Editing Leasowe (section)

===Leasowe Castle===
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Leasowe Castle
| native_name = 
| image = File:Leasowe Castle.jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = Leasowe Castle
| locmapin = Merseyside
| map_width = 200
| map_caption = Location in Merseyside
| alt =
| coordinates = {{coord|53|25|06.32|N|03|06|28.16|W|display=inline}}
| location = 
| gbgridref = SJ 26471 91863
| area = Wirral, Merseyside
| built = 1593
| built_for = 
| demolished = 
| rebuilt = 
| restored = 
| restored_by =
| architect = 
| architecture = [[Private house]]|
| designation1 = Grade II*
| designation1_date = May 1952
| designation1_number = 1273527
}}

'''Leasowe Castle''' may have been built for [[Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby]]<ref name="Randall">{{harvnb|Randall|1984|pp=44–46}}</ref> – a patron of [[Shakespeare]] – in 1593, possibly (though this is disputed) as an observation platform for the Wallasey races which took place on the sands in the 16th and 17th centuries, and which are regarded as a forerunner of the [[Derby (horse race)|Derby]] races. Ferdinando's brother [[William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby|William, the 6th Earl]], was described as a noted sportsman and is remembered as a keen supporter of the Wallasey races.

At first the castle consisted only of an octagonal tower. This had become disused by 1700, and it became known as "Mockbeggar Hall", a term often used for an ornate but derelict building.<ref name="Castle">{{cite web |title=Leasowe Castle Hotel |url=http://www.leasowecastle.com/about.html |access-date=28 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408205330/http://www.leasowecastle.com/about-us.html |archive-date=8 April 2012}}</ref> The term ''Mockbeggar Wharf'' is still used for the adjoining foreshore. The ''Mockbeggar Hall'' is also the name of a [[Wetherspoons]] pub in neighbouring Moreton.

In 1821, ownership passed to the Cust family.<ref name="Randall" /> After 1826, the building was used as a hotel for some years. The ceiling of the [[Star Chamber]] at the [[Palace of Westminster]] was brought to the castle in 1836 along with panelling and other furnishings; they had been salvaged from the old Palace of Westminster before the Star Chamber was demolished in an 1806 building project.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://leasowecastle.com/dine/ |title=Dine – Leasowe Castle}}</ref> The Star Chamber was so called because the ceiling was decorated with bright stars. The ceiling and four tapestries depicting the four seasons still remain. Oak panelling from the Star Chamber and some made from the submerged forest along the coast were also installed;<ref name="Old Wirral">{{cite web |title=Old Wirral web site |url=http://www.oldwirral.com/moreton_mockbeggar.html
|access-date=26 June 2012}}</ref> however, these were removed in 1893.<ref name="Old Wirral" />

Between 1911 and 1970, it became a railway convalescent home;<ref name="Randall" /> between 1974 and 1980, it was owned by [[Wirral Borough Council]]. It reopened as a hotel in December 1982<ref name="Randall" /> and was acquired by Lawton Hotels Ltd in 2000. The hotel is now a popular venue for weddings and other family functions, with around 50 bedrooms. Leasowe Castle is recorded in the [[National Heritage List for England]] as a designated [[Grade&nbsp;II*]] [[Listed building#England and Wales|listed building]].<ref>[https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1273527 ''Leasowe Castle''] at Historic England; retrieved 29 June 2024</ref>