Monument record 1763/1/1 - Carden Hall

<1> Cambrian Archaeological Association, 1846–present, Archaeologia Cambrensis, Vol.XII p.408 (Journal/Periodical). SCH305.

Site of Carden Hall. A fine example of a late sixteenth century black and white timber building. The hall was destroyed by fire in 1912 and was subsequently demolished. The building was timber framed and of two storeys and five bays. The facade was of an E-plan, close-studded with middle rail, similar to other south Cheshire manor houses of early seventeenth century date, such as Moss Hall, Audlem. The stone footings of the house still survive.

<2> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.II p.701 (Book). SCH1389.

“On the higher parts of the estate, the rocks of Carden cliff and the woods mingle together in the most picturesque manner, and below them lies the ·venerable mansion house, embosomed in timber, and presenting a very perfect specimen of the antient timber buildings of the county. "The house was plundered by the parliament troops on June 12, 1643. One woman servant was killed in the assault, and Mr. Leche and others taken as prisoners to Nantwich.”

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ45 SE 5 (Index). SCH2487.

<4> de Figueiredo P & Treuherz J, 1988, Cheshire Country Houses, p.223-224 (Book). SCH785.

A house built for Leche family. "Large and symmetrical, busily half-timbered, with two big outer gables with between them five smaller ones". The house entered centrally through a loggia of three arches. It was restored in the early nineteenth century for John Hurlestone Leche.

<5> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, p.180 (Book). SCH3078.

A timber framed sixteenth century house. Burnt down in 1912.

<6> Driver JT, 1971, Cheshire in the Later Middle Ages, 1399-1540 (A history of Cheshire), p.85 (Book). SCH8897.

<7> Chester Archaeology, 1995, A Desk Based Archaeological Assessment of Carden Park, p.7-8 (Client Report). SCH4793.

Although Carden Hall burned down in 1912, photographs and descriptions have survived. Although Pevsner (see 5) described the house as sixteenth-century, Figueiredo and Treuherz (see 4) state that it was Jacobean c.1603-25). Its frontage was symmetrical, consisting of two large outer gables with five smaller ones between. The timber-framing was highly decorative and very busy; it rested on a sandstone base, known locally as basting. The main entrance was in the centre of the north side, through a loggia consisting of three arches. It was built by the Leche family, lords of the manor of Nether Carden from the early fifteenth until the early twentieth century, and the many ogee Gothick windows attest the modification by John Hurleston Leche XV c 1830. Some elements of the Hall survived the fire of 191 2; in addition to the sandstone footings and brick wine cellars, the stables (now Carden Hall Farm), an ice-house and the lodges still exist.

It has been conjectured that the Hall stood on or adjacent to the site of an earlier moat, one arm of which survived to the west (CHER 1763/1/2). Although it is known that at least two earlier houses occupied the site, one built in the third quarter of the fifteenth century replacing an earlier structure which burnt down (see 6).

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ4654, 1911 (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

<9> L-P Archaeology, 2002, Archaeological Evaluation at Carden Park, Chester, S.7 (Client Report). SCH8140.

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken in 2002 prior to the construction of new buildings and further re-landscaping of the grounds. Two trenches were excavated within the known footprint of the hall. These trenches established the northern and southern extents of the hall and some of the features discovered could be can be directly related to the 1911 Ordnance Survey map (see 8) and were related to the late Victorian building at the hall. The floor supports found were resting directly on subsoil, so it appears that the upper c.0.50m of ground was removed to build these, if so any shallow foundations characteristic of an earlier timber-framed building would have been removed. No structural evidence for any earlier hall building was discovered, although a nearby trial trench revealed a ditch, interpreted as a soakaway, which contained hand made brick debris, which may potentially be demolition debris from an earlier phase.

<10> L - P Archaeology, 2002, Archaeological Building Assessment of Carden Park, Chester, S.7 (Client Report). SCH8134.

It is clear from the map evidence dating to 1898 and 1911 that there is a major refurbishment of the house at Carden Park between these dates. The work that can be attributed to this period is heavily focused on a new building line at the rear of the house, and further works to the west side of the property. The character of this work is exceptionally similar to much late nineteenth century work in Chester in its use of squared and rectangular stonework in discontinuous courses employed at ground-floor level. From the evidence we have it is apparent that the focus of the work was to the north and west parts of the house.

The work to the west side of the property focused on the reconstruction of the kitchen court and the north face of the house. The correspondence between this building work and the line of the tunnel is compelling, although no evidence of a structural connection was identified during the evaluation, it is likely that the construction of the tunnel is contemporary with the extension of the building to the north. It is most likely that the construction of the wine cellar is contemporary with the tunnel due to the similarity of stonework employed at the base of the walling.

<11> L - P Archaeology, 2002, Archaeological Impact Assessment of Land at Carden Park, Chester, S.3 (Client Report). SCH8133.

The earliest known building at Carden Park is of an unknown construction date, but occupied the site by the end of the fifteenth century, when it is known to have burnt down. The first recorded Hall replaced it, The exact location of these buildings is uncertain, though it could be on or near the present site.

The fifteenth century Hall was replaced in the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century by a timber framed hall. This building was heavily renovated and altered in the nineteenth century by John Hurleston Leche (see 7) and the owner at the time of the fire. The facade of this building, as it appears in old photographs, also appears to have nineteenth century such as gothic windows. This was destroyed by fire in 1912, and now only the cellars and sandstone footings remain. It is probable that these cellars are also nineteenth century additions.

<12> L-P Archaeology, 2005, Archaeological Strip and Map and Watching Brief Report of land at Carden Park, Cheshire, S.7 & 9 (Client Report). SCH8146.

An archaeological strip and record and subsequent watching brief was carried out at Carden Park as part of an on-going programme of assessment during re-development of the site. This phase of work took place between May 2003 and June 2004. This involved cleaning the site of the hall to reveal its plan and associated deposits. Trenches were opened to further examine deposits and structures, a watching brief was then undertaken during the removal of the remains of the hall. This work revealed that any earlier phases of building had been demolished to make way for the Victorian building; the Victorian house either cut the natural or was built onto levelling deposits to because of the natural slope. The structural phases of the hall identified from the 1898 and 1911 editions of the OS maps were revealed. The 1911 phase included the construction of the tunnel on top of which a modified rear entrance was built, along with re-building of the front elevation. The other major construction work was the re-building of the service/courtyard area and the boundary wall to the rear. The full extent of the cellar structure was revealed as well as the tunnel linking the east to the west wing, also the west wing itself. The areas that were left largely undisturbed prior to levelling were the kitchen/courtyard area and the east wing.