CELEBRATING LEADERSHIP AND HERITAGE: CHAIRS' LUNCH AT SCARISBROOK HALL

Report: Chairs’ Luncheon at Scarisbrick Hall, Ormskirk

On the 25th July 2025, 37 current and former Chairs, along with Presidents and Past Presidents of The Arts Society North West Area, gathered at the historic Scarisbrick Hall in Ormskirk for the annual Chairs’ Luncheon — a yearly event that celebrates the achievements and camaraderie of those who lead and support our societies.

After being treated to coffee and pastries, we were treated to a fascinating guided tour of Scarisbrick Hall, a striking example of 19th-century Gothic Revival architecture. Steeped in history, the site has been home to the Scarisbrick family from the early 13th century until 1946. While little remains of the earliest buildings apart from traces of a moat, the current mansion — with its 150 rooms — was built between 1830 and 1860 and is now home to Scarisbrick Hall School.

The story of the Hall’s transformation is closely linked with the renowned architect A.W.N. Pugin. Commissioned by Charles Scarisbrick in the 1830s, Pugin’s Gothic flourishes — from the grand staircase to the distinctive clock tower — are among his first major architectural commissions. That very clock tower is believed to have inspired his later design for Big Ben at Westminster. In the years that followed, Charles’s sister, Lady Scarisbrick, continued to enhance the Hall, enlisting Pugin’s son, Edward W. Pugin, to create the more imposing tower that still dominates the surrounding landscape.

Following the tour, guests made their way to the nearby family-run restaurant, Master McGrath’s, for a convivial two-course lunch. In a nod to the Society’s architectural interests, the six tables were named after famous architects — a thoughtful touch that sparked conversation and added to the sense of occasion.

The luncheon was not only a celebration of the remarkable history of Scarisbrick Hall but also of the vital role The Arts Society Chairs and Presidents play in sustaining and enriching arts and heritage in the North West.