Rufford New Hall and Hesketh Lodge: The Hidden History of Two Lancashire

Rufford New Hall, a former country house in Lancashire, England, is a fascinating relic of the past. Originally built by Sir Robert Hesketh, the lord of the manor of Rufford, in 1760 as a replacement for Rufford Old Hall, the Halls have an intriguing history that extends beyond their initial construction. The Heskeths, a prominent family in Lancashire for centuries, lived at Rufford New Hall until 1919, when it was bought by Lancashire County Council and converted for use as a hospital, treating patients with tuberculosis until its closure in 1987. Today, the southern part of Rufford Park, a creation of the Heskeths, is designated a Biological Heritage Site, home to bats, red squirrels, and other species. The hall itself was restored and converted for residential use, with the stone cantilevered staircase, Ionic colonnades and portico, and the oval glass dome on the roof retained.

Rufford Pulmonary Hospital, administered by Ormskirk District General Hospital, operated from 1948 to 1987. The ice house, a Grade II listed building, was built in sandstone, brick, and earth, with a domed roof above an underground chamber. In winter, ice was taken from the frozen lake to the ice house for storage for the rest of the year. Hesketh Lodge, another country house in Lancashire, was also constructed in the early 19th century and is home to the mysterious story of the Hesketh family.

Springwood Lodge, the former gamekeeper or gardener's cottage, and Croston Lodge, the north entrance lodge on the A59, were also constructed in the early 19th century.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons