Hall Green Farmhouse and Attached Front Garden Wall, Acton Bridge, Cheshire West and Chester

Description

In the entry for:
ACTON BRIDGE CLIFF ROAD
SJ 57 NE (east side)

1650-0/1/4 Hall Green Farmhouse
and attached front
garden wall
16.9.85

GV II*

The description shall be amended to read:

Farmhouse. Late C16/early C17 body with a facade of c1800 and C19
extensions to rear. Timber-framed on tall sandstone plinth to the
rear and inside; Flemish bond orange brick skin. Welsh slate
roof, 1 ridge stack and 2 end stacks. Plan of hall and 2
crosswings. 2 storeys and attic, symmetrical 5-bay front. End
bays are gables which project forward and have 3-light
horizontally sliding sashes with flat wedged stone heads and
raised keyblocks. Similar 2-light windows in the gables. Central
portion has three 3-light windows around a central doorway behind
a flimsy porch. This has an eared wooden architrave with
phlvinated frieze and triangular pediment, panelled soffits and
a 6-panelled door. There are a number of piecemeal extensions to
the rear and one gable shows the original timber framing.
Attached to the front is a stone garden wall of 2 heights.
Interior: basic plan survives downstairs but the entrance has
moved. Timber frame visible in the rear wall (within C19
outshut), it consists of 2 phases: firstly square panels with
wattle and daub infill, an original 2-light mullioned window and
braces to a wall plate; above this are later square panels with
brick infill and a square-faced mullioned window with leaded
glass. Framing may survive in brick skin elsewhere. Entrance hall
has restored inglenook fireplace with original ashlar reredos
having 2 triangular-headed niches; exposed framing in rear wall
incorporates a 2-light mullioned window. Beams mostly boxed in,
those to ground-floor left with plaster cornices around them.
Staircase inserted early C19 - of some date a round arch near
foot of stair and various 6-panel doors. Principal-rafter roof
trusses over centre; truss against right crosswing has doorway
with C17 ledged and boarded oak door on strap hinges. Of enormous
interest is a series of 5 naive mural paintings in the front 1st
floor room of left crosswing. 2 panels are complete, 2 are
damaged whilst only 1/3 survives of the fifth. One complete panel
(195cm x 109cm) shows Marbury Hall (now demolished) in its
gardens and grounds beneath clouded sky with rainbow. A strong
narrative element is made up of scenes showing a carriage
procession, hare coursing, boating on a lake, a dovecote and
agricultural activities in the background. Other complete panel
depicts a winter scene with skaters on Frodsham Marsh at the foot
of Helsby Rocks; in the foreground are woodcutters and a
farmstead outside which a man is shooting at roosting birds. A
damaged panel shows 2 tower mills on cliffs above a shoreline
with inn - the scene may depict Nelson (Wirral). Another panel
shows Beeston Castle with a large house and agricultural scene
in the right foreground. The final panel 1/3 complete) is
dominated by a tall tree-set before a castle or church beyond
which is a large river with buildings on its far bank; a country
house in the distance with mountains beyond (Conway or Chester?).
Each panel is set in a trompe l'oeil, bolection-moulded frame
complete with gilt slip and ear plates hung on stout nails. A
trompe I'oeil dado of fielded panels completes the scheme. The
paintings must date from c1740. No other mural scheme of this
kind is known to survive in England, though single overmantels
do exist. Extensions to the rear include former cheeserooms and
a barrel-vaulted half cellar.

------------------------------------

ACTON BRIDGE C.P. CLIFF ROAD
SJ 57 NE (East Side)

1/4 Hall Green Farmhouse and
attached front garden
16.9.85 wall
-
GV II*

Farmhouse: lath C16/early C17 body with a facade of c.1840 and C19
extensions to the rear. Timber framed on tall sandstone plinth to the
rear and inside, Flemish bond orange brick skin. Welsh slate roof, 1
ridge and 2 gable brick chimneys. Plan of hall and 2 crosswings.
2-storey and attic, symmetrical 5-bay front. End bays are gables
which project forward and have 3-light horizontal sliding sashes with
flat wedged stone heads and raised keyblocks. Similar 2-light windows
in the gables. Central portion has 3 3-light windows around a central
doorway behind a flimsy porch. This has an eared wooden architrave
with a triangular pediment, panelled soffits and a 6-panelled door.
There are a number of piecemeal extensions to the rear and one gable
shows the original timber framing. Attached to the front is a stone
garden wall of 2 heights.
Interior: the basic plan survives downstairs but the entrance has
moved. The timber frame is visible on the rear wall and survives in
the brick skin elsewhere. The beams are boxed in and the staircase is
inserted in C19. A semi-circular headed archway and the 6-fielded
panelled doors are of this date.
Of enormous interest are 2 surviving panels of a naive mural in the
room to the left upstairs. One panel (195 cm by 109 cm) is complete
and shows Marbury Hall (now demolished) in its gardens and grounds. A
strong narrative element is made up of scenes showing a carriage
procession, hare coursing, boating on a lake, a dovecote and
agricultural activities in the background. Of the other panel about
half survives and it shows two windmills and a lighthouse on a line of
hills. The mural is thought to have extended around the room. More
of the mural is known to be under the existing wallpaper. It is
unsigned and must date from early-mid C18. No other mural of this
type survives in England, though single overmantels are known.
Extensions to the rear include former cheeserooms and a barrel-vaulted
half cellar.

Listing NGR: SJ5964775398

External Links

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