periods, first during the [[World War I|First World War]] and again from 1922 to 1924. Between these periods he was [[Ambassador]] to France. He was also interested in horseracing, winning the Derby three times and owning the successful [[Stallion (horse)|stallion]] [[Hyperion (horse)|Hyperion]]. He was responsible for the major alterations to the house by Romaine-Walker.<ref name=anon10/> [[Edward Stanley, 18th Earl of Derby|Edward John, the 18th Earl]] was awarded the [[Military Cross]] in the Second World War, and after the war he reduced the hall to a more manageable size. He founded [[Knowsley Safari Park]] in 1971.<ref name=anon11>Anon, p. 11.</ref> Restoration of the hall has been continued by [[Edward Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby|Edward Richard William, the 19th and current Earl]] and his wife, Caroline Emma Neville, daughter of the 10th [[Baron Braybrooke|Lord Braybrooke]].<ref name=anon11/> The family do not live in the hall but in the New House in the grounds near the hall.<ref name=pp222/> |
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==Architecture== |
==Architecture== |
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[[File:Knowsleyhall.jpg|thumb|The southern facade of Knowsley Hall circa 1880 showing the [[Gothic Revival|Gothicised]] south wing to the left and the [[loggia]] at the end of the east wing on the right]] |
[[File:Knowsleyhall.jpg|thumb|The southern facade of Knowsley Hall circa 1880 showing the [[Gothic Revival|Gothicised]] south wing to the left and the [[loggia]] at the end of the east wing on the right]] |
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===External=== |
===External=== |
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The house consists of a long wing running |
The house consists of a long wing running north–south dating originally from the 1720s to 1737 (the east wing) and at right angles to the west is the south wing, dating originally from around 1495. At the west end of this wing is a detached structure, the Dynamo Tower.<ref name=pp2178/> The east wing is [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] in style, built in red brick with stone dressings. The south wing and Dynamo Tower are built in [[ashlar]] red [[sandstone]].<ref name=images/> The oldest part of the south wing is known as the Royal Lodging. On its north side, facing the courtyard, are two round [[Turret (architecture)|turret]]s with conical roofs. This face has nine bays with tall [[sash window]]s which are divided into groups of three by the towers.<ref name=pp2178/> |
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The west side of the east wing, which faces the courtyard, has a total of 19 bays, with seven bays in a central section and six bays on each side. |
The west side of the east wing, which faces the courtyard, has a total of 19 bays, with seven bays in a central section and six bays on each side. It consists of two storeys over a basement with an attic storey over the middle section. Above the central section is a [[pediment]] on the summit of which is sculpture of the eagle and child (the Stanley emblem). The east face of the east wing is particularly long. At the north end are four bays in two storeys; the centre is of nine bays in 2½ storeys; and at the south end are 16 bays, also in 2½ storeys but one storey lower because the land falls away to the south. At the south end of the east wing is a "handsome" two-storey, five-bay stone "[[portico]] or [[loggia]]" with paired [[Doric order|Doric]] columns on the lower storey and paired fluted [[Ionic order|Ionic]] columns above. The east wing then jumps back with six bays facing west until it joins the south wing.<ref>Pevsner and Pollard, pp. 218–220.</ref> |
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===Internal=== |
===Internal=== |
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This section describes mainly the rooms which are normally open to the public. |
This section describes mainly the rooms which are normally open to the public. The Entrance Hall is panelled in carved oak and is hung with early 18th-century paintings of the house and the park.<ref name=anon2>Anon. p. 2.</ref> The Grand Staircase has a collection of oil paintings on leather.<ref name=anon3>Anon. p. 4.</ref> The morning room is a light family room overlooking the gardens and parkland. The Breakfast Room has pale blue panels with paintings, one of which is a portrait of [[Charlotte Stanley, Countess of Derby|Charlotte]], wife of the [[James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby|7th Earl]].<ref>Anon. p. 5.</ref> The Walnut Drawing-Room contains a number of portraits, including one of the second wife of the [[Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby|12th Earl]], the actress [[Elizabeth Farren]].<ref name=anon6>Anon. p. 6.</ref> The library contains a collection of books on natural history brought together by the [[Edward Smith-Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby|13th Earl]].<ref name=anon9>Anon. p. 9.</ref> The Stucco Room, decorated in [[Rococo]] style, was created in the 18th century to link the Royal Lodging with the rest of the house is now a ballroom with a sprung floor.<ref name=anon10>Anon. p. 10.</ref> The State Dining Room is hung with portraits of family members.<ref>Anon. pp. 3–4.</ref> The room was designed by Foster to look like a [[great hall]] with doors {{convert|30|ft|m|0}} high and contains two [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] fireplaces and an [[ormolu]] [[chandelier]]. It was reworked in 1890, adding a [[bay window]], a carved [[Dado (architecture)|dado]] and a roof consisting of a large rectangular lantern supported on brackets which is glazed round its sides.<ref>Pevsner and Pollard, p. 221.</ref> The hall now measures {{convert|53|by|37|ft}} and is {{convert|50|ft}} high.<ref name=anon7/> |
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==Parkland== |
==Parkland== |
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This consists of an area of approximately {{convert|2500|acre|km2}} surrounded by a stone wall {{convert|9+1/2|mi|km|0}} long.<ref name=anon2/> |
This consists of an area of approximately {{convert|2500|acre|km2}} surrounded by a stone wall {{convert|9+1/2|mi|km|0}} long.<ref name=anon2/> It has been registered by English Heritage at Grade II.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1000997|desc=Knowsley Hall|year=2011 |access-date=9 May 2011|mode=cs2}}</ref> The park was landscaped in the 1770s by [[Capability Brown|"Capability" Brown]], who flooded a {{convert|62|acre}} lake to feed the water-gardens around the hall.<ref name=anon2/> The southeast section of the park was made into a [[safari park]] in 1971. To the east and northeast of the hall is a chain of lakes, White Man's Dam, the Octagon Pond and the Home Pond.<ref>Pevsner and Pollard, pp. 221–222.</ref> The Octagon was built as a summer house in 1755<ref name=pp222>Pevsner and Pollard, p. 222.</ref> and designed by [[Robert Adam]].<ref name=anon2/> |
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| ⚫ | The park contains a number of buildings. These include the New House which was built for the [[Edward Stanley, 18th Earl of Derby|18th Earl]] and his family, by Phillimore in 1963 in Neo-Georgian style, the stables to the north of the hall which were designed by William Burn in the 1840s, the boathouse of 1837, also by William Burn, the Nest, Home Farm, and a number of lodges.<ref>Pevsner and Pollard, pp. 222–223.</ref> |
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The parkland also contains the highest point in Knowsley Unitary Authority, 100 metres above sea level, at SJ 456 943.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=S&rf=5510. |title=Mountain Search |website=Hill-bagging.co.uk |access-date=2 November 2021 |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404023945/http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=S&rf=5510. |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The park contains a number of buildings. |
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==Present use== |
==Present use== |
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Apart from the Safari Park being a tourist attraction, the hall and its grounds are used for a number of purposes. |
Apart from the Safari Park being a tourist attraction, the hall and its grounds are used for a number of purposes. The hall can be booked for conferences and corporate events,<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.knowsleyhallvenue.co.uk/?p=1 |title=Events |access-date=7 October 2010 |publisher=Knowsley Hall |archive-date=12 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812015454/http://www.knowsleyhallvenue.co.uk/?p=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> and for private events.<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.knowsleyhallvenue.co.uk/?p=8 |title=Private |access-date=7 October 2010 |publisher=Knowsley Hall |archive-date=27 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727060352/http://www.knowsleyhallvenue.co.uk/?p=8 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is licensed for weddings.<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.knowsleyhallvenue.co.uk/?p=37 |title=Weddings |access-date=7 October 2010 |publisher=Knowsley Hall |archive-date=9 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009191544/http://www.knowsleyhallvenue.co.uk/?p=37 |url-status=live }}</ref> Events are held in the grounds to raise money for local charities.<ref>Anon p. 1.</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{portal|Merseyside}} |
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*[[Grade II* listed buildings in Merseyside]] |
*[[Grade II* listed buildings in Merseyside]] |
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*[[Listed buildings in Knowsley, Merseyside]] |
*[[Listed buildings in Knowsley, Merseyside]] |
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*[[Knowsley Hall shootings]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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'''Sources''' |
'''Sources''' |
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{{refbegin}} |
{{refbegin}} |
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*{{Citation | |
*{{Citation |last1=Pollard |first1=Richard |last2=Pevsner |first2=Nikolaus |author2-link=Nikolaus Pevsner |series=The Buildings of England |title=Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |year=2006 |location=New Haven and London |isbn=0-300-10910-5}} |
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*{{Citation |
*{{Citation |last=Anon. |title=Knowsley Hall and Estate |publisher=Jarrold |year=2005 |location=Norwich}} (jarrold-publishing.co.uk is a publisher of guidebooks for museums and historic houses) |
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{{refend}} |
{{refend}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{commons category |
{{commons category-inline|Knowsley Hall}} |
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* |
*{{Official|http://www.knowsley.com/}} |
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[[Category:Country houses in Merseyside]] |
[[Category:Country houses in Merseyside]] |
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[[Category:Grade II* listed buildings in Merseyside]] |
[[Category:Grade II* listed buildings in Merseyside]] |
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[[Category:Grade II* listed houses]] |
[[Category:Grade II* listed houses]] |
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[[Category:Stanley family |
[[Category:Stanley family]] |
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[[Category:Gardens by Capability Brown]] |
[[Category:Gardens by Capability Brown]] |
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[[Category:Prime |
[[Category:Prime ministerial homes in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Earls of Derby]] |
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[[Category:Knowsley, Merseyside|Hall]] |
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Latest revision as of 11:22, 27 September 2024
| Knowsley Hall | |
|---|---|
 Knowsley Hall | |
| Location | Near Liverpool, Merseyside, England |
| Coordinates | 53°26′17″N 02°50′15″W / 53.43806°N 2.83750°W |
| OS grid reference | SJ 444 938 |
| Built for | Earls of Derby |
| Architect | John Foster, William Burn, W. H. Romaine-Walker, Claud Phillimore |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Designated | 9 June 1952 |
| Reference no. | 1253241 |
  Location in Merseyside | |
Knowsley Hall is a stately home near Liverpool in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, Merseyside, England.[1] It is the ancestral home of the Stanley family, the Earls of Derby.[2] The hall is surrounded by 2,500 acres (10 km2) of parkland,[1] which contains the Knowsley Safari Park.[3] Though the hall is still owned by the Stanley family, it is no longer a family home,[4] but is instead used for corporate events, conferences and weddings.[5] Since 1953, it has been designated a Grade II* listed building.[6]
History
[edit]Originally Knowsley was a medieval hunting lodge in the estate of Lathom House. It was inherited by the 10th Earl in 1702 who developed the lodge into a large house. A dairy (since demolished) was designed by Robert Adam, 1776–77.[7] The house was given Gothic castellations and extended further about 1820[8] to designs by John Foster, William Burn (who provided a boathouse and bridges in the park)[9] and other architects. In the early 20th century it was "tidied up" by W. H. Romaine-Walker for the 17th Earl. After the Second World War, the buildings were considerably reduced by Claud Phillimore, and ceased to be lived in by the family.[10] A smaller – but still substantial – family residence was built in the park.[4]
Earls of Derby
[edit]Thomas Stanley was rewarded with the title of Earl Derby in 1485 by Henry VII as a reward for his support at the Battle of Bosworth Field which led to Henry's gaining the crown. The title was taken from the West Derby Hundred, a division of Lancashire in the South of the county (and not from the city of Derby). In 1495 Thomas entertained Henry VII at Lathom House and at Knowsley, which was then still a hunting lodge.[11] Thomas, the second Earl, fought with Henry VIII at the Battle of the Spurs in 1513.[12] Ferdinando, the fifth Earl, was a poet and a patron of writers, including William Shakespeare. He held the position of Earl for only one year before dying from arsenic poisoning.[13] James, seventh Earl, was involved in the Civil War as a Royalist supporter of Charles I. Charlotte, his wife, withstood a siege at Lathom Hall for ten weeks in 1644. James fought with Charles I at the Battle of Worcester, was taken prisoner and beheaded at Bolton. He became known as the "Martyr Earl".[14] The massive rebuilding of Knowsley in the early 18th century was carried out by James, the tenth Earl who had become wealthy through his marriage.[15] Edward, the twelfth Earl had a great interest in horseracing and founded the Derby and the Oaks horseraces. He created the State Dining Room for the visit of George IV in 1820–21. In the grounds of Knowsley he maintained a menagerie which contained 94 different species of mammals and 318 species of birds, many of which were rare and valuable.[16] Edward, the 13th Earl created a large library of works relating to natural history and was a champion of Edward Lear, whom he commissioned to paint animals from the menagerie.[17]
Edward, the 14th Earl was a politician who became Prime Minister three times. He was responsible for steering the Slavery Abolition Act through Parliament and in his third administration the Second Reform Bill was passed.[18] The political tradition was maintained by Frederick, the 16th Earl who became President of the Board of Trade and later was appointed Governor General of Canada. While in Canada he presented the Stanley Cup, the country's premier trophy for ice hockey.[18] Also a politician, Edward George Villiers, the 17th Earl, was Secretary of State for War for two periods, first during the First World War and again from 1922 to 1924. Between these periods he was Ambassador to France. He was also interested in horseracing, winning the Derby three times and owning the successful stallion Hyperion. He was responsible for the major alterations to the house by Romaine-Walker.[19] Edward John, the 18th Earl was awarded the Military Cross in the Second World War, and after the war he reduced the hall to a more manageable size. He founded Knowsley Safari Park in 1971.[20] Restoration of the hall has been continued by Edward Richard William, the 19th and current Earl and his wife, Caroline Emma Neville, daughter of the 10th Lord Braybrooke.[20] The family do not live in the hall but in the New House in the grounds near the hall.[4]
Architecture
[edit]
External
[edit]The house consists of a long wing running north–south dating originally from the 1720s to 1737 (the east wing) and at right angles to the west is the south wing, dating originally from around 1495. At the west end of this wing is a detached structure, the Dynamo Tower.[10] The east wing is Georgian in style, built in red brick with stone dressings. The south wing and Dynamo Tower are built in ashlar red sandstone.[6] The oldest part of the south wing is known as the Royal Lodging. On its north side, facing the courtyard, are two round turrets with conical roofs. This face has nine bays with tall sash windows which are divided into groups of three by the towers.[10]
The west side of the east wing, which faces the courtyard, has a total of 19 bays, with seven bays in a central section and six bays on each side. It consists of two storeys over a basement with an attic storey over the middle section. Above the central section is a pediment on the summit of which is sculpture of the eagle and child (the Stanley emblem). The east face of the east wing is particularly long. At the north end are four bays in two storeys; the centre is of nine bays in 2½ storeys; and at the south end are 16 bays, also in 2½ storeys but one storey lower because the land falls away to the south. At the south end of the east wing is a "handsome" two-storey, five-bay stone "portico or loggia" with paired Doric columns on the lower storey and paired fluted Ionic columns above. The east wing then jumps back with six bays facing west until it joins the south wing.[21]
Internal
[edit]This section describes mainly the rooms which are normally open to the public. The Entrance Hall is panelled in carved oak and is hung with early 18th-century paintings of the house and the park.[22] The Grand Staircase has a collection of oil paintings on leather.[13] The morning room is a light family room overlooking the gardens and parkland. The Breakfast Room has pale blue panels with paintings, one of which is a portrait of Charlotte, wife of the 7th Earl.[23] The Walnut Drawing-Room contains a number of portraits, including one of the second wife of the 12th Earl, the actress Elizabeth Farren.[15] The library contains a collection of books on natural history brought together by the 13th Earl.[18] The Stucco Room, decorated in Rococo style, was created in the 18th century to link the Royal Lodging with the rest of the house is now a ballroom with a sprung floor.[19] The State Dining Room is hung with portraits of family members.[24] The room was designed by Foster to look like a great hall with doors 30 feet (9 m) high and contains two Gothic fireplaces and an ormolu chandelier. It was reworked in 1890, adding a bay window, a carved dado and a roof consisting of a large rectangular lantern supported on brackets which is glazed round its sides.[25] The hall now measures 53 by 37 feet (16 by 11 m) and is 50 feet (15 m) high.[16]
Parkland
[edit]This consists of an area of approximately 2,500 acres (10 km2) surrounded by a stone wall 9+1⁄2 miles (15 km) long.[22] It has been registered by English Heritage at Grade II.[26] The park was landscaped in the 1770s by "Capability" Brown, who flooded a 62 acres (25 ha) lake to feed the water-gardens around the hall.[22] The southeast section of the park was made into a safari park in 1971. To the east and northeast of the hall is a chain of lakes, White Man's Dam, the Octagon Pond and the Home Pond.[27] The Octagon was built as a summer house in 1755[4] and designed by Robert Adam.[22]
The park contains a number of buildings. These include the New House which was built for the 18th Earl and his family, by Phillimore in 1963 in Neo-Georgian style, the stables to the north of the hall which were designed by William Burn in the 1840s, the boathouse of 1837, also by William Burn, the Nest, Home Farm, and a number of lodges.[28]
The parkland also contains the highest point in Knowsley Unitary Authority, 100 metres above sea level, at SJ 456 943.[29]
Present use
[edit]Apart from the Safari Park being a tourist attraction, the hall and its grounds are used for a number of purposes. The hall can be booked for conferences and corporate events,[30] and for private events.[31] It is licensed for weddings.[32] Events are held in the grounds to raise money for local charities.[33]
See also
[edit]- Grade II* listed buildings in Merseyside
- Listed buildings in Knowsley, Merseyside
- Knowsley Hall shootings
References
[edit]Citations
- ^ a b Welcome to the Estate, Knowsley Hall, archived from the original on 23 September 2010, retrieved 7 October 2010
- ^ . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 8 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 64–69.
- ^ Knowsley Safari Park, Knowsley Hall, archived from the original on 4 October 2010, retrieved 7 October 2010
- ^ a b c d Pevsner and Pollard, p. 222.
- ^ Knowsley Hall, Knowsley Hall, archived from the original on 22 August 2010, retrieved 7 October 2010
- ^ a b Historic England, "Knowsley Hall (1253241)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 18 August 2013
- ^ Howard Colvin, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, 3rd ed. (Yale University Press) 1995, s.v. "Adam, Robert". Adam also designed interiors and furnishings for Derby House, London.
- ^ Approximate date given in Colvin 1995, s.v. "Foster, John".
- ^ Colvin 1995, s.v. "Burn, William".
- ^ a b c Pollard and Pevsner, pp. 217–218.
- ^ Anon. pp. 2–3.
- ^ Anon. p. 3.
- ^ a b Anon. p. 4.
- ^ Anon. pp. 4–5.
- ^ a b Anon. p. 6.
- ^ a b Anon, p. 7.
- ^ Anon. p. 8.
- ^ a b c Anon. p. 9.
- ^ a b Anon. p. 10.
- ^ a b Anon, p. 11.
- ^ Pevsner and Pollard, pp. 218–220.
- ^ a b c d Anon. p. 2.
- ^ Anon. p. 5.
- ^ Anon. pp. 3–4.
- ^ Pevsner and Pollard, p. 221.
- ^ Historic England (2011), "Knowsley Hall (1000997)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 9 May 2011
- ^ Pevsner and Pollard, pp. 221–222.
- ^ Pevsner and Pollard, pp. 222–223.
- ^ "Mountain Search". Hill-bagging.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ Events, Knowsley Hall, archived from the original on 12 August 2010, retrieved 7 October 2010
- ^ Private, Knowsley Hall, archived from the original on 27 July 2010, retrieved 7 October 2010
- ^ Weddings, Knowsley Hall, archived from the original on 9 October 2010, retrieved 7 October 2010
- ^ Anon p. 1.
Sources
- Pollard, Richard; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2006), Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West, The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, ISBN 0-300-10910-5
- Anon. (2005), Knowsley Hall and Estate, Norwich: Jarrold (jarrold-publishing.co.uk is a publisher of guidebooks for museums and historic houses)
External links
[edit]
Media related to Knowsley Hall at Wikimedia Commons