The history of Beeston Manor
Beeston Manor is one of the Ribble Valley’s most finest privately owned venues for all occasions and events.
The venue is a family run business and is set in 140 acres of land at Hoghton near Preston. We have fourteen en-suite bedrooms available, a licence to hold civil ceremonies, a restaurant and two function rooms which have the backdrop view of stunning panoramic views. The venue is so close to the M6, M61 and M65 motorway networks and also has the facility of a helicopter pad.
Its romantic ambience is entirely true to its roots and local legend has it that Beeston Wood has been the meeting place for generations of lovers over the centuries.Beeston Manor is a Grade II listed sandstone building which has been restored and converted by the Bickerstaffe Family with stone walls and exposed beams.
The barn was originally used for storage of local farmer’s crops. The building has literally been hand made by John Bickerstaffe and his father Frank over 12 years and has the most special atmosphere you could possibly wish for. The 16th Century Barn has many of the original features exposed, including the beautiful oak beams and the locally quarried pink sand stone. The structure of the wardrobes in the bedrooms were made from trusses and the fireplace from handmade bricks. Other internal features of Beeston Manor have come from other demolished buildings where materials have been recycled and re-used including ones from Preston City Centre.
The Woodland and Oakland Rooms built in the year 2000 mirrors the building technique of the original barn. For example, the Oakland Room beams where made from green oak. Sixteen trees from Beeston Wood where felled by John and Frank! A mobile saw was brought on site to cut up the timber, and a crane to lift them into place to make the roof structure. The building technique used for the roof structure is the same construction method as the listed barn has with wooden pegs used to secure the timbers in place.
The entrance hall has the original stone flags which was the thrashing area for the corn.
The story of the evolution of Beeston Manor from a redundant farm barn in 1985 to a busy vibrant venue is remarkable. If you are lucky to meet Mr Bickerstaffe Senior, AKA Grandad, he would be delighted to tell you all the fascinating stories that created Beeston Manor!
