Perhaps the most significant of the merchant houses in the history of Allerton is Allerton Hall itself. The wealthy Lathom family built the first house on the site back in the reign of James I. They held the lands of the estate from the 15th to the 17th century, but had them taken from them when they joined the ‘wrong’ side in the Civil War.
After the Lathoms, Richard Percival bought Allerton. He owned it from 1670 until 1736, when a James Hardman, Rochdale merchant, purchased the land.
The earliest parts of the current building were built by Hardman when he moved in. They were built of sandstone, and are considered to be the earliest examples of Palladianism in Liverpool. This innovation contributed to the decision to list Allerton Hall.
William Roscoe in Allerton Hall
When John died in 1754, his brother James moved in. James’s wife Jane outlived him, and stayed in the hall until her own death in 1799. She had been friends with the famous abolitionist William Roscoe, who now bought the house and moved in.
Roscoe demolished the remaining 17th century parts of the building (which are understood to have been dangerously under-maintained), and added new rooms to balance the design.
Bankruptcy forced Roscoe to sell his share of the house, and this was bought by one of his political allies, Pattison Ellames.
Cotton and the American Civil War
In the 1860s Richard Wright rented Allerton Hall. Wright was a cotton merchant and ship owner with family ties to the Fraser, Trenholm & Co merchant company. Fraser, Trenholm were based in South Carolina and funded the Southern states in their war effort against the north. Many in Liverpool had sided with the South because of the merchants’ links with cotton trading, and Richard Wright was one of those. In July 1861 the Confederate flag was flown above Allerton Hall.
The Hall is given to the city
Later in its history, Allerton Hall was owned by Lawrence Richardson Baily, and then Thomas Clarke. Clarke’s widow eventually donated the house and land to the city of Liverpool in 1926, and this forms Clarke Gardens today. (See also: Clarke Gardens Pillbox.)
The Hall was used as the regional headquarters of the National Fire Service during the Second World War. A blockhouse in the grounds of the house is testament to this use.
Today, the Hall is listed as a Grade II* building, with the gate piers, walls and railings on Woolton Road listed in their own right. After damaging fires in 1994 and 1995, the house was renovated. It’s now the Pub in the Park, and the former hothouse is used by the pub for its dining room.
David Hardman
says:you have missed the D in the name HarDman
” Lathoms, Richard Percival bought Allerton. He owned it from 1670 until 1736, when a James Hardman, Rochdale merchant, purchased the land. 10/10
The earliest parts of the current building were built by Harman when he moved in. They were built of sandstone, and are considered to be the earliest example 9/10
Martin Greaney
says:Hi Mr. Hardman!
Apologies for that, and thanks for pointing it out. I’ve now corrected it.
Best wishes,
Martin
Peter Rogers
says:My family are descended from Richard Percival of Allerton Hall and Jane Hardman’s brother, George Leigh.
David Ellams
says:I have information that the Elam family who were from Berwickshire in Scotland at one time owned Allerton Hall.
Does anyone know anything about this?
Regards,
David Ellams
Ellames, Stanley Kevin
says:Hi David,
Trust you are well, in our history the ELLAMES coat of arms is said to reside in Allerton Hall, Liverpool.
Allerton Hall comes up a number of time, but as our family left Liverpool for Australia in the late sixties, it is difficult track.
My father name Sydney Stafford Bentley Ellames born 1928 in Liverpool, was a son of William, and Ethel Victoria (nee Segar) Ellames. Both families were of Liverpool heritage, prior to that the name is traced back to Chester, and before that Newcastle.
best regards
Stanley
Simon Medland
says:Stanley – do you have any useful information about Pattison Ellames of Chester in the mid-late 18thC? He was a distinguished Freemason and said to have been a wealthy man.
I know a little about it, but I would welcome any information you have about him.
Thank you
Simon Medland
Peter Rogers
says:Hi Simon,
There is a newspaper report on the British newspaper archive site regarding Pattison Ellames and freemasonry. The report is in the Chester Courant, 19 December 1786.
There are also 41 hits on the National archives discovery website for Pattison Ellames, 25 of these are 18thc.
Kind Regards,
Pete Rogers.
Stanley Ellames
says:Hi Simon and Peter,
Simon, thanks for your comment, but I think Peter delivers the best information to date regarding the points you have raised, however I will check with my sister Karen who is more knowledgeable regarding this matter than myself.
Thanks to you both
Very best regards
Stanley
ray
says:Hi I know where St. Mary’s Well is located ..it is at the back of the cottage on brocklebank lane.
covered over.
Martin Greaney
says:Thanks Ray!
That makes sense if it’s related to the name of the farm here on the old maps – Springwood Farm. And there’s a small stream leading away from the farm on those maps too.
Regards,
Martin
Gareth
says:Thanks for these interesting comments. My mother is an ellames (of the chester / liverpool branch) and I have spent a few years tracing the line. I don’t recall any link to Newcastle so I would be interested in hearing more about that. There a few wills that others might find useful too.