Adlington Hall and Gardens
One of the most beautiful country homes in England, Adlington Hall reflects both the history of English architecture and the 700-year story of a single family, the Leghs.
Origins and The Norman Conquest
Origins
The Hall started life as a simple Saxon hunting lodge, a base for hunting by Earl Edwin and his men. The lodge was built around two great oaks, which still stand today.
The Norman Conquest
During the Norman conquest, William the Conqueror threw Earl Edwin off the land, and took the land into Norman hands. The Norman Earls held Adlington for seven generations, until it passed to the crown in 1221.
The Legh Family
Robert de Legh
The manor of Adlington came into the Legh family when Henry III passed it to Hugh de Corona, whose granddaughter, Ellen, married John de Legh. De Corona bequeathed the estate to Ellen’s son, Robert. Five further Roberts followed this first Robert de Legh.
Thomas Legh
Thomas Legh built the Great Hall between 1480 and 1505. The rest of the house followed in the 1580s, overseen by Thomas’s great-grandson, another Thomas Legh. The south and west wings were later destroyed by fire, leaving the East Wing as the only surviving Tudor part of the house.
Today's Transformations
Transformation
During the 1740s, Charles Legh transformed Adlington from a medium-sized Tudor manor into a large Georgian house. He built a new West Wing, including a ballroom occupying the full length of the first floor.
Organ and Gardens
Today, within our Great Hall you will still find the great organ, England’s most important 17th century musical instrument. In the gardens, you can discover seventeenth century follies and tackle the English yew maze.
Today
The Hall is still to this day the Legh family home. The current owner is Camilla, the 25th Legh in succession and her son Thomas is the next in line.