# Lytham Hall

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Historic site in Lytham, Lancashire

Lytham Hall Interactive map of Lytham Hall 53°44′39″N 2°58′36″W / 53.7441°N 2.9768°W / 53.7441; -2.9768 Location Lytham, Lancashire History Built 1757–1764 Site notes Architect John Carr Architectural style Neo-Palladian Governing body Heritage Trust for the North West Website Official website Listed Building – Grade I Designated 1 December 1965 Reference no. 1219078

**Lytham Hall** is an 18th-century [Georgian](/source/Georgian_era) country house in [Lytham](/source/Lytham), [Lancashire](/source/Lancashire), 1 mile (1.6 km) from the centre of the town, in 78 acres (32 ha) of wooded parkland. It is recorded in the [National Heritage List for England](/source/National_Heritage_List_for_England) as a designated Grade I [listed building](/source/Listed_building#England_and_Wales), the only one in the [Borough of Fylde](/source/Borough_of_Fylde).[1]

## History

The [manor](/source/Manorialism) of Lytham was recorded in the *[Domesday Book](/source/Domesday_Book)* of 1086 as *Lidun*.[2] In the 12th century it was given to the [Benedictine](/source/Benedictine) monks of [Durham Priory](/source/Durham_Priory) for the foundation of a monastic cell—[Lytham Priory](/source/Lytham_Priory). Following the [Dissolution of the Monasteries](/source/Dissolution_of_the_Monasteries) in the 1530s, Lytham Priory came into the possession of Sir [Richard Molyneux](/source/Sir_Richard_Molyneux). In 1606 the land was acquired by local landowner Cuthbert Clifton, who built a house there.[3][4] His descendant, Thomas Clifton, partially replaced that house with the current hall, which was built 1757–1764 to the design of [John Carr](/source/John_Carr_(architect)) of York.[5] For the next two centuries the Clifton estate, at its largest, comprised 8,000 acres (3,200 ha).

Stairway ceiling, with a central relief of [Jupiter](/source/Jupiter_(mythology)) hurling thunderbolts

Ownership of the property descended to John Clifton (1764–1832) and thence to his son Thomas Joseph Clifton (1788–1851), who extensively remodelled the estate by extending the surrounding parkland.[6] It passed via Colonel [John Talbot Clifton](/source/John_Talbot_Clifton_(MP)) (1819–1882), MP for [North Lancashire](/source/North_Lancashire_(UK_Parliament_constituency)), to his 14-year-old grandson, the colourful [John Talbot Clifton](/source/John_Talbot_Clifton) (1868–1928), during whose stewardship the railway was built along the estate's southern boundary and part of the land sold for housing.[7] During the First World War the house was used as a military hospital,[8] and after the Cliftons had moved to live in Ireland in 1919 and then Scotland in 1922 the house was somewhat neglected. Clifton was a passionate traveller and died in 1928 on an expedition to Timbuktu with his wife, [Violet Beauclerk](/source/Violet_Clifton). She later wrote a biography of her husband, published under the title *The Book of Talbot*, which won the 1933 [James Tait Black Prize](/source/James_Tait_Black_Prize),[9] and was the last person to live in the house. Their dilettante film producer son, [Henry de Vere Clifton](/source/Harry_Clifton_(producer)), had squandered much of the family's wealth and the house had to be sold to [Guardian Royal Exchange Assurance](/source/Guardian_Royal_Exchange_Assurance) in 1963 for office accommodation.[10]

On 1 December 1965, Lytham Hall was designated as a Grade I [listed building](/source/Listed_building).[1] The Grade I designation is the highest of the three grades.[11]

In 1997, Lytham Town Trust bought the building, with help from a donation from [BAE Systems](/source/BAE_Systems), and subsequently leased it to [Heritage Trust for the North West](/source/Heritage_Trust_for_the_North_West) for 99 years.[12]

## Architecture

[Dovecote](/source/Dovecote) in trees at rear

Lytham Hall is constructed in the [Neo-Palladian](/source/Neo-Palladian) style of red brick in [Flemish bond](/source/Flemish_bond), with stone [dressings](/source/Ashlar) and [stuccoed](/source/Stucco) features.[3][1] It has three storeys on a rectangular, symmetrical plan and sits on a stone [plinth](/source/Plinth).[5][1] The front façade lies to the east; it has a central [bay](/source/Bay_(architecture)) that extends slightly forward and has an [Ionic](/source/Ionic_order) pediment.[5] The main entrance is also [pedimented](/source/Pediment) and is flanked by [Doric](/source/Doric_order) columns.[3] There are four [pilasters](/source/Pilaster) between the first floor and roof [cornice](/source/Cornice).[5] The ground floor windows have [Gibbs surrounds](/source/Gibbs_surround).[3]

In contrast to traditional Palladian-style houses in which the servants' and utility rooms were on the ground floor (*piano rustico*) and the important family rooms were on the first floor (*[piano nobile](/source/Piano_nobile)*), Lytham Hall's main rooms are on the ground floor.[5]

The courtyard behind the main Georgian hall and the attached wings were part of the earlier Jacobean hall of 1606.

In the grounds are several Grade II listed structures, including the Gatehouse, a large stable block, a large dovecote, the inner gates, a statue of [Diana](/source/Diana_(mythology)) in what used to be a formal garden, and a screen wall running south from the west wing. Lytham Hall is described on its website as "the finest [Georgian](/source/Georgian_architecture) house in Lancashire."[13]

## See also

- [Lancashire portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Lancashire)

- [Grade I listed buildings in Lancashire](/source/Grade_I_listed_buildings_in_Lancashire)

- [Grade II* listed buildings in Lancashire](/source/Grade_II*_listed_buildings_in_Lancashire)

- [Listed buildings in Lytham](/source/Listed_buildings_in_Lytham)

## References

**Citations**

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-EH_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-EH_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-EH_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-EH_1-3) [Historic England](/source/Historic_England), ["Lytham Hall (1219078)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1219078?section=official-list-entry), *[National Heritage List for England](/source/National_Heritage_List_for_England)*, retrieved 21 August 2013

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Fishwick2_2-0)** [Fishwick (1907)](#Fishwick), pp. 2–3

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hartwell436_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hartwell436_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Hartwell436_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Hartwell436_3-3) [Hartwell](#Hartwell), p. 436

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Brazendale254_4-0)** [Brazendale (1994)](#Brazendale), p. 254

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Brazendale255_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Brazendale255_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Brazendale255_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Brazendale255_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Brazendale255_5-4) [Brazendale (1994)](#Brazendale), p. 255

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["The Clifton Family & Lytham Hall"](http://www.amounderness.co.uk/lytham_hall_&_the_clifton_family.html), retrieved 11 January 2013

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["THE HISTORIC PARK VOL I"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141113171349/http://www.randallthorp.co.uk/UserFiles/File/Upload__Lytham_Hall_Historic_Park_Vol_1.pdf) (PDF), archived from [the original](http://www.randallthorp.co.uk/UserFiles/File/Upload__Lytham_Hall_Historic_Park_Vol_1.pdf) (PDF) on 13 November 2014, retrieved 11 January 2013

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Rexford-Welch, Samuel Cuthbert (1955). [*The Royal Air Force Medical Services*](https://books.google.com/books?id=BtGxAAAAIAAJ&dq=breck+road+poulton&pg=PA586). H.M. Stationery Office. p. 585.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Violet Clifton in Google Books](https://www.google.co.uk/search?tbm=bks&hl=en&q=james+tait+black+violet+clifton+talbot&btnG=)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Lytham Hall - Lancashire's Downton Abbey"](http://lancashire.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/lytham-hall-lancashires-downton-abbey-28296/), Lancashire Life, retrieved 11 January 2013

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ListedBuildings_11-0)** ["Listed Buildings"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130126151823/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/caring/listing/listed-buildings), *National Heritage List for England*, English Heritage, archived from [the original](http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/caring/listing/listed-buildings/) on 26 January 2013, retrieved 27 June 2011

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Lytham Town Trust"](http://www.lythamtowntrust.org/ltt_info.htm). Retrieved 25 March 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-website_13-0)** ["Lytham Hall"](https://www.lythamhall.org.uk/). Retrieved 25 March 2021.

**Sources**

- Brazendale, David (1994), *Lancashire's Historic Halls*, Carnegie, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-85936-004-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85936-004-1)

- Fishwick, Henry (1907), *The History of the Parish of Lytham in the County of Lancaster*, Chetham Society, [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [4939041](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/4939041)

- Hartwell, Clare; [Pevsner, Nikolaus](/source/Nikolaus_Pevsner) (2009) [1969], *[Lancashire: North](/source/Pevsner_Architectural_Guides)*, New Haven and London: [Yale University Press](/source/Yale_University_Press), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-300-12667-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-300-12667-9)

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Lytham Hall](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Lytham_Hall).

- [Lytham Hall](https://www.lythamhall.org.uk/) - official site

- [Friends of Lytham Hall](http://www.lythamhall.org/)

- [Heritage Trust for the North West](https://web.archive.org/web/20110716163214/http://www.htnw.co.uk/lhall.html)

- [The Clifton Family & Lytham Hall](http://www.amounderness.co.uk/lytham_hall_&_the_clifton_family.html)

- [Talbot Clinton and Kildalton Castle](http://blog.islayinfo.com/article.php/talbot-clifton-kildalton-castle)

v t e Buildings and structures in the Borough of Fylde Grade I Lytham Hall Grade II* Places of worship Lytham: St Cuthbert St John Kirkham: St Michael Grade II Burlingtons Bar By the Way Ivy House Lifeboat Memorial, Lytham Lifeboat Monument, St Annes Lytham Windmill Malt Kiln Farmhouse Railway Hotel, Kirkham St Annes-on-the-Sea Carnegie Library St Anne's Pier Places of worship Kirkham: St John the Evangelist St Annes-on-the-Sea: St Anne St Thomas Singleton: St Anne Weeton: St Michael Wesham: Christ Church Wrea Green: St Nicholas Unlisted Cartford Bridge The Cartford Inn The Eagle at Weeton HM Prison Kirkham Lytham Hospital Lytham St Annes Town Hall Shard Bridge Springfields Warton Aerodrome Weeton Barracks Places of worship Clifton (Lund): St John the Evangelist Demolished Lytham Priory Lytham Pier Listed in Bryning-with-Warton Elswick Freckleton Greenhalgh-with-Thistleton Kirkham Little Eccleston-with-Larbreck Lytham Medlar-with-Wesham Newton-with-Clifton Ribby-with-Wrea St Annes Singleton Staining Treales, Roseacre and Wharles Weeton-with-Preese Westby-with-Plumptons

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lytham Hall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lytham_Hall) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lytham_Hall?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.