Cornist Hall
Encyclopedia
Cornish Hall is a large house 1 miles (2 km) west-southwest of the town of Flint
, Flintshire
, Wales
. Originally known as Lower Cornist, the property was significantly altered by Richard Muspratt in about 1884 then greatly rebuilt by the Summers family – when it became their main residence in 1889.
It was the birthplace in 1746 of Thomas Totty
, an admiral
who served under Lord Nelson
. In about 1884 the industrialist Richard Muspratt commissioned the Chester
architect John Douglas
to re-model the house, but Muspratt died before this could be executed. It was later owned by members of the Summers family, who ran the ironworks business of John Summers and Sons in Shotton
and who made extensive alterations to the house. In 1953 the ownership of the house passed to the Local Authority who modified the interior for catering purposes. The Napier family took it over in 1987 and developed it as a wedding and dining venue. The house is built in brick and stone in Jacobethan
style.
Flint, Flintshire
Flint is a town in Flintshire, North Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Dee. It was the county town of the historic county of Flintshire and today is the third largest town in Flintshire. According to the 2001 Census the population of the community of Flint was 12,804...
, Flintshire
Flintshire
Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. Originally known as Lower Cornist, the property was significantly altered by Richard Muspratt in about 1884 then greatly rebuilt by the Summers family – when it became their main residence in 1889.
It was the birthplace in 1746 of Thomas Totty
Thomas Totty
-Life:Totty was born at Flint, Flintshire, and was baptised at Holywell parish church on 24 January 1746. He inherited his birthplace, Cornist Hall, from his mother's side...
, an admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
who served under Lord Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
. In about 1884 the industrialist Richard Muspratt commissioned the Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
architect John Douglas
John Douglas (architect)
John Douglas was an English architect who designed about 500 buildings in Cheshire, North Wales, and northwest England, in particular in the estate of Eaton Hall. He was trained in Lancaster and practised throughout his career from an office in Chester, Cheshire...
to re-model the house, but Muspratt died before this could be executed. It was later owned by members of the Summers family, who ran the ironworks business of John Summers and Sons in Shotton
Shotton, Flintshire
Shotton is a town in Flintshire, north Wales, lying on the River Dee. The name derives from the Old Norse words sjò and tùn . It is continuous with the towns of Connah's Quay and Queensferry in what is called Deeside...
and who made extensive alterations to the house. In 1953 the ownership of the house passed to the Local Authority who modified the interior for catering purposes. The Napier family took it over in 1987 and developed it as a wedding and dining venue. The house is built in brick and stone in Jacobethan
Jacobethan
Jacobethan is the style designation coined in 1933 by John Betjeman to describe the mixed national Renaissance revival style that was made popular in England from the late 1820s, which derived most of its inspiration and its repertory from the English Renaissance , with elements of Elizabethan and...
style.