Knowsley Hall has been in the ownership of the Stanley family since 1385, and from that time the history of the family has been closely intertwined with the history of the country as a whole. Lord Thomas Stanley was created the 1st Earl of Derby (1435-1504) in 1485 after the Battle of Bosworth when Richard III lost the crown of England to Henry Tudor. The Earldom is a local title, coming from the Hundred of West Derby, which included Knowsley and the small port of Liverpool.
Edward Stanley, the19th and present Earl of Derby was born in 1962
The Earl & Countess of Derby commissioned the restoration of Knowsley Hall, which is still ongoing, with Lady Derby drawing on her expertise gained from eight years’ work in the Royal Collection.
Imagine a family history that harks back to a mention of the small port of Liverpool.
We had an invite for afternoon tea and we were good to go. It is a vast estate and the first challenge was finding the right entrance (for this event). We took in the full splendour of Knowsley Hall as we swept past to access the car park. The grounds are spectacular and stretch out across the Borough of Knowsley. The Hall itself is straight out of Jane Austen.
We were given such a warm welcome and were invited onto the terrace with splendid views. With mocktails in hand, we met with the other guests.
We were privileged to view one or two of Edward Lear’s water-colours (which would not usually be on view). There is an impressive Natural History library. Edward Lear was befriended by the Earl of Derby (back in the day) and spent many happy times playing with the then Earl’s children and their friends and did some tutoring.
Afternoon tea, in this setting, could never be an everyday experience. A quartet were playing in the ballroom. This is a room with a glittering bar and many very special views.
Afternoon tea came piled high with gorgeous treats. The range of teas is awesome: imagine peach, raspberry and rose. The menu will vary; this is a general guide to what we enjoyed. Difficult to overstate how lovely the rare beef with horseradish sauce in a mini brioche bun actually tasted. Smoked salmon and dill crème fraiche, as you might or not anticipate, came in a mini ice-cream cone. Classic smoked flavour. Mini cheese and caramelised onion tart with exquisite Parma ham definitely had the wow factor.
Next came runcible scones (a nod to Edward Lear’s ‘Owl and the Pussycat’). The scones were still warm and fluffy with great in-depth flavour. The accompanying honey and thyme were garnered from the Estate. Strawberries, blueberries and clotted cream were also in the mix. There was an overwhelm happening at this point: mini salted caramel doughnuts, macaron trifle, mini tea loaf and white chocolate blondie vied for attention. Trust me, we managed to sample it all.
We settled on beautiful couches in a splendid room, to enjoy coffee, tea and/or speciality cocktails. We rallied (after some time) and set off on a conducted tour. The chandeliers and family portraits vie with breathtaking views of distant vistas to capture the eye and the imagination. The décor is distinctive. This proved a unique experience.
The hospitality was truly impressive. The service was impeccable. We sensed how much work and dedication goes into making this seem seamless. We thank everyone involved for making this such a memorable experience.
Knowsley Hall is launching a very special series of Signature Afternoon Tea events on Saturday 19th October 2024.
Inspired by the charming characters and whimsical adventures featured within the poem The Owl and the Pussycat, guests will enjoy culinary delights with ingredients freshly sourced from Knowsley Estate’s farms, gamekeepers, and private gardens.
Live music will welcome guests before they are escorted to their table, seated and invited to create a personal cocktail/mocktail, utilising Knowsley Hall’s Walled Garden Gin as a base and adding their own choice of a tea-based tincture. Knowsley Hall’s helpful staff will serve guests a selection of savoury delights curated by in-house chef Alex Makin, followed by a sumptuous selection of desserts. Guests can also look forward to unlimited tea of their choosing.
The Signature Afternoon Tea takes place in the opulent Stucco Ballroom in the heart of the Hall. Here, guests are afforded the opportunity to soak up centuries’ worth of history while enjoying delicious food and drink.
Check out the website. There will be more intriguing events on offer very soon.
https://knowsleyhallvenue.co.uk
You may also enjoy: We found a wealth of gourmet dishes at Lost Wirral.
