Already possessing a large estate, he donated it to the Jesuits in 1794 as a new home for their school, of which he was an old boy when it was located at Liège.

The name derives from the fact that before the schools became co-educational, pupils from the college would take the route to visit their younger brothers at Saint Mary's Hall although the term could originate from when St Mary's Hall operated as a seminary for trainee Jesuits.

Hodder Place, the former site of the preparatory school is now divided into residential flats which are privately owned; the grounds remain part of the estate.

Most notably, the Lady Statue at the top of the Avenue connecting Stonyhurst College with Hurst Green.

According to tradition, Cromwell stood on this inconspicuous stone and described the mansion ahead of him as "the finest half-house in England" (the symmetry of the building was, at that time, incomplete).

[12] Public events hosted on the estate include the Great British Food Festival and the Ribble Valley International Piano Week.

Other visitors come to make use of the extensive sports facilities, including a golf course, swimming pool and astroturf hockey pitch.