Building record 1332/1/1 - Gawsworth Old Hall

Gawsworth Old Hall.Prob originally a moated medieval house.Moat prob lay round the raised platform upon which the present hall stands (1)&(2). The N & E wings are late medieval in origin and the interior retains some pre- Elizabethan timber framing (2). A house in 'Gowesworth' mentioned in the Lichfield Episcropal Register in 1365 was granted a licence for a chapel (3). The hall was remodelled in the Elizabethan period,poss by Sir Edward Fitton III (1550-1606),when S & W ranges were added at a slight angle to the existing wings,creating a quadrangular plan.This was prob contemporary with & complementary to the layout of the garden (RN:1332/2). c.1700 the W range and half of the S range were demolished leaving a 3-sided courtyard (2). Present blg is C15-C16 with C19 & C20 additions & alterations.Timber framed with whitewashed wattle & daub brick infill & brick with stone slate roof. Courtyard front(E wing) - doorway to right of centre,6 bays of chevron strutting to either side.Projecting wings to N & S,that to N has 4 x 15 cells of small framing.S wing has 3-storey semi-octagonal bay window & ornate timber framing.Entrance front has simulated close studding to both floors with middle rails.Brick chimney breast with re-set stone with the arms of Sir Edward Fitton & the date 1570.Interior:Library has C19 ceiling beams, bookcases by Pugin from Scarisbrick Hall,Lancs & Corinthian woooden columns & pilasters from Eaton Hall.The present chapel may be the 3rd or 4th to serve the hall & dates from the remodelling of 1701.Dining room has chamfered ceiling beams with angle braces.Drawing room has small framing to walls with ovolo-moulded end-stopped ceiling beams.Small framing in several other ground floor rooms.lst floor gallery has Queen post truss & solar has truss with cambered tie beam,arched braces & angled struts (4). After C18,the hall fell into neglect & was used as a farmhouse until the First World War (3).
The Ground beneath the Hall is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

<1> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, vol .I p.69 (Book). SCH3228.

<2> Turner R C, 1986, The Gardens at Gawsworth Hall (Oral Communication). SCH3124.

<3> IPC Media, 1897-Present, Country Life, Aslet C 1986 (Newspaper-Magazine). SCH993.

<4> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 58597 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

<5> English Life Publications, 1985, Gawsworth Hall Macclesfield - Official Guide (Book). SCH1259.

<6> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, /223 (Book). SCH3078.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ86NE6/1964 (Index). SCH2487.

<8> de Figueiredo P & Treuherz J, 1988, Cheshire Country Houses, /99-102 (Book). SCH785.

<9> Various, Aerial photographs, NB 83 & 84 1953 Cambridge University Committee for Aerial Photography (Aerial Photograph). SCH128.

<10> AAA Archaeological Advisors, 2006, Gawsworth New Hall, Repairs to Pool Wall: Report of an Archaeological Watching Brief, R2628 (Client Report). SCH4671.

<11> Higham N J, 1984-9, Professor Nick Higham's Aerial Photographs, 1988/2/2/32-3 & 1988/2/2/37 (Aerial Photograph). SCH7659.

<12> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2000, Construction of a New Tea Room at Gawsworth Hall, Macclesfield, Cheshire: An Archaeological Watching Brief, R2318 (Client Report). SCH3936.

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken in 2000 during ground disturbance associated with the construction of a new Tea Room at Gawsworth Hall, Macclesfield. Due to the need for minimal ground disturbance, the new structure was constructed on a concrete raft rather than strip foundations. During construction of the raft, several post-hole features of post medieval date were observed at the level of the natural sand subsoil; they potentially represent the remains of structures or fence lines. Two pieces of residual medieval pottery were recovered.