ONE of the town's most beautiful historical buildings is up for sale for more than £1 million.

Stunning Southworth Hall, which was home to the de Southworths of Croft from the 14th century, has been placed on the market by its owner Mark Fairclough.

Mr Fairclough's father, Harry, bought the Hall in 1930. He demolished most of the old building but rebuilt it as a replica, except with two storeys instead of three.

"There were rumours the hall was burnt down," said Mark Fairclough, "but it was just my father burning the rotten woodwork!"

Still in place is the original medieval chimneypiece, so even now huge logs burn in the grate as they would have done 700 years ago, and modern engineering means this can heat the house.

The Hall also features oak floorboards and a staircase salvaged from Norton Priory.

The Hall has a fascinating past. Before St Lewis' RC Church was built in Croft it housed a chapel. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, Lord of the manor Sir John de Southworth was imprisoned for refusing to conform to the reformed church.

And his son tended Catholic plague victims in London and was hung, drawn and quartered because he wouldn't deny the priesthood.

The Hall passed to Sir Thomas Ireland of Bewsey in 1621. In the 18th century it was owned by the Jesuits of Stoneyhurst College, then had various owners until it was bought by the Fairclough family.