Hollingworth Hall

Description

Site of a C17 building which incorporated parts of an earlier, possibly fortified, house. The later house comprised a stone-built central block with a porch and three storey cross wings. The porch was rebuilt circa 1835 and a coat of arms added, possibly taken from the demolished gatehouse. (PastScape)

Hollingworth Hall, which is now demolished, was the seat of the Hollyngeworthes. They were said to be one of the few Saxon families who held the seat of their ancestors up until the middle of the 19th century. The family is certainly known here from the time of King John.
Originally the building was of a quadrangular plan, consisting of a great hall, chapel and gatetower. It is thought to date from the early 15th century, retaining the site of an even earlier building. However, in the 17th century the Hall was considerably reconstructed. Further rebuilding also occurred, so that by the end of the 19th century the Hall displayed features of several different periods. It had the basic characteristics of a 17th century building, but parts of the interior revealed the original structure.
At some time in the Hall's history, a gatehouse existed opposite to the drawing room. By the late 19th century, all that remained of this was the archway, which was characteristic of Tudor work. It is probable that the gate-tower of the original structure was reduced in height and made into a gatehouse or porter's lodge. In the late 19th century, Mr. Taylor, the owner at the time, completely demolished this porter's lodge. In its place he erected a porch which re-used some of the original stone, and incorporated the archway and Hollyngworthe coat of arms, consisting of three holly leaves in a diagonal band, from the former gatehouse. (Walker and Tyndall)

Comments

The gatehouse was demolished in the C19 and the rest of the house was destroyed by Manchester waterworks in 1944 without any analysis of it's structure.