Building record 290/2/2 - The Chantry House or Old School House, Wyche Road

<1> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, No.8 p.34 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

The Chantry House was built in 1527 for two priests attached to the Ridley Chapel of Bunbury Church. At the time of the Dissolution the property reverted to the Crown. It was subsequently became incorporated in Thomas Aldersey's endowment of the Grammar School, administered by the Haberdashers' Company, London, and was given as the school master's lodgings from 1594 upon the formal establishment of the school and also used for boarding pupils. The house was purchased from the Company in 1966 and restored. This saved one of the finest, small, close-studded timber framed buildings in the County and produced a quantity of material connected with the school including a fragment of a sixteenth century Latin Grammar, a late eighteenth century wig, and a small cloth ball. Also eighteenth and nineteenth century pottery and glass, gaming counters, a goose quill pen, slate pencils and the locking piece from the chiming mechanism of a turret clock.

<2> Ancient Monuments Society, Various, Transactions of the Ancient Monuments Society, Vol.15 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3287.

<3> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

Former chantry house, 1527 (Pevsner) later a school house, now a private dwelling. Timber framed with plastered panels and slate roof. Two storeys, three window bays. Sandstone plinth, very close studding with rails only as required for window sills and heads, in the facade, and the east, jettied, gable without rails. Large curved tension braces from the ground sill and equally large arch bracing up to the wall plate. Replaced transome and mullion windows with leaded glazing. Replaced entrance door. Added wing (south) of no interest. Interior: Deeply bevelled beams and flat bevelled joists in the mediaeval style. Four stone fireplaces with massive lintels carved with chamfered Tudor arches. Some internal framing with middle rail. Two sections of original Oak panelling with doors at first floor level, one of these doors has original old hinges. The underside of the roof was originally visible from the first floor rooms but a lightweight ceiling has now been inserted. Graded II* for the quality of framing throughout.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ 55 NE 13 (Index). SCH2487.

Old School House, Bunbury is a two storey 16th century timber framed building, partly with wattle and daub and partly with brick nogging It is reputed to have been. a Chantry House, 1527, and was later a school house (see 2). [NG 29/01/1981].

<5> Hartwell C, Hyde M, Hubbard E & Pevsner N, 2011, The Buildings of England: Cheshire (2011 revision), p.194 (Book). SCH7059.

Built under the provisions of the will of Sir Raufe Egerton in 1527. Close studded, with large curved braces, timber-frame on a sandstone plinth and a jettied eastern gable. South wing and other alterations dates from the 1970s. Inside are four stone Tudor fireplaces.

<6> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Land Line and Master Map Vector Maps, 22/04/2024 (Maps and Plans). SCH4491.