Monument record 950/1 - Site of Cattenhall House and Gardens

<1> Cheshire County Council, 1974, County Treasures Record, 4/A.201 (Index). SCH1000.

The thirteenth century residence of the Bishop of Chester was in the area of Cattenhall farm, Kingsley.

<2> Earl J, 1767, A Map of Cattenhall Demesne Belonging to John Giffard esq. (Maps and Plans). SCH8457.

This late eighteenth century map depicts a building with courtyard adjacent to the river with a possible walled or formal garden to the immediate north. A probable elevation of the hall appears as an illustration. This illustration suggests a multi period building with distinct seventeenth century elements.

<3> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester (Book). SCH1389.

The estate of Cattenhall was the residence of Ranulphus Venator who, in the mid thirteenth century, '... gave Catenhale, the place of his habitation, to God, and St. Mary, and Sir Inhel, the priest, and his successors, for ever…'. By the mid fourteenth century it was in the possession of the abbot and convent of St. Werburgh. The estate finally passed in the nineteenth century to '...Mr. Langsdale of Liverpool, who pulled down the old hall, and erected in its stead a large and commodious farm house…'.

<4> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol.III p.240 (Book). SCH3228.

Documentary references to Catenhale date from the twelfth century and Katenhall from the fourteenth century.

<5> Gibson W & Waterworth A W, 1975, Kingsley, p.15 (Book). SCH1873.

It has been claimed that Edward I stayed at Cattenhall in 1277 on his way from Ince to Vale Royal. ‘…Cattenhall is known to have been for many years a convent or monastery and held by one of the Kingsley family who was a priest. When it was pulled down, a little over 100 years ago, there were evidences of its religious connections and some of the stone carvings and effigies were brought and placed in a garden in Chamber Brook lane.’