When you think of ruins in Greater Manchester, old mills and remnants of the region’s industrial past probably spring to mind rather than the remains of an old castle.
But if you take a walk through the woodland which lines Rivington Reservoir, you’ll stumble across the crumbling walls, towers and arches of Liverpool Castle.
Overlooking the water with two impressive circular towers and sturdy, thick walls, it’s easy to imagine the castle being used as a fortress hundreds of years’ ago.
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Except all is not as it seems - and the first clue to the castle’s unusual story is its name.
Liverpool Castle is in fact a replica of a castle which stood in the city of its namesake from the early 1200s until the early 1700s.
At the original site in Liverpool you’ll now find Derby Square and the Queen Victoria Monument, with the castle long since gone.
However, a replica was commissioned in 1912 by Lord Leverhulme; the founder of Lever Brothers, now part of the company Unilever; to be built in Lever Park.
The building work stopped in 1925 when William Lever died, although the castle was always intended to look like a ruin.
Even though the castle is a folly, it is still an intriguing place to visit and gives you all the joy of exploring an ancient ruin in a location that wouldn’t otherwise have one.
Step through one of the arched doorways and you’ll come across secret passageways, crumbling fireplaces and hidden rooms.
Clearly Lever was onto something when he decided to build the ruins over hundred years’ ago as it’s now a popular place for visitors of all ages.
Children will love running in and out of the rooms, although be aware there are signs advising against climbing the walls.
Or you can simply walk through the entrance way and head straight to the far wall, where you can enjoy the views of the reservoir.
There’s plenty of walks you can take from the castle, including one which drops down beneath it so you can have a stroll along the water’s edge.
How to get there:
You can park your car for free at Rivington Reservoir Car Park just off Rivington Lane. It’s open from 9am to 6pm and there are also toilets here. Be aware the car park can be busy on weekends.
From here you can take a path straight to the castle, which takes around 10 to 15 minutes. It can be muddy though after wet weather.
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