Building record 1332/5/0 - The Old Rectory

Old Rectory, Church Lane. Rectory, now private house. Late C16. An impressive timber framed house, particularly valuable for the survival of its hall, open to the roof. Timber framed with rendered & painted infill & plain tile roof. Early C19 gabled porch. lst floor with jetty & close studding. To left is hall range with close studded walls & 4 arched braces & 2 gabled projecting angle-storey wings with close-studding & arched bracing. Int: Hall of 2 bays, with truss of cambered tie beam with moulded boss to centre supported on heavy moulded arched braces with Queen posts above. Screened wall at E end with 3 service doorways & timbered lst floor passage above. (Perhaps orig open gallery). C20 fireplace to N wall incorporating a C16 panel bearing inscription relating to the Fitton family. The back wall of Hall was former outer wall & has a C15 window with wooden frame, moulded mullion & ogee heads to lights. Study has moulded ceiling beams with bosses. Mary Fitton room has small framing to walls & moulded beams & moulded plaster ceiling to passage outside. Full architectural description (1) & (2). Built c.1480 by George Baguley who was parish priest from 1470-1497. Restored by Rector William Hall 1683-1769 (3). Later additions and alterations by R. Norman Shaw in late 19th century (5).

<1> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 58592 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

<2> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, /223 (Book). SCH3078.

<3> Richards R, 1957, The Manor of Gawsworth, /149-174 (Book). SCH3207.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ86NE7/1964 (Index). SCH2487.

<5> IPC Media, 1897-Present, Country Life, Aslet C 1986 (Newspaper-Magazine). SCH993.