Building record 6/1 - Willaston Old Hall, Hadlow Road

<1> Hartwell C, Hyde M, Hubbard E & Pevsner N, 2011, The Buildings of England: Cheshire (2011 revision), p.668 (Book). SCH7059.

House has a completely symmetrical front, with a centrally placed hall approached through the porch. Ormerod reports a date of 1558 on the chimney, but this would be remarkably advanced for a house of this date in Cheshire. House is probably seventeenth century or later.

<2> Young H E, 1909, A Perambulation of the Hundred of Wirral, p.104 (Book). SCH102.

‘…surrounded by a high wall, and the front is partly hidden by a beautiful spreading chestnut-tree. It is a nice old brick building, lighted by bay windows, and there is a large and handsome entrance-porch. It was erected by the Bennetts in 1558, and continued to be their residence for several centuries ; it has, however, been modernised, and is now a farm-house…’

<3> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 475652 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

Manor house. Dated 1558; nineteenth century alterations and additions. For Hugh Bennett. Red brick with red sandstone quoins and dressings and sandstone plinth; slate roof with stone coped gables, moulded kneelers and ball finials; diagonally set brick stack with octagonal pots.

EXTERIOR: Three-storey, five-bay flush quoined front, outer and centre bays gabled and projecting. Centre bay has studded oak door on ornamental wrought-iron strap hinges beneath shaped lintel, dated and inscribed H.B. Ground and first floor windows are of four mullioned and transomed lights; on second floor, of four mullioned lights beneath floating cornices in gabled bays, three mullioned lights in intermediate bays. Mullions and transoms are ovolo moulded. Continuous moulded cornices over ground and first floors, that to the first floor continued across the gable-end as brick dentilled band. Left gable end has mullioned windows on all floors.

INTERIOR: old chamfered beams and exposed joists to ground and first floor ceilings. Firebeams in the hall and kitchen. The lounge has ceiling height oak panelling with fluted Jacobean frieze, and a nineteenth century bay window. The staircase has carved strings based on strapwork, carved newel finials and splat balusters. The first floor south bedroom has a stone mantel with the Bennett arms on a shield at the centre of the frieze with flower and leaf decoration. Moulded opening with slightly pointed soffit. Stonework bears remains of naive painted decoration. To the left of the mantel at frieze level is a shield with a lion rampant. The room contains an original plastered frieze with leaf motif on the north wall.

<4> Bryan E.C. & Morris D, 1997, Willaston's Heritage (Second Edition) (Book). SCH3852.

The hall is reputed to have been built by Hugh Bennett in the sixteenth century and remained in the Bennett family until around 1920. It was restored in 1968.

<5> Cheshire County Council, 1972, Conservation Stage II Report Willaston Neston Urban District, p.78-79 (Report). SCH3706.

The Old Hall, Hadlow Road. 1598, three storey brick and sandstone manor house. Fine timbers and woodwork inside. This building is in excellent condition. It has many fine features including stone mullioned windows, old doors, oak panelling and frieze, original staircase, and a carved stone mantel with the Bennett arms. This would seem to merit upgrading to II*.

<6> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.II p.544 (Book). SCH1389.

The Hall of Willaston, which is in possession of the Bennets, was probably erected by their ancestors immediately subsequent to their acquisition of this estate. It is a moss-grown and ruinous brick building, of three low stories. Three projections in front are lighted by bay windows and terminate in gables. On altering a chimney-piece some years ago, the date of 1558 appeared, with the initials and arms of Bennet, viz. Argent, two barrs, Gules, within a bordure engrailed, Sable.

<7> Department for the Environment, Various, Provisional List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 37 3/128 (Report). SCH2744.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ 37 NW 2 (Index). SCH2487.

SJ 3302 7766. Willeston Old Hall, built 1558 with alterations and additions. Grade 2 (see 7). [MSG 09/11/1960].

The building is as described (see above). See ground photograph. [DS 09/02/1961].

Old Hall is a good example of an early brick building. It is in excellent condition and is outstanding for the area. [FKB 15/10/1975].