Building record 1336/1 - Site of Milne House and Astle Hall, Park and Gardens

<1> Earwaker, J P, 1877-1880, East Cheshire Past & Present, 2/1880/361-364 (Y) (Book). SCH1080.

The Milne or Mill house estate in Astle was in the 15th century in the possession of the Henshaw family. It was purchased c.1749 by John Parker who erected the present Astle Hall on the site of the old Milne house.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ87SW9/1964 (Index). SCH2487.

Astle Hall has been demolished to its foundations except for its west wing.

<3> Department for the Environment, Various, Provisional List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, /6/6 (Report). SCH2744.

See description.

<4> Donald Insall Associates Ltd, 2019, The Coach House, Peover Lane, Chelford, Cheshire SK11 9AN: Heritage Impact Assessment, R4392 (Client Report). SCH8822.

A heritage assessment was produced in 2019 for the Coach House and ancilliary buildings (the Machine Shed and the Gardner's Cottage) Peover Lane, Chelford, prior to proposed development. These lie within the parkland and gardens associated with former eighteenth century house, Astle Hall, now demolished and rebuilt in 1995. The proposed development site lies within the setting of the weir at Astle Hall which is Grade II listed, and The Lodge, which is Grade II* listed. The parkland itself is not nationally designated, but is locally designated, and is significant as an area of relic parkland originally created as a setting for the former Astle Hall.

The following is a summary of the development of the site:-
The earliest recorded structure at the site of Astle Hall was a watermill in 1245 (1381/1), this was followed by a Milne House (mill house) dating to the fifteenth century, which is thought to occupy the site of the present day Astle Hall. The site was purchased by John Parker in 1749 and a new country house built on the site of the old manor. The new hall appears to have incorporated some fabric from the previous structure with a record of timber-framing still visible to the rear. The Georgian Hall was constructed of fine ashlar with projecting wings. A map of the Astle Estate dating to 1784 shows the presence of a large mill pond and an expanse of open fields surrounding the house. At this time, the immediate surrounding of the house comprised a nursery located between the house and mill and a number of gardens with yards and buildings. The map shows the area to the south-east of the house comprising large, open parkland with a winding road providing access via the mill pond to the hall from Chelford.