Monument record 7572/1 - Kermincham Hall

<1> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.III p. 79 (Book). SCH1389.

Kermincham Hall is a large ruinous building of brick, situated within a small park, which is incloscd with
a high wall, also of brick, on the border of which is a modern building, called Kermincham Lodge, which is the occasional residence of the family. [The Hall (which by an inscription formerly over the door, seems to have been built by Roger Manwaring in 1718), was demolished about the year 1860.] The situation is flat, but in the immediate neighbourhood of much beautiful scenery on the banks of the Dane.

<2> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 222/2, 1839 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

The tithe map shows a large building, H-shaped in plan, and located in the southern corner of a D shaped park. The house seems to be aligned on a long strip of land leading from the park to Kermincham Heath. This is probably a wide drive and is recorded on the tithe apportionment as 'Walk to Kermincham Heath'.

<3> The Archaeology Co., 2017, Kermincham Hall Barn Historic Building Survey, R4049 (Client Report). SCH8300.

In 2017 an historical assessment and building survey was required as a condition of a planning permission for the redevelopment of Kermincham Hall Barn (see 7572/3), an early nineteenth century combination threshing barn originally associated with Kermincham Hall.

Kermincham (“Carincham”) was mentioned in the Domesday survey of 1086, being included in the territorial possessions of the Barons of Montalt. It later passed to the Swettenbams and then on to the Mainwarings, a branch of the Peover family. Randle Mainwaring (third son of Randle Mainwaring) was in possession of Kermincham by 1445 and from it passed down through the family to George Mainwaring in the mid 1600’s. Speeds map of Cheshire from 1610 shows Swettenham (Smetenham) and Twenlow, but Kermincham is not shown. By 1781 Roger Mainwaring was the owner, and lived at Kermincham Hall.

In 1774 John Uniacke of Youghall, Cork, married Frances Mainwaring, the eldest Daughter of Roger Mainwaring, and so took possession of the manor. His only son, John Mainwaring Uniacke was born 1762 and married Mary Blundell, the daughter of Rev. Dr. D Blundell. Bursett’s map of Cheshire from 1777 shows the hall at this time, and surrounding buildings at this time.The Mainwarings vacated the Hall in 1799, with the Tax returns showing that Reverend Page Godfrey was occupying it.

The ownership of the estate was contested by John Uniacke's Aunts and he made a settlement with them. One of them, Mary, wife of Richard Jones, purchased the Hall from Mr Uniacke. This is why in 1803 the Tax Returns note the owner of the hall as Mrs Jones, with the occupier still as the reverend. Mr Newam took over the residence in 1808 and continued there until 1813 when Mr Sam Barnard took over. Mr Barnard was still present at the time of the 1822 window tax, which recorded 6 windows. The hall was in a bad state or repair at this time and was described by Hansell as “in a very neglected state, situated in a small park”. Greenwood’s map of Cheshire from 1819 shows the surrounding area of Kermincham Hall to be Kermincham Park, although neither the barn nor the hall is shown.

Thomas Buckley took over the site in 1825 although had vacated it by 1828 when James Cash moved in. A map of Kermincham was made during the period of occupation by Mr Buckley, which shows the hall and the ‘U’ shaped barn. The tithe map of the mid 1840’s shows both the hall and the barn in a bit more
detail. The hall is depicted as a large ‘H’ shaped building. The barn, located to the south-west of the hall, is a simple ‘U’ shape with a small square building to the west. The hall and barn are shown as being occupied by James Cash and owned by John Robert Parker. James Cash is recorded in the 1851 census returns as living at the hall with family. He is listed as a farmer of 145 acres. By 1871 James had died, leaving his wife Martha and their children to run the farm. The OS mapping for 1875 shows that the hall had by this time been re-sited to the north of the coach house. The coach house itself appears unchanged, although perhaps extended on the east side. By 1881 the youngest son, Joseph Cash, was running the farm, which was now 107 acres. Kelly’s directory for Cheshire from 1896 describes Kermincham “(Kermingham, or Carmcham, or Carmingham)” as “a township …., 5 ½ miles north-west from Congleton. Kermincham Hall is occupied by Mr. Joseph Cash, farmer. Capt. Egerton Leigh, of High Leigh, is lord of the manor and sole proprietor. … the population in 1891 was 163”. The OS mapping for 1910 shows little change to the site and the Cash family continued to occupy it over this period.