LIFE AT KNOWSLEY HALL
About Knowsley Hall
Knowsley Hall is a Grade II stately home that is often described as a hidden gem. Knowsley Park covers over 2,500 acres of private walled land and extends from Lancashire to Merseyside in the Northwest of England. Knowsley Hall is the ancestral seat of the Earl’s of Derby and has been for over 600 years. The hall was built in 1495 by Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby and his wife Lady Margaret Beaufort who entertained her son King Henry VII when he stayed in the Royal Lodgings at Knowsley Hall.
Architecturally, the hall has been continually modified and extended, knocked down and built up over many centuries. Knowsley Hall is steeped in cultural and historical significance. According to local stories there was once a racecourse here and a goldmine. It is still the family home of the 19th Earl, Countess and their family.
Lord and Lady Derby decided to restore the hall to its former glory in 1995 and their 30-year restoration project has just been completed. The Earl and Countess, working as a tightly knit team, have bought the state rooms back to life with great attention to historical detail. A transformation has taken place led by the curation of displays of works of art from the Derby collection.
LIFE AT KNOWSLEY HALL
About Knowsley Hall
Knowsley Hall is a Grade II stately home that is often described as a hidden gem. Knowsley Park covers over 2,500 acres of private walled land and extends from Lancashire to Merseyside in the Northwest of England. Knowsley Hall is the ancestral seat of the Earl’s of Derby and has been for over 600 years. The hall was built in 1495 by Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby and his wife Lady Margaret Beaufort who entertained her son King Henry VII when he stayed in the Royal Lodgings at Knowsley Hall.
Architecturally, the hall has been continually modified and extended, knocked down and built up over many centuries. Knowsley Hall is steeped in cultural and historical significance. According to local stories there was once a racecourse here and a goldmine. It is still the family home of the 19th Earl, Countess and their family.
Lord and Lady Derby decided to restore the hall to its former glory in 1995 and their 30-year restoration project has just been completed. The Earl and Countess, working as a tightly knit team, have bought the state rooms back to life with great attention to historical detail. A transformation has taken place led by the curation of displays of works of art from the Derby collection.
Capability Brown Designed Gardens
The hall is surrounded by Capability Brown designed parkland with sweeping curves, trees, lakes and bridges. The replanting of thousands of new trees, together with the re-instatement of the herbaceous borders, was a significant part of the restoration of the park and gardens.
Capability Brown Designed Gardens
The hall is surrounded by Capability Brown designed parkland with sweeping curves, trees, lakes and bridges. The replanting of thousands of new trees, together with the re-instatement of the herbaceous borders, was a significant part of the restoration of the park and gardens.
Green Energy
In 2010 Lord Derby announced his green policies for the estate, which included conservation and generation of energy efficient usage across the park to ensure the family plays its part in a sustainable future. The tradition of responsible land management and regeneration goes back for centuries.
The Knowsley Estates operate their own farming enterprise in the park combining livestock, arable, and grasslands to provide varied and mixed habitat that promotes wildlife and plant diversification whilst producing healthy and well managed livestock and crops.
The Knowsley and Crag Hall estate have numerous lakes, rivers and ponds which are maintained to ensure the best diversification of wildlife species and utilises several green energy sources such as biomass, hydroelectric and solar energy.
The estates follow guidance from the Linking Farm and Environment, the Soil Management Initiative, and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust whilst developing its future environmental strategy.
Green Energy
In 2010 Lord Derby announced his green policies for the estate, which included conservation and generation of energy efficient usage across the park to ensure the family plays its part in a sustainable future. The tradition of responsible land management and regeneration goes back for centuries.
The Knowsley Estates operate their own farming enterprise in the park combining livestock, arable, and grasslands to provide varied and mixed habitat that promotes wildlife and plant diversification whilst producing healthy and well managed livestock and crops.
The Knowsley and Crag Hall estate have numerous lakes, rivers and ponds which are maintained to ensure the best diversification of wildlife species and utilises several green energy sources such as biomass, hydroelectric and solar energy.
The estates follow guidance from the Linking Farm and Environment, the Soil Management Initiative, and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust whilst developing its future environmental strategy.
Download the Living History guide book
Private Stays
If you love British heritage and culture, then you might enjoy a private stay at Knowsley Hall. Something of a hidden gem, Knowsley Hall is a grade II listed stately home in Northwest England; set in 2,500 acres of Capability Brown designed parkland. The house is extremely comfortable with 20 Guest Bedrooms and Bathrooms all personally designed by the Countess of Derby.
There is space to work and play together with space to relax with exquisite antique furniture combined with the legendary comfort of British upholstery with deep roomy sofas and chairs. Bathrooms are state of the art with elegantly designed marble floors overlooking the gardens and sweeping parkland.
Privacy is guaranteed. Wandering through the hallowed halls and centuries old state rooms is like being transported back in time. Looking at family portraits and photographs, inspecting books and artefacts or enjoying a private guided tour with the Earl, Countess or their curator will leave you with unforgettable memories of this home of living history.
The Knowsley Estates are also home to a working community of artisans, forestry experts, conservationists, small businesses, gardeners, horse lovers and fishermen.
Private Stays
If you love British heritage and culture, then you might enjoy a private stay at Knowsley Hall. Something of a hidden gem, Knowsley Hall is a grade II listed stately home in Northwest England; set in 2,500 acres of Capability Brown designed parkland. The house is extremely comfortable with 20 Guest Bedrooms and Bathrooms all personally designed by the Countess of Derby.
There is space to work and play together with space to relax with exquisite antique furniture combined with the legendary comfort of British upholstery with deep roomy sofas and chairs. Bathrooms are state of the art with elegantly designed marble floors overlooking the gardens and sweeping parkland.
Privacy is guaranteed. Wandering through the hallowed halls and centuries old state rooms is like being transported back in time. Looking at family portraits and photographs, inspecting books and artefacts or enjoying a private guided tour with the Earl, Countess or their curator will leave you with unforgettable memories of this home of living history.
The Knowsley Estates are also home to a working community of artisans, forestry experts, conservationists, small businesses, gardeners, horse lovers and fishermen.
The Personal Touch
The warm welcome of Lord and Lady Derby, their family and their team is based on the warm welcome they have received on their travels across the world. Knowsley Park is secure, private and protected, with over 9 miles of stone wall, making it the largest walled park in England. Immerse yourself in 600 years of history with a private guided tour of the house and discover the stories of the Earls and Countesses of Derby. From murder to mayhem, beheadings to battles, romance to rebels, Shakespeare to succession.
Your own private concierge can arrange your travel and entertainment, your own private chef can cook for you as and when required, and the butler will organise your stay with the well-known British discretion and efficiency.
Walkout with the head gardener, and learn about the soil, planting and harvesting of the flowers, vegetables and plants on the estate. Get up early and go for an early morning private tour of the Safari Park with our world-class animal experts, help work with the team on their conservation projects or stay late and help them feed the animals followed by a sundown cocktail on the reserve. If you love gastronomy, you might enjoy dining at Moor Hall, one of the UK’s finest restaurants with a two star Michelin chef.
You can book an appointment with Dr Stephen Lloyd to hear about some of his academic projects during his 12 years at Knowsley Hall too.
The Personal Touch
The warm welcome of Lord and Lady Derby, their family and their team is based on the warm welcome they have received on their travels across the world. Knowsley Park is secure, private and protected, with over 9 miles of stone wall, making it the largest walled park in England. Immerse yourself in 600 years of history with a private guided tour of the house and discover the stories of the Earls and Countesses of Derby. From murder to mayhem, beheadings to battles, romance to rebels, Shakespeare to succession.
Your own private concierge can arrange your travel and entertainment, your own private chef can cook for you as and when required, and the butler will organise your stay with the well-known British discretion and efficiency.
Walkout with the head gardener, and learn about the soil, planting and harvesting of the flowers, vegetables and plants on the estate. Get up early and go for an early morning private tour of the Safari Park with our world-class animal experts, help work with the team on their conservation projects or stay late and help them feed the animals followed by a sundown cocktail on the reserve. If you love gastronomy, you might enjoy dining at Moor Hall, one of the UK’s finest restaurants with a two star Michelin chef.
You can book an appointment with the Curator of the Derby Collection Dr Stephen Lloyd to hear about some of his academic projects during his 12 years at Knowsley Hall too.
