Adlington Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Adlington Hall |
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Adlington Hall from the southwest
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| Location | Adlington, Cheshire, England |
| OS grid reference | SJ 905 805 |
| Area | 160 acres (65 ha) |
| Built | 1480–1505 |
| Built for | Thomas Legh |
| Rebuilt | 18th century 1928 |
| Architect | Charles Legh (?) (18th century) Hubert Worthington (1928 reconstruction) |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 25 July 1952 |
| Reference no. | 1234130 |
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Adlington Hall is a grand country house located near Adlington, Cheshire, in England. The oldest part of this amazing building, called the Great Hall, was built between 1480 and 1505. The Legh family has lived on this site for a very long time, since the early 1300s!
Over the years, Adlington Hall has seen many changes. It was even taken over by Parliamentary forces during the English Civil War. In the 1700s, Charles Legh made big changes, adding new parts like a ballroom and a grand entrance. He also helped design the beautiful gardens and parkland around the house.
Later, in 1928, the house was made a bit smaller. The gardens and parkland also needed a lot of care. Since the mid-1900s, people have worked hard to bring the gardens back to life. They have also created new formal gardens near the hall. Adlington Hall is a very important historic building, listed as Grade I. This means it's considered exceptionally important. You can visit the hall and take guided tours to explore its rich history.
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Exploring Adlington Hall's Past
The story of Adlington Hall begins a long time ago. The very first building on this spot was a Saxon hunting lodge. This was for Earl Edwin, a powerful leader. After the Normans took over England, the land was given to Hugh Lupus. It stayed with the Norman earls until 1221.
From Royal Land to Family Home
In 1221, the land became property of the King. Later, King Henry III gave the estate to Hugh de Corona. Hugh's son, Thomas, had no children. So, he gave the land to his sister Ellen. She married John de Legh in the early 1300s. This is how Adlington Hall became the home of the Legh family. It has been their ancestral home ever since.
Building the Great Hall
Originally, the hall was made of wooden-framed buildings. They were arranged around a courtyard and surrounded by a moat. The Great Hall, which is on the north side, was built between 1480 and 1505. This was for Thomas Legh I. Later, in 1581, the east wing and a porch were added for Thomas Legh III.
The Civil War and New Looks
During the English Civil War, Colonel Thomas Legh supported the King. His home was taken twice by the Parliamentary forces. This happened in 1642 and again in 1644. The hall was given back to the Legh family in 1656. The north side of the house was repaired in 1660. Between 1665 and 1670, the north wing was rebuilt. Windows were added, and the Great Hall was covered in brick.
Grand Changes in the 1700s
In 1739, Charles Legh inherited the estate. He started a huge building project. He changed the hall from a medium-sized Tudor house into a large Georgian manor. He built a new west wing with a dining room, a drawing room, a library, and a ballroom. The ballroom took up the entire first floor!
Then, he rebuilt the south wing. This connected it to the new west wing and the older Tudor east wing. It's thought that Charles Legh might have designed these changes himself. In 1928, the hall was changed again by architect Hubert Worthington. Much of the west wing was removed. A new wall was built to connect the remaining parts. During World War II, parts of the hall were even used as a hospital ward for new mothers.
The Look of Adlington Hall
Adlington Hall has a mix of old and new styles. It has four sections, or wings, that form a square around a central courtyard.
Outside the Hall
The north and east wings are made of black-and-white timber from the 1400s and 1500s. The south and west wings are made of brick from the 1700s. The north side has brick with stone corners. It has many windows and six pointed roofs called gables. On the courtyard side, there's a two-story wooden porch. It has a long message carved into it from 1581.
The east wing is also timber-framed. It has windows with mullions (vertical bars) and transoms (horizontal bars). There's also a small bay window and a two-story staircase tower. The south wing is made of brick with stone decorations. It's very balanced, with a grand entrance in the middle. This entrance has four tall columns and a triangle-shaped top. It also has the Legh family's coat of arms.
Inside the Hall
The main part of the north wing is the medieval Great Hall. It has a special hammer-beam roof with carved angels. The roof looks like it's made of wood panels, but it's actually painted plaster! At one end, there's a beautiful wooden canopy. This was like a fancy cloth hung over the main table in the Middle Ages. It has five layers of panels, each painted with the coat of arms of Cheshire families.
Under the canopy, there's a mural painting of Hector and Andromache. The side walls have murals showing the history of Troy. These paintings were hidden for a long time. They were only found in 1859 when the family accidentally damaged the plaster covering them! At the other end of the hall is a huge organ. Near the organ, there are murals of Arabella Hunt and Saint Cecilia playing a harp. The Great Hall also has a fireplace decorated with the head of Apollo.
In the west wing, you can find the dining room and the drawing room. These rooms are decorated in a Classical style. They have beautiful wooden panels and fancy fireplaces. The drawing room has giant Corinthian columns. Above its doors are wood carvings of heads like Bacchus and Neptune. The south wing has family sitting rooms with fancy ceilings and interesting designs.
The Historic Organ
The organ in the Great Hall was put in during the late 1600s. It's thought to have been built around 1670. This organ is very special because it has three rare 17th-century reed stops. It was repaired and rebuilt several times over the centuries. In 1958–59, it was restored after being unused for over a hundred years.
The organ has a beautiful Renaissance-style case. It has two levels with pipes and keyboards. The top part has gilded statues of little angels playing trumpets. It also has a coat of arms celebrating a Legh family marriage in 1693. Many people believe it is "England's most important surviving instrument from the late 17th century."
The famous composer George Frideric Handel was a friend of the Legh family. He played this organ in 1741 or 1742. He even wrote music for a hunting song that Charles Legh had written the words for. There's a story that Handel composed his famous piece The Harmonious Blacksmith at the hall, but we can't be sure.
Exploring the Grounds
The hall is surrounded by a large park and woodland, covering about 160 acres. Charles Legh helped design the gardens in the 1700s. Over time, some parts became overgrown. Since the 1950s, work has been done to improve the grounds. New gardens have also been created. North of the house, there's a rose garden and a yew maze.
Gardens and Statues
To the southeast of the hall is the stable block. It has a grand front with large columns. A formal garden has been built between the east wing and the stable block. In this garden, there's a lead statue of a reclining man. It's said to be Father Tiber, a river god. On the wall behind the statue are two carved unicorn heads. These are the symbol of the Legh family.
South of the formal garden is a stone statue of Napoleon from 1837. West of the hall is a ha-ha, a hidden ditch that acts as a fence. It separates the garden from the old deer park. Right next to the hall, there's a round lawn with a sundial in the middle. This sundial is from about 1825. It has Roman numerals and the initials "TL" carved on it.
Walks and Hidden Gems
Leading south from the lawn is a path called the Lime Avenue. It starts with beautiful wrought iron gates from 1688. This path leads to the Shell House. It's called that because its inside is decorated with shells and colored mirrors! In front of the Shell House, there's another sundial. This one might have been built in the early 1700s. It's thought that the pillar it stands on was once part of a Saxon cross.
South and west of the Shell House is a wooded area called the Wilderness. The River Dean flows through it. Many of the paths Charles Legh created here are now overgrown. Some buildings are also in poor condition. One building that's still good is the Tig House. It's a small square building overlooking the river. It's an early example of Chinoiserie style, which is a European style inspired by Chinese art.
Near the Tig House is the Chinese Bridge, which crosses the river. A summerhouse used to stand on this bridge, but it's gone now. Another building in the Wilderness is the Temple of Diana. This is a round temple with a dome. It has six columns. Other buildings, like the Rathouse and the Hermitage, have been damaged by falling trees.
Adlington Hall Today
Adlington Hall is located in the countryside west of Adlington, Cheshire. It was officially listed as a Grade I building on July 25, 1952. This means it's considered "of exceptional interest." The hall was privately owned by the Legh family for centuries. In 2023, it was sold.
Today, Adlington Hall is open to the public for visits and guided tours. The Great Hall and the Hunting Lodge can be rented for weddings and other events. The stable block has been turned into eight apartments. The east wing has also been converted into two apartments and tea rooms. The beautiful parkland around the hall is also very important. It is listed as Grade II* on the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. This means it's "particularly important."
Adlington Hall has also been used as a filming location! It appeared in the TV series Sherlock Holmes for the episodes "The Speckled Band" (1984) and "The Abbey Grange" (1986).
See Also
- Grade I listed buildings in Cheshire
- Listed buildings in Adlington, Cheshire
Images for kids
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Adlington Hall from the southwest
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Northeast corner of the courtyard
