Wythenshawe Hall

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Wythenshawe Hall 2004

Wythenshawe Hall 2005

Wythenshawe Hall is a 16th century medieval timber-framed house and a former stately home in Wythenshawe, Manchester, England. It is located east of Altrincham and south of Stretford, five miles (8 km) south of Manchester city centre, in Wythenshawe Park.

[edit] History

The half-timbered Tudor house was the home of the Tatton family for over 400 years. It was built in about 1540 by Robert Tatton of Chester. During the English Civil War, the hall was unsuccessfully defended by Robert Tatton against Cromwell's forces. After the war, the Tatton estate expanded to about 2,500 acres (10 km²).

In 1924, Robert Henry Greville Tatton inherited the Wythenshawe estate and yielded to pressure from the then Manchester Corporation, who were in need of land for housing, and it became Manchester City Council property in 1926. What used to be farmland, grew into one of the largest housing estates in Europe. The hall has been used as a museum since 1930.^[1]

Plaque commemorating the gift to the city

However, the hall and 250 acres (1 km²) of land were bought by a benefactor and given to the City of Manchester "to be kept for ever as an open space for the people of Manchester." Unfortunately the Hall is only open for 1 day a week for three months of the year effectively defeating the purpose of it being a public space. The park now houses, amongst others, a community farm and a horticulture centre. Every June, there is a re-enactment of the siege of Wythenshawe Hall by Cromwell's troops during the winter of 1643.

30 September 2007: Archaeological exposure of parts of foundations of farm buildings which were part of Wythenshawe Hall Home Farm until 1926

Wythenshawe Hall's Home Farm was west of the hall. Some of its buildings survive as park maintenance buildings, but many were pulled down when the housing estates were built.

Wythenshawe Hall was listed as a Grade II* structure in 1952. Its former stable block, to the west of the hall, was Grade II listed in 1974. There is a statue of Oliver Cromwell, about 328 feet (100 m) east of the hall, which was Grade II listed in 1994. Wythenshawe Hall - Opens for the season. Saturday 7 June, 11am - 5pm. Free. The historic hall opens for the summer with its brand new exhibition, 'A Park for the People' telling people's memories and stories of Wythenshawe Park. Clamber down the stone steps into the deserted world of underground chambers. Become disorientated, dazed and confused as you scramble around in the dark, and become slightly queasy due to the overpowering stench of urine. See the labyrinth of tunnels, as used by Cromwell, as they lead to places such as Baguley Hall, 'The Pound Shop', places of historical importance and Boots in Civic.^[2]