Bank Hall
Bretherton Online
"Working To Save
Bank Hall Bretherton"
The Banastre Family Tree
The Banastre Family where the family to build the first part of the present building known as Bank Hall but the family history goes back further, which explains the reason of the construction of Bank Hall... Before the Banastre Family moved to the site it is believed that there was a wooden structure on the site of the present house... Here is the Bank Hall Historic Timeline........
1212
The now forgotten hamlet of THORP, was held of the Crown in chief by Richard son of Roger de Freckleton, who rendered 10s. annually. It was held of the Freckletons by a local family surnamed Thorp for a century and a half after this time
1240
The Banastre Family where evicted from their Family seat at Prestatyn Castle in North Wales
Pre-Edward II (1307-1327)
Possibly a wooden structure was on the site of where Bank Hall stands today (we could say "The original Bank Hall").
1369
Thorp was sold by the heirs of Thorp to Sir Thomas Banastre, it became completely merged in his moiety of Bretherton, and ceased to be noticed.
1526
Henry Banastre died and seised of a capital messuage called the Bank and other messuages and lands in Bretherton; also lands in Tarleton, Becconsall and Hesketh. The Bank estate was said to be held of the king as of his duchy of Lancaster by the twentieth part of a knight's fee and a rent of 4½d. yearly. Richard Banastre, his son and heir, was 44 years of age and inherited "the Bank".
1548
Richard Banastre of "Bank" died aged 51, His son William inherited his estates at the age of forty-eight years old.
The tenure of the 'Manor of Bretherton' was recorded as in this year.
1555
William Banastre son of Richard died aged 55 years, just after arranging for the marriage of his grandson Adam and Dorothy (daughter of Hugh Anderton)
Henry Banastre, the son and heir of William and father of Adam, was 33 years of age and inherited the “Bank” estates.
1593
Henry died aged 71 years and left the estate to his second son William. (His first son Adam had died leaving no heir)
1593-1608
When William died the estate passed to his eldest son Henry. A date was not recorded for Williams death
1608
The core of the Jacobean, brick built building as we know as 'Bank Hall' today was constructed. It is unknown whether William or Henry ordered for Bank Hall to be re-built.
1608-1616
Henry was married three times and had two daughters.
1616
Henry's son was born and was named after his father.
1617
Henry (the father) died leaving his infant son Henry as the heir of the Bank Hall estate aged only 1year, 4months and 10days. Also, Jeremiah Horrocks was born at Toxteth Park, Liverpool, in this year.
1630
Jeremiah Horrocks first observed the Transit of Venus from a window in Carr House on the 24th November in this year.
1639
Jeremiah Horrocks was ordained to the Ministry in this year and accepted the curacy of Hoole the same year at a salary of forty pounds per annum.
1641
Jeremiah Horrocks died at the early age of 23 on the 3rd January, in this year.
1657
The young Henry lived to be 40 years old and died in London on 13th June, leaving two sons Henry and Christopher. He was brought to Croston for burial
1664
Henry's Son also named Henry (who was the brother of Christopher) was murdered aged 28years at a horse race in Cheshire by a Manxman named Colcoth. Christopher was passed the estate after the murder of his brother and was the last Banastre of "Banke". Christopher's daughter Anne was also born in this year.
1669 - 1670
Christopher was made the High Sheriff of Lancashire.
1675
Thomas Legh was born June 13th.**
1682
Christopher died and left two daughters Anne and Elizabeth.
1692
Sir Richard Fleetwood started the Draining of Martin Mere by a sluice gate shutting and opening with the tide. He made Bank Hall his residence in 1692.
1701
Aged 26years Thomas Legh married Elizabeth
1713
Elizabeth the younger daughter died. Anne married Thomas Fleetwood son of Sir Richard Fleetwood who was famous for draining Marton Mere (now known as Martin Mere). After the death of Anne, Thomas re-married Lettice Legh. Fleetwood Legh son of Anne and Thomas was born in the early 1700's
1717
Thomas Fleetwood died leaving ten children and was buried at North Meols Church near Southport
1719
Lettice died and was buried at North Meols church near Southport.
Thomas Fleetwood and Anne Banastre his first wife had a daughter, Elizabeth Maria. Thomas Legh ** married Elizabeth and so he gained Bank Hall. Lettice was sister to Thomas Legh and she was also step-mother-in-law to her brother!!
1717
The eldest child was Fleetwood Legh who inherited the Bank Hall Estate from his late father Thomas Fleetwood.
1723
Fleetwood Legh married aged 22years to Meriel Leycester.
1725
Fleetwood died aged 25years on January 21st. His brother Peter Legh inherited Bank Hall and married Martha Benet, who bother spent their time at Lyme Hall.
Peter and Martha had two sons who both died young (Peter Benet Legh as an infant and Benet Legh aged 8years. They also had two daughters, Herietta Maria Legh and Elizabeth Legh
1763
Henrietta Maria married Robert Vernon and Elizabeth married Anthony James Keck.
1787
Martha Legh died at Lyme Hall
1792
Peter Legh died at Lyme Hall
1802
Anthony James Keck and his wife Elizabeth (knee Legh) had a son George Anthony who later married Elizabeth Atherton who was his cousin.
1828
George Anthony (surname now Legh-Keck) had an organ made for Bank Hall by the Organ Makers Elliot & Hill.
1832 -1833
George Anthony Legh Keck Extensively re-modelled and renovated Bank Hall, with help from Architect George Webster.
Bank Hall was restored and considerably enlarged with a new wing was added at the west end, a porch built on the north side, the original north-west wing refaced, and the roofs covered with cumbrian blue slates. The new work was carried out in a style corresponding to that of the original Jacobean building. Nearly all the windows were renewed during the restoration and new bay windows in an Italian style were added to the south front, considerably altering its original appearance.
The tower, which contains the original cantilevered oak staircase, is the main architectural feature of the building on the south side, and gives a great deal of distinction and picturesque vies of the house that can be seen from the gardens and further. It had a clock in the top story facing both north and south, and preserves most of its original features, the staircase windows where unaltered, and the reconstruction of the top of the tower added battlements and ornaments of the Legh-Keck Lady's Bust and Rams Head amongst the other statues at each corner of the tower. The interior was almost wholly modernized, but one of the lower rooms in the north-west wing (known as the Dunkirk Suit) was panelled with 12th century oak said to have been brought here from the nearby Carr House, and in one of the upper bedrooms was a 17th-century fireplace with a peacock carved on the chimney-piece above.
1837
Elizabeth Legh Keck died.
1860
George Anthony Legh Keck died on the 4th September
Both the Estates of Lyme Hall and Bank Hall then passed on to Thomas Powys ("Lord Lilford II") as George Anthony and Elizabeth Legh Keck had no children. Thomas Atherton Powys (Lord Lilford III) inherited the estates after the death of his father (Lord Lilford II). The House contents of Bank Hall where auctioned off over a three day period at the house.
1861
Thomas Atherton Powys (Lord Lilford III) died. His son Thomas Littleton Powys (Lord Lilford IV) (4th) inherited his estates.
1864
The architect George Webster died
Lord Lilford IV (4th) was succeeded by his son John Powys
1874
Lord Lilford Thomas Littleton, fourth baron, was the president of the British Ornithologists' Union. In 1900 his sister, Caroline Mary Drewitt (Powys) published his memoirs. [Click Here] to view the full publishing. Some research into the book shows that Lord Lilford was at Bank Hall while writing his memoirs to an Albert Gilnther.
Page 108 from the book shows the following article:
' Bank Hall, Preston : October 9, 1874.
. . . I am glad to hear that there was great exaggeration about the damage done by the explosion at the Zoological Gardens; it was quite sufficiently terrible as it was. 'I should think it likely that my Falco Eleanora in the new Raptorial house was killed or escaped.'
Then on pages 116 -117 the following letter was also written
' Bank Hall, Preston : October 6. 1878.
The Crown Prince of Austria most graciously sent me a beautiful miniature of himself ; I am glad to hear that he had a successful trip on the Lower Danube. . . . Seebohm told me that he was to do the warblers for the " British Museum Catalogue." I believe that we could hardly find a better man than Shelley for the Sunbirds, if he will undertake it. We have had some fun at Lilford with a Peregrine Tiercel which began to take partridges well, in spite of our big fences.'
1896
Lord Lilford IV died
1899
Bank Hall and Estate was advertised to be leased out to anyone for shooting and hunting purposes. The staff working at the hall included 7 Keepers, 3 Gardeners and 2 more Gardeners available for the Vegetable Garden. Sir Harcourt Clare his wife and daughter "Dolly" (Dorothy) took up the offer.
The Maids, Butler, Cook, House Keepers, Coachmen and many other staff that the hall required who would work closely with the family who lived in the house where paid off after the death of George Anthony Legh Keck as they where no longer needed. The Farm, Estate and the Gardens at the hall still worked on and where employing staff to maintain them and produce income for the Estate.
In 2007 a member from the Action Group found a rectangular sheet of metal, while replanting a snowdrop circle around an Atlantic Cedar. This proved that Lord and Lady Lilford came to stay at Bank Hall in 1898. This is known because the metal plate read:
"Cedar of Atlantica
Planted by Lady Lilford
9th September 1898"
It is believed that the Lilford Family used Bank Hall as a summerhouse or holiday destination since they inherited the Estate on the death of George Anthony Legh Keck. The Lilford Family would bring their house staff with them while they stayed at Bank Hall.
1916
Sir Harcourt Clare Was knighted
1922
Sir Harcourt Everard Clare died on the 1st March and was buried at Bretherton Church
The Clare Family
Sir Harcourt would walk two miles every morning to Croston Station from Bank Hall and then carry on from Preston train station to work. The family where known for keeping a large number of Pekinese dogs which where looked after by a Mr Pritchard. The family also had a high involvement in the local village life and often organised events for the villagers.
The Clare Family are all buried next to each other in the graveyard at the Parish church in Bretherton. There are three headstones in the shape of a cross, the first nearest the church is of Sir Harcourt and reads
1924 -1937
Sir Lt Col Norman Seddon-Brown and Family where the next to lease out Bank Hall.
Mary Esstlemont stays with her school friend Cynthia Seddon-Brown at Bank Hall during school holidays away from bording school.
1932
The swimming pool was built by the West wing.
1937
The Seddon-Brown Family moved to their new home at Caton in
1938
Jean Seddon-Brown married at their new address
The Seddon-Brown Family
The Seddon-Brown Family where Sir Norman, his wife Gertrude (known as "Gert" and their five children (one of whom Geoff lived away). The other children where Dennis, Jean, and Cynthia.
Cynthia went to boarding school in The Westlands, Acton Reynold,
Click here to view Mary's "My Times at Bank Hall".
1940
The outbreak of war gave Bank Hall a visit from the Army.
During World War II
The Army manned all the Ports between Holyhead and Barrow, Bank Hall was turned into an Army base and was modernised to meet the standards of the Army. The walled garden is believed to have been ripped up and replaced by wooden huts used to house the army staff.
1944
Dennis Seddon-Brown died at war in the battle of Casino
1945
The Army left Bank Hall as
John Powys died and his brother Stephen had the inheritance.
1949
Stephen died so the Estates passed to George Vernon Powys who died not too long after (George was the 7th Lord Lilford)
1950
The Estate Managers moved their offices into the East wing of the hall.
1951
The Neen Family stayed at Bank Hall while they converted the Bank Hall Windmill into a house (The Windmill can be seen on the by-pass between Carr House and the farmyard entrance to Bank Hall).
1950's?
It is also believed that an advert was put out for labourers to work on the Bank Hall Estate, some workers from
1962
The Estate Managers moved out of Bank Hall locking the doors for the last time.
Since The Last Tenants...
After the hall was vacated by the Estate Managers, vandals and thieves set in and stole many of the remaining interiors of the house and the lead and masonry from the roofs, while many others (usually local school children or families on a walk or bike ride) came to enjoy the leisure grounds or maybe a quick peek around the house sneaking through a broken window or door.
Bank Hall was at one time during the 1970's wanted to be renovated and turned into a country club and golf course, but unfortunately the plan failed. The Top of the tower and other parts of the house where used for the filming of the The Haunted House of Horror Film (the rest of the film was recorded at the "ghostly" Palace Hotel in
Early 1980's
The North - East corner elevation of the tower collapsed loosing a clock face a ram's head and other masonry from the tower, which crashed through the roof and floors below.
The next ten years would see the plantation of trees, which helped transform the grounds into a jungle, as there was nobody to maintain them. The Ivy and trees growing out of the foundations smothering the building causing more destruction, as the West wing lost its chimneys and roof and the East wing lost its gables.
The Bank Hall Action Group Years
It all really started when Mrs. Patricia Curren (Pat) first saw Bank Hall. When Pat's daughter Diana saw the Hall she too fell in love with the place, so much so that she began to research it's history and current circumstances. For Further reading on The Action Group History please click on the red link.
1994
Diana Tuson studies the documentation in the Planning Department at Chorley Borough Council concerning Bank Hall.
Early 1995
Diana writes to the following concerning Bank Hall:
English Heritage, Save Britain's Heritage, Chorley B.C, Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.
Late June 1995
Diana contacts The Chorley Guardian altering them to the state of Bank Hall. John Quirk, a young journalist on the Guardian takes up the story with great enthusiasm, running a SAVE BANK HALL campaign in the paper.
The first article appears on the 12 July 1995, asking for the public's response to the plight of the building.
John Quirk brings together some of these who responded including Gordon Johnson from Bretherton and Carol Anne Strange from Leyland and suggests that an action group be formed to save Bank Hall.
26 July 1995
First meeting of B.H.A.G. at The De Trafford Arms, Croston.
Tuesday 26 Sept 1995
Bank Hall Conference held in a packed council chamber at Chorley Town Hall, the first major achievement of the campaign. The outcome of the meeting was a decision to carry out a feasibility study on the hall.
5 Dec 1995
Gordon Johnson, B.H.A.G. meets Roger Bracewell, Lord Lilford's agent. Roger gives the Action Group permission to gain access to the grounds. Work started to clear the grounds.
1996
Niall Philips of Bristol carries out a feasibility study of Bank Hall. His response was positive. He concludes that it is feasible, practical and desirable to save Bank Hall.
1997
Scaffolding was erected around the tower, in hope to prevent any further collapse, at a cost of £32,000.
The first edition of the Bank Hall Red book was published.
1999
Following the erection of a security fence around the building the Action Group open the grounds of Bank Hall to the general public.
The Greenhouse and trees around the building where also taken down around the building to provide the space and safety for the public access.
2000 The Bank Hall Visitor Centre opened. 2002 Endmol Visit Bank Hall to film for a New TV series called "Restoration"
2003
Bank Hall is the first building to be featured on the BBC's First Restoration Series.
The Bank Hall Red book was re-published
2004
It was decided that the Snowdrops where growing and spreading quickly each year and it was decided that the grounds shall be opened earlier each year so that the public can enjoy the spectacular views of the 'Snowdrop Carpets' in the early Spring/ late Winter.
2005
The grounds work continues and it is discovered that the grounds are home to a pair of Buzzards. More of the trees are also thinned out around the specimen trees allowing them to mature and to create more of the lawn spaces which where lost due to the 1980's plantation and to make more spaces for the events. Also the historic vista was restored due to the removal of sycamore trees creating some nice photos of the building. Bank Hall opens for the National Tree Week.
Mary Esstlemont revisits Bank Hall with her family to celebrate the Bank Hall Action Group's 10th Anniversary.
2006
More snowdrops have been found to add to the Bank Hall collection and the naming of the Snowdrop after Mary Esstlemont "Mary Esstlemont's Favourite". The snowdrop names have been saved for when new varieties are found and are named after Bank Hall Historical Interest for this private collection, known as "The Bank Hall Collection".
Also the 'Gigantic' water tank that once supplied the house in the roof space behind the clock tower, took a nasty fall taking and internal wall and causing roof above, a Flemish gable and plaster work to follow. This prompted further stabalisation work to support the remaining external walls. The rest of the Cumbrian slate roof from the North and East wings where taken off to reduce the stress on the walls.
Official launch of the 'Million Pennies Appeal'
2007
In January (two weeks before opening for the popular snowdrop season) the Bank Hall Visitor Centre relocated to the Coach House due to an accidental fire, causing smoke damage and structural damage to the Visitor Centre. The Refreshments moved to the Bank Hall Farm House Kitchen (next door) as a temporary location. The book titled the "Bank Hall Collection" was published for the Snowdrop Sundays in February.
The UK's Snowdrop Society visit Bank Hall for the first time to visit the Snowdrop Carpets and to see the special display of the Bank Hall Collection and hold their AGM at Mere Brow Village Hall.
2008
Bank Hall celebrates the 400th Birthday of the first section of the present building (built 1608.)
Tree felling work continues to allow the specimen trees room to grow.
2009
Work has been done to create a new pathway to open up up woodland to the East of the gardens, also work within the security fence to clear away brambles and weeds. One of the parts of the Lost clock fingers was found while this work was carried out.
The Million Pennies Appeal was drawn to an end as the Moment in Time Clock Appeal was started.
