My research about Muncaster Hall at Rainford revealed an intriguing story. Unlike other old halls of Rainford with their long histories, Muncaster Hall was purely Victorian in its origins and architecture.

In 1857 Richard Pennington, the son and heir of a wealthy cotton mill owner fromHindley, was obliged to find a suitable residence away from his home town in which to set up home with Elizabeth Cash, a young mill girl with whom he had formed an intimate relationship.

Their second child was born at School Brow in January 1858 and in the same year an old farm house in Rainford known as Mount Pleasant became vacant on the death of shoe maker Daniel Rosbotham. Richard acquired the farm house and he and Elizabeth married in Liverpool in 1861.

During the next five years he bought several farms and houses in Rainford and entertained his wealthy friends to shooting parties over his lands.

It was the scornful remarks of these visitors about the size and state of his house that prompted Richard to build a grand stone mansion on the site of Mount Pleasant and to set out the gardens, lake and parkland surrounding it. This work was completed in 1866.

Richard took an active part in village life. He was the first chairman of the Local Board, he entertained the old folks of the village to a substantial dinner every New Year, rebuilt and enlarged the old Church school in Cross Pit Lane, and was generous with his time and money.

Later, when Richard discovered his now separated wife had formed an adulterous connection with a former gamekeeper, he petitioned for divorce.

Richard died on July 10, 1887 at the age of 57, leaving the whole of his estate in the hands of his Trustees for the benefit of his children until they were 21.

After lengthy court proceedings, the whole of the Rainford lots including Muncaster Hall, the farms, cottages and houses were bought by the Earl of Derby for £37,000.

One month later the furniture and other effects at Muncaster Hall were disposed of in a three day auction sale which left the house a stark and empty shell.

The hall and its surrounding park were leased by the Earl to a succession of tenants until 1940 when Richard Heyes, late of Mossborough Hall, bought the estate.

It was immediately requisitioned by the War Department for living quarters and mess for the officers of the several military units which had been set up in the village.

After the war Mr Heyes and his son James resumed their poultry business using the hall itself for the deep litter system of egg production.

In the late 1950s Mr James Heyes sold a few plots of land for house building and over the following years larger plots were sold until almost the entire estate was covered with houses and bungalows.

The hall and its outbuildings were demolished, and by 1966 no trace of the once elegant mansion remained.