Rufford Old Hall

Situated between Southport and Preston, Rufford Old Hall is considered to be one of Lancashire's finest 16th Century buildings. It was home to the Heskith family for over 400 years and the building depicts the family's wealth and position in society.

The Great Hall is magnificent and was built to be admired. It has a very rare feature - an elaborately carved movable wooden screen, separating the hall from the kitchen at the eastern end. It is believed that William Shakespeare performed in the hall for Sir Thomas Heskith.

The hall is filled with a collection of arms and armour and 16th and 17th century oak furniture, which were all donated, along with the hall, to the National Trust in 1936 by Lord Heskith. Much of the furniture has always been in the family and paintings on the wall show various members of the Rufford family through the years.

There are also some delightful gardens to admire with a picnic area.

The hall's outbuildings are now used as the Philip Ashcroft Folk Museum, which has an impressive collection of implements, objects and costumes which illustrate village life in Lancashire when Rufford Old Hall was first built.

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