Building record 2064/1 - Smeaton Grange

<1> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 57067 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

Farmhouse. Seventeenth century. Timber framed with brick infill and plain tile roof Two storeys. The entrance front has, at far right, a gabled projecting wing with jettied first floor and gable. Central ground floor three-light casement window to either side of which are two by two cells of small framing. Moulded brackets supporting the first floor moulded bressumer. Central three-light nineteenth century casement window set in close studding to the first floor. Small framing to the jettied gable which is supported on moulded brackets. To the left of this are nineteen by three cells of small framing with some brickwork painted in simulation of timber framing following a fire this century. Two three-light, one two-light and one single light window to the ground floor. The re-entrant angle between the right hand wing and the body of the building has a nineteenth century half-glazed door with a lean-to porch before it. Chimney stack at left of centre. The right hand return has a massive chimney stack at left of centre of brick.

INTERIOR: Chamfered ceiling beams to the ground floor brought from elsewhere. One ovolo moulded beam to the parlour and an inglenook fireplace with chamfered bressumer and cupboards to either side. One other ground floor room has an ovolo moulded ceiling beam. Some small framing to the internal walls.

<2> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol.III, p.97 (Book). SCH3228.

There is a documentary reference to the grange of Smeaton in 1296.

<3> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.III p.399 (Book). SCH1389.

"…It may be added, that the Grange of the monks of Combermere (with its ancient water-mill adjoining, and the wind-mill hill), remains near the railway station, where the course of the Weaver, there a little diverted in this century, divides this township from Dodcote…"

<4> Burdett, P. P., 1777, A Survey of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH113.

Depicts and labelled as Grange.

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

Depicts and labelled as Grange.

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

Depicts and labelled as Smeaton Grange.

<7> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 138/2, 1843 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

This map depicts the house in the northern corner and north-western side of a rectangular area. Further buildings are located along the south-eastern and south-western side of this area. Described as a homestead and yard and labelled Grange. A large plot to the immediate north is called Grange Field.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ6046, 1875-1877 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

This map depicts a square yard area with long farm buildings along the western, southern and eastern sides. A pump is depicted in the centre of the yard. The building along the eastern side comprises two buildings connected by a roof or cover. Along the northern side of the yard are two sets of pigsties. The house lies to the north of the pigsties within a possible garden or orchard. Labelled The Grange.

<9> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ6046, 1898 (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

As previously depicted. A new farm building has been constructed to the east of the eastern farmyard building.

<10> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ6046, 1910 (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

As previously depicted. The new farm building, depicted on the 1898 map, is depicted as being predominantly open sided.

<11> Bluesky International Ltd, 1999-2003, 1999-2003 Bluesky Survey, P 603 03_219, 03/04/2003 (Aerial Photograph). SCH5482.

<12> Bluesky International Ltd, 2005-2006, 2005-2006 Bluesky Survey, P 822 05_257, 13/11/2005 (Aerial Photograph). SCH5483.

<13> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 13/01/2023 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

The farm buildings were converted to residential use between 2003 and 2005 (see 11 & 12). Comparison between the tithe map (see 7) and the 1875-1877 Ordnance Survey map (see 8), suggest that the difference in the spatial relationship between the house, and the farm buildings and yard, are not due to discrepancies due to error, accuracy, or map projection. Rather, that the yard and buildings depicted on the earlier map were demolished, and a new yard and associated buildings built a little way to the south.