Hale Hall was a quadrangular building, begun in the early 17th century, built of local stone with a red shale driveway. It was altered near the end of the century, and in 1806 John Blackburn added a large south front. This now matched and balanced the existing north front. John also added a lodge to the hall in 1876.
The Hall had a home farm, and kitchen gardens with walls of 3.5 – 4.5 metres height. The walls were built of hollow bricks to allow warm air from underground furnaces to spread through them. The warm walls were therefore a great home for soft fruits like nectarines that wouldn’t otherwise thrive. Later on, glasshouses widened the selection, as did an ice house.
The family at Hale Hall eventually, through marriage, became the Ireland-Blackburnes. A small museum within the house held, amongst other things, a coin collection as well as stuffed birds (the latter collected by Anne Blackburne).
In the 1930s Robert Ireland-Blackburne and his son Gilbert left Hale Hall and moved to Cheshire. The Fleetwood-Hesketh family of Meols bought the estate in 1947. They found the Hall to be in too poor a state for them to live in, so they moved into Parsonage House. After refurbishment and extensions, Parsonage House became known as the Manor House.
When the estate changed hands the new owners demolished the old north front of Hale Hall. Parts of Hale Park became farmland. At some point a fire destroyed the south front too, and Hale Hall fell into a ruinous state. It survived as little more than a playground for children until 1981, when it was finally demolished. (Thanks to Lyn McCulloch for this information.) Some stonework is still visible, even today. Stone window sills, stone lamp posts, pillars and even some of the original trees are still there amongst the woodlands.
Hale Manor House
The building now known as Hale Manor House started life as Parsonage House. As a parsonage, the house sits just across the road from St. Mary’s Church. It is a much smaller building than Hale Hall, but nevertheless the Fleetwood-Heskeths moved in here in 1947 because of the poor state of the Hall they would otherwise occupy.
The Rev. William Langford added the impressive west face to the house in the 18th century. His coat of arms and monogram sit carved in stone over the entrance. Later on, alterations to this part of the building reduced the storeys from three to two, so increasing the ceiling height of the rooms.
The impressive façade hides two gable ends. The south gable is smaller and older (17th century) while the north is larger and later. The back portion of the south gable still has three storeys, while the front portion, and the whole of the north gable, have two.
thomas mccormick
says:i was field walkingin the field next to the hall at Hale , looking for pottery ect ,i came across a Bakelite set of ww1 dog tags the name IRELAND was on it, an engineer i think i wrote to the family who refused said offer of the return of the item …i still have it !!!
Martin
says:Hi Tony,
Great find! Do you know if the family you contacted was related to the Ireland-Blackburnes of Hale?
Martin
ste
says:just found some bits of pottery in that very same field about a hour ago
Chris Henderson
says:Great – any chance Thomas can reply to my message about my great grandfathers medal?
Chris
Chris Henderson
says:Hi Thomas
Any chance you caN reply to my questions on thE medal?
Thanks
Chris
Mr keith Ireland
says:Hi Thomas. My name is Keith Ireland I’ve done lots of research into my ancestors. They owned hale hall in 1667 and it was passed down through the years .if what you have is connected to my ancestors I would love them back . Please could you reply
thomas mccormick
says:no,they just did not communicate just said its not theirs ,so i kept it..i think they were distant relations on the blackburne side ,but no details so ???????.
Chris Henderson
says:Hi Thomas,
I am a relation to Ireland and doin current research. Would love to get in contact about what you found?
Chris
Chris
says:Hi Thomas,
I am researching my family on the Ireland side would be great to hear from you and what you found?
Thanks
Chris