Moss Hall

Details

AUDLEM C.P. (Off) CHESHIRE STREET SJ 64 SE Moss Hall 8/4 10-6-52 - I Manor House. Early C17. Timber framed with rendered infill and brick with a plain tile roof. Two storeys with attics. Entrance front: of 5 bays near-symmetrically disposed in E-shaped arrangement. Ashlar plinth with chamfered top common to the whole building and close studded framing with a middle rail to both floors. Central 2-storey gabled porch wing, which is a later addition, with moulded door surround to the ground floor with dying stops. Within the porch are pieces of C18 or early C19 dado panelling and wall seats. The door has 5 panels and is of C17 date. The first floor is jettied, supported on carved brackets, with an ovolo-moulded bressumer. Decorative infill to the panels below the first floor window which is of four lights with an ovolo-moulded surround. Single-light window to the gable above. The left and right hand flanks also have close-studding with a middle rail to each floor and jettied first floor with moulded bressumer supported by brackets. The ranges to either side originally had T-shaped windows set in close-studded walls. These windows had ogee-moulded surrounds and a row of 13 lights above the middle rails, which combined to run across the whole of the upper walling, and five lower lights below an ogee-moulded transom at the centre. This arrangement also applied to the lateral projecting gabled bays, save that the left hand bay which is less wide has 9 lights, the central three of which continue below the middle rail. This overall arrangement has been altered by later insertions and blockings. At ground floor level to the right of the porchway the central 5 lights have been replaced by a 3-light C19 casement window and the four lights to the upper wall at either side have been blocked. To the left the central five lights have again been replaced by three C19 lights and the four upper lights at the right have been extended below the middle rail down to the level of the central window's sill. The close studding and upper windows to the left of this have been replaced by new close studding which incorporates no window mullions. To the first floor above these bays are at left a complete T-shaped window with 5 central lights and 4 upper lights to either side all intact. To the right this arrangement has been augmented by the lowering of the right hand upper lights so that they fall to the level of the central sill. The right hand projecting wing has central 5-light transomed windows to both floors but the upper 4-light windows at either side are all blocked. Each of the four lateral bays is surmounted by a gable containing mullioned windows of 2 x 2 lights. All of these have been reduced by blocking the upper 2 lights. The gables and the first floor are jettied and have moulded bressumers and brackets. Ridge chimney stacks at right of centre and to right hand gabled wing. The right hand side of the house has close studded walling with middle rail with an angle brace at the far right hand side. To the ground floor a lean-to porch has been added at left and a garage door at right. To the first floor at left of centre is a jettied gabled bay which has close-studded walling and a 3-light mullioned window to the gable with a single-light window above. To right and left of this are 5-light mullioned windows with transoms, the right hand one of which has a C20 3-light casement window inserted at centre, the left hand one now having blocked lateral lights. To left of this is a 2-light window and at right are two 3-light casement windows. The left hand side of the house has at the right a massive chimney stack with a lower body of ashlar with brick above. The rear has a projecting wing at right with timber corner posts, brick infill and 3-light C19 casement windows to the ground and first floors. To the left of this is a lean-to of 2 storeys with a 2-light window to the first floor. To the left hand side is a double gabled wing with stone plinth and moulded bressumer on moulded brackets to the jettied first floor and fragments of timber framing to the upper wall of the right hand gable. The left hand flank of this wing has close studding with middle rail, and angle braces to the upper wall at first floor level. The recessed central portion has a massive chimney stack at right with offsets of ashlar to the lower body and rendered brick above.

Interior: The entrance through-passageway has run-through panelling to either side, that at left forms the only division between this and the present sitting room and has ashlar blocks to its lower body. The sitting room has two doors of twelve panels with strap hinges, that to the panelled wall having two decoratively moulded panels above the lintel. Running around the lower body of the outer wall and the panelled wall is a low continuous bench with turned legs and a chamfered and moulded rail. Jowelled posts supporting two ovolo-moulded ceiling beams, the jowels-taking the form of moulded brackets. Small-framed walling to ground floor cross passage. Ovolo-moulded ceiling beams to two further ground floor rooms, one having jowelled wall posts and two similar wall posts set at either side of a C20 brick hearth. The parlour at front of the left hand projecting wing has an ashlar chimney piece of the type already described with a moulded wooden surround with pilasters to either side resting on plinths with moulded central panels. The fluted pilasters have cabling to their lower bodies and egg-and dart moulding to the capitals. Decorated moulded panels in line with the pilasters and between these are three round-arched panels painted with coats of arms. Moulding to the lintel above. Encased ceiling beams and panelling of possibly early C18 date which encases jowelled wall posts. Mid C18 buffet cupboard to wall opposite fire place with raised and fielded panelling to the double doors, a segemental pediment above and fitted shelves. To the first floor above is a further panelled room with similar fire-surround and painted panelling with the single rail of run-through panelling to the lower body. Cupboard to right of hearth with swans neck hinges. Moulded plaster cornice. Room across the passage from this with altered panelling. The great chamber has two panels of plaster pargetting, one of heart shape enclosing bunches of grapes, the other showing a console from which are suspended three bunches of grapes. Large ashlar fire surround of the form seen elsewhere. The through-passageway in the right hand wing at first floor level has small framing and plank doors with moulded vertical rails, one having an ovolo-moulded surround, the others having C18 surrounds. The staircase has a turned newel of early C17 date. There are six ashlar fire surrounds, one to the ground floor and five to the first floor, all having 4-centered moulded arches which die to a square base with octagonal bell stops and each having a cyma-moulded cornice above. These project into the room space to an unwonted degree in two of the rooms, indicating some possible remodelling of the house. The attics show chamfered purlins and wind bracing. The roof also appears to have beef remodelled with some principals cut through and others meeting without being jointed. The trusses also appear to have supported a wider roof at one stage. One staircase balustrade has square newel posts supporting a chamfered banister rail and faceted ball finials. One further staircase balustrade with ovolo-moulded hand rail and turned balustrade. The basement has a plank door and ovolo-moulded ceiling beams. A surprisingly complete example of a gentleman's house of the early C17.

Listing NGR: SJ6554944060

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

57029

Legacy System:

LBS

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