Gawsworth Old Hall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gawsworth Old Hall
Gawsworth Old Hall
Location	Gawsworth, Cheshire, England
OS grid reference	SJ 891 696
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated	25 July 1952
Reference no.	1139500
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Gawsworth Old Hall is a really old and special country house in Gawsworth, Cheshire, England. It's famous for its "black-and-white" look, made from wood frames. The house you see today was built between 1480 and 1600. It replaced an even older house from Norman times.

The hall was probably built around a central courtyard. But over time, parts of it were taken down. Now, it looks like a big "U" shape.

Many interesting people have lived here. One was Mary Fitton, who some think might be the "Dark Lady" in Shakespeare's sonnets. Another was Samuel "Maggoty" Johnson, who was known as England's last professional jester. His grave is in a nearby wood.

In 1712, a big fight over who owned Gawsworth led to a famous duel. Both people fighting were killed!

Today, the hall has beautiful gardens and parkland. Long ago, it might have had a special garden for fun and even a place for jousting tournaments. You can visit the hall and its grounds at certain times. They also hold concerts and other fun events in an outdoor theatre there.

History of Gawsworth Old Hall

The very first house on this spot was from the Norman era. We know about a chapel inside the house from 1365. The Fitton family owned the house from 1316 until 1611.

The current house was built in stages from 1480 to about 1600. Over the years, some parts were taken down or changed. Experts believe the house was once surrounded by a moat and had a square shape with a courtyard in the middle.

Famous Residents and a Deadly Duel

In 1579, Sir Edward Fitton III inherited the house. His daughter, Mary Fitton, was a maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth I. Some people think she was the "Dark Lady" in Shakespeare's poems.

After Sir Edward Fitton, 2nd Baronet, died in 1643, the estate went to Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield. But there was a big argument about who truly owned it. This fight was between Sir Charles and his cousin, Alexander Fitton. Sir Charles won in 1663.

Around 1700, parts of the house were taken down. The fight over ownership started again in the early 1700s. It ended with a deadly duel in Hyde Park, London, in 1712. Both fighters, Lord Mohun and the 4th Duke of Hamilton, were killed.

The estate stayed with the Gerard family until 1935. Then, a man named Raymond Richards bought it. He loved old buildings and collected items from historic places that were being torn down. He added these pieces to Gawsworth Old Hall or displayed them in the gardens. The Richards family still owns and runs the house today.

Architecture and Design

Gawsworth Old Hall is a classic "black-and-white" timber-framed house. Its roof is made of heavy Kerridge sandstone. The roof alone might weigh more than 300 tonnes! Most of the house has two floors.

Exterior and Layout

The house has a U-shape, with the open side facing west. This was once the courtyard. The main entrance is on the north side. Inside, you'll find rooms like the Library and Morning Room.

The longest part of the house is the eastern side. It has the Long Hall and the Dining Room. The Long Hall was once a very tall room, open all the way to the roof. Now, it has two floors. The kitchen and chapel are also on this side.

A special feature is the Fitton coat of arms on the north side. It was carved in 1570.

Inside the Hall

Many original features have changed over hundreds of years. But new interesting items have been added by Raymond Richards. For example, the Entrance Hall still has its medieval shape. It displays the Richards family coat of arms and old weapons, like a suit of armor.

The Library is a large room with a beautiful carved Tudor fireplace. The bookcases were designed by a famous architect, A. W. N. Pugin. These items were brought here by Raymond Richards. The Library also has a very old flint axe head, found nearby in 1912.

The Long Hall has its original Tudor fireplace and ceiling. It holds antique furniture and paintings by famous artists like J. M. W. Turner. The chapel is the third or fourth one in the house. It has woodwork from 1803 and many decorations brought from other old churches.

The Dining Room looks much like it did in the Tudor era. It has a 16th-century table and other old furniture. The Drawing Room is the main living room and has changed little since the 1500s. The Gold Room has a beautiful carved border from the early 1500s, showing Tudor roses, flowers, and birds.

Upstairs, the Gallery leads to the Solar, which has a 16th-century four-poster bed. The main bedroom, the Hall Room, also has a four-poster bed and a portrait of the Fitton family. Mary Fitton's Bedroom has an old plaster border. Other rooms include the French Room and the Griffin Room. The Billiard Room has exposed roof timbers and sculptures.

Gardens and Grounds

The hall is surrounded by a large inner garden (about 30 acres) and even bigger parkland (about 600 acres). Both are enclosed by walls.

Historic Gardens and Features

To the south of the hall, there's a modern formal garden. It sits where a 16th-century garden used to be. Beyond this, in the parkland, you can see signs of an even older garden in the ground.

Historians think this area might have been a tilting ground for jousting tournaments. It's said that Queen Elizabeth I was hoped to visit, but she never did. There's a raised earth mound in the garden. It was used to get a good view of the garden from above.

A wooded area called the Rookery has old lime trees. Digging work in 1989-90 found a filled-in canal running through the garden. To the north of the hall, there are four fish ponds.

Special Structures in the Grounds

There are four other important buildings in the grounds. They are listed as Grade II buildings, meaning they are "of special interest."

• The 17th-century gatehouse is made of brick and stone.
• The gate piers (tall posts) are from the late 1600s or early 1700s.
• The garden walls were built in the 1500s.

In a nearby woodland, you'll find the grave of Samuel "Maggoty" Johnson. He was a playwright and is thought to be England's last professional jester. He lived at the hall and died in 1773. His grave has an inscribed stone slab.

Visiting Gawsworth Old Hall Today

Gawsworth Old Hall is just south of Gawsworth village, about 3 kilometers southeast of Macclesfield. Close by are other historic buildings, like the Church of St James and Gawsworth Old Rectory.

Gawsworth Old Hall is a "Grade I listed building." This means it's considered "exceptionally important." Only about 2.5% of all listed buildings in England have this special status. The grounds are also very important, listed as "Grade II*."

The hall is open to the public at certain times. They hold many events throughout the year, both inside the hall and in the grounds. There's a tea room where you can get drinks and snacks. You can even have civil weddings there! During the summer, plays, concerts, and other fun shows take place in the open-air theatre near the hall.

See also

• Grade I listed buildings in Cheshire East
• Listed buildings in Gawsworth

Images for kids

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  Gawsworth Old Hall from the north