Croxteth Hall  10/10/05

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John's 7X-great grandmother was the daughter of Richard Molyneaux.  I believe this was prior to becoming the Earls of Sefton - I think they were barons or viscounts at that time.  So We took the family back to see what was the old family homestead, Croxteth Hall.  The last Earl of Sefton died in 1972 and the estate was granted to the City of Liverpool and turned into a park.
The Park is at the heart of what was once a great country estate stretching hundreds of square miles and was the ancestral home of the Molyneux family, the Earls of Sefton.
TV.com Most Haunted: The main building is surrounded by a working farm, a Victorian walled garden and country park. Era: Built in 1575. The last works on the hall were completed in 1902. Home of the Earls of Sefton for over 400 years, Croxteth Hall has had a relatively quiet past. The last of the Seftons died in 1972 and left no heirs.   The ghost of a boy has been seen in the Dining room by the fireplace. A figure dressed in a period costume has been spotted by staff and the public in both Lady Sefton's sitting room and in the corridor. The Shadow of a figure has been spotted in the billiard room It is reported that the 6th Countess of Sefton claimed that she saw the ghost of her dead husband in the principle bedroom The 6th Earl of Sefton's ghost has also been spotted striding through the tearoom.   Footsteps have been heard in the attic, and in the Sefton corridor, where taps have been inexplicably turned on in full, cupboard doors and main doors have banged shut and voices have also been heard here. Shadows and figures have been seen regularly in the principal corridor. Giggling has been heard in Bedroom O and the Molyneux corridor, and figures have also been seen here. Constant electrical faults (which, when the electricians appear to fix them, seem to disappear) in the Housekeepers' corridor. An attendant once felt a force pushing her off the chair she was standing on to clean. The scent of very strong tobacco has been detected in the Servants' hall – even though nobody has been smoking. Inexplicably, items have disappeared, oil lamps have fallen over and smashed for no particular reason, and film crews have all been spooked on the Croxteth Hall grounds.
Croxteth Hall shows fine examples of building work from the reigns of Queen Anne and of Edward VII. In 1702 the Molyneux family – second only in importance to the Earls of Derby – moved to Croxteth and built the striking red brick west wing which has a splendid central doorway with trophy of arms above. Some two hundred years later the family rebuilt the north wing. In 1952 a fire badly damaged all but one of the well-pannelled Queen Anne rooms, but the Edwardian suites and the grand staircase survived. There are family portraits an fine furniture.
The house is huge.  We took a tour of the grounds stopping by the coffee shop for a spot.
Relax in the peace of the Victorian Walled Garden. Concealed by high walls, this hidden treasure is almost untouched by time.  A quiet stroll around the garden reveals the ingenuity of bygone gardeners - heated 'flue' walls, ornate fruit trees, a mushroom house and exotic fruit in greenhouses.  Colourful scented borders lead to well-stocked vegetable plots once tended by gardeners growing produce for 'the big house'.   Single out some ideas for your own garden or simply savour a classic kitchen garden of the Victorian era.  Throughout the year there are special events held in the Walled Garden with displays and  demonstrations - come to our Garden Society Flower Show in August!
We didn't know that the house would be closed on a Monday, but it was, so we didn't get to tour the inside.  The front door, however, was open so I popped in and took this picture of the coat of arms on the wall.
Even without a tour of the house, we enjoyed wandering around the grounds.
Beautiful house, but can you imagine the cleaning involved?
Heck of a front-yard isn't it?
Of course, as with any park, you have the compulsory play ground.
Shannon had a blast frolicking around the ancestral stomping grounds!
Patrick couldn't contain himself either...
After she pooped us out on the playground, we all piled back in the van to go find some grub.

U.S. to Glasgow to Edinburgh          Edinburgh

Alnwick       Edlington       Corbridge       Roman Vindolanda

Housesteads       Croxteth Hall/Liverpool       Langholm - "The Muckle Toon"

Edinburgh Castle       Sterling to Callendar & The Trussochs to Glasgow