Walton Hall was a 17th-century historic country house, set in a estate, which was demolished in the early 20th century. Sometimes referred to as Walton Old Hall, it was situated at the centre of the Walton Hall Park in Walton (formerly Walton-on-the-Hill), Liverpool. Its former residents were Liverpool merchants and the last two families to reside at Walton Hall profited from the Atlantic slave trade. In the 19th century it was the home of Thomas Leyland during his second and third term as Lord Mayor of Liverpool.
History
It is highly likely that stone construction had existed during the Anglo-Saxon period, and perhaps as far back to the Roman period. The name Walton derived from the Old English "walla" (meaning Briton) and "tun" (settlement). In terms of recorded history, the land on which Walton Old Hall was first built had numerous owners after the Norman Conquest, when lands across England were requisitioned and redistributed to Companions of William the Conqueror. The land is listed in the Domesday Book. Roger the Poitevin received the West Derby Hundred as a reward. Title of the land passed to his sheriff, Geoffrey de Valognes.
An early medieval moated ancient hall would have been demolished and partially rebuilt on several occasions. The title of the estate later passed to Gilbert (or "Waldeve") de Walton by King John in 1189. A moated lodge was built in the 14th century by this family. Following the death of Roger de Walton in the 15th century, ownership descended through a sequence of wealthy families through marriage, including the Crosse, Chorley, Fazakerley and finally the Briers or Breres in 1708, who remained at Walton Hall until it was sold to one of the earliest inhabitants of Hanover Street, John Atherton in 1746; although some historians have reported the purchase of Walton Hall to have occurred a few years earlier. Such transfers of ownership would have been relatively uncommon, since property such as Walton Hall had historically passed from one generation to another. The structure at the time would have been between 100 and 145 years old. Records show Nicholas Fazakerley acted as an agent in the purchase from Roger and Lawrence Briers. As well as a lawyer, Fazakerley was the Tory MP for Preston from 1732 to 1767. Atherton's home town.
Some of the land adjoining Walton Hall passed from Fazakerley to James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby and the Earl of Sefton a few decades prior.
Athertons of Walton Hall
Three generations of Athertons have been recorded as residents of Walton Hall. John Atherton (1697–1768), the elder brother of William Atherton, relocated from Preston to Liverpool as an aspiring young merchant, and became involved in numerous privateering syndicates. Some of his privateering vessels were built in Norfolk, Virginia and were sized around 250 tons. Thurloe, one of his hackboats captured the Admiral of Bordeaux as a prize ship during June 1745, the year prior to purchasing the Walton Hall. Atherton was also highly involved in the Atlantic slave trade and the triangular trade. At least 18 slave voyages between 1737 and 1757 are on record. Atherton donated land in Liverpool allowing the town to expand. This was unlikely to atone for the origin of his wealth, simply a vehicle to elevate his social status, and marry Frances Richmond, the granddaughter of Sylvester Richmond, Lord Mayor of Liverpool (1672–73). Their daughter Catherine (1735–1819) grew up in Walton Hall and married her first cousin Dr Henry Richmond of Liverpool. Their son Legh Richmond was a clergyman, the founder of one of the first Friendly societies in England, and a supporter of Wilberforce in his attempts to stop the Atlantic Slave Trade. The Athertons also owned plantations in the Colony of Jamaica since before the mid 1760s. His connection with Fazarkeley and the profits from privateering and slavery had quickly elevated his position in society, allowing not only to purchase Walton Hall, but to be elected to public roles in Liverpool. Peter Bold, became president of the Liverpool Royal Infirmary, which opened in 1743, replacing his friend, Nicholas Fazakerley. Atherton was the treasurer on two occasions (1752 and 1761). He also sent his son John to Cambridge. Both John Snr and Jnr are listed in the electoral roll of 1761 under Union Chapel. In 1766 John Snr kept offices in Hanover St, his former home, whilst his son had offices in Wolstenholme's St. John Atherton Snr died in 1768. His will dated 4 February 1768, devised other property, in addition to Walton Hall, such as Banister Hall in Walton-le-Dale, which he purchased in 1739, to his son in 1768.