Building record 255/2/1 - Poole Hall, Cinder Lane

<1> Burdett, P. P., 1777, A Survey of the County Palatine of Chester, VIII (Maps and Plans). SCH113.

"Pool Hall" marked on this late 18th century map.

<2> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, 3/352 1882 (Book). SCH1389.

Poole Hall. Ormerod quotes references to a manor at "Whitepoole" from Edward III. Poole Hall "has been lately (1817) rebuilt" implying that there was an earlier building on the site

<3> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 1136492 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

Mansion, Grade II* Listed, 1817 (Pevsner). Red brick in English Garden Wall Bond with hipped slate roof. 2 storeys, 3 bay entrance front, 6 bay return (south) and 5 bay service wing (north) set back and with lower roof line. Sandstone sill level plinth and first floor sill band. Semi-circular flat roofed porch with four unfluted Ionic columns. The porch fronts a narrow boarded oak door flanked by narrow sashes and with beaded pilasters and fluted frieze. The door is surmounted by a basket archivolt and overlight with glazing bars. Large recessed sashes with flat arches. Gutter cornice and parapet with pineapple corner finials. There is large timber canted bay window, with sashes, towards the rear of the south return, the other windows are sashes. Interior: The Entrance Hall has floor of stone slabs, laid diagonally, panelled shutters to entrance sashes, panelled linings to door openings, six-panelled doors and reeded architraves. An anthemion cornice is linked by a cove to a fret on the ceiling. Sitting Room (RH of Entrance Hall) Oak panelling, eight panels high and fluted frieze. Stair Hall (at rear of Entrance Hall) Floor of Limestone slabs laid diagonally, six-panel elm doors with panelled linings and fluted architraves. Geometrical staircase with limestone treads, cast iron scrollwork balustrade and mahogany handrail taken round all four walls - two as galleries. Anthemion cornice linked by cove to ceiling fret. Domed radial bar lantern on panelled and moulded drum over centre of hall. The central boss supports a brass chandelier. Drawing Room (RH of Stair Hall) 4-bay room, the west bay separated by a screen of two unfluted columns and two pilasters with Corinthian caps supporting a decorative panelled beam. Panelled window shutters, plaster panelled walls. Segmental tunnel-vaulted ceiling panelled in rectangles and octagons with acanthus wall cornice and double Vitruvian scroll to ceiling. Glass chandelier. Dining Room (at rear of Stair Hall) A long room running partly at the rear of the service wing. Oak floor, panelled window shutters. Segmental recess at north end flanked by beaded pilasters, with Vitruvian scroll frieze and shell shaped ceiling. Dado rail, white marble mantel based on festoons and torches. Cornice of leaves to wall and vines to ceiling. Large acanthus ceiling rose supporting brass chandelier. The Service Wing has an oak staircase with two turned balusters each tread. First floor six-panel doors.

<4> de Figueiredo P & Treuherz J, 1988, Cheshire Country Houses, p.263-264 (Book). SCH785.

House built for William Massey of Chester between 1812 when he inherited the estate from the Elcocke family and 1817 when he married. Interior is by one of Lewis Wyatt's associates and contains some exceptionally fine plasterwork

<5> Hartwell C, Hyde M, Hubbard E & Pevsner N, 2011, The Buildings of England: Cheshire (2011 revision), p.529 (Book). SCH7059.

POOLE HALL. Built for William Massey, who inherited in 1812, and completed in 1817. Possibly by John Webb who laid out the grounds. The stone and brick house has similarities with Webb's equally simple Leck Hall (N LANCS).

<6> Architectural History Practice, 2007, Poole Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire, R4591 (Client Report). SCH9204.

The township of Poole can be dated to the Doomsday Survey. The estate potentially originated as 'White Poole' one of three manors in the area. This estate was owned by the Cranage family until the fifteenth century when the heir, Elizabeth married Alexander Elcocke of Stockport. Descendants of the Elcocke name held the house until the late seventeenth century when they were joined with the Masseys. William Massey, a banker and son of Rev. William Massey of Norfolk, inherited the estate at Poole in 1812 from his mother, Elizabeth Elcocke. He married Mary Goodman, the only daughter and heiress of John Goodman of Tynewydd, Caernarvon, in 1817. The new Poole Hall was probably built in anticipation of his marriage and future family. The cellars of the house are said to incorporate some of the old hall.

Although the architect of the existing house at Poole Hall is undocumented, it is thought to be John Webb (1754-1828), a landscape-gardner and architect who laid out the grounds at Poole. Other of his works include Wanstead Grove in Essex, Thrybergh Park in Yorkshire, Warleigh House in Somerset and Leck Hall in Lancashire.

The Tithe Map of Poole depicts the house and three associated farm buildings - the barn ('Coach House') to the north of the house, a set of stables to the north-east, and a cottage ('Moat House) by the end of the moat. The timber-framed barn dates to the late seventeenth century and appears to be the oldest surviving part of the old hall site. OS First Edition mapping (1872) shows more outbuildings added including a new western and north block of stables, adjoining the original block, also an extension to the coach house which links to the service wing of the house.

<7> Peter de Figueiredo (Independent Consultant), 2016, Outbuildings at Poole Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire: Heritage Statement, R4592 (Client Report). SCH9205.

A Level 2/3-type archaeological building investigation was undertaken in 2022 for the timber-framed barn at Poole Hall prior to re-development. The early eighteenth century barn adjoins the later nineteenth century Coach House. See CHER 255/2/3 for further detail.