| Summary : Clegg Hall is a country house that was built in 1618 by Theophilus Ashton. It is thought to have been built on the site of a medieval (possibly 12th century) house and inn. It is a two storey building, rectangular in plan, constructed of dressed local stone with a stone slate roof and steep gables. It spans 5 x 3 bays with an attic level and basement. The hall has an imposing entrance with a central two storey porch, approached by a flight of steps, and a segmental-headed door opening. The windows of the house are generally three, four or five mullion and transomed. The simple elevations of the house have been described as an 'archetype for the Jacobean period'. The hall is thought to have been used as a dwelling until World War II after which it was deserted and left to decay, eventually turning to ruin. Some of the stone work, including part of the porch and a fireplace were subsequently stolen. In 1986, the Pennine Heritage Trust purchased the building in an attempt to conserve what remained. An interested party was eventually found to restore the building and £1 million of restoration work was carried out between 2004 and 2008. The hall is located within an important 19th century industrial complex and designated conservation area (1986), which includes weaver's cottages, textile mills, the Rochdale canal and agricultural buildings. |
More information : (SD 92231448) Clegg Hall (NAT). (1)
"Clegg Hall stands on the site of an older house ..... of
three storeys and an attic, rectangular in plan ... apparently
built at the end of the 16th or beginning of the 17th century". (2)
Clegg Hall built circa 1620 said to be on site of 12th century
building. "Occupied partly as a country inn and partly as a
cottage". (3)
Clegg Hall, circa 1600. Grade 2. (4)
SD 91 SW MILNROW CLEGG HALL ROAD (south side)
3/85 Clegg Hall
10/8/51
G.V. II*
House. c.1610. For Theophilus Ashton. Dressed stone, hammer-
dressed stone and graduated stone slate roof. 5 x 3 bays with
2 storeys (plus attic level) all raised above a full basement.
Near-symmetrical elevation with projecting plinth. Imposing
central 2-storey porch approached by flight of steps has a
segmental-headed door opening with moulded surround and capitals
and is flanked by paired columns with cushion capitals. The upper
floor rises above an entablature, the 5-light mullion and transom
window being flanked by single columns on pedestals with
enriched capitals and a frieze all of which have fanciful details
in a debased classical manner. 2 and 3-light mullioned basement
windows and four 4-light mullion and transom windows to the
upper floors (except for the principal room which has 5 lights and
one to the right which is partially blocked). All windows are
double-chamfered and have hoodmoulds, that to the first floor
being continuous. Series of 3 coped gables with 2 and 3-light
windows, finials and rainwater spouts. The sides and rear are
also characterised by 3 similar gables. Windows are generally 3,
4 or 5-light mullion and transomed or 1, 2 or 3-light mullioned
in the case of the basement or attic. The rear has a central
door with 4-centred arch lintel and a porch which is gabled and
has spiral carving to the kneelers. The left (of rear) appears
to have been altered at some stage and a door was inserted to
right probably in C19. Groups of diagonally set chimney stacks
rise from an axial spine wall. Interior: all 2 rooms deep, the
porch leading directly into the principal room which has a
fireplace under a large chamfered segmental arch. The beams are
heavily moulded with multiple rolls. The staircase (centre
rear) is framed in timber and winds round an octagonal newel
post. The doors generally have 4-centred arch lintels. What
little remains of the roof structure employs tie-beam trusses and
wind bracing. Generally a powerful building which apart from
the effects of deep-set decay has remained virtually unaltered. (5)
Country house constructed circa 1610 for Theophilus Aston. it is a two storey building, rectangular in plan, constructed of dressed stone with a stone slate roof. It is thought to be built on the site of a Medieval house and inn. Ruinous in the 1980s. (1-6)
Summary above updated following PastScape feedback 07-MAY-2008 (9):
Clegg Hall is a country house that was built in 1618 by Theophilus Ashton. It is thought to have been built on the site of a medieval (possibly 12th century) house and inn. It is a two storey building, rectangular in plan, constructed of dressed local stone with a stone slate roof and steep gables. It spans 5 x 3 bays with an attic level and basement. The hall has an imposing entrance with a central two storey porch, approached by a flight of steps, and a segmental-headed door opening. The windows of the house are generally three, four or five mullion and transomed. (1-6)
The simple elevations of the house have been described as an 'archetype for the Jacobean period'. The hall is thought to have been used as a dwelling until World War II after which it was deserted and left to decay, eventually turning to ruin. The hall is located within an important 19th century industrial complex and designated conservation area (1986), which includes weaver's cottages, textile mills, the Rochdale canal and agricultural buildings. (7)
Some of the stone work, including part of the porch and a fireplace were subsequently stolen. (8)
In 1986, the Pennine Heritage Trust purchased the building in an attempt to conserve what remained. (7)
An interested party was eventually found to restore the building and £1 million of restoration work was carried out between 2004 and 2007. The house has been closely associated with ghost stories such as the 'Clegg Hall boggart'. (8)
The building has been entirely reconstructed and cleaned - probably for sale/let as flats. Adjoining mill buildings also in course of reconstruction as flats. Visited today, 3 May 2008. (9)
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