Building record 5084 - Mossley House

The building group is linear in form, a succession of properties added to the original building over the period 1800-1900. Attractive composition, comprising of varied sequence of architectural styles and materials, with a garden context. Rear buildings are of a simple vernacular style set within large gardens. The buildings reflect local vernacular in this part of Cheshire (1).

Mossley House originated as a eighteenth century farm cottage that developed into a substantial Victorian building due to the addition of later structures during the nineteenth century. It now comprises a house, attached earlier cottages and barn. The building appears on the 1st edition Cheshire Ordnance Survey map of 1873 (see 3) with largely the same footprint as present. However, the current Mossley House is thought to have been built for the Shappel family in the late nineteenth early twentieth century and was renovated extensively during the 1920s with the loss of much internal detailing. The cottages too have been altered internally and externally with the loss of all but two of their original windows. The barn has been reroofed and altered with removal of the hayloft, blocking of a large end gable opening, and the rebuilding of most other openings to a flat-topped design rather than the original segmental arch. Two extensions have been added to infill the former recess between Mossley House's east elevation and the cottages. A lean-to greenhouse has been added to the barn's east elevation (2).

Elements are despicted on the 1847 tithe map for Congleton township. The map depicts four structures within the foot print of the penultimate building complex. The Owner is John Malbon, occupant is Richard Potts (4).

Mossley House is a detached part three storey property believed to have been constructed in the early 1900's, principally from a mellow red brick with roofs surmounted by a combination of natural slate as well as clay tile. Over the years the property has been extended and remodelled and is Linked to a self-contained cottage, along with a substantial two-storey outbuilding, both of which pre-date the main House (5).

<1> Cheshire East Council, 2010, Cheshire East LDF Local List of Historic Buildings, Mossley House (Report). SCH5404.

<2> English Heritage/DCMS, Various, Notification of decision not to include on the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, Robinson K 14/08/2010 (Written Communication). SCH5393.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1881-2, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 6 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2474.

<4> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT123/1-2 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

<5> Hodkinson Mallinson, 2007, Mossley House, Congleton - Assessment of buildings condition (Client Report). SCH5412.