Rufford and Holmeswood

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Tourism began in Victorian times and today visitors are attracted by the National Trust property, Rufford Old Hall; Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve and the two marinas (Fettlers Wharf and St Mary's) on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Rufford Old Hall was home to the Hesketh family for over four hundred years until Rufford New Hall in Rufford Park was built.
The New Hall was bought by Lancashire County Council in 1920 and in 1926 it became a pulmonary hospital for the treatment of tuberculosis.
It is now part of a private housing development.

Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve, managed by the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is situated to the northwest.
It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its geological features and a Lancashire Biological Heritage Site.

In medieval times the parish was on the edge of Martin Mere and was drained by the Heskeths. Sand from this area was used for glass-making and extraction companies quarried the site between 1974 and 1982 after which it was restored as a nature reserve.

Also in the parish, there are farm shops selling local produce; cafes/bistros; a public house, the Hesketh Arms; and a hotel and restaurant, the Rufford Arms on the outskirts of Rufford.

The parish church of Rufford & Holmeswood (St Mary the Virgin) was built in 1869. It is of red brick, Gothic style with a steeple and is a Grade II Listed building.
A chapel was founded before 1346 when Sir Robert Hesketh was licensed to found a chantry. The chapel was rebuilt in 1735. It was a plain brick building with a bell cupola. A gallery and an organ were installed in 1829. The chapel was replaced in 1869 by the present parish church. p>There is a Wesleyan Methodist church in Rufford, which was founded before 1893.

The public house (Hesketh Arms) was built in the late 18th century of scored stucco on brick with low-pitched slate roof and stone quoins. It is a Grade II listed building.

The Rufford branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the the Northern Railway's Ormskirk to Preston line pass through the parish.

Holmeswood Hall stands among the dark woods between the villages of Mere Brow and Holmeswood. Thomas Hesketh, son of Nicholas Hesketh, was born at Holmeswood Hall in 1406. The present Holmeswood Hall was built in 1568 and is a Grade II listed building. The Hesketh Family of Rufford Old Hall re-built the present Holmeswood Hall as a hunting lodge. The rise or 'brow' in approaching the hall is the ancient bank of Martin Mere.

The River Douglas separates the parish of Rufford & Holmeswood from Croston.

Most of Rufford is in one of the 28 West Lancashire Conservation Areas. Conservation areas are defined as 'areas of special architectural or historical interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance'.

A detailed map of the Rufford Conservation Area can be downloaded (in PDF format) by clicking here.

For history information, please click here.