A SECRET underwater world going back to the days and lavish lifestyle of one of the country’s richest men has been uncovered at Cheshire’s Thornton Manor.
After almost 100 years, the 12-acre lake in the manor’s extensive grounds has revealed its glorious past as a favourite haunt of its former owner Viscount Leverhulme and his passion for the great outdoors.
And it was thanks to an impromptu couple of hours’ angling on the lake by a member of staff from the historic country house that led to the amazing discovery – of virtually untouched fishing waters recalling a time when Leverhulme entertained guests on a grand scale at the manor’s shooting and fishing parties.
The hospitality of Viscount Leverhulme was legendary and, in the early part of the last century, the founder of the mighty Unilever empire ensured the lake on his estate in the picturesque Wirral village of Thornton Hough was stocked with the finest specimens.
However, the period since the glory days of the viscount’s house parties in the1920s has seen the lake and its network of canals and islands lie dormant – and given its occupying waterlife nearly a century to develop unfished.
Specimen carp, bream, roach, perch, tench and pike can now be found there in abundance after being undisturbed all this time in the peaceful waters of the waterway’s virgin fishing ground.
The scale of the lake’s secret was discovered after keen angler Adrian Grodzki, who works at the manor and was enjoying some private fishing there, pulled in a huge bream. The monster fish, which could be up to about 20 years old, was tempted by Adrian’s bait of sweetcorn.
Bryn Jones, a member of the team involved in the lake restoration project at the now privately owned luxury event venue at Thornton Manor, explained: “We’ve always known that in the 1920s Viscount Leverhulme made sure the lake for his sporting estate was incredibly well stocked.
“From then until now, the lake has been left dormant and it was Adrian’s spectacular catch there that led us to realise its untouched state means it can be regarded as virgin fishing ground – quite a rarity in this part of the country.
“At the moment, the lake is only for private usage but, because of the unique nature of this fishing ground – its historic associations as well as its beauty and tranquillity – will be opened up shortly for exclusive fishing parties staying for midweek breaks in the manor estate cottages.
“In this way we can hopefully recreate the Leverhulme days of sporting pleasure and enjoyment.”
