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Tue 11 th Jun 2024 |
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Stephen presented a very comprehensive and complex history of
the hall and the families that lived there. It soon became clear
that great wealth was generally given by the king and preserved
by tactical marriages and gaining favour. The story began around
1270 with the granting of lands and the subsequent building of
Rufford Old Hall in 1532 by the Hesketh family. Building works
took around 4 years. They also held land at Hesketh Bank. Around
1579 there is evidence to show that William Shakespear performed
in the Great Hall and also was present in the Hoghton area. |
Stephen Taylor. |
Rufford Old Hall. |
Rufford New Hall. |
Steam Yacht Lancashire Witch |
Rufford New Hall as a Hospital. |
CSir Robert Hesketh built Rufford New Hall in 1760. Thomas
Hesketh enlarged it in 1798 but was away on his Grand Tour for 6
years while the building works continued. When Sir Robert
returned his health wasn't good and he only lived in the house
for 18 months before his death.
The Steam Yacht ‘Lancashire
Witch’ was built in 1878 for Sir Thomas Hesketh. It was later
purchased by the Royal Navy for survey work and renamed HMS
Waterwitch in 1893. |
James Hunt (driver) 1947 -
1993 |
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The Heskeths continued to live there until 1919 when it was sold
and converted to a hospital. In the 1970s Lord Hesketh formed
Hesketh Racing competing in Formula One with James Hunt in the
team. |
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B.H. |
