ONE of the great private houses of the North West is up for sale for the first time this March.

Thornton Manor, Wirral, seat of the Viscounts Leverhulme, is to be sold along with its contents, following the death of the third and last Viscount Leverhulme last year. The Manor was home to the founders of the Lever Brothers, better known today as multi-national enterprise Unilever.

The Manor will be sold together with cottages, stabling, gardens and up to 125 acres of grounds and parkland. Although yet to be confirmed, the property is expected to fetch around £4 million.

The contents of the property comprises of possibly one of the greatest collections of English furniture and paintings ever assembled by an Englishman.

Over a period of 30 years, the first Viscount, William Hesketh Lever, amassed a collection of celebrated 19th century paintings, fine Continental furniture, Oriental porcelain and European ceramics, silver, fine 19th and early 20th century sculpture and clocks.

Sotheby's, responsible for the sale of this internationally-famous collection, believe it is likely that no-one has purchased more art objects in their lifetime than Leverhulme.

William Lever, the great industrialist and builder of Port Sunlight, began his business life working for his father's wholesale grocery business in Bolton. In 1885, he and his brother, James Darcy Lever, opened a small soap works in Warrington and Lever Brothers was founded.

Having been appointed as Liberal MP for Wirral, baronet, as well as a baron, he was eventually advanced to Viscount in 1922. Following his death in 1925, the Lever Brothers merged with Dutch firm Margarine Union, to become known as Unilever.

Auction of the contents collection will take place over three days on the premises of Thornton Manor from May 15-17 and the property itself will be brought to the market on Wednesday, March 14.

For anyone interested in viewing either the considerable collection or the property itself, a fully illustrated catalogue will be available from Sotheby's in late March which will admit two persons to the view and sale.