Listed Building: HALL GREEN FARMHOUSE AND ATTACHED FRONT GARDEN WALL (1287596)

In the entry for: ACTON BRIDGE CLIFF ROAD SJ 57 NE (east side) 1650-0/1/4 Hall Green Farmhouse and attached front garden wall 16.9.85 GV II* The description shall be amended to read: Farmhouse. Late C16/early C17 body with a facade of c1800 and C19 extensions to rear. Timber-framed on tall sandstone plinth to the rear and inside; Flemish bond orange brick skin. Welsh slate roof, 1 ridge stack and 2 end stacks. Plan of hall and 2 crosswings. 2 storeys and attic, symmetrical 5-bay front. End bays are gables which project forward and have 3-light horizontally sliding sashes with flat wedged stone heads and raised keyblocks. Similar 2-light windows in the gables. Central portion has three 3-light windows around a central doorway behind a flimsy porch. This has an eared wooden architrave with phlvinated frieze and triangular pediment, panelled soffits and a 6-panelled door. There are a number of piecemeal extensions to the rear and one gable shows the original timber framing. Attached to the front is a stone garden wall of 2 heights. Interior: basic plan survives downstairs but the entrance has moved. Timber frame visible in the rear wall (within C19 outshut), it consists of 2 phases: firstly square panels with wattle and daub infill, an original 2-light mullioned window and braces to a wall plate; above this are later square panels with brick infill and a square-faced mullioned window with leaded glass. Framing may survive in brick skin elsewhere. Entrance hall has restored inglenook fireplace with original ashlar reredos having 2 triangular-headed niches; exposed framing in rear wall incorporates a 2-light mullioned window. Beams mostly boxed in, those to ground-floor left with plaster cornices around them. Staircase inserted early C19 - of some date a round arch near foot of stair and various 6-panel doors. Principal-rafter roof trusses over centre; truss against right crosswing has doorway with C17 ledged and boarded oak door on strap hinges. Of enormous interest is a series of 5 naive mural paintings in the front 1st floor room of left crosswing. 2 panels are complete, 2 are damaged whilst only 1/3 survives of the fifth. One complete panel (195cm x 109cm) shows Marbury Hall (now demolished) in its gardens and grounds beneath clouded sky with rainbow. A strong narrative element is made up of scenes showing a carriage procession, hare coursing, boating on a lake, a dovecote and agricultural activities in the background. Other complete panel depicts a winter scene with skaters on Frodsham Marsh at the foot of Helsby Rocks; in the foreground are woodcutters and a farmstead outside which a man is shooting at roosting birds. A damaged panel shows 2 tower mills on cliffs above a shoreline with inn - the scene may depict Nelson (Wirral). Another panel shows Beeston Castle with a large house and agricultural scene in the right foreground. The final panel 1/3 complete) is dominated by a tall tree-set before a castle or church beyond which is a large river with buildings on its far bank; a country house in the distance with mountains beyond (Conway or Chester?). Each panel is set in a trompe l'oeil, bolection-moulded frame complete with gilt slip and ear plates hung on stout nails. A trompe I'oeil dado of fielded panels completes the scheme. The paintings must date from c1740. No other mural scheme of this kind is known to survive in England, though single overmantels do exist. Extensions to the rear include former cheeserooms and a barrel-vaulted half cellar. ACTON BRIDGE C.P. CLIFF ROAD SJ 57 NE (East Side) 1/4 Hall Green Farmhouse and attached front garden 16.9.85 wall GV II* Farmhouse: lath C16/early C17 body with a facade of c.1840 and C19 extensions to the rear. Timber framed on tall sandstone plinth to the rear and inside, Flemish bond orange brick skin. Welsh slate roof, 1 ridge and 2 gable brick chimneys. Plan of hall and 2 crosswings. 2-storey and attic, symmetrical 5-bay front. End bays are gables which project forward and have 3-light horizontal sliding sashes with flat wedged stone heads and raised keyblocks. Similar 2-light windows in the gables. Central portion has 3 3-light windows around a central doorway behind a flimsy porch. This has an eared wooden architrave with a triangular pediment, panelled soffits and a 6-panelled door. There are a number of piecemeal extensions to the rear and one gable shows the original timber framing. Attached to the front is a stone garden wall of 2 heights. Interior: the basic plan survives downstairs but the entrance has moved. The timber frame is visible on the rear wall and survives in the brick skin elsewhere. The beams are boxed in and the staircase is inserted in C19. A semi-circular headed archway and the 6-fielded panelled doors are of this date. Of enormous interest are 2 surviving panels of a naive mural in the room to the left upstairs. One panel (195 cm by 109 cm) is complete and shows Marbury Hall (now demolished) in its gardens and grounds. A strong narrative element is made up of scenes showing a carriage procession, hare coursing, boating on a lake, a dovecote and agricultural activities in the background. Of the other panel about half survives and it shows two windmills and a lighthouse on a line of hills. The mural is thought to have extended around the room. More of the mural is known to be under the existing wallpaper. It is unsigned and must date from early-mid C18. No other mural of this type survives in England, though single overmantels are known. Extensions to the rear include former cheeserooms and a barrel-vaulted half cellar. Listing NGR: SJ5964775398