Monument record 611/1/1 - Hurst Hall

<1> Baines, Edward, 1868-91, The History of The County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster, p.632 (Book). SCH1442.

“Hurst-hall in this township, degenerated into a farmhouse, was the residence of Thomas Holcroft [the Holcrofts were ‘traffickers in monastic property’] in 1692.”

<2> Smith E.C., 1869, Archaeology in the Mersey District 1868, p.205 (Article in Journal). SCH9730.

“The coin was met with at Hurst Hall, ten miles north-westward of Manchester, a Tudor mansion now converted into a farm-house, but occupied by successive members of one family for the last century and a half. The portion of the park grounds where it was unearthed (eight inches deep), had not previously been ploughed within memory of the residents.”

<3> Farrer W & Brownbill J, 1919, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume III, p.156 (Book). SCH9731.

“Culcheth proper has Carr, Hurst, Fowley and Twiss Green in the north-west, north-east, south-east, and south-west corners; the village of Glazebury [formerly known as Bury Lane] has sprung up in the last thirty years by Hurst, on the banks of the Glazebrook. The hall is to the east of Twiss Green.”

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ 69 NE 6 (Index). SCH2487.

See (3), (4), & (9). Also see (8) - Hurst Hall, Glazebrook is ten miles west of Manchester but is considered to be the Hurst Hall referred to in this entry. [name illegible 12/09/1955].

A timber-laced building of early brick now in use as a farmhouse. The living wing of the Hall has been completely rebuilt and the front (south face) has been pebble-dashed, the adjacent outbuildings are, however, mainly original. Architectural features visible consist of windows, of from one to four lights with wood-moulding over decorative brick moulding and diamond decoration. The timbering, where visible, is in excellent condition, having been oiled, treated and preserved. Of particular note in the outbuildings is a half-timbered barn with all beams, trusses and tie-bars original and pegged; the roof, of stone slate, is also original. Extant early architecture indicates a sixteenth century period of construction. The owner confirmed the published name. [F.D. Colquhoun F.I. 25/03/1959].

<5> Keery R, 1992, Historic Culcheth - The Story of a Village, p.77-79 (Book). SCH1359.

The last of the Holcrofts to live at Hurst Hall died in 1708 and was buried at St Oswald's, Winwick. Hurst Hall was a working farm by the eighteenth century.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1893-96, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Lancashire, SJ6696, 1892-1893 (Maps and Plans). SCH3847.

This map depicts a square yard surrounded on the norther, western, and southern sides by buildings forming U shape. This building extends to the west, to the north of which is a jumble of small buildings. To the south is a possible farmyard with buildings along the southern and eastern sides.

<7> Historic England, 2005, National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE), SJ 69 NE 18 (Digital Archive). SCH9076.

The site of a former open hall house which, before its demolition, was used as a barn. It was constructed from timber on a high stone plinth in the fifteenth century. [Source not identified, but possibly (8)].

<8> National Buildings Record (NBR), 1940-1963, National Buildings Record (NBR), 31895 (Index). SCH9752.