Thornton Hough Manor House

 The Property

The Manor House that is Stanacres, was built for Owen Jones, an Anglesey Timer Merchant from Amlwch, around 1851. The coat of arms of the Port of Liverpool can still be seen stencilled on the wall of the main staircase.
The architect was Charles Verelst (formerly Reed) who was the chair of the Liverpool region of RIBA at that time. He designed many other significant properties in the region.
Stanacres presents a rare opportunity to buy a significant property of historic relevance.

In brief this grand manor manages to be a fabulous home, offering the following versatile vast living space:
Impressive vestibule and Main Hall.
Bright spacious snug with log burner accompanies a quintessential Manor House formal Lounge with open fire. The views of the one acre lake from the floor to ceiling windows in both these reception rooms are sublime.

There are no words to describe the formal Dining Room. This room takes centre stage in this property.

The Kitchen's pristine AGA takes centre stage in this bright/immaculate kitchen which overlooks a sunny courtyard that leads to 2 private stables/outbuildings with access to the side large paddock.

8 spacious double bedrooms, 6 with en-suites and various dressing rooms with additional versatile living space on the top 2 floors.

The Cellar is accessed within the property and externally via the courtyard making it an incredibly versatile space with huge potential. Spanning the entire depth and breadth of the property, it could be used to house a large gym, home offices, games rooms, wine cellars, game storage, log/coal room, workshops etc.

Stanacres is named in publications by Pevsner and Hubbard detailing historic properties across the UK. It is Grade II listed and Census records show previous owners to have included a number of Merchants and ship owners. The early 20th Century census records show Stanacres being occupied by Reginald Ashton Rigby, a wine merchant, and his extensive family only to be outnumbered by servants and grooms who apparently were there to look after the polo ponies ridden by Rigby's sons. The Rigby family were descendants of Thomas Rigby after whom the Liverpool pub is named and the Beatles song Eleanor Rigby was said to have been linked to the family of wine merchants also.
In the 1960's Stanacres was occupied by Mr Percy Bibby. Bibby privately hosted Russian dissident pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy at Stanacres in the early 1960's and photos of Ashkenazy with his young son boating on the lake still exist. The current owners have been interested to hear tales from locals recalling visiting Stanacres as children requesting permission to fish on the lake and the front door being answered by Bibby's butler.

Heating - is via an oil and separate water boiler, under floor heating in master en suite, AGA in kitchen, log burner and open fire in reception rooms. Stanacres is impressively warm home, with the thickness of the walls insulating efficiently to retain heat inside the property.
All sash windows, shutters and doors have been fully refurbished to generously/ delicately replicate original features.


The Gardens & Land

Overall approximately 22 acres.
Main gardens & Manor House plot approximately 5 acres.
Private lake is around 1.5 acre.
Front paddock approximately 6 acres.
Long private driveway through paddocks of approximately 11 acres sets the scene for a grand entrance to Stanacres.
The gardens were laid out by Edward Kemp and the design features in his book "How to layout a garden". Kemp was also responsible for the design and layout of Birkenhead Park which later became the inspiration for Central Park in New York.

The land can be easily sectioned/ further fenced and offers vast potential.
The lake could be used as a fisheries lake with various fish currently in situ.
The garden and land attracts considerable wildlife.
The cleverly designed gardens and significant renovation work on this period property make them both easy to maintain.


The Location

Thornton Hough can comfortably be described as the quintessential British village, featuring charming cottages, country pubs and even the village green on which sports teams and families play throughout the year.

Both pubs offer home cooked food and the Red Fox is a gastro pub that tourists and people outside the area travel to. Summer or Winter, this is a fabulous place to eat, drink and relax.

You also benefit from the award winning Thornton Hall Hotel & Spa, which has fabulous spa facilities, a welcomeing Bar and The Lawn Grill Restaurant is open all year round in a stunning setting.

This historic part of The Wirral was formerly known as Toritone at the time of the Doomsday Book. The village's present name was only established when the daughter of Roger de Thornton, the local landowner, married Richard de Hoghe during the reign of Edward II. This gave way to the name that the village is still known by today, Thornton Hough.

In 1889 the very first Viscount Leverhulme started work on Thornton Hough and some years later he purchased the mansion of Thornton Manor where he settled with his family. He built a school, an orphanage, a Norman style church, shops and a smithy.

The local school is one of the best most sought after on The Wirral.

Thornton Hough is not only picture-postcard beautiful and historic, but is full of options for country walks. You also have the 20 mile Wirral Way close by taking you to Chester or West Kirby seaside town.

With easy links to the M53, Liverpool, Chester, Manchester and North Wales, Stanacres sits in one of the most sought after locations on the whole of The Wirral.