Historic Liverpool Dwellings - Hurst Hall

Hurst House on Huyton Lane, between Huyton and Prescot, is now the clubhouse of the Huyton and Prescot Golf Club. Built in 1830, this mansion with its clock tower, was the seat of the Seel family. Thomas Seel had increased the family estates by purchasing from William Wolfall the manor of Wolfall in Huyton, and entailed the estate on his grandson. This grandson was Thomas Unsworth, son of Frances Seel by Thomas Unsworth, whose father, a Liverpool merchant, had purchased a moiety of the manor of Maghull, including the manor house. Thomas the heir in 1814 assumed the name and arms of Molyneux-Seel in accordance with his grandfather's will, and on his aunt Margaret's death took possession of Hurst House, and the estate and manor of Huyton Hey.

As Huyton was away from the main built up area of Liverpool, quite a number of large houses had the space to grow up with The Hazels (or Red Hazels) and Hurst House being in the north east corner of the township. With extensions in the 1870s the structure is now stucco on stone with a hipped slate roof and brick extensions. Two storeys high with 5 bays, the blind ground floor windows, those to the 1st floor, are sashed with glazing bars and the central window has architrave, frieze and consoled cornice. The entrance has flat pilasters, flanking lights and complete overlight and the doric porch has paired fluted columns and the domical vault has a square lantern with a cupola and weathercock.

The Clock Tower

 

The Estate of Hurst Park really took off in the second half of the 19th Century under the ownership of the Evans family who made their wealth initially from printing, but in later years from the coal industry. Open cast mining was even taking place on the land that is now the Golf Course. Eventually, the land and thriving Mansion was sold to another local wealthy family, the Athertons. It was during 1904 that a golf course was laid out in the beautiful parkland of the Hurst Park Estate under the guidance of the great James Braid. 

 

The current Club House is now listed as Grade II.

The Atherton family encouraged the forming of a golf club known as Huyton Golf Club and considerable interest was shown by local residents because, almost immediately, 77 gentlemen and 45 ladies enrolled as members. Not much is known about the activities of the club prior to 1939 although apparently the Prince of Wales regularly played the course in the 1920s and 1930s when he visited the Earl of Derby at Knowsley Hall. This par-68 course at just over 6,000 yards offers a distinct and enjoyable challenge, including five tough par-3 holes. The course culminates at the par-5 17th, where an elevated tee and green await. Greg Norman called the back nine here the best in Britain.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2023/01/historic-liverpool-dwellings-dovecot.html