Wardley Hall

Located in Lancashire : near Manchester
Private Residence
Performance Space: Hall
Width: 21' Length: 40'
Built: 1547--53

The hall occupied the entire S wing of the building. The VCH Lanc 4.387 claims that its original measurements were 40' (including the screen) x 21'. Without the screen the length was 34'. Baines, County Palatine Lanc 3.145, reported ornamented wainscotting.

Retiring chamber was likely located off the high end.

Renovations

ca. 1630 Enclosed staircase added at the N bay of the hall.

19th c. The upper part of the hall was converted for bedroom use by the late 19th c. and a modern ceiling added at the lower level. The buttery had been converted to a library. The lower end was divided by a modern wall in the 19th c. but the minstrels' gallery remained intact at that time (Taylor, Old Halls 66--7).

The hall was broken up into smaller rooms by the early 20th c.

Current Status

There are several rooms in the space originally taken by the great hall. The best sense of the original size of the great hall is obtained from the long room on the floor above (no longer used for bedrooms).