THE grand stately surroundings of Knowsley Hall will open its doors to the public for a week this October.

From Monday, October 2 to Friday 6, Lord and Lady Derby are inviting the public into their Prescot home, filled with displays from the Derby Collection.

Exhibition By Land and Sea will showcase some of the finest landscapes, still lifes and marine paintings.

The works were created by Dutch, French, English and Italian painters working between the mid-17th and early 19th centuries.

The Dutch paintings include a composition from Antonie de Lorme, an unusual marine view by Abraham Storck and a series of four outstanding paintings by Willem van de Velde the Younger, showing the different stages of a devastating Anglo-Dutch naval engagement: The Four Days Battle in June 1666.

Also on display will be a pair of attractive flower pieces by the Franco-Flemish artist, Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer, who mainly lived in Paris, but worked and died in London during the 1690s.

And from the English school there will be a fine landscape by George Morland, showing sportsmen and villagers outside a country inn, alongside a pair of views of river scenes with boatyards.

These two works, which were signed and dated 1808, are painted by the accomplished marine painter, John Thomas Serres.

The focal point will be the display of A View of the Fortress of Konigstein from the South, a mid-18th-century Italian masterpiece painted by Bernardo Bellotto, nephew of famous Venetian landscapist Canaletto.

Dr Stephen Lloyd, curator of the Derby Collection, said: “Members of the public can tour the hall for one week a year, and this autumn they have the opportunity to view some of the rarely seen old master paintings from the collection.

“This is a special opportunity for interested visitors and art-lovers, to tour and enjoy one of Merseyside’s most historic stately homes and we are delighted to welcome everyone here again this autumn.”

For tickets, priced at £15.50 a person including a guided tour with tea, coffee and biscuits, see knowsleyhallvenue.co.uk