Read Hall and Park

Read Hall and Park is a grand country house set on a 450-acre estate in Lancashire that features two lakes, a waterfall, and stretches of woodland. The main building was constructed between 1818 and 1825 by architect George Webster and is surrounded by 25 acres of formal gardens complete with a rockery and fountain.

The estate came into the hands of Roger Nowell following the dissolution of Whalley Abbey, and he built the original three-story structure around a courtyard in the 16th century. The current house underwent substantial rebuilding in the early 1800s, transforming the property under new ownership.

The estate witnessed the Battle of Read Bridge in 1643, where Parliamentarian forces secured a decisive victory during the English Civil War.

The house is closed to visitors and can only be viewed from outside the grounds. Being in a rural location, it is worth checking access routes and nearby roads before planning a visit.

A member of the Nowell family who lived at the estate is credited in local tales with discovering the concept of bottled beer while on a fishing trip. This story has become part of regional lore about brewing innovation.

Location: Read

GPS coordinates: 53.80900,-2.37000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:54