Monument record 257/1 - Wettenhall Hall

<1> Douglas J, 1872-5, The Abbey Square Sketch Book, Vol.1 p.24 (Book). SCH3014.

Wettenhall Hall, dated 1635 and with three shaped gables, was a brick mansion of Artisan Mannerist design (architecture created by masons rather than architects c.1615–c.1675) demolished in 1930's. It is recorded in detail in the John Douglas’ Abbey Square Sketch book.

<2> Turner RC, 1986, Peel Hall, An Artisan Mannerist Puzzle in Cheshire (Article in Journal). SCH9152.

Other than Peel Hall, the only other known Artisan Mannerist country house in the county. Dated 1635, but now demolished. At this period the Wettenhall estate was sold by John Brereton to Roger Wilbraham, so it is not certain who was responsible for its construction. It had three shaped gables surmounted by pediments and matching two-storey bay windows with decorative, pierced, stone parapets. At the centre was a big pedimented doorcase with a Tuscan order and a rusticated arched doorway. Roger Wilbraham seemed to have been an enthusiastic builder or collector of Mannerist houses, all of which he could not have used.

<3> Historic England, Various, National Mouments Record Aerial Photographs, SJ.6262/1 RCHME 1984 (Aerial Photograph). SCH8321.

An oblique aerial photograph shows the modern hall complex.

<4> de Figueiredo P & Treuherz J, 1988, Cheshire Country Houses, p.280 (Book). SCH785.

<5> Wilson JM, 1870-2, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales, Vol.IV p.1048 (Book). SCH9151.

Hall was the seat of the Wettenhall family and is now a farmhouse.

<6> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.II p.194 (Book). SCH1389.

The hall is built of brick, built in 1630, as appears by a date over the door. The front terminates in three gables, curiously scalloped and indented; from this two bows project, with bay windows, two stories high, terminating in a fanciful battlement of open work in stone. On the whole it is a good specimen of the architecture of the day, and well preserved.

<7> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 422/2, 1839 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

This map depicts a square building, with three projecting ‘bays’ on the south-eastern side and two on each of the other three sides.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ6262, 1874 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

The depiction of the hall is very different from the depiction on the tithe map (see 7). It is possible that the north-eastern part of the hall has been demolished.