Flixton House

Flixton House
Flixton House in Summer 2003
Map
General information
StatusGrade II Listed Building
LocationFlixton,Trafford
AddressFlixton Rd, Urmston, Manchester M41 5GJ
Coordinates53°26′44″N 2°23′0″W / 53.44556°N 2.38333°W / 53.44556; -2.38333
LandlordTrafford Council
Website
http://www.flixtonhouse.co.uk/Home.aspx

Flixton House was built in 1806 by the Wright family, who had become wealthy land owners in Flixton. It is a Queen Anne revival style country house, in Flemish Bond brick, with neo-classical portico and fanlight. It is Grade II listed.[1]

Access dispute

Flixton House would probably have been quite unremarkable in a national context had Ralph Wright in 1826 not closed several footpaths across his estate, footpaths that the public had until then been allowed access to.

In response to the closure of those footpaths the people of Flixton initiated and funded a court case against Ralph Wright, one of the first footpath battles in England.[2]

The people of Flixton won their case, and their success led to the creation of the Manchester Association for the Preservation of Ancient Footpaths in 1826.

Subsequent history

Ralph Wright died in 1831. The Wright family continued to hold the house and land until the death of Samuel Worthington-Wright in 1934, following which Urmston Urban District Council acquired Flixton House and its 218 acres (0.88 km2) of land for £69,793.

The park was officially opened to the public in 1935. The house and park are now owned by Trafford Council.

Flixton House along with its surrounding buildings was designated a Grade II listed building in 1981.

Event Space

This Grade II listed building has been a wedding and events venue in Trafford for many years and is now owned and managed by Trafford Council.

In 2018 Flixton House recently underwent a drastic refurbishment. The venue has been updated with modern décor and furnishings whilst retaining many features from the early 19th century.

References

  1. ^ "Flixton House". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  2. ^ "2002 - 2006 Management & Improvement Plan (Working Document)". Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 23 April 2007.