User:Mathop/Baguley Hall

Baguley Hall - A Viking Great House in The City of Manchester

Baguley Hall is a timber framed great house of 14th century date with later additions constructed on the site of earlier, archeologically proved wooden structures of the late Anglo Saxon period and a previous stone aisled hall of the 10th or 11th century.

It is situated in the Ward of Baguley, within the much larger Garden Suburb of Wythenshawe which itself covers the southern third of The City of Manchester. Baguley is an ancient township which is mentioned, as "Baggelei" in The Domesday Book. The Hall is now completely surrounded by late 50s council maisonettes, A shopping precinct, a day centre and an estate of new houses.

The standing remains comprise a black and white, timber framed open hall of the mid 14th century built on a stone base and with a slate roof. The north wing is a brick refacing of a later medieval timber wing. The south wing is a late 17th century brick addition which was replaced during the 18th century. The hall has a cross passage at the north end, the north wing has 2 rooms separated by a passageway with access to the upper floor by a stairway in a later brick-built addition on the north side and the south wing has 2 rooms separated by 2 staircases giving access to the upper floor, one of the bedrooms has particulary fine oak panelling.

Excavation of the hall during the 1980s found evidence of the aisled timber hall beneath the present structure. Excavation beneath the south wing found evidence for a chamber block which was added to the aisled hall prior to the early 14th century.

The present hall was built by Sir William de Baguley or one of his two sons, John and William. Baguley Hall remained in use as a farm until the middle of the 20th century after which it was abandoned. Ongoing maintenance began in the 1970s. Currently in the care of English Heritage.

It is considered, perhaps, the best early-medieval secular building in north west England and is of considerable international interest.

Baguley Hall near Manchester has long been recognized as one of the finest surviving medieval halls in the northwest of England. The opportunity has been taken to make a more detailed study of its timber framing, which is a relic of a local style common to the Dee estuary area. Excavations within and immediately outside the building have also been undertaken, and seven broad structural phases are outlined from the first aisled hall through 14th century additions to Victorian repair work.

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