WHEN I was visiting the Lawnmower Museum recently I met a fellow visitor who suggested that I should visit Meols Hall at Churchtown, near Southport, and just off the main road towards Preston, writes RON FREETHY.

It is certain that there has been a dwelling on the site since the reign of King John in the early 13th century. There has been family blood in the veins of the Heskeths, albeit sometimes through the female line, through 27 generations.

Before the Norman Conquest the Manor of North Meols was held by five Saxon thanes thought to have been the descendants of Odda the original settlers, who lived among the mels or meols which literally meant a sandhill.

The Heskeths were staunch Catholics throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries and they were often fined for not accepting the protestant lines.

In the hall there is still the remains of a priests hiding place where, according to legend but some historians are certain, that St Edmund Campion hid at Meols during his last visit to Lancashire. A little later he was captured and cruelly butchered for his faith. This cannot have been a happy period for the Heskeths but during the Second World War nobody could doubt the families patriotism.

Roger Fleetwood Hesketh was an intelligence officer and it was he who masterminded what became known as "Operation Fortitude." This involved fooling Adolf Hitler's high command into thinking that the invasion was going to hit the beaches around Boulogne rather than around Normandy.

This saved many thousands of lives and Roger Fleetwood Hesketh should be given credit for this scheme.

Meols Hall is only opened to the public during August but groups can be provied with guided tours by ringing Bill Burnley on 01704 28326. The hall has some wonderful features including 17th century paintings, glass and China along with a collection of objects of local industry.

The estate is run from offices close to a splendid old tithe barn dating in parts from the 15th century which is therefore considerably older than the splendid Georgian residence.

The estate which surrounds it is soon to be in the news as a great deal of tree planting has been organised with more than 10,000 oak, beech and lime which will eventually become a major woodland.

English woodlands are at last being put on the map and this must help the red squirrels in the area which are literally hanging on by their "claw tips".

Apart from the opening period during August there will be an opportunity to visit the hall when it stages a Vintage Car Rally on Sunday, June 30.

I can't imagine a better way to view a grand old hall than to see these historic cars sweep up the impressive drive.

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