Clifton Hall

Venue Type & Location

Private Residence

Site Name: Clifton Hall
Location: Clifton Hall
County: Cheshire
Location Type: Countryside - at determined location

Overview

A magnificent Tudor residence named Rocksavage on a quadrangular plan replaced the medieval Clifton Hall on the site near the main route N through Lancashire. The successive homes of the Savage family were situated on top of a hill with a commanding view over the estuary of the Mersey and Weaver Rivers and the Welsh hills beyond.

The entrance gateway was flanked by 2 octagonal towers. Only the ruins of the surrounding sandstone wall remain, incorporated in a grange farm estate.

Performance History

Probable performance venue. There are no relevant Savage family accounts surviving but 15th c. payments elsewhere indicate patronage of entertainers who may have performed at Clifton as well.

Current Status

Private property with a few fragmentary ruins.

History of the Venue

15th c. The medieval residence, Clifton Hall, was the home of the Savage family.

1565 Sir John Savage built a new residence on the site.

1617 James I stayed at Rocksavage.

18th c. Barrymore family acquired the estate briefly. Tudor residence replaced and deserted.

later 18th--20th c. Estate owned by the Cholmondeley family. Rocksavage became ruinous. Gatehouse and sections of the buttressed walls survived.

ca. 1970 Parts of the Cholmondeley estates sold, including
Rocksavage site.

Record Source

REED York 1.66, 72, 75

Patrons who owned this venue

Name Dates Titles
Savage, John 1370-1450 Knight

Bibliographic Sources

  • Figueiredo, Peter de, and Julian Treuherz. Cheshire Country Houses. Chichester: Phillimore, 1988.
  • King, Daniel. The Vale-Royal of England or the County Palatine of Chester Illustrated. London: John Streater, 1656.
  • Pevsner, Nikolaus, and Edward Hubbard. Cheshire. The Buildings of England. Harmondsworth, Midd: Penguin Books, 1971.