Hankelow Hall, Cheshire, England

The present house dates from the early 18th century, and was remodelled by William Baker in about 1755. It was built for Gabriel Wettenhall, and altered for his son, Nathaniel. During the 20th century the house was uninhabited and it became neglected. In 1989 it was bought by a property developer who has been restoring it. In this process, evidence was found of an earlier house, including wattle and daub, remains of a timber framing building, and window frames that have been dated to the 17th century.

Architecture

The house is constructed in red brick with ashlar dressings. The architectural style is Early Georgian. It is in three storeys, and its symmetrical entrance front has ten bays. Along the top of the front is a parapet that is "strikingly high". The central two bays are flanked by pilasters that rise to a blank arch even higher than the parapet. At the tops of the pilasters, and at the corners of the house, are ball finials. All the windows on the entrance front are sash windows. Between the bottom and middle storey is a stone band. Between the middle and top storey, and between the top storey and parapet, are string courses. At the corners of the building are ashlar quoins. The porch is supported by four unfluted Ionic columns. On the left side of the house is a canted bay window incorporating French windows that are approached by steps. The house is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

• 15th century The first recorded holders were the de Hunkylow's who married into the Wettenhalls who took up residence at Hankelow and remained up until the late 18th century.
• 18th century Edward Wettenhall sold the Hall to one Richardson whose son resold it in 1817
• 1817 The Hall was bought by Thomas Cooper Esq. The Cooper occupation was dogged with tragedy.
• 1873 Thomas Cooper's son (George) and daughter-in-law (Louisa) were drowned at Lake Windermere on 16th August, aged 27 and 29, leaving a young son (George Thomas Bellyse Cooper).
• 1893 Many years later George Thomas Bellyse Cooper accidentally shot himself shortly before he was to be married in December. The hall then passed through various hands including a wine and spirit merchant and cotton manufacturer.
• 1929 The Hall was bought by Commander Claude Alexander Codrington, whose family remained for twenty five years until 1954. A naval officer born in 1877, Commander Codrington served on the Flagship H.M.S Royal Arthur in 1901.
• 1954 The Hall was bought by Peter Glover Nicholas of Fields farm near Nantwich. During whose time the engine room (used to generate electricity), the stables and adjacent buildings were destroyed by fire.
• 1959 The Hall was bought by John Henry Vernon of Moss Hall, Audlem.
• 1961 The hall was converted in to flats and remained so until the late 1970's. By this time the building must have fallen into a state of considerable danger.
• 1978 The Hall was condemned by the local authority. Reports suggest that the intention was to demolish the top two floors and use the ground floor as a cow shed. However an enforcement order by the local authority arrested the action at the last minute. Over the years a variety of trees have been sawn down it has however only compounded the overall damage to the estate.
• 1989 The estate changed hands when Mr Victor Vernon sold it to the present owner Mr Kirk Shenton Homes Ltd. who is rebuilding the hall to its former glory and has re-doug the lake and planted many trees and of course some redwoods.