Hough End Hall
Encyclopedia
Hough End Hall is a historic house in Chorlton-cum-Hardy
, Manchester
, North West England
. It was built in 1596 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I by Sir Nicholas Mosley
(ca. 1527-1612), when he became Lord of the Manor of Manchester and of the dependent Manor of Withington
(Chorlton-cum-Hardy was at the time a township within the Manor of Withington). The Mosleys
were an influential Mancunian
family from the 16th century onwards, and prominent in the affairs of the Manchester district for two and a half centuries. (Anthony Mosley of Manchester and his brother Nicholas in London were wealthy drapers.) At the time Manchester was incorporated as a borough (1838) the manorial and market rights were still the property of the Mosleys (in 1845 Sir Oswald sold these to the corporation). Mosley Street in Manchester is named after them
, and Chorlton Brook runs past it on the north side (Mauldeth Road West passes it on the southern side). It is a brick, three-storey brick building with gable
d wings which are ornamented with balls. The central portion of the house is surmounted with a parapet
in the form of three smaller gables with similar finial
s. The chimneys are square shafts set diagonally on square bases.
. Restoration in the later 20th century proved controversial.
In 1917 some of the lands of the Hough End estate lying to the NE of the Hall, and north of the Midland Railway line, were taken over by the War Department for use as Alexandra Park Aerodrome
until closure in 1924, and is now used as public recreational space.
The former grounds are used for the Greater Manchester Police
police horse and dog training centre, the Hough End Centre, and Hough End Playing Fields.
Hough End Hall is open to the public,and may be hired for private functions.
Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Chorlton-cum-Hardy is a suburban area of the city of Manchester, England. It is known locally as Chorlton. It is situated about four miles southwest of Manchester city centre. Pronunciation varies: and are both common....
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, North West England
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
. It was built in 1596 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I by Sir Nicholas Mosley
Nicholas Mosley (mayor)
Sir Nicholas Mosley , also spelt Mosly and Moseley, was a manufacturer of woollen cloth, lord of the manor of Manchester, and Lord Mayor of London....
(ca. 1527-1612), when he became Lord of the Manor of Manchester and of the dependent Manor of Withington
Withington
Withington is a suburban area of the City of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies south of Manchester city centre, about south of Fallowfield, north-east of Didsbury, and east of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, near the centre-to-south edges of the Greater Manchester Urban Area; in the...
(Chorlton-cum-Hardy was at the time a township within the Manor of Withington). The Mosleys
Mosley Baronets
There have been three Baronetcies created for members of the Mosley family, one in the Baronetage of England and two in the Baronetage of Great Britain...
were an influential Mancunian
Mancunian
Mancunian is the associated adjective and demonym of Manchester, a city in North West England. It may refer to:*The city of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England**The people of Manchester, or the list of people from Manchester...
family from the 16th century onwards, and prominent in the affairs of the Manchester district for two and a half centuries. (Anthony Mosley of Manchester and his brother Nicholas in London were wealthy drapers.) At the time Manchester was incorporated as a borough (1838) the manorial and market rights were still the property of the Mosleys (in 1845 Sir Oswald sold these to the corporation). Mosley Street in Manchester is named after them
Description
The house stands on Nell Lane, just north-east of Barlow Moor Road. Behind it runs the route of the disused Midland RailwayMidland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
, and Chorlton Brook runs past it on the north side (Mauldeth Road West passes it on the southern side). It is a brick, three-storey brick building with gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d wings which are ornamented with balls. The central portion of the house is surmounted with a parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
in the form of three smaller gables with similar finial
Finial
The finial is an architectural device, typically carved in stone and employed decoratively to emphasize the apex of a gable or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. Smaller finials can be used as a decorative ornament on the ends of curtain rods...
s. The chimneys are square shafts set diagonally on square bases.
History and restoration
Over the years the house has been considerably altered, with new windows and structural alterations. The original oak nail-studded back door is now inside the house, and a five-light window on the return of the staircase bay is built up and can only be seen from inside. The house has previously been used as a toolhouse, a blacksmith's shop and a farmhouse, and interior had been stripped of its original oak fittings by the 20th century. A handsome staircase at the east end of the house was removed by Lord Egerton to Tatton HallTatton Hall
Tatton Hall is a country house in Tatton Park near Knutsford, Cheshire, England . It has been designated as a Grade I listed building which is owned by the National Trust and administered in conjunction with Cheshire East Council.-History:...
. Restoration in the later 20th century proved controversial.
In 1917 some of the lands of the Hough End estate lying to the NE of the Hall, and north of the Midland Railway line, were taken over by the War Department for use as Alexandra Park Aerodrome
Alexandra Park Aerodrome
Alexandra Park Aerodrome was the second purpose-built aerodrome in the Manchester area. The site was chosen by the War Department in 1917 because of its open agricultural nature, and lay between the neighbouring districts of Fallowfield, Chorlton, Withington and West Didsbury, at the junction of...
until closure in 1924, and is now used as public recreational space.
Present day
Today, Hough End Hall is surrounded by large concrete office blocks, hiding it from public view. It has Grade II* listed building status,The former grounds are used for the Greater Manchester Police
Greater Manchester Police
Greater Manchester Police is the police force responsible for law enforcement within the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester in North West England...
police horse and dog training centre, the Hough End Centre, and Hough End Playing Fields.
Hough End Hall is open to the public,and may be hired for private functions.
Future
In January 2009, it was announced that the hall would be renovated and converted into a bar and restaurant. Those plans came to fruition when the hall opened to the public on 26 February 2010 after a champagne and canapes reception to local businesses the night before.See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester
- WithingtonWithingtonWithington is a suburban area of the City of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies south of Manchester city centre, about south of Fallowfield, north-east of Didsbury, and east of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, near the centre-to-south edges of the Greater Manchester Urban Area; in the...
- Chorlton-cum-HardyChorlton-cum-HardyChorlton-cum-Hardy is a suburban area of the city of Manchester, England. It is known locally as Chorlton. It is situated about four miles southwest of Manchester city centre. Pronunciation varies: and are both common....
- ManchesterManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...