| Summary : Little Moreton Hall is a moated late-medieval courtyard manor-house built from the early 15th century to circa 1600. It is one of the finest examples of a medieval moated manor house in England and is of outstanding historical interest. The building's present appearance is the result of at least seven phases of building. The east wing was built before 1450 and included a great hall together with service rooms. The present great hall was built around 1450 and the former hall was converted into service rooms. In circa 1480 the west wing was built incorporating new service rooms, and creating an H-shaped plan. The former service range was converted to other uses. In 1559 bay windows were added to the hall and to the withdrawing room. Between 1559 and 1570 a further range was added to the east wing including the chapel. The south wing of three storeys, including the guests' hall and long gallery, was added around 1570-80 and a further range of service rooms were added to the north-western corner of this wing in circa 1600.The hall is located on an island (c.70m x 50m), surrounded by a waterlogged moat (c.10m wide) with a low outer bank on its west side (c.2m wide x 0.2m high). A low sandstone bridge provides access to the island through a south gatehouse. Little Moreton Hall is a timber framed building with rendered infill and Flemish bond brick. It is two and three storeys high and has a stone slate roof. The building ranges are grouped around three sides of a courtyard. Although the main structure dates to the early 15th century to circa 1600, panelling was added in the 17th and 18th centuries and various windows in the 18th and 19th centuries. |
More information : (SJ 83235891) Little Moreton Hall formerly (TI) Moreton Old Hall (GT) Moat (GT) (1)
A fine half timbered manor house of the Tudor and Jacobean
periods, surrounded by a moat. The gatehouse is said to be later
than the hall.
Fairly extensive restoration was completed in 1893. (2)
Little Moreton Hall is an outstanding example of its period. The
moat is water filled.
Published survey (25" 1954) revised. (3)
Little Moreton Hall. Additional reference. (4)
Little Moreton Hall. Grade 1 (5). The oldest part of the
building, comprising the north range with Great Hall and porch,
dates from c. 1480. In 1559 there were alterations and additions,
notably the large bays and, probably, the three storey south
range with long gallery built above it. There are two associated
mounds, one inside (to the north-west), the other outside the
moat (to the south-west), (see illus. card). Their purpose is
uncertain; they may have been 16th c. gardening features (6). (5-6)
Little Moreton Hall, one of the finest half-timbered moated
manor houses in the country, with long gallery, chapel, great
hall and knot garden, is a National Trust property (7). See
pamphlet (8). (7-8)
A possible outer moat has been identified to the south of the modern
entrance drive of the A34(T). It runs parallel with existing moat,
and turns toward it at its western extent. The east end is lost under a later bank. It is possible that ancillary accommodation could have been moved from this location to the east of the Hall, to
make way for the grand Elizabethan entrance gateway fronted by
lawns. (9)
Little Moreton Hall. Early 15th century - c1600 AD. Grade 1. The moated site of Little Moreton Hall, one of the finest
examples of a medieval moated manor house in England. The timber-framed Little Moreton Hall is located on an island (c.70m x 50m), surrounded by a waterlogged moat (c.10m wide) flanked on its W side by a low outer bank (c.2m wide x 0.2m high). A low sandstone bridge provides access to the island through a south gatehouse.
Little Moreton Hall was first mentioned in 1271 and the present structure dates from the early 15th century to c.1600.
(10)
SJ 8322 5892; SJ 8318 5887. Little Moreton Hall moated site and
outlying prospect mound. Scheduled RSM No 13472.
Little Moreton Hall is of outstanding historical interest. It is a very good type example of a moated late-medieval courtyard manor-house which reflects a gradual architectural development. The
present form is the result of a series of building campaigns
throughout the C15 and C16, but since 1600 little has been added, apart from some C17 and C18 panelling and several C18 and C19 windows.
An early C15-c.1600 country house. It is timber framed with rendered infill and Flemish bond brick with a stone slate roof. Two and three storeys. The ranges of buildings are grouped around three sides of a courtyard. The present appearance of the building is the result of at least seven builds. The eastern wing (including the present day parlour and withdrawing room) was built prior to 1450 and included a great hall together with service rooms. The present great hall was built c.1450 and the former hall converted to service rooms. In c.1480 the west wing was built incorporating new service rooms, and creating an H-shaped plan. The former service range was converted to other uses. In 1559 the bay windows were added to the hall (which was divided into two floors at this time) and to the withdrawing room and room above it by Richard Dale. Between 1559 and 1570 a further range was added to the eastern wing including the chapel. The south wing of 3 storeys, including the guests' hall and long gallery, was added c.1570-80 and a further range of service rooms added to the north-western corner of this in c.1600.
For a very detailed description of the hall please refer to the Scheduled Monument Record. (11)
Cheshire's most iconic black-and-white house is a property of the National Trust and is open to the public. (12) |