Building record 14928/13 - Dorfold Hall, Coach House and Former Service and Stable Yard

<1> Worlledge Associates, 2018, Dorfold Hall, Acton, Cheshire: Statement of Significance, R4293 (Client Report). SCH8675.

A Statement of Significance was produced in 2019 for Dorfold Hall and gardens in support of a proposal for its development as a wedding venue. The proposal is to re-develop the former service yard and stable area, including re-furbishing the existing coach house, the walled façade of the service yard and stable area, and a garden building in the walled gardens. The following information is taken from the report.

The exact dates and attributions of construction of the walled gardens, greenhouses, the service yard and other structures at Dorfold Hall are difficult to define due to a lack of documentation. In part this is due to the fact the Estate was never placed on the market, an event which usually involved a detailed description of the estate and all the buildings, yards, gardens. The historic map evidence only provides a general guide as to when these were works were carried out.

The evidence suggests that following the establishment of the house, a possible walled garden and some service buildings in the early seventeenth century, little subsequent work was carried out under the Wilbrahams, apparently due to financial constraints. When James Tomkinson, a wealthy and aspiring and successful lawyer, acquired the estate from the Wilbrahams in 1754, major additions were made to the house, service yards, walled gardens and grounds to reflect his growing status and desired to be part of the Cheshire Hunting set (the Cheshire Hunt was established in 1763). He also added to the size of the overall estate by acquiring additional lands. His son Henry Tomkinson and grandson Rev. James Tomkinson continued to add to the Hall.

Post WW II saw major demolitions of elements of the hall and associated service buildings, including the eighteenth century east wing, the majority of the service yard buildings and structures within the walled gardens

<2> Zoe Polya-Vitry, 2019, Dorfold Hall: Design & Access Statement, R4294 (Client Report). SCH8677.

A detailed design and access statement was produced in 2019 in support of the proposals to re-develop the area of the former service yard and stables into a group of buildings to host weddings. The report includes a chronological plan of the development of the hall, the east wing, and the service/stable yard area which was developed in the late eighteenth century, and added to in the early nineteenth century. The report also uses an historic engraving and later photographs of the stable yard buildings to re-create a 3D model of the buildings in order to inform the new development ensuring it is in keeping with the originals. The engraving, dating to 1789, shows the hall with the clock tower and part of the service/stable yard, it depicts a double-gabled building, three storeys in height. The lower courses of this double-gabled building still survive as part of the walled façade of the yard. (See also sources 3 and 4)

<3> Aeon Archaeology, 2016, Dorfold Hall, Chester Road, Nantwich, CW5 8LD: Archaeological Assessment, R4292 (Client Report). SCH8673.

<4> Worlledge Associates, 2019, Dorfold Hall, Acton, Cheshire: Heritage Impact Report, R4295 (Client Report). SCH8679.

<5> Aeon Archaeology, 2021, Dorfold Hall, Chester Road, Nantwich CW5 8LD: Archaeological Watching Brief, R4498 (Client Report). SCH9012.

Following on from previous research and assessments (sources 1-4), an archaeological watching brief was undertaken in 2020 during groundworks associated with the creation of a wedding and events venue at Dorfold Hall.

A series of brick walls, brick surfaces and a cobble yard were uncovered during the reduction of the ground level within the stable yard. These features are most likely associated with the former stable buildings which are shown on the tithe map of 1842 and again on the 25” County Series Ordnance Survey map of 1910.