Scarisbrick has several sides that appeal to different interests when planning a trip: the architectural history of Scarisbrick Hall, protected monuments, churches and walks in Millennium Wood. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can start by deciding whether cultural history or time in the woods matters more to you.
Scarisbrick Hall and its architectural history
Scarisbrick Hall is a Gothic country house that developed from the 16th-century seat of the Scarisbrick family. From 1814, it was gradually remodelled, rebuilt and extended. The main building phase under Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin took place mainly between 1836 and 1845; he worked for Thomas Scarisbrick. Further work for Anne Scarisbrick followed in the 1860s and 1870s. Today, the house is a school. This sequence shows that its architectural history spans several phases and is not limited to a single design.
The history of the park also goes back further: the southern boundary of Scarisbrick Hall’s park is formed by the Leeds-&-Liverpool Canal. The site of Scarisbrick Hall’s medieval hall is believed to have been surrounded by a moat. Parts of it survive in Old Wood, 200 metres north-west of Scarisbrick Hall. The visible architectural history of the country house is thus complemented by evidence of an older site, only partly preserved.
Churches and protected history
The holy well in Scarisbrick Park is a well-preserved example of this type of monument, protected as a Scheduled Monument, and a rare surviving example in Lancashire. It is associated with a medieval wayside cross. St Mark’s Church was built between 1848 and 1851 to a design by George Shaw of Saddleworth and was consecrated by the Bishop of Chester on 19 April 1853. Its churchyard contains nine Commonwealth war graves of servicemen from the First and Second World Wars. In the chapel of the Roman Catholic Church of St Elizabeth is a memorial to Eliza Margaret De Biaudos Scarisbrick, Marchioness de Casteja. These places represent different aspects of local history: the well and wayside cross relate to the medieval period, St Mark’s to architectural and wartime history, and St Elizabeth’s to personal remembrance.
Walks, nature and cultural events
The paths in Millennium Wood are marked on an information board. The woodland is suitable for walks and wildlife watching, so you can focus on a walk through the trees or on observing nature. The St Mark’s Walking Group regularly organises walks along hidden paths and country lanes, and welcomes people of all ages and fitness levels. Its programme is dated 2025. Check for current dates if you would like to plan a group walk.
Oak Theatre and Studios at Scarisbrick Hall, Southport Road, Scarisbrick, Lancashire, L40 9RQ, offers a different kind of culture. The venue is dedicated to bold storytelling and boundary-crossing performances, bringing creative participants and audiences together for live entertainment. Individual performances may change, so check the schedule if you would like to combine your visit with an event.
Agriculture is also part of the area’s history. In the 19th century, Scarisbrick’s farms were important suppliers to a growing Liverpool; potatoes and other vegetables were a speciality. This offers a historical glimpse of regional agriculture, while Millennium Wood and the Walking Group provide other ways to experience the landscape. As a precise reference point on the Leeds-&-Liverpool Canal, Scarisbrick Bridge No. 27A is on the A570.
Discover more destinations: Silverdale, Aughton, Burscough, Claughton-on-Brock, Bolton by Bowland, Croston, Samlesbury, West Bradford.
For the main travel overview: Lancashire.
