Saighton Grange

Last updated

Saighton Grange Gateway
Saighton Grange.jpg
Saighton Grange in 1817 before the medieval flanking buildings were demolished
Location Saighton, Cheshire, England
Coordinates 53°09′01″N2°50′03″W / 53.1503°N 2.8342°W / 53.1503; -2.8342
Built1490
Built forSimon Ripley, Abbot of St Werburgh's
Architectural style(s) English Gothic
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated1 June 1967
Reference no.1138394
Cheshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in Cheshire
Saighton Grange
Abbey Gate College.jpg
Built1861, 1870–72, 1894–96
Built for 2nd Marquess of Westminster, 1st Duke of Westminster
ArchitectEdward Hodkinson,
John Douglas
Architectural style(s) Tudor
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated2 November 1983
Reference no.1136660
Saighton Grange Chapel
Abbey Gate College Chapel.jpg
Builtc. 1870
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated2 November 1983
Reference no.1130671
Wall, Abbey Gate College
Wall, Abbey Gate College.jpg
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated1 June 1967
Reference no.1330250

Saighton Grange originated as a monastic grange. It was later converted into a country house and, as of 2013, the building is used as a school (Abbey Gate College). It is located in Saighton, Cheshire, England. The only surviving part of the monastic grange is the gatehouse, which is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, and is one of only two surviving monastic manorial buildings in Cheshire, the other being Ince Manor. [1] The rest of the building is listed at Grade II, [2] as is its chapel. [3]

Contents

History

The manor of Saighton was held by the secular canons of St Werburgh in Chester before the Norman Conquest. [4] In the Domesday Book of 1086 it is listed as Saltone. [5] In 1093 it was granted to the Benedictine monks of St Werburgh's Abbey by Hugh Lupus. [4] The site was given a licence to crenellate in 1399, and this was confirmed in 1410, [6] but the privilege was apparently not acted upon: "Saighton was primarily an agricultural centre until it was converted to residential use in the fifteenth century". [7] The manor house was built about 1489 for Simon Ripley, Abbot of St Werburgh's. Following the dissolution of the monasteries the manor passed through several hands and in time the house was separated from the manor. In the 1840s the house was bought by the 2nd Marquess of Westminster. [4]

The monastic buildings, other than the gatehouse, were demolished in 1861 [6] and were replaced by a house designed by Edward Hodkinson for the 2nd Marquess of Westminster. [8] Alterations were made to the house in about 1870–72 and again in 1894–96 by the Chester architect John Douglas for the 1st Duke of Westminster. [9] In the 1880s the building was occupied by Earl Grosvenor. [4] The garden were redesigned in 1901–02 by Harry Inigo Triggs. [10] The buildings were converted into a school in 1977 [6] and it now forms Abbey Gate College, which is a private coeducational school for pupils aged 4–18. [11]

Architecture

Gatehouse

This dates from 1490, [1] and was built in front of an earlier wide-arched vehicular entry. [7] It is constructed in red sandstone and has three storeys, with string courses between the storeys. It is surmounted by a crenellated parapet. The lower 1½ storeys of the front aspect are occupied by a pointed arch, above which are three narrow windows. In the upper storey are two four-light mullioned windows. On the left side is a three-light oriel window with a four-light mullioned window above, and in the merlon above this is a niche containing a statue. On the right side is a blocked arch in the ground floor, a single-light window above it and a four-light mullioned window in the top storey. In the angle between the gateway and the newer building, on the left, is a square turret that is taller than the rest of the gatehouse. [1]

House

The rest of the house is also built in red sandstone and it has a tiled roof. The main wing has two storeys and flanks the gatehouse, with two bays to its left and three bays to the right. It is in Tudor style with battlements and stepped gables. The right wing also has two storeys with a three-storey cross wing. [2]

Chapel

The chapel was built in about 1870 in red sandstone with a tiled roof. It is a rectangular building with gables. On one of the gables is an open bellcote with one bell under a square spire. There are four windows containing stained glass; three of these date from the late 19th century, the other from the late 20th century. [3]

Grounds

In the grounds are part of the medieval boundary wall which is built of sandstone rubble. This stands on bedrock on the edge of a rock cutting and is thought to have been a form of light fortification. The walls are listed Grade II. [6] [12] The grounds consist of formal gardens, surrounded by informal parkland. The gardens are open occasionally under the National Garden Scheme. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Combermere Abbey</span> Abbey in Cheshire, England

Combermere Abbey is a former monastery, later a country house, near Burleydam, between Nantwich, Cheshire and Whitchurch in Shropshire, England, located within Cheshire and near the border with Shropshire. Initially Savigniac and later Cistercian, the abbey was founded in the 1130s by Hugh Malbank, Baron of Nantwich, and was also associated with Ranulf de Gernons, Earl of Chester. The abbey initially flourished, but by 1275 was sufficiently deeply in debt to be removed from the abbot's management. From that date until its dissolution in 1538, it was frequently in royal custody, and acquired a reputation for poor discipline and violent disputes with both lay people and other abbeys. It was the third largest monastic establishment in Cheshire, based on net income in 1535.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Laurence's Church, Frodsham</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Laurence's Church is in Church Road, Frodsham, Cheshire, England. The church stands, not in the centre of the town, but in the elevated area of Overton overlooking the town. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Frodsham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Bruera</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Mary's Church is in the small settlement of Bruera, which lies between the villages of Saighton and Aldford, in Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. The church contains Norman elements, but it has been subjected to alterations and modifications, particularly in 1896. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Malpas. Its benefice is combined with those of St Peter, Waverton, and St John the Baptist, Aldford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abbey Gateway, Chester</span> Historic site in Cheshire, England

The Abbey Gateway is in Chester, Cheshire, England and leads from Northgate Street into Abbey Square. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ince Manor</span> Historic site in Cheshire, England

Ince Manor or Ince Grange is a former monastic grange in the village of Ince in Cheshire, England. The remains of the manor house, consisting of the old hall and the monastery cottages, are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, and a scheduled monument It is one of only two surviving monastic manorial buildings in Cheshire, the other being Saighton Grange Gatehouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chorley Old Hall</span> Historic site

Chorley Old Hall is a moated manor house on the B5359 road to the southwest of Alderley Edge, Cheshire, England. The house is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, and the moated site is a scheduled monument. It is the oldest inhabited country house in Cheshire and consists of two ranges, one medieval and the other Elizabethan.

The Grade I listed buildings in Cheshire, excluding those in the city of Chester, total around 80. Almost half of these are churches that are contained in a separate list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2–18 St Werburgh Street, Chester</span> Historic site in Cheshire, England

2–18 St Werburgh Street is a terrace consisting of a bank, shops and offices on the east side of St Werburgh Street and the north side of Eastgate Street, Chester, Cheshire, England. The terrace is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bear's Paw Hotel, Frodsham</span> Grade II listed hotel in Main Street, Frodsham, Cheshire, England

The Bear's Paw Hotel is in Main Street, Frodsham, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building, and is now a public house.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Oswald's Chambers, Chester</span> Historic site in Cheshire, England

St Oswald's Chambers consists of a commercial property at 20–22 St Werburgh Street, Chester, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Werburgh's Mount, Chester</span> Historic site in Cheshire, England

St Werburgh's Mount consists of a range of shops at 15 to 27 St Werburgh Street, Chester, Cheshire, England, on the south side of the street facing Chester Cathedral. The range is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as two designated Grade II listed buildings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saighton Lane Farm</span> Farm in Cheshire, England

Saighton Lane Farm is a farm, originating as a model farm, in Saighton Lane, 0.5 miles (1 km) to the north-northeast of the village of Saighton, Cheshire, England. The farmhouse and the farm buildings are recorded separately in the National Heritage List for England as designated Grade II listed buildings.

Church House is adjacent to St Werburgh's Church, in Bent Lane in the village of Warburton, Greater Manchester, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">113 and 117 Foregate Street, Chester</span> Pair of shops on the north side of Foregate Street, Chester, Cheshire, England

113 and 117 Foregate Street consist of a pair of shops on the north side of Foregate Street, Chester, Cheshire, England. Each of the buildings is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. The buildings flank a passage leading to the block of flats numbered 115 and known as Parker's Buildings; this is also a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peel Hall, Cheshire</span> Country house in Cheshire, England

Peel Hall is a country house near the village of Ashton Hayes, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It was built as a mansion in 1637, but was much reduced in size by 1812, and was later used as a farmhouse. It is constructed in sandstone and has slate roofs. Its architectural style is Jacobean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lower Huxley Hall</span> Building in Cheshire, England

Lower Huxley Hall is a moated manor house in Cheshire, England, located about 6.5 miles (10 km) southeast of Chester. It lies roughly halfway between the villages of Huxley and Hargrave, It dates from the late 15th century, with major additions and alterations in the 17th century. A small addition was made to the rear in the 19th century. It was originally a courtyard house, but only two wings remain. The house is designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ye Olde Edgar</span> Historic site in and Lower Bridge Street, Chester

Ye Olde Edgar is at 86 and 88 Lower Bridge Street, on the corner of Shipgate Street, Chester, Cheshire. England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Listed buildings in Ince</span>

Ince is a civil parish in Cheshire West and Chester, England. It contains 25 buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as designated listed buildings. One is these is of these listed at Grade I, the highest grade, one at Grade II*, the middle grade, and the rest are at the lowest grade, Grade II.

There are over 9,000 Grade I listed buildings in England. This page is a list of these buildings in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester.

Saighton is a former civil parish, now in the parish of Aldford and Saighton, in Cheshire West and Chester, England. It contains 15 buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as designated listed buildings. Of these, one is listed at Grade I, the highest grade, one is listed at Grade II*, the middle grade, and the others are at Grade II. Apart from the village of Saighton, the parish is rural, and includes the gateway of one of the monastic granges of St Werburgh's Abbey, Chester; this, with addition of later buildings, has been converted into a private college. The college buildings are listed, together with the primary school, the parish church, houses and adjoining walls, a farmhouse and farm buildings, a water tower, and a telephone kiosk.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Historic England, "Abbey Gate College Gatehouse Gateway, Saighton (1138394)", National Heritage List for England , retrieved 16 August 2012
  2. 1 2 Historic England, "Abbey Gate College, the main block except the Gatehouse, Saighton (1136660)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 16 August 2012
  3. 1 2 Historic England, "Abbey Gate College Chapel (formerly Saighton Grange Chapel), Saighton (1130671)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 16 August 2012
  4. 1 2 3 4 Ormerod, George (1882), Thomas Helsby (ed.), The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester (2nd ed.), London: George Routledge and Sons, pp. ii: 769–770
  5. ↑ Saighton, domesdaybook.co.uk, retrieved 1 December 2009
  6. 1 2 3 4 Pastscape, Historic England, archived from the original on 24 December 2012, retrieved 30 November 2009
  7. 1 2 Emery, Anthony (2006), East Anglia, Central England, and Wales, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales, 1300–1500, vol. II, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 569–571, ISBN   978-0-521-58132-5
  8. ↑ Hartwell, Clare; Hyde, Matthew; Hubbard, Edward; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2011) [1971], Cheshire, The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, p. 570, ISBN   978-0-300-17043-6
  9. ↑ Hubbard, Edward (1991), The Work of John Douglas, London: The Victorian Society, pp. 242, 265, ISBN   0-901657-16-6
  10. 1 2 Abbey Gate College, (also known as Saighton Grange), Saighton, Chester, England, Parks & Gardens Data Services Ltd., retrieved 1 December 2009
  11. ↑ Welcome to Abbey Gate College, Abbey Gate College, archived from the original on 19 February 2010, retrieved 1 December 2009
  12. ↑ Historic England, "Boundary wall north and west of Abbey Gate College, Saighton (1330250)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 16 August 2012
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.