Monument record 2272/1 - Site of Eaton Hall, Congleton

<1> de Figueiredo P & Treuherz J, 1988, Cheshire Country Houses, p.233 (Book). SCH785.

Eaton Hall replaced an earlier, Georgian house, which was purchased in the nineteenth century by the Antrobus family of Congleton. In 1813 the architect S.P.Cockerell (who had designed the Congleton Guildhall) drew up an unexecuted scheme to enlarge the house and remodel the park for Sir Edmund Antrobus, a partner in Courts Bank. But Eaton was not enlarged until 1827, one year after it had been inherited by Edmund's nephew, Gibbs Crawford Antrobus, formerly a member of Wellington's diplomatic staff. He commissioned an alternative scheme from Lewis Wyatt which, rather than enlarge the existing house, proposed building a totally new house on a new site. The house, like Cranage Hall, was a very early example of the Elizabethan revival. The entrance front was irregular, with towers, shaped gables and an attic over the porch. The details were plain and heavy, with very large stone mullioned windows and mostly conventional classical interiors. In the twentieth century the grounds were sold for sand quarrying and consequently, the house was demolished in 1981.

<2> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, Eaton Township, 1840 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

Eaton Hall and associated buildings, including the stable block (see 2272/3) are depicted on the Tithe Map for Eaton township dating to 1840. The tithe apportionment describes the plot as 'Mansion, Pleasure Grounds, Gardens' and documents the owner to be Gibbs Crawford Antrobus. The apportionment records the land immediately surrounding the hall, as 'Park', and beyond that, many plots of land are recorded under the ownership of Gibbs Crawford Antrobus, but occupied by different tenants.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

Eaton Hall is similarly depicted on Ordnance Survey Historic mapping with little change. The icehouse is clearly labelled. (See also sources 4 and 5.)

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

<6> Pegasus Group Ltd, 2018, Land off Macclesfield Road, Congleton: Heritage Desk-Based Assessment, R4285 (Client Report). SCH8659.

A desk-based assessment was undertaken in 2018 for land off Macclesfield Road, Congleton, prior to its development for residential purposes. The site is recorded under the ownership of the Antrobus family of Eaton Hall from the early 19th century onwards during which time it saw usage as both parkland and farmland. A number of mature trees within the site may relate to the former parkland. The area of the former parkland has been greatly changed by sand extraction and it is not considered to be a heritage asset. Eaton Hall and its associated buildings were demolished in the later twentieth century in advance of sand quarrying.