Building record 15936 - Late 18th/19th century house and barn ('Constantia')

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

Structures shown at this location on this early 19th century map.

<2> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 179/2 Great Warford, 1842 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

Plots 92 and 91 are adjacent sub circular plots with buildings both described as "Cottage and Garden". Three buildings shown, two by the roadside and a larger one to the rear.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ8178, 1877 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

Rectangular building to the rear and a square building at the road edge shown which match the footprint of the current buildings. Possible courtyard shown to the front of the rectangular building at the road edge.

<4> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Land Line and Master Map Vector Maps, SJ8178, 2024 (Maps and Plans). SCH4491.

Original footprint of the rectangular building to the rear and square building to the road edge appears to survive within the footprint of the extended buildings in this location. Courtyard area remains open ground

<5> Kathryn Sather & Associates, 2024, Constantia, Paddock Hill Lane, Mobberley: Significance Assessment, R4759 (Client Report). SCH9593.

Document detailing history of Constantia and physical description, including exterior and interior photographs. The original dwelling is two storey and has undergone multiple extensions featuring single and double storey pitched and flat roof sections. It is considered to date from the late 19th century and although very altered, exhibits some details from that time period including the eaves brackets to the gable ends of the front section of the house. The exterior of the existing house is mostly covered in rough cast white render with areas of cracking which has exposed brickwork. There is a slate roof and one substantial brick chimney and a smaller rear chimney which is rendered. The windows are timber framed and include a set of projecting multi-paned bay windows.

The former barn building is a part two storey with part single storey featuring mono-pitched elements. Following the ceasing of agricultural uses, the building has been used as a games room as well as providing a storage area for garden equipment, a garage, oil tank and boiler. The upper floor has been partly renovated into ancillary residential uses, with inserted floors. The building is built from brick and painted. It has a pitched slate roof with rooflights to the main section of the building and corrugated roofing to the extensions located at the north-east. There are timber painted window frames with a curved multi-paned feature window located at the front elevation. There are stable timber doors featuring metal hinges and metal garage up and over doors.

The house and the former barn have been altered substantially internally and externally, with large extensions added and changes in the plan form. Furthermore, many of the original features such as the staircase in the house and agricultural features of the barn have been removed and replaced. The house and barn do not possess any significant architectural or historic character, are not associated with any historical events or people of significant local importance, and the style is not distinctive to the local area, therefore they are considered not to meet the primary criteria for Cheshire East’s local list.

<6> The Archaeology Co., 2024, Constantia, Paddock Hill Lane, Mobberley: Historic Building Survey, R4795 (Client Report). SCH9665.

An Historic England level 2 building survey of the buildings at Constantia, Paddock Hill Lane, was undertaken in 2024 prior to their demolition. The development of the house is unclear due to later alterations, but it appears that it may have started as a one unit dwelling in the late 18th century, later extended to the east to form an L-shaped building in the early 19th century. It was likely around this time that the barn was also constructed as a combination threshing barn, with shippons to either side and storage above. Following this, the small western extension to the house was added by the time of the 1842 tithe plan, with the rear single story addition and the single story western extension both added in the late 19th century. The barn was extended shortly afterwards, with all of the extension built between 1898 and 1909. The house was further altered in the 20th century.