Set in 250 acres of beautiful parkland and overlooking the scenic Dee estuary across to the hills of North Wales, Hillbark’s character appearance hides a fascinating history.

The house was originally built in 1891 (on Bidston Hill in Birkenhead) for the soap manufacturer Robert William Hudson. Germany’s Crown Prinz Wilhelm was so impressed with the house that in 1913 he built a copy for himself in Potsdam; the famous Potsdam Agreement at the end of World War 2 was signed there. Hillbark was sold in 1921 to Sir Ernest Royden and in 1928 was moved to its present site, brick by brick, finally being completed in 1931.

The house contains a variety of interesting features: the Great Hall has a 1527 Jacobean fireplace from Sir Walter Raleigh’s house, a set of William Morris stained glass windows and a pair of 13th century church screen doors; the library was originally in a stately home in Gloucestershire; and the Yellow Room restaurant contains a magnificent 1795 Robert Adam fire surround.