Welcome to Thornton Manor Country Estate

Thornton Manor is a grade II* listed Elizabethan-style house built in the middle of the 19th and early 20th century and is surrounded by parkland and gardens designed by Thomas Mawson. Standing proudly in the village of Thornton Hough, the historic estate is set amongst an oasis of rural calm and beautifully presented countryside.

In 1888, Thornton Manor became the home of William Lever, later 1st Viscount Leverhulme, a great philanthropic industrialist. In the same year, Lever began construction of Port Sunlight factory and village for his workers, one of the finest surviving examples of early urban planning in the world.  Over the next 25 years, here in Thornton Hough, Lever rebuilt this magnificent historic country estate which remains virtually unchanged to this day.  During his lifetime he achieved worldwide recognition.  After the death of the 3rd Viscount Leverhulme in the year 2000, the Manor House and nearly all other buildings on the estate became empty and along with the historic gardens fell further into disrepair. The present custodians have undertaken a huge ongoing restoration and maintenance project which commenced in 2005.  For the first time in its history, the house and grounds were made available for hire to the public for events. So far, almost all profits from events in the house and marquees on the grounds have been spent on ongoing restoration, and the preservation of this historic site continues to be the principal objective for future generations to enjoy.