Old Ben Homes at Lilleshall was bought in 1977 by the Newsvendors Benevolent Institution and opened to residents by Lord Barnetson, the president, on the 26th June 1978. A second phase of flats were opened by HRH the Princess Royal on the 26th April 1988.
Prior to being bought by the Newsvendors Benevolent Institution, the Old Hall had been used by the National Federation of Retail Newsagents as a convalescent home but closed in 1972.
The Old Hall itself is said to have built in the 1750’s as the Shropshire seat for Lord Gower and later descended to the Dukes of Sutherland.
An interesting article about the manor of Lilleshall can be found here : http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18110 and here: http://www.lilleshallresidents.co.uk/index.htm