Speke Hall Garden and Estate Houses

Speke Hall is one of the finest half-timbered mansions of England, set in a tranquil oasis of gardens and woodland on the banks of the Mersey.

Originally, visitors to Speke (having crossed the stone bridge over the moat) would have passed directly through the gatehouse into the Courtyard, entering the house by the great door opposite which gives access to the Screens Passage and thence to the Great Hall. A spy hole above the entrance door enabled the occupants to 'eavesdrop' on visitors. This southern side of the Courtyard contains the oldest parts of the present building, of c.1400.

The Courtyard was completed by the building of the North Range in 1598, as confirmed by the inscription over the entrance. Its unusually symmetrical appearance was achieved by the later re-facing of the Kitchen wing and the building of a second bay to balance that of the Great Hall on the right. The quatrefoil panels and diagonal timbering are particularly characteristic of timber-framed houses in Lancashire and Cheshire.

Admission Details and Prices 2004

House and Home Farm are open Wednesdays to Sundays from 20 March to 31 October, then Saturdays and Sundays only from 1 November to 5th December.

Home Farm visitor centre is also open Tuesdays from 20 July to 5 September.

The house and Home Farm are also open Bank Holiday Mondays.

The gardens are open every day throughout the year from 11.00am until 4.30pm.

House and Garden ticket:

Adult £6.00

Child £3.50

Family £17.00

Garden only ticket

Adult £3.00

Child £1.50

Family £9.00

Telephone 0151 427 7231 Fax 0151 427 9860