Historic Liverpool Dwellings - Calderstone Park Mansion House

 

 

Calderstone's parkland was once part of the 1583 acre expanse of the 'Manor of Allerton' until about 1726 when the estate became fragmented through sale. The area now known as 'Calderstones', passed through various owners until 1828 when the old farmhouse was replaced by the present Mansion House. Calderstones Mansion House, is now nestled among acres of beautiful parkland in South Liverpool and was built in 1828 for Joseph Need Walker, a lead shot manufacturer. He had the old farmhouse which was previously on the site removed, and began construction of his mansion house. Taking his inspiration from the prehistoric rock-art covered monument near the boundary of his land he named his new home 'Calderstone House'. It is a 'restrained neo-classical' ashlar mansion of three floors with a separate and extensive stableyard and coach-house which was originally set in 93 acres of parkland. The Coach House and Stables were vitally important to everyday life as in those days a horse and carriage was an essential possession for wealthy Victorians like Joseph who needed to travel for business and leisure. Just like with cars today, the model of carriage you owned, and the speed of your horse, was an indicator of wealth. Horses were expensive, but a rich family like the Need Walkers would have owned a range of them for different occasions. Joseph may have used the best horse to travel to his lead shot manufacturing works in St Helens and his children probably learnt to ride on a good tempered pony, and they may also have had a pair of steady paced matching horses to pull the carriage when the whole family were taking a trip. The family's horses were essential for getting around, but were probably also beloved pets, as three of them were buried on the Calderstones estate when they died. If you go to the path between the back of the Mansion House and the Allerton Oak, you can still find their headstone today. Carved into the front are tributes to a brown pony called Beppo, a bay horse called Waterloo and an unnamed roan pony. Looking at the dates on the headstone, these horses may have been purchased with the land when Joseph bought it in 1828. 

 

The Calder Stones themselves are six Neolithic sandstone boulders remaining from a dolmen which was disturbed in the vicinity of the present park in the early 19th century. The Stones were relocated by Joseph Need Walker during his ownership, becoming a gateway feature to the eponymous estate. The Census of 1861 showed there were more staff than family living there then with several maids and a housekeeper.
In 1875 the estate was acquired by Charles MacIver for £52,000. This new owner was a Liverpool shipping magnate who, along with his brother David, had joined Samuel Cunard in establishing the 'British and North American Royal Steam Packet Company' – later better known as the Cunard Line. Charles MacIver moved to Calderstone House when his days of active involvement with Cunard were coming to an end, however, he could not totally remove himself from links to the sea as he imported numerous North American pine trees and other foreign species - many of which still grow in the park today. In 1902 the McIver family sold the estate to Liverpool Corporation for just £42,000, who then transformed it into a public park, and in 1913 also acquired the adjoining estate of Harthill, paving the way for one of the city's greatest public parks of 126 acres. The Grade II listed building became the offices of the Liverpool Corporation Parks and Gardens department and in the 1940s part of the house was transformed into a self-contained flat for the Assistant Head Gardener. The 1940s also saw a neo art-deco open-air theatre constructed at the back of the house, designed by Sir Lancelot Keay. For most of the 20th Century the mansion housed a tea-room and cafe and was regularly used for wedding receptions, parties and other functions. In the 1970s the house became council offices and remained that way until 2012. In January 2012 the council placed the house on the market and in January 2013 The Reader Organisation won preferred bidder status with the aim of restoring the house safeguarding it for the future.

 

The plans included creating a bistro, community and conference spaces, restoration of the outdoor theatre and a new home for the ancient Calder Stones themselves. The restoration work, commissioned by the Reader charity, saw the building close for three years to allow essential repairs to be carried out. In September 2019 it was reopened to visitors who found new spaces created including a café and an ice cream parlour, as well as the children's story centre, The Storybarn. Also, summer eats were offered at The Secret Garden – al fresco dining for families and friends to reconnect in the private gardens of the Mansion House.

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