Tatton Old Hall

Tatton Old Hall is a historic building in Tatton Park near Knutsford, Cheshire, England (gbmapping|SJ756813). It is a Grade II* listed building which is owned by the National Trust and administered in conjunction with Cheshire County Council.cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=58485 |title=Images of England: Tatton Old Hall |accessdate=2008-08-28 |publisher=English Heritage ] It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.cite web |url= http://www.tattonpark.org.uk/Attractions/Old+Hall/ |title= Old Hall |accessdate=2008-08-28 |publisher= Tatton Park ]

History

The hall stands on a site near to the disappeared village of Tatton. It was built as a manor house around the start of the 15th century by either the Stanley family or Sir Richard Brereton. By 1585 a two-storey wing had been added at a right angle to the original house by Sir Thomas Egerton, Lord Chancellor of England. In the 1770s a new hall was built on the site of the present Tatton Hall and the old hall was used as a farmhouse and then a century later converted into three estate cottages. [cite web |url= http://www.tattonpark.org.uk/Attractions/Old+Hall/tudoroldhall.htm |title= Tudor Old Hall |accessdate=2008-08-28 |publisher= Tatton Park ] It remained in the possession of the Egerton family until 1958 when it was given to the National Trust.

Architecture

The hall is built in red brick with a stone slate roof. It was originally timber- framed, but this was replaced by brick in the late 17th or early 18th century. The hall is L-shaped and externally appears to have two storeys. Internally the floors which were added to the older hall have been removed, exposing the complex wooden roof. This has a carved wall plate, carved beams and three tiers of quatrefoil wind braces. [cite book | last =Pevsner | first =Nikolaus | authorlink =Nikolaus Pevsner | coauthors =Edward Hubbard | title =The Buildings of England: Cheshire |edition= | publisher =Yale University Press| date =2003| origyear=1971| location =New Haven & London| pages = 356 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn =0 300 09588 0 ] The hall contains a gallery which was added in the 20th century. The newer wing retains its two floors and is divided into separate rooms.

Cruck barn

In the grounds of the hall is a cruck barn dating from the beginning of the 17th century which was originally in a farm at Frodsham, Cheshire. In a dilapidated state, it was removed from its original site in 1976 and rebuilt and restored at Tatton. [cite web |url= http://www.tattonpark.org.uk/Attractions/Old+Hall/cruckbarn.htm |title= Cruck Barn |accessdate=2008-08-28 |publisher= Tatton Park ] The barn is timber-framed with brick infill and a thatched roof. It is listed Grade II. [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=58486 |title=Images of England: Cruck barn at Tatton Old Hall |accessdate=2008-08-28 |publisher=English Heritage ]

Present use

The hall and barn are open on advertised days for escorted tours, and group or educational visits can be arranged. Historical re-enactments are organised on the site, which may have a medieval or a 1940s theme. [cite web |url= http://www.tattonpark.org.uk/Attractions/Old+Hall/reenactments.htm |title= Historical Reenactment |accessdate=2008-08-28 |publisher= Tatton Park ]

References