Cannon Hall

Description

The Barnsley MD publication 'A Country House Museum' suggests that in the 14C this was, probably, a small fortified manor house, perhaps protected by a moat. (Sneyd 1995)

The Cannon Hall estate was owned in the C13 by the Canum family and was sold in the late C14 to the Bosvilles of Ardsley. In the C17 the estate was acquired by the Spencer family of Cawthorne. John Spencer was responsible for extensive works on the house and grounds in the 1760s, which were executed to designs by Richard Woods (1716-93) who produced a map showing his proposals in 1760. Additions to the park of the late C18 or early C19 were carried out for Walter Spencer Stanhope, John Spencer's nephew and heir.
Cannon Hall is probably of late C17 origin and built on or near the site of a dwelling recorded on the site in the C14. (Register of Historic Parks and Gardens 1001159

Archway and window fragments. C15 or C16 in origin and set in the gardens in the late Cl9. Part of a Perpendicular window of 3-lights, a small arched window and an arched doorway with moulded surround. The fragments are said to come from Silkstone or Cawthorne churches after their restoration in the C19. (Listed Building Report 1151809)

Comments

Cannon Hall is a fine and large originally late C17 country House in a park. This was the site of a medieval manor house, although the park is post-medieval (However Thomas de Bosvile was granted free warren in 1381 so the park may have had some medieval precursor). There doesn't appear to be an actual record or evidence of the form of the medieval manor house and the speculation it was 'fortified' may be an argument from analogue alone. There is no evidence for a moat, although this is not impossible.
Some medieval stone fragments has been reconstructed as a, now listed, garden archway located at at SE27460834 although this is said to been from stone from churches brought in in the C19.