As early as the thirteenth century we can see references to a titled Adlington family residing in Adlington who would have had a manor house somewhere in the village. There is mention of the same family's manor in 1469 upon the death of Hugh de Adlington, which may well have been at the same place as the later hall.
An Adlington Hall off Adlington Common, certainly existed in the time of Elizabeth I, and was described as a black and white building said to be 'particular to the northern counties'. It was owned by the same Adlington family until the death of the last surviving male, Peter Adlington, in 1688. The Adlington estate and manor house were then bought by Thomas Clayton.
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| The Egyptian sphinxes at the entrance - c1845 |
Some time in about 1770, the Hall was transformed from a timber framed structure, to a miniature red-bricked version of Lathom Hall, near Ormskirk. Its builder was Sir Richard Clayton, 1st Baronet, and great-grandson of Thomas Clayton who purchased the property some eighty years earlier. The hall had a seven bay front with a pedimented centre and a first floor balcony.
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| Adlington Hall c1900 |
The property passed through the hands of a few Claytons until it was inherited by Henrietta Clayton, who had married Lieutenant General Robert Browne. Her husband assumed the additional name Clayton. After about 1850, the property was rented out, and its occupants included John Gerrard, proprietor of Adlington Higher Mill, and Benjamin Davies, joint proprietor of Huyton Bleach Works. (further post on his servants at Adlington Hall here)
When it was put up for rent, it is advertised as containing entrance hall, dining drawing and morning rooms on the ground floor, as well as a library, butler's pantry, housekeeper's room and kitchen. On the middle floor there are eight best bedrooms, and above that on the top floor are the servants rooms (note the smaller windows). It also had stables, carriage houses, two conservatories and a greenhouse.
After the Davies family left, it was occupied briefly by Henry Lowndes Wright and his wife Alice Maud Eckersley. Henry Lowndes Wright was a solicitor and he also played cricket for Lancashire. The Hall then spent a few years as a 'School for Backward and Delicate Boys' (separate post on this here).
During this time, the ownership of the hall and the 129 acre estate had changed hands a few more times into descendants of the Claytons, the Daubeny family, from whom it was bought by Wigan Corporation in 1921 for £4,000. It was requisitioned from Wigan Corporation in 1936 for use by the Government, firstly as a camp for internees during the Spanish Civil War and later as a hospital for wounded servicemen after the Second World War until 1947. The Hall was then abandoned, and left to become derelict, leading to its sad demolition in 1964.
When it was put up for rent, it is advertised as containing entrance hall, dining drawing and morning rooms on the ground floor, as well as a library, butler's pantry, housekeeper's room and kitchen. On the middle floor there are eight best bedrooms, and above that on the top floor are the servants rooms (note the smaller windows). It also had stables, carriage houses, two conservatories and a greenhouse.
After the Davies family left, it was occupied briefly by Henry Lowndes Wright and his wife Alice Maud Eckersley. Henry Lowndes Wright was a solicitor and he also played cricket for Lancashire. The Hall then spent a few years as a 'School for Backward and Delicate Boys' (separate post on this here).
During this time, the ownership of the hall and the 129 acre estate had changed hands a few more times into descendants of the Claytons, the Daubeny family, from whom it was bought by Wigan Corporation in 1921 for £4,000. It was requisitioned from Wigan Corporation in 1936 for use by the Government, firstly as a camp for internees during the Spanish Civil War and later as a hospital for wounded servicemen after the Second World War until 1947. The Hall was then abandoned, and left to become derelict, leading to its sad demolition in 1964.
Nothing remains of this ancient seat apart from the two lodge houses, a number of outbuildings and the distinctive Egyptian Pillars at the Chorley lane entrance. The site of the Hall is now covered by a poultry house belonging to Bowling's farm.
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| The Egyption pillars at the old lodge on Chorley Road, Worthington (date unknown) |