Welcome to Stately Homes

This historic house has been in the ownership of the Stanley Family, the Earls of Derby, since 1385 and from that time the history of the family has been closely intertwined with the history of the country as a whole.

Knowsley Hall has an important and dramatic history and now offers an excellent setting for all types of event. The Hall has undergone extensive restoration to return the State Rooms to their former glory. The works also included the remodelling of the first floor to provide beautiful bedrooms all with private bathrooms, finished to the highest standard.

The Hall now provides a truly magnificent location for hire, on an exclusive use basis, for the first time in its long history. Set in 2,500 acres of parkland, created by Capability Brown, they can offer enormous scope for all types of outdoor activities, whether a corporate activity day, team building, off-roading or an open-air concert.

The Hall is ideal for grand dinners, balls, weddings, product launches, conferences and seminars, exhibitions and film location work.

For more information, do visit their Website.

Some of the Rooms Available:

The Stucco Room - The Ballroom is one of the original rooms created by the 10th Earl of Derby who created the English Baroque wing of Knowsley Hall in the 1730s employing the architect Henry Sephton . The Ballroom is a very fine example of early-Georgian gilded stucco work and it was reconstructed and doubled in width in 1895, incorporating a polished sprung dance floor.

The State Dining Room - This magnificent room was completed in its original form in 1822 by the Liverpool architect John Foster for the 12th Earl of Derby. Foster's original Gothic design is dominated by the tall pointed-arched doorway and mullioned windows. The marble fire places and stunning Regency ormolu chandelier are from this period.

The room was remodelled in the 1890s by the 16th Earl who was responsible for the extremely fine carved portrait corbells and elaborate geometric ceiling. It is unrivalled as a dining room for pure splendour and its floor to ceiling windows give wonderful views of the extensive park. It will seat 150 for a meal or 200 for a theatre style conference.

Lord Derby's Bedroom - The Lord Derby Suite was the 18th Earl's private rooms, now redesigned to be their largest suite; it offers three rooms consisting of Bedroom with King size bed, dressing room which can also be utilised as a single bedroom and bathroom with roll-top tub and shower. Overlooking the magnificent gardens and lakes to the rear of the hall.

Lady Derby's Bedroom - This beautiful King size bedroom with period style art deco bathroom was the bedroom of Isobel the 18th Countess of Derby. Its offers spectacular views over the park and the City of Liverpool.

Opening Times - 2010:

16th - 20th August: Open to the public.

Admission Prices - 2010:

Adult - £12.

Knowsley Safari Park:

Knowsley Safari Park was opened to the public in July 1971 by the 18th Earl of Derby. Then, the `safari park' concept of having visitors in cages (cars) and the animals roaming free based on the drive-through game reserves of East Africa was unique. In 1994, Edward Stanley, the 19th Earl, succeeded to the title.

The estate being only 8 miles (13 km) from Liverpool city centre, Knowsley was the first safari park to be built close to a large city. In spite of some understandable apprehension about the possible problems associated with large numbers of animals (including lions) roaming about close to the city, the then County and District councils approved the proposals. Information about opening times, etc, is available on their Website.