Earlier Houses: The current house was built on the site of an earlier Medieval house.

Built / Designed For: John Naylor

House & Family History: The wealth underlying the Leighton Hall Estate was created in the 18th century by the English slaver trader Thomas Leyland, who, over his career as a slaver, purchased over 22,000 enslaved Africans and took them on his slave ships to the Americas. After the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire, Leyland became a banker and lord mayor of Liverpool. J.G. Crace, who executed Pugin's interior designs for Leighton Hall, used Minton floor tiles and Forrest & Bromley stained glass in the fitting out of the house and the church. Pugin's drawings for the interiors are today in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum. In the late 20th century Leighton Hall served as a private school; it was converted back into a private home in the 1990s.

Collections: The great hall was designed to display John Naylor's important collection of paintings and sculpture, which included works by Landseer, Ansdell, and Delaroche. The collection featured two Turners: "Venice: The Dogana and San Giorgio Maggiore" and "Keelmen Heaving in Coals by Moonlight" (see "Images" section). The Turners were purchased in 1849 by John Naylor and sold in 1910 to Thos. Agnew & Sons, London; in 1913 the canvases were purchased by Peter A.B. Widener of Lynewood Hall, Elkins Park. Pennsylvania. In 1943 Peter's son, Joseph Widener, bequeathed the Turners to the National Gallery of Art, Washington. In 1930 Harrods held an auction of the contents of Leighton Hall.

Garden & Outbuildings: The Leighton Hall Estate was broken up and sold at auction in 1930. It was here that the controversial Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii) hedge tree was hybridized in the early 20th century.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade I

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSES: Corbett family, 15th century. Humphrey Lloyd, until circa 1562. Sir Uvedale Corbett, 17th century; Sir Richard Corbett, 18th century; Corbett family here until 1845. Christopher Leyland, 1845-47. John Naylor, 1847-55. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: John Naylor, 1855-89; Christopher John Naylor, 1889-91; John (Jack), Naylor, 1891-1906; Captain John Murray Naylor, 1906-30; Georgina Naylor, 1930-50. Rupert Davies, 1951-67.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

House Open to Public: No

Historic Houses Member: No