Building record 1686/1 - Chorlton Hall

<1> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 55141 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

House, core reputedly 1664, modernised circa 1810 and substantially enlarged circa 1840. Double pile, of which front pile is of original house, kitchen in cross wing to rear, and additional wings at sides. Front is pebble-dashed, with stone plinth and slate roof. 2½ storeys, with cellars, 3 gabled bays, central bay projecting. 3 cross casements. Porch with ogee arched entrance with hood mould in central bay contains double doors of 3 panels each, of which upper two are glazed. Central bay has stone band at 1st and 2nd floors. Gables have stone coping and ball finials. Rear pile in sandstone has garden front with arched 2 storey bay with mullion and transom windows with metal casements, and solid parapet with moulded coping. Rear has similar canted bay, bowed porch in angle between rear pile and 2 storey kitchen wing. Gables are partly crowstepped and have ball finials. Projecting stack. All stacks have 2 or 3 square flues with chamfered bases and collars. Interior: no features earlier than C19 except possible buttress bases in cellar. Cites sources 2 & 3.

<2> Twycross, E., 1847, The Mansions of England & Wales Vol.II County Palatine of Chester (Book). SCH2092.

<3> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol. 2 p.665 (Book). SCH1389.

'...a mansion [now known as Chorlton Hall, built 1664] on a risng ground, immediately fronting Overton Scar, which was the residence of a branch of Mainwaring family in the seventeenth century. I t has recently been repaired and modernised [and has a south-west front of red sandstone, added in the present century].....Over the lentil of one of the doors, is inscribed, "in the lifetime of George Mainwaringe. 1660"...'

<4> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 105/2 1837 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

The house stands at the south eastern end of an area of parkland, and at the end of a long straight drive, within a sub oval garden enclosure which includes the stable buildings to the rear.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, 05sj4648 1874-1875 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

<6> JA Story & Partners, 1985, 1985 Story & Partners Survey (Aerial Photograph). SCH2993.

<7> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R 04/12/2012 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

A range of buildings (possibly a service wing?) depicted on the Tithe map (see 4) and nineteenth century Ordnance Survey maps (see 5), have been demolished by 1985 (see 6).

<8> Lichfields, 2022, Chorlton Hall: Heritage Impact Assessment, R4655 (Client Report). SCH9330.

While some sources suggest that the house was built for the Clutton family in the 1660s, this does not accord with the first available record of ownership for Chorlton Hall which are the Land Tax Assessments for Chorlton (Cheshire Archives). Surviving records cover the period 1784 to 1832. Between 1784 and 1814 the ownership of Chorlton Hall is listed under the name of Mr Bennion and Mrs Bennion. The only reference to ownership prior to this date relates to the purchase of Chorlton Hall by the Bennion family in 1684 from a George Mainwaring of Chorlton, found within the Deed of Chorlton Hall Estate, Malpas. After 1814, Chorlton Hall switched hands to a Mr Clutton, referred to as Thomas C Clutton in later years of the records. The land at this time was valued at £2 7s 4d. The ‘old’ Hall further west of Chorlton Hall was under the ownership of Thomas Clutton on the oldest tithe map available for the area which dates to 1837 and the sources suggesting that Chorlton Hall was in the ownership of the Cluttons from the 17th century appear to be based on a confusion between Chorlton Hall and Chorlton Old Hall.

The earliest map depiction appears to be an estate plan dating to 1805. This depicts the main house along with a number of ancillary buildings on the estate which do not exist today. A set of buildings are depicted to the west of the main house which probably would have been stables. These structures were demolished in the period between 1805 and 1837 to make way for the tree lined avenue created for the approach to the main house. The listed stables and cottages standing to the east of the house today are not depicted; these first appear on the 1837 tithe map. The 1805 estate map also includes what appears to be a small view of the house from the north-east. It shows a view of the northern elevation of the house with a small, fenced garden to the front. The image shows a small extension to the rear of the house with a pitched roof a small chimney stack. The main house similarly has a pitched roof and two chimney stacks, with only one of those surviving today.

Based on the mapping evidence and inspection of the building the following provisional phasing of the development of the house was proposed:- Phase 1 (Before 1805); Phase 2 (1805-1837) - a phase of expansion coinciding with the purchase of the house by Thomas Clutton and its use as the main family seat; Phase 3 (1837-1874) - a further period of expansion with the construction of the second pile of the house; Phase 4 (Post 1874) - a period of little change.

The house is significant as an evolved building which demonstrates nearly three centuries of changing taste, social developments and technology. The social element is most evident during the period of 1805-1837 when the Clutton family occupied the house as their family seat. The alterations to the rear section which houses what appears to be a new kitchen and service staircase as well as what might have been a new dining room illustrates the expansion of the house and social hierarchy within. While Chorlton Hall does not appear to have been the work of any identified architects or designers, it has considerable aesthetic value and is an attractive building which sits in a rural setting. Most of the architectural fittings (fireplaces, joinery etc.) are good quality features for their date. They are not remarkable in design terms but both individually and collectively they contribute to an understanding of the building.