Heysham’s Historic Mansions

Wren Hall is now a tavern near one of the coastal medical centers, but it was originally built in 1598 for the Edmondson family. It was still in their possession in 1662, when Helen Edmondson was baptized there. It was not until 1803 that it became known that the house changed ownership, as Sam Bailey rented the large house.

In 1811, Richard Caton inherited it from Sam Bailey and put it up for sale.

It was in 1814 that it officially became the property of Robert Hesketh, and he used it as the bailiff’s house.

Heysham Tower

This building was first constructed to be part of the Rossal Hall estate and was owned by Robert Hesketh. He lived there with his wife Maria and their children, but only used it as his summer home.

After Robert’s death in 1824, the house passed to his eldest son, Peter, but within four years he had handed the house over to his sister Anna. She had married Thomas Knowlys in 1828 and the couple spent the next two years expanding the building.

Knowlys was the driving force behind the alterations which included:

– Library

– Large dining room

– Astronomy tower

Unfortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Knowlys only lived in the extended home for ten years, before Mr. Knowlys died. He suffered a gunshot wound, the reasons for this injury have not been made public.

Mrs. Knowlys lived there until the 1870s, but must have left before the 1881 census as she lived with her daughter Florence, in Bristol. Evidently her daughter and son-in-law had brought her to live with them.

There were two more owners of the Tower, since in 1881 it was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Bennet who lived there with their daughter. In 1891 they had been replaced by the Cawthra family.

Heysham Room

It was a large structure, built in 1839 for Ann and Thomas Rawsthorne. They were obviously a fertile couple, having ten children.

Unfortunately, Thomas lost money due to his reckless investments while working as a lawyer. That could have been the reason the Salon was sold in 1854.

Officially, the house was intended for a ‘gentleman of fortune’, according to the announcement of the sale, so it appears that Thomas’ financial troubles were the reason behind the sale.

Heysham Hall had many rooms

Low level

– Entrance hall and staircase

– Drawing room

– Library

– Dinning room

– breakfast room

– Pool’s room

First floor

– Kindergarten

– Bathroom

– Twelve rooms

– Three bedrooms were then

– Service rooms

– penthouses

Basement

– Cellar

– Ale winery

– Other wineries

Dependencies

– Hot houses

– Conservatory

– Washing house

– Dirty clothes

– Three stable

– Loose boxes for horses

– Double garages

– Goal

– Cabins for the gardener and three laborers

– Swine

– Car house

Excellent walled gardens

The Rawsthorne family also owned the White House, which was situated between Heysham Hall and Heysham Tower. The White House was a smaller residence, with six bedrooms.

In 1879, Frederick Grafton bought the White House. He owned a mill in Accrington and completely renovated the place.