Monument record 15538 - Wilkinson's Lodge

<1> Bryant, A., 1831, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2114.

This map depicts a large sub-circular enclosure or clearing immediately adject on the south-western side of a junction between several roads or tracks. It is labelled Wilkinson’s Lodge.

<2> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol.III p.216 (Book). SCH3228.

Recorded on the 1819 Enclosure Act (see 3) for the former Forest as Wilkinson’s Lodge (a hunting lodge).

<3> See map for surveyor, 1762-1898, Cheshire Enclosure Maps and Awards, QDE/23, 01/10/1817 (Maps and Plans). SCH1106.

<4> Unknown, 1686, Map of Delamere Forest, Cheshire… (Maps and Plans). SCH6753.

This map depicts an irregular sub-rectangular enclosure within the Forest to the east of the New Pale. It is labelled with the name Richard Jennings. A later annotation reads Wilkinsons.

<5> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.II (Book). SCH1389.

A plan of Delamere Forest (1813) within volume II depicts an irregular sub-rectangular enclosure within the Forest to the east of the New Pale and south of Glead Hill Cob. The plan appears to depict one or two buildings within the north-east corner of the enclosure. The enclosure is labelled Wilkinsons.

<6> Unknown, c.1830, A Plan of the Forest of Delamere in the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH9182.

This map depicts an irregular sub-rectangular enclosure within the unenclosed former forest. The enclosure is depicted as containing several regular internal sub-divisions. Two buildings are depicted on the eastern side of the enclosure. It is labelled Wilkinson’s.

<7> Fuller E & Palin J, 1848, Plan of the Forest of Delamere in the County of Chester, 1817 (Maps and Plans). SCH9030.

The outline of the enclosure is just visible on this map. The area is depicted as woodland along with the surrounding area. A small group of buildings is depicted on the eastern side of the enclosure, labelled Foreman’s Lodge. The area of the enclosure is labelled nursery.

<8> Grantham RB, 1864, A Description of the Works for Reclaiming and Marling parts of the late Forest of Delamere, in the County of Cheshire (Article in Journal). SCH9031.

The map which accompanies this paper depicts a small group of buildings labelled Lodge at the approximate location of Pinewood Farm. The area of the enclosure depicted on earlier maps is apparent. Unfortunately, the name preceding Lodge in the label is indecipherable.

<9> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ5372, 1873-1874 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

The area of the enclosure, with the internal sub-divisions, is similar to those depicted on some of the earlier maps. The farmhouse, and an associated building, of Hondslough Farm (now Pinewood Farm) also correspond with the location of the buildings depicted on these maps.

<10> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 10/05/2022 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

An interesting site which would benefit from further research. It is probable that this is a former private hunting lodge, with an associated deer enclosure dating from the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries; one of several such private lodges located within the Forest. From the seventeenth century the lodges and their enclosures are converted or evolve into farms, and it is probable that by the time of Disafforestation in the early nineteenth century, the lodge is a small farm.

Following Disafforestation, much of the former Forest area was used for forestry on behalf of the Crown. Palin’s 1848 map, based on Fuller’s 1817 map (see 7) reflects this stage in the area’s development. The map seems to indicate that the former deer enclosure was being utilised as a nursery for the propagation and cultivation of trees for planning in the wider area. The former lodge buildings, or their successors, providing accommodation for the foreman.

By the mid nineteenth century it became apparent that significant parts of the former Forest were unsuitable for the cultivation of the types of trees planted. Therefore in 1856 (see 8) provision was made to convert these areas to farms after extensive marling. The Houndlough area was the first to be completed c.1860, and new farm buildings were constructed as part of the improvements (see 8). It is probable that these buildings are those located to the immediate north-east of the deer enclosure. It is also possible that the buildings, located on the site of the lodge buildings, were also rebuilt at this time.