'We're trying to return one of Shropshire's most historic chapels to its former glory - but we need help to restore the building used by one of the county's most endearing hedonistic rogues

Home to the legend of one of Shropshire’s most endearingly hedonistic rogues, the Halston Estate boasts a delicious wealth of historical intrigue as well as an abundance of physical charm.

Situated near Whittington, its proud grounds are home not only to its impressive manor, but also one of Shropshire’s most precious ecclesiastical treasures – a chapel that an exciting new project is now throwing into the spotlight.

Halston’s recorded history goes back to before the Norman Conquest. Known as ‘Holy Stone’ in medieval times, it was then one of many great estates held by the powerful Knights of St John - a brotherhood founded to protect pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land.

Today’s house of mellow brick embellished with attractive stonework was built in 1690, then modernised in the 1760s.

The influential Mytton family, whose lands included 32,000 acres in North Wales, moved to Halston in 1549, and lived there until after John ‘Mad Jack’ Mytton died, nearly 300 years later.

Halston’s most infamous son, ‘Mad Jack’ was born at the estate in 1796. He inherited a fortune worth about £500,000 a year by today’s standards, but died in a debtors’ prison at the age of 37.

“Squire Mytton gambled, drank six bottles of port a day and devoted his life to the robust pleasures of a country gentleman,” said current Halston owner, Rupert Harvey.

“He ‘invested’ £10,000 to become MP for Shrewsbury, but spent less than half an hour in the House of Commons.”