Building record 171/1 - Big Fenton Farm, Buglawton

<1> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 55914 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

Sixteenth - seventeenth century. A very interesting farm house. Timber framed with painted brick or plaster infilling. Restored and later casement windows, generally poor; original heavy oak door; "black and white" Staffordshire tile roof (not original).

Interior: Much exposed original timbering including beamed ceiling in Living Room, several oak doors with wood latches, small plain staircase. Of particular interest is a Confession closet at the north end of the ground storey with, above this, on first storey, a small Chapel with old inscriptions painted on walls.

<2> Chester Courant, 1878-1990, The Cheshire Sheaf, Vol.XXI p.10 [4964], Jan 1924 (Newspaper-Magazine). SCH3105.

A note on sales and other details of Cheshire property in 1752 makes reference to a tenement called Fenton's in Buglawton. It produced £50 a year and is described as a good timber house, fit for the owner of a much better estate.

<3> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol.II p.291 (Book). SCH3228.

Named from the surname Fenton.

<4> Bryant, A., 1831, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2114.

Depicted and named Great Fenton. The map depicts two buildings either side of a kink in the lane with a further L-shaped building to the north on the eastern side.

<5> Greenwood, C. & Greenwood J., 1819, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2115.

This map depicts four buildings at this approximate location. Labelled Great Fenton.

<6> Bryant, A., 1831, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2114.

Not depicted on this map.

<7> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 75/2, 1841 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

This map depicts five buildings at this location. Three rectangular buildings are located on the north-western, south-eastern and south-western sides of a sub-triangular (or trapezoidal) area, a probable farmyard. To the east is a H-shaped building with a small square building to its south. The award describes this plot as a homestead and garden.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ8967, 1871-1877 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

Generally as previously depicted. Pigsties are depicted on the south-eastern side of the yard to the north of the building depicted on the tithe map (see 6). The house is T-shaped. Labelled Big Fenton.

<9> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ8967, 1897 (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

As previously depicted.

<10> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ8967, 1909 (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

As previously depicted.

<11> The GeoInformation Group, 2005, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review, CPE UK 1935 (17/01/1947) or 106G UK 1459 (02/04/1946) 0r 106G UK 645 (11/08/1945) (Aerial Photograph). SCH4608.

An additional building or buildings have been constructed on the north-western side of the farmyard to the north of the existing building.

<12> Huntings Surveys Ltd, 1971-1973, 1971-1973 County Survey, HSL UK 71 113 Run 43 no's 4160 & 4161, 08/07/1971 (Aerial Photograph). SCH4881.

As previously depicted.

<13> Airviews Ltd, 1983-5, 1983-1985 Airviews Survey, Run 17 no.37684, 08/06/1985 (Aerial Photograph). SCH5296.

Larger modern farm buildings have been built to the north-west and the existing yard and buildings. A new larger building has replaced the pigsties.

<14> National Remote Sensing Centre Ltd, 1992-3, National Remote Sensing Centre County Survey (1992-1993), Film 177/92 no.206, 31/10/1992 (Aerial Photograph). SCH5297.

<15> Bluesky International Ltd, 1999-2003, 1999-2003 Bluesky Survey, P 318 00_1483 (19/10/2000), P414 01_1982 (28/09/2001), P 318 00_1484 (19/10/2000) (Aerial Photograph). SCH5482.

A further large building has been constructed to the south-west and the modern buildings. The roof of the building at the south-western end of the farmyard appears to be in poor repair.

<16> Bluesky International Ltd, 2005-2006, 2005-2006 Bluesky Survey, P 812 05_334 (27/04/2005) (Aerial Photograph). SCH5483.

A large farm building has been built to the south of the farmstead.

<17> Bluesky International Ltd, 2010, 2010 Bluesky Survey, UXP_101010_4951 (10/10/2010) (Aerial Photograph). SCH5444.

<18> Bluesky International Ltd, 2015-2017, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Bluesky International APGB Imagery 2015-2017, SJ8964 (02/10/2016) (Aerial Photograph). SCH8848.

The roof of the building at the south-western end of the farmyard appears to be in very poor repair.

<19> Next Perspectives, 2019-2021, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery (2019-2021), SJ8964 (06/05/2020) (Aerial Photograph). SCH9405.

<20> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Land Line and Master Map Vector Maps, 10/05/2023 (Maps and Plans). SCH4491.

The building at the south-western end of the farmyard is no longer depicted.

<21> Historic England, 2005, National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE), 512763 (Digital Archive). SCH9076.

A late sixteenth century farmhouse with a timber frame which has painted brick or plaster infill under a Staffordshire tile roof (not original). Of particular interest is a Confession closet at the north end of the ground storey with, above this, on the first storey, a small chapel.

<22> Unassigned, 2010-2015, ludchurch, Big Fenton (https://ludchurchmyblog.wordpress.com/places-of-interest-in-cheshire/big-fenton/) (Web Site). SCH9406.

Details the folklore surrounding the house and it's literary connections. Includes many photographs and details on feature in and around the house.

<23> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 10/05/2023 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

Observations on the entry from the ludchurch website (see 22).

Photographs appear to show a cross passage house, with a cross wing at the north-eastern end. A photograph of the northern end of the house, showing the cross wing, shows that this part of the house (at least) is jettied, with the jetty infilled with coving. The lower storey has close studding, whereas the first floor has decorative panelling in a box frame. Two adjacent and centrally located panels contain mullioned windows. Other windows are later and the eastern gable end has been rebuilt or faced in brick. The timber framing still appears to in filled with wattle and daub/plaster, but the roof is of tile.

A photograph of the cross passage shows a studded timber door. The surrounding wall is brick, panted as timber framing, but the brick sits upon a stone plinth of two courses and of significant height. One internal wall appears to be of stone, as is the floor. Photograph of wall painting which comprises a reputedly Latin text.

Observations from undated (but probably recent) estate agents photographs.
South-east elevation of cross passage house is also of brick and there is a single storey extension towards the southern end. Chimney at mid-point and southern end.

Interior details: Kitchen has a tiled floor and original fireplace. The living room (former hall?) has a tiled floor, open fireplace. A doorway leads to the cross wing and the stairs. This area is known as the confessional, with the chapel on the floor above. Exposed timber framing is visible in places, especially the upper floor of the cross wing. Furthermore, some ceiling beams have possible double ogee mouldings. Further details of the chapel and its inscriptions can be found in the 'Lesser Chapels of Cheshire Part III' document by Raymond Richards.

Farm building on the south-eastern side of the yard is of brick and may have incoporated a cart shed and stable. The building on the north-western side is of stone and incorporates a large door and small even spaced slit-like windows or openings, possibly for an upper floor. It is an obvious barn. The south-western building is partially extant, but very ruinous.

Observations from a photograph in Raymond Richard's paper (see 25).
Photograph shows the north-eastern and north-western elevations of the farmhouse. Cross wing is jettied with close studding on the lower half or the northern elevation, and with quatrefoils on the first floor. The north-western gable end is largely close studded, with a quatrefoil panel either side of a wide six part window on the first floor. A small, possibly mullion, window is located near the roof apex. The north-western elevation of the hall appears to be close studded with few apparent windows.

Further notes.
The tithe map (see 7) suggests that a southern wing may have been lost in the mid nineteenth century. The building is on the Heritage at Risk Register for 2022 where it is described as: "Sixteenth century timber-framed farmhouse. The house includes much surviving historic timber, and a confession closet and chapel with wall paintings to the first floor. Repair work is needed to the timber frame and infill panels. Ivy growth covers portions of the building and gutters. Historic England has offered advice and support, and a new owner is working on removal of vegetation to the central and north wings and essential stabilisation work.".

<24> Hartwell C, Hyde M, Hubbard E & Pevsner N, 2011, The Buildings of England: Cheshire (2011 revision), p.191 (Book). SCH7059.

T-shaped timber framed house probably dating from the seventeenth century. Solar wing all quatrefoils with some original wooden mullioned windows, otherwise close studded. Fireplace against the screens at the low end of the hall. First floor contains rooms known as the chapel and oratory which have painted texts.

<25> Richards, R, 1954, The Lesser Chapels of Cheshire Part III, p.105-8 (Article in Journal). SCH9407.

The chapel room measures six yards by four and is in poor condition. The walls at the east end of the chapel room, according to the inscription, were painted in 1629. These comprise three panels in Roman lettering with the following text:

So live as thy end Bee not ferefull.
Love thy neightbor as thyselfe alway.
Doe to all men as Thou would be du:un.

Those parts unoccupied by letters were decorated with neat floral designs, each of the three panels differing in pattern. In a large oblong under the first inscription were the following four lines, two being in Roman capitals and the other two in English black-letter characters:

In my beginge, God by my good spide; Grace and vertue long to
proceede me. Hericy Smith, alias Gilder, 1629.
Do nothing but to good advise: take counsell of the wise,
So tht the cloudes of ignorance shall banish fro thine eyes.

Under the second inscription there is a partly illegible verse on the value of a true friend; and under the third, also in black letters, stand these lines:

The compiny of him that's wyse, although hee bee but poore,
Is better than the foole that's riche who layes up craft in store,
Spar not to spend thy golde and wealth for meat, for drink, for cloth,
For wisdom, lerneing, and for health, or else to spende be loth.

The wall opposite to the door by which one enters bears upon it four verses, one of which appears to say that the wife, and not the "onely childe" should be entrusted with secrets. The adjacent wall bears inscriptions, floral work, and verses, all much defaced. One of the latter seems to run as follows:

Before thou slepe, call to thy mind what thou hast done that day,
And if thy conscience be opprest, to God for mercy pray;
Leade such a life that still thy soule may stand in state of joy,
Although the world a thousand waies they cosience doe anoy.

The only colour employed appears to have been black, although as the artist was a "gilder", other colours, and even gold, may have been used. The whole work from beginning to end was beautifully executed, and especially the floral designs on the higher portions of the wall. These have now all but disappeared.

A particularly curious small room is situated immediately beneath that part of the house which contains the chapel. A shallow raised gallery placed close to the ceiling and fenced in with bold well-shaped oak slats affords the only means of light entering from the adjoining apartment. This partially-hidden little room is situated half way between the ground and first floor. Needless to say this room has always been known as the priest's hole or hiding place. The wall texts on the other hand in the chapel apartment suggest low church influence, which may of course have been a deliberate attempt to disguise an adherence to the old faith.

<26> IPC Media, 1897-Present, Country Life, Annual 1969 (Newspaper-Magazine). SCH993.

The Country Life Annual for 1969 included a scraperboard illustration of Big Fenton by Charles Tunnicliffe.