Building record 387/1 - Hall o' Coole, Hollingreen Lane

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ64NW 6 (Index). SCH2487.

Field Investigators Comments [Waggott T 1964]: Only part of the west arm of the moat survives. It is water filled and has stone revetment walls. Its original extent can be guessed from the line of the road and boundaries to the gardens.

Field Investigators Comments [JHW 05/09/1961]: Please see annotated 25" re-survey.

Field Investigators Comments [TPW 01/10/1964]: Published survey (25" 1963) checked and found correct.

<2> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, vol.III, p.389-90 (Book). SCH1389.

One of two halls within the township of Coole (also known as Coole Pilot) now used as farmhouses. The Coole Hall estate is first mentioned in a documentary source dating from the seventeenth year of the reign of Richard II (c.1394-5).

<3> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 422242 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

Farmhouse. Seventeenth century with nineteenth century additions and alterations. Timber framed and brick covered with pebble dash render and with a plain tile roof. Two storeys. T-shaped plan, the downstroke being the oldest portion to which a late seventeenth century wing has been added at right and a nineteenth century brick wing at left. Entrance front: Projecting wing of early seventeenth century date slightly to right of centre with a chimney breast to the centre with offsets and jettied gable supported on moulded brackets. The left- and right-hand sides of the projecting gabled wing have three-light twentieth century windows to the ground and first floors. Recessed and to right of the wing the later seventeenth century wing has a pair of twentieth century French windows at left and at right of this a nineteenth century rectangular bay window with a lean-to roof. To the first floor above is a three-light casement window. The recessed nineteenth century wing at left has a twentieth century doorway at right of centre with a twentieth century gabled porch before it. To right of this is a two-light casement window and at left are a cambered headed window of three casement lights and at the far left a set of twentieth century French windows. To the first floor are two three-light and one two-light casement windows. Two nineteenth century chimneys at left. The right-hand side has a jettied gable with an ovolo moulded bressumer covered by rendering. To the ground floor is a nineteenth century rectangular bay window with a hipped roof and to the first floor is a nineteenth century three-light casement window and a three-light twentieth century casement window to the attic above. Rear: all flush with the gable end of the earliest portion at left of centre and having a twentieth century five-light casement window at ground floor level and above this a three-light twentieth century casement window to the first floor with a similar above at attic level. To left of this is a nineteenth century mezzanine staircase window of four-lights and at left of it is a two-light casement window at first floor level. To right of the gable is a four-light ground floor window and a set of twentieth century French windows with a three-light and a two-light casement window to the first floor and a brick lean-to at right.

Interior: Chamfered ceiling beams to the ground floor rooms and to the present dining room are ovolo-moulded ceiling beams, all with joists between. Principal staircase of eighteenth-century date, of three flights with moulded tread ends and two spiral twist balusters to every tread. Square newel posts with beaded edges and moulded caps and nineteenth century facetted finials. Moulded handrail. Two early eighteenth-century doors at first floor level each with two raised and fielded panels and early nineteenth century brass latches. Two seventeenth century doors with run-through moulding. Chamfered ceiling beams to the first-floor rooms. The back staircase is of late seventeenth century date with moulded balusters, rectangular newel posts and a moulded handrail. Stick balusters to the landing, Plank doors to the attics, one with chased seventeenth century strap hinges with fleur-de-lys termination. Two trusses with angle braces.

<4> Various, Written Communication to the HER, Tindall AS 19/06/1996 (Written Communication). SCH3756.

The western arm of the moat was dredged in September 1996. The County Archaeologist observed the original cut to the moat, which appeared to be only about five metres wide, through the centre of the enlarged western arm.

<5> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 290/2 c.1845 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

This map depicts the hall. A rectangular pond to it’s west corresponds to the western arm of the moat. The plot is described as hall, gardens, old orchard and is labelled Hall o’ Coo.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ6245, 1877 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

This map depicts the hall, labelled Coole Hall, and the western arm and part of the southern arm of the moat (see 5).

<7> Pixton, P.B., 2009, Wrenbury Wills and Inventories 1542-1661, xxv, xxix (Article in Journal). SCH9101.

Howell de Whitney obtained from Nicholas de Audley on 12th January 1389, an enfeoffment in fee-tail of 1 messuage, 60 acres of arable land, 4 acres of meadow, 20 acres of pasture, and 16 acres of wood in Coole and Aston, near Bromhall. Doubtless this was the nucleus of the Coole Hall estate. The Hall of Coole was a timbered house, strongly moated, on the edge of Coole Forest, and had no manorial dependencies.

<8> Wilson D et al, 1973-1986, Moated Sites Research Group Records, D.Wilson, 15/09/1983 (Paper Archive). SCH2205.

In 1983, only one side of the moat remained.