THIS image from the picture archives of the Lancashire Telegraph shows Woodfold Hall in Mellor.

The aerial shot was taken in July 1982 when the hall had fallen into disrepair.

It was built in 1798 for cotton magnate Henry Sudell and in 1827 became the home of John Fowden, Hindle, High Sheriff of the county, before eventually becoming the property of the Thwaites family, in 1849.

For many years, Woodfold was home to Elma Yerburgh, daughter of Daniel Thwaites.

When Daniel died in 1888, Elma had taken control of the brewery’s affairs.

When she received the news of her fathers death she was on her honeymoon tour and became proprietor of the Thwaites empire aged just 24.

Elma saw the brewery through the latter part of the 19th century, the dark days of the First World War, the depression of the 1920’s and 1930’s and through the Second World War.

But in 1946, she died, aged 82.

In 1949, the contents of Woodfold were auctioned off and the roof was taken off the hall soon after.

This was a way of avoiding paying the rates and certain taxes.

Derelict, it then detoriated for the following five decades.

The shell of the hall has been completely refurbished in recent years and the hall has been turned into luxury apartments