Greenbank House

Greenbank House, is a Grade II listed building, located in Liverpool, England. It stands within the University of Liverpool's Greenbank Halls of Residence site, between Greenbank Road and Greenbank Lane.

Original House

The original house was built in the early eighteenth century on part of the Toxteth Park estate. In 1788, William Rathbone IV leased the family house and estate, which consisted of 24 acres of land, from the Earl of Sefton to serve as a country retreat for his young family.

Rathbone's Purchase Property and Estate

The Rathbone family purchased the freehold of Greenbank House in 1809, the year of William Rathbone IV's death. Following his death his wife, Hannah Mary, in accordance with his wishes, made many and substantial alterations to the building. A large part was rebuilt in the Gothic Architecture Style and a cast iron screen was added to the house to form a verandah and balcony. The house and estate remained in Rathbone hands through subsequent generations until the death of Hugh Reynolds Rathbone on 19 January 1940.

Bequested to the University of Liverpool

During the 1930s and 1940s, parts of the Greenbank estate were given to the University of Liverpool with whom the Rathbone family had strong connections. Greenbank House itself was donated to the University in 1944.

Even before this, some of the land had passed from Rathbone family control. In 1897 Liverpool Corporation entered into an agreement with the Rathbone Family to purchase the piece of land, part of which is now Greenbank Park.

Blue Plaque Recognition

The property has been marked by an English Heritage Blue Plaque since June 2001, which honors Eleanor Rathbone (1872-1946), suffragette and pioneer of the state-funded family allowance, and her father, social reformer William Rathbone VI (1819-1902), who created the first system of district nursing. The plaque was unveiled by William Rathbone X at Greenbank House.