 Rufford Old Hall
An inspired and vivid family tree, compiled in pictorial form, shows the
Hesketh family pedigree dating back to the mid 13th century.
Originating from the village of Hesketh, only a few miles from Rufford,
generations of the family gradually gathered up neighbouring estates,
and other large tracts of land, mainly through extremely profitable
marriages. The first mention of a hall of any substance being constructed
on the site at Rufford appears to have been in the 1450s. With the colourful,
often dubious, lives led by the early Heskeths, as outlined by well-documented
records, it is not surprising to learn that in the first half of the
16th century an illegitimate son inherited the estate. Determined
to prove his rightful place in the Hesketh hierarchy, it was Robert
Hesketh who had the elaborately decorative great hall built, apparently
with no expense spared. Hardly any factual evidence exists about the
building or, indeed, about the life of Robert Hesketh, except that
at some point he was awarded a knighthood.
There is some hint of an association between the young William Shakespeare and Sir Thomas Hesketh
at Rufford Hall in about 1580, but apart from the usual difficulties of
being a covert Catholic family during this period, nothing untoward seems to
have occurred at the property. It was in 1662 that the three-storey
red brick wing was added to the old hall, following the lines of Carolean
classical design which was quite alien to the county of Lancashire
during the 17th century. This extension provided much needed additional
accommodation for the ever-increasing number of children and servants at Rufford Hall.
Half a mile from the existing
hall, a new neo-classical mansion was built by another Thomas Hesketh
in the middle of the 18th century, perhaps in recognition
of his status as High Sheriff. Granted with a baronetcy in 1761, Sir
Thomas enjoyed his life as one of the gentry, taking a house in London
and doing the usual tour of Italy to collect works of art. Meanwhile,
many of the Hesketh estates were sold off, and the Rufford Old Hall
was leased. Major restoration work on the old hall was undertaken during
the 1820s in preparation for the next generation of Heskeths, and for
the next 50 years both Rufford properties were occupied. By 1867 the
family had decided to use Easton Neston in Northamptonshire as their
main residence, and they have remained there ever since.
Having been presented to the National Trust in 1936 by the first Lord Hesketh, Rufford Old Hall
has been preserved with its contents, giving a cosy, 'lived-in' feel about
the house. Outstanding early craftsmanship is displayed in the great
hall where an elaborate hammerbeam roof spans a room filled with history
in the form of stained glass, family coats of arms, and a good collection
of 16th and 17th century armour. Notwithstanding the fact that many of the rooms have seen a change of use over the centuries,
much of the furniture housed at Rufford Old Hall has always been in the family,
and there are numerous paintings of the various Hesketh descendants.
This is a rare example of late medieval building, rejuvenated briefly during
Victorian times, but left largely untouched and unspoiled. |
