Monument record 2413 - Oakhanger Hall

Oakhanger Hall was successively the property of the Actons of Acton in Delamere, the Manleys of Manley and John Ready Esq. The old hall was demolished some years since and a farm house now stands on its site. Now the property of Mr George Sidall (1). The Siddall family, farmers, are listed as the occupants in Directories for 1874 and 1892 (2). During spring and summer 1994 a local group located the foundations of the hall. 9 trenches were excavated and 3 sides of the hall were located. Recording was carried out in July 1994 funded by the County Council. Sandstone foundations and lower levels of brickwork survive, together with cobble and brick surfaces. Remains suggest that the hall was square in plan and of 17th to 18th century date, with a slightly later extension, possibly a dairy, against its SW wall. None of the individual rooms of the house were revealed, as the interior was not excavated. Majority of finds (all unstratified) are 18th century, including pottery, glass, metalwork bone and some building materials. Notable finds include fragments of coarseware pottery from an unknown local country kiln, glassware and pottery from the Stoke-on-Trent area. No archaeological evidence suggesting why the hall was abandoned. Local legend mentions a fire, but no evidence of burning, but a fire in the upper storey may have caused enough damage to warrant demolition, but this is conjectural (3).

<1> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, 2/318 (Book). SCH1389.

<2> Archives & Local Studies, Cheshire County Council, Various, Township Packs, 67, 1997, Haslington, (Paper Archive). SCH3824.

<3> Reynolds S, 1996, Report on Archaeological Excavation at Oakhanger Hall, Cheshire (Unpublished Report). SCH3825.