Monument record 815/4/1 - Darnhall Hall

<1> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.II p.181 (Book). SCH1389.

Darnhall Grange is a handsome modern brick mansion, built near the verge of the Ashbrook.

<2> Burdett, P. P., 1777, A Survey of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH113.

This map depicts a building at the location of the hall.

<3> Greenwood, C. & Greenwood J., 1819, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2115.

This map depicts the hall within an area of parkland.

<4> Bryant, A., 1831, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2114.

This map depicts the hall as an L-shaped building. The longest side faces south-east, with the base of the L located at its northern end, extending north-west. The hall is located within an area of parkland (see CHER 815/4/2), shaded green on the map, within a wider area of woodland.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ6363, 1874-1880 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

This map depicts an L or T shaped building labelled as Darnhall Hall (on the site of Darnhall Abbey) set within an area of parkland and overlooking a large waterbody labelled as The Lake. The rest of the parkland is predominantly woodland.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ 66 SW 2 (Index). SCH2487.

Darnhall Hall has been demolished and the site is now overgrown. No trace of the Abbey was found. [TP Waggot, FI. 15/02/1962]

<7> The GeoInformation Group, 2005, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review (Aerial Photograph). SCH4608.

The hall, walled garden and other buildings are clearly visible.

<8> Huntings Surveys Ltd, 1971-1973, 1971-1973 County Survey, HSL UK 73 57 Run 27 no. 1976 16/05/1973 (Aerial Photograph). SCH4881.

The hall building has been demolished. The walled garden is still extant, as are the adjacent buildings on the eastern and north-eastern side, but many of the other buildings and glasshouses depicted along the walls of garden appear to have been removed.

<9> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, CRO (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

Formerly a grange of Vale Royal Abbey, it later passed into the hands of the Corbett family. In 1860 James Haigh esq. bought the manor and repaired and improved the hall and land. It was sold in 1875 to Thomas Knowles then again in 1889 to salt works proprietor W. H. Verdin. The house was built of red brick and situated in extensive grounds near Ashbrook stream. It was demolished c.1950.

<10> Beckett, Matthew, 2017, Lost Heritage. Englands Lost Country Houses, http://www.lostheritage.org.uk/houses/lh_cheshire_darnhallhall_info_gallery.html (Web Site). SCH8282.

This website features two photographs of Darnhall Hall. Demolished c.1950