House & Family History: An ancestral home of the Byron family, the estate was owned by the 19th century by the Radcliffe family, who leased the house to a successive number of tenants. In the early 20th century the grand house was divided into three residences. During World War I the Radcliffe family lent Royton Hall as a home for Belgian war refugees. In 1922 Dr. J.T. Godfrey, the last private owner, purchased the house and one acre of grounds from Sir Joseph Edward Radcliffe, 4th Bt. Dr. Godfrey conducted his medical practice in the house, which also served as his home. In the late 1920s Dr. Godfrey went on a campaign to sell Royton Hall to the National Trust or one of the local councils as a house of historic importance; however, none of the public bodies had the financial wherewithal or vision to take on the project. The house was converted into apartments in the early 1930s; in 1935 Dr. Godfrey died; by 1937 Royton Hall had been abandoned. In 1938 Royton Council ordered that the house be demolished as part of a slum clearance program; the ancient house was demolished in February of 1939.

Garden & Outbuildings: Royton Council purchased the site of the house in 1961 and converted it into a small public park.

House Listed: Demolished

Park Listed: Destroyed

Past Seat / Home of: Roger de Byrun, until 1259; Sir John Byron, Lord of Clayton, 13th century; Sir John Byron, 16th century; Byron family here from the 13th century until 1622. Standish family, 1622-62. Thomas Percival, 17th century; Thomas Percival, until 1762; William Percival Pickford, until 1815; Sir Joseph Pickford-Radcliffe, 1st Bt., 1815-19; Sir Joseph Radcliffe, 2nd Bt., 1819-72; Sir Joseph Percival Pickford Radcliffe, 3rd Bt., 1872-1908; Sir Joseph Edward Radcliffe, 4th Bt., 1908-22. Dr. J.T. Godfrey, 1922-35.

Current Ownership Type: Demolished

Primary Current Ownership Use: Demolished

House Open to Public: No

Historic Houses Member: No