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Port Sunlight's creator to be honoured with flower festival

THE 150th anniversary of the birth of the creator of Port Sunlight Village is being celebrated with a special service and flower festival next month. William Hesketh Lever, the first Viscount Leverhulme, opened a soap factory in Port Sunlight in 1888 and built the church and the model village of Port Sunlight for his workers.

Now he is being remembered at a Founder's Day Service in Christ Church on Septembcr 19, 150 years to the day after his birth. Among those attending will be the late Lord Leverhulme's great granddaughter, The Hon Jane Heber-Percy, and senior executives from Lever Faberge, the company which bears the family name. The service, which is open to the public, starts at 7.30pm.

Rev Malcolm Shapland said: 'Founder's Day has been an annual event since the days of the first Viscount. It used to be a very big affair, with a fun day at the Oval in Bebington for all the workers. 'Now the church service is the only bit that is left.' The flower festival, which takes place at Christ Church from September 18-23, is on the theme of God in the Community.

It is to bc faithful to the memory of the man who built up a 'very special' community and went on to leave his mark across the peninsula. The death in July last year of the first Lord Leverhulme's grandson Philip is likely to add even more poignancy to the anniversary events. The 85-year-old Viscount died without a male heir, bringing to an end the hereditary title bestowed on his grandfather. His home, Thornton Manor in Thornton Hough, has been sold to a company set up to establish an up-market health spa. The new owners, . Lee and Janet Magner, also plan to," hold classical concerts and summer ' camps for children. Work to transform the manor is due to start early next year. Among the features being kept is the open-air bedroom where the first Viscount Leverhulme slept.

In June Thornton Manor played host to a three-day auction of antiques and paintings, attracting interest from around the world.

The Flower Festival opening times are as follows: Tuesday, September 18, 10am-8pm; Wednesday, September 19, 10am-6pm; Thursday, September 20, 10am-8pm; Friday, September 21, 10am-Spm; Saturday, September 22, 4.40pm-8pm; Sunday, September 23, 11.30am-8pm.

Article from the Chester Chronicle 11th August 2001

	[ LINKS ] [ FLOWER FESTIVAL ]
.	Port Sunlight's creator to be honoured with flower festival THE 150th anniversary of the birth of the creator of Port Sunlight Village is being celebrated with a special service and flower festival next month. William Hesketh Lever, the first Viscount Leverhulme, opened a soap factory in Port Sunlight in 1888 and built the church and the model village of Port Sunlight for his workers. Now he is being remembered at a Founder's Day Service in Christ Church on Septembcr 19, 150 years to the day after his birth. Among those attending will be the late Lord Leverhulme's great granddaughter, The Hon Jane Heber-Percy, and senior executives from Lever Faberge, the company which bears the family name. The service, which is open to the public, starts at 7.30pm. Rev Malcolm Shapland said: 'Founder's Day has been an annual event since the days of the first Viscount. It used to be a very big affair, with a fun day at the Oval in Bebington for all the workers. 'Now the church service is the only bit that is left.' The flower festival, which takes place at Christ Church from September 18-23, is on the theme of God in the Community. It is to bc faithful to the memory of the man who built up a 'very special' community and went on to leave his mark across the peninsula. The death in July last year of the first Lord Leverhulme's grandson Philip is likely to add even more poignancy to the anniversary events. The 85-year-old Viscount died without a male heir, bringing to an end the hereditary title bestowed on his grandfather. His home, Thornton Manor in Thornton Hough, has been sold to a company set up to establish an up-market health spa. The new owners, . Lee and Janet Magner, also plan to," hold classical concerts and summer ' camps for children. Work to transform the manor is due to start early next year. Among the features being kept is the open-air bedroom where the first Viscount Leverhulme slept. In June Thornton Manor played host to a three-day auction of antiques and paintings, attracting interest from around the world. The Flower Festival opening times are as follows: Tuesday, September 18, 10am-8pm; Wednesday, September 19, 10am-6pm; Thursday, September 20, 10am-8pm; Friday, September 21, 10am-Spm; Saturday, September 22, 4.40pm-8pm; Sunday, September 23, 11.30am-8pm. Article from the Chester Chronicle 11th August 2001