Winstanley Hall
{{Short description|Listed building in Greater Manchester, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Winstanley Hall
| image = Winstanley Hall 2006.jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Winstanley Hall in 2006
| coordinates = {{coord|53.522389|-2.687351|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| architectural_style = Tudor
| address = Winstanley, Greater Manchester, England
| years_built = {{circa}} 1573
| renovation_date = 1811–19, 1843
| floor_count = 2 / 3
| designations = {{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Grade II* Listed Building
| designation1_offname = Winstanley Hall
| designation1_date = 23 August 1966
| designation1_number = {{NHLE|num=1287365|short=y|postscript=none}}
}}
}}
Winstanley Hall is a late 16th-century house in Winstanley, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.{{cite web |title=Winstanley Hall |url=http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=42086 |publisher=Pastscape.org.uk |access-date=7 January 2008}} It is listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a grade II* listed building.{{cite web|title=Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Wigan |url=http://www.wigan.gov.uk/Services/Environment/BuiltEnvironment/HeritageSites.htm |publisher=Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council |access-date=30 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070306185347/http://www.wigan.gov.uk/Services/Environment/BuiltEnvironment/HeritageSites.htm |archive-date=6 March 2007}}{{NHLE |desc=Winstanley Hall |num=1287365 |access-date=18 June 2008}} Originally built for the Winstanley family, the building is one of only three Tudor buildings in the Borough.{{cite web |title=Winstanley Hall |url=http://www.wiganarchsoc.co.uk/content/Q%20and%20A/Winstanley%20Hall.htm |publisher=Wigan Archaeological Society |access-date=18 June 2008}}
History
The hall was built {{circa}} 1573 for the Winstanley family of Winstanley, who were lords of the manor since at least 1252 and may have been responsible for building the moat on the site. The Winstanleys owned the hall until 1596, when the estate was sold to James Bankes, a London goldsmith and banker.{{cite web |title=Newsletter #52 |url=http://www.wiganarchsoc.co.uk/content/News_Letters/news052.htm |publisher=Wigan Archaeological Society |date=April 2002 |access-date=19 June 2008}} Winstanley Hall has three storeys and has a date stone with a date of 1584, but this is not in situ so may not provide an accurate date for the construction of the house. Extra blocks were added in the 17th and 18th centuries. Further and extensive alterations were made in 1811–19 by Lewis Wyatt in a Jacobean style. He moved the entrance to the left flank of the hall and replaced the original entrance with a window. The final additions to the hall were made in 1843 when a two-storey extra wing was added. To the south, on lands belonging to the hall, is a small stone building which was used to house bears that provided entertainment for the hall's guests.{{cite web |title=Newsletter #53 |url=http://www.wiganarchsoc.co.uk/content/News_Letters/news053.htm |publisher=Wigan Archaeological Society |date=May 2002 |access-date=18 June 2008}} The Winstanley family also owned the Braunstone Hall estate in Leicestershire.
The Bankes family retained ownership of the hall until the 21st century when it was sold for private development. The hall had been kept in good condition until the 1960s when the family moved out; it was last occupied in the 1980s. As the building decayed and the cost of maintaining the hall was too much for the family, it was sold on in 2000 with {{convert|10|acres}} of land.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wigantoday.net/news/fears-grow-over-plan-for-wigan-landmark-1-9570363|title=Fears grow over plan for Wigan landmark|first=Rachel|last=Howarth|date=1 February 2019|access-date=10 February 2019|newspaper=Wigan Today}} It had been reported in 2019 that the new owner intended to develop the hall into private flats, and that refurbishment was held up due to problems with planning permission, although it had also been reported that no application for planning permission had been submitted. As of January 2022, the building is in poor condition and in danger of collapsing, with a leaking roof, collapsed floors, and widespread dry rot.{{cite news |last=Clarke |first=Gaynor |title=Calls made to protect vacant historic building in Wigan from collapse |work=Wigan Today |date=27 January 2022 |url=https://www.wigantoday.net/news/people/calls-made-to-protect-vacant-historic-building-in-wigan-from-collapse-3543987 |access-date=11 February 2023}}
In May 2025, it was announced that the current owner, Kingswood Homes, intends to restore the hall and convert it into homes. A planning application has not yet been submitted to Wigan Council.{{cite news |last=Spina-Matthews |first=Sarah |date=9 May 2025 |title=Plans to restore and convert 16th-century manor |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg4j028l7po |work=BBC News |access-date=9 May 2025}}
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{Commons category|Winstanley Hall}}
- [http://www.wiganworld.co.uk/newgallery/gallery3.php?opt=g22 Winstanley Hall photos on Wigan World] and [http://www.wiganworld.co.uk/oldgallery/soldphoto.php?pic=wins3b.jpg&w=542&h=298&opt=g11 single photo] and [http://www.wiganworld.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2627&sid=abb04f23d7cfb81289590853f6316472 more photos and discussion]
- {{EHbarName|Winstanley+Hall}}
Category:Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester
Category:Country houses in Greater Manchester
Category:Buildings and structures in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan
Category:Tourist attractions in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan