Dr Herbert Levinstein at Ford Bank, from 1919

Following the death of Thomas Ashton in 1898, his son, Thomas Gair Ashton, gave up the house. Bits of the estate were then sold off in single plots. The remainder of the estate, including the house, was sold in 1919 to Herbert Levinstein (1878-1956) of Newlands, Broughton Park, a Doctor of Chemistry and well known for his work in the development of mustard gas in the First World War. The price was £21,473.

Dr Levinstein began as a research chemist at his father’s firm in Blackley in north Manchester in 1900. By 1907 he was the works manager. When the Great War broke out, he was already managing director of the Blackley Company and was faced with the task of expanding the business to meet the demand for dyestuffs during the war when supplies from Germany were cut off. He successfully expanded production and he played a leading role at home in the war effort. As well as increasing production of dyestuffs, he also developed mustard gas and certain medicinals. In 1926, his company became a part of Imperial Chemical Industries. Dr Levinstein was a leading national figure in his field and wrote several articles and books, as well as delivering lectures.

Dr Levinstein remained at Ford Bank until 1934, when the Ford Bank Estate Ltd purchased the mansion house and the remains of the estate from him along with the farmland.