A SURVEYOR today revealed one of Lancashire's historic listed buildings could be demolished because it is dangerous.

Agents John Forrester revealed a structural survey carried out on Samlesbury Lower Hall showed the ruin was unsafe.

The firm, acting on behalf of owners Booth Charities, applied to South Ribble Council to take down the ruins of what is the original Samlesbury Hall.

Today South Ribble Council's planning department confirmed the application had been received, and said for any listed building to be demolished there would need to be a very firm case made.

Most people visit the tourist attraction, Samlesbury Hall, without realising that its correct name is the New Hall, the second home of the Southworth family.

The Old Hall, in Potter Lane, was the family's first home, and was raided by the Scots in the 1320s. It is located by the River Ribble lying in a sheltered hollow and was rebuilt in 1625 to replace the raided building.

But if the plans are approved by the council the history behind the building, which was also used as a chapel for Roman Catholics, will be lost to memories.

Mr Forrester, the agent for owners of the Hall, Booth Charities said: "The reason for the demolition request is simply for safety reasons. We want to make sure it is not a dangerous place for visitors to be around.

"There is not going to be anything in its place. After we carried out a structural survey we found various factors which contributed to the building being deemed an unsafe structure in the state that it is.

"It is in the middle of where people coming to see the Tudor Samlesbury Hall will walk and it cannot stay in the state it is in. It is a hazard."

Thomas Southworth sold Samlesbury Lower Hall, The New Hall and lands to Sir Thomas Walmesley of Dunkenhalgh sometime before 1624.

Lower Hall had a three-storey gabled projection for the porch. The walls were fronted with brick and trees and orchard enclosures surrounded the hall.