Northop Hall Country House Hotel 1977

This authentic 1970s colour photograph, captured in 1977, documents the Chequers Hotel in Northop Hall, Flintshire, near Chester. The archival image features the historic Victorian country house, which was originally built in 1872 as a private residence before its conversion into a hotel. The building is distinguished by its white-painted facade, decorative gables, and a prominent square tower with crenellations. A traditional hanging wooden sign for the Chequers Hotel & Restaurant is visible at the entrance, alongside a small white porch. Parked on the gravel driveway are two period-correct vehicles: a dark green Ford Granada MkI with the registration PWL 710R and a smaller gold-coloured British Leyland Mini. The grounds are lush with greenery and rose bushes, typical of a mid-century British country house estate. This factual record preserves the architectural elegance and hospitality heritage of the property during the late 1970s, long before it became known as the Northop Hall Country House Hotel.