LIVING HISTORY
The Derby Women – By Dr Stephen Lloyd, Curator of the Derby Collection
Many Stanley women had to run the estates when their husbands were away on political or court business, and alongside their preoccupation with the future of the dynasty, for many the creation of a great house became their life’s work.
Guided Tours of Knowsley Hall Gardens by appointment
Knowsley Hall is a magnificent stately home dating back to 1495 and is the home of the 19th Earl and Countess of Derby. This historic house is at the centre of a private park of 2,500 acres, which as a former royal deer park dates back to the Norman Conquest.
Capability Brown at Knowsley Hall
In 2016, across England, a series of events – including exhibitions, conferences and guided walks, supported by a number of significant publications – were held to mark the tercentenary of the birth of one of our most famous gardeners and influential landscape architects: Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown (1716-83)
Knowsley Safari southern white rhinoceros recovers from a broken leg
A new veterinary treatment has helped a southern white rhinoceros at Knowsley Safari Park recover from broken leg. Amara began limping on her right-front leg earlier this year after radiographs confirmed the rhino had had a fractured ulna.
A Passion for ‘The Turf’
The Stanley family’s long and distinguished connection with horse racing and the breeding of thoroughbreds can be traced as far back as Ferdinando, the 5th Earl, who was keenly involved in the sport during the late sixteenth century.
The Chill Out Spa, in Stanley Grange at Knowsley Hall
Mixing contemporary design with rustic charm, Chillout Spa in Liverpool is on hand for the ultimate day spa experience, found in a restored Victorian farm building. With your relaxation in mind, the spa provides a comfortable and relaxing environment for your spa break.
A Spring Fling at Knowsley Hall
This Spring, immerse yourself in a bespoke experience at the exquisite Knowsley Hall, one of England’s most historic estates. The 2,500-acre Knowsley Estate, with its magnificent parkland and wildlife, offers a refreshing escape where history, wellness, and culture meet. Your stay has been personally curated by the Countess of Derby, ensuring a perfect balance of rejuvenation, culture, and adventure.
Edward Lear at Knowsley & ‘The Owl and the Pussy Cat’
Edward Lear (1812-88), who is most famous for his limericks and nonsense verse, was also a prolific landscape watercolourist, but he began his career as a zoological draughtsman of distinction. As a young man he spent much of the period from 1831 to 1837 living and working at Knowsley under the patronage of Lord Stanley, later the 13th Earl of Derby.
Shakespeare and the Earls of Derby
Ferdinando, Lord Strange, later 5th Earl of Derby (c.1559-94), was the patron of an acting company called Lord Strange’s Men of which Shakespear himself was one of the leading players in Elizabethan England during the late 1580s and early 1590s.
The Travel Journal of the14th Earl of Derby as a Young Man
On 21st July 1824 Edward Geoffrey Stanley landed in New York, after a sea passage of 37 days from Liverpool. Over the following eight months before his return to Britain he made a remarkable tour of eastern Canada and the young Republic of the United States of America, travelling by horse, carriage and boat, along tracks, lakes, and rivers.
The Grand Tour Journal of the14th Earl in 1820-1822
In December 1820, at twenty-one years old, Edward Geoffrey Stanley began an extensive tour of continental Europe with a focus on Italy. By the time of his return to England twenty months later he had visited many of Italy's most celebrated sites of art and culture, as well as exploring the Swiss Alps and parts of Austria and Germany.
World War One and the 17th Earl
Before, during and after the First World War, the 17th Earl (1865-1948) was heavily involved in the political and military affairs of the North West of England and of the country as a whole. Among his most significant public roles, he was Lord Mayor of Liverpool (1911-12), Director General of Recruiting (1914-15), Secretary of State for War (1916-18 and 1920-22), and British Ambassador to France (1918-20), during which time he was closely involved with the negotiations towards the Treaty of Versailles.
The War of the Roses
Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby (c.1433-1504), was one of the most influential figures in England during the second half of the fifteenth century, a period marred by the long-running dynastic struggle, known as the Wars of the Roses. This conflict culminated in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth with the decisive defeat of the last of the Yorkist kings, Richard III, by the ultimate surviving male Lancastrian challenger, Henry Tudor. As a result, the victorious Henry became Henry VII and founded the Tudor dynasty.
Knowsley Safari - Let Enchanted be part of your Christmas story
Discover the enchantment of our stunning Christmas lights extravaganza as Knowsley Safari undergoes a dazzling transformation into an illuminated wonderland from Saturday 30th November to Monday 23rd December 2024.
Independence Day Celebration - The Men who Lost America
On the Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence we are offering a unique study day on (The Men Who Lost America,) the story of the unexpected defeat for the powerful British Empire.
The Knowsley Hall History Festival – The Life and Legacy of the 13th Earl of Derby
Meet some of the leading historians of the day in an intimate and luxurious private stay at Knowsley Hall.
The Knowsley Hall History Festival – The Life and Legacy of the 14th Earl of Derby
Meet some of the leading historians of the day in an intimate and luxurious private stay at Knowsley Hall.
Knowsley Hall Guided Tours
The Earl and Countess of Derby extend a warm welcome to all visitors for the annual public open week at Knowsley Hall in October 2024. This exclusive event provides a unique opportunity for guests to enjoy a guided tour of one of Merseyside’s best-kept treasures.
Fruit, vegetable and flowers of the Knowsley Garden
An ever-changing landscape of colour, shape and pattern to enhance the senses from dusk to dawn. The fruits, vegetables and flowers in the garden sway naturally in the soft breezes of summer. Each bloom is ephemeral, always on the verge of disappearing, only to be born again in an eternal cycle of regeneration.