Gidlow Hall
Encyclopedia
Gidlow Hall is a scheduled ancient monument
dating from 1574 in Aspull village, in Wigan
, Greater Manchester
. The great hall
was the residence of the Gidlow family, whose members included Robert de Gidlow, freeholder
of Aspull in 1291. Members of the family were recorded in the village until the 17th century. The hall, now situated amongst more modern farmhouses, is no longer surrounded by a moat, . Although the building dates from 1574 (a datestone
is retained, showing Thomas Gidlow's initials), the eastern extent and a porch was demolished in 1840. Parts of the hall which date from its original construction include masonry on the south front and east wall, a fireplace
and a stair-tower at the rear. There is evidence of a previous screens passage.
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
dating from 1574 in Aspull village, in Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
. The great hall
Great hall
A great hall is the main room of a royal palace, nobleman's castle or a large manor house in the Middle Ages, and in the country houses of the 16th and early 17th centuries. At that time the word great simply meant big, and had not acquired its modern connotations of excellence...
was the residence of the Gidlow family, whose members included Robert de Gidlow, freeholder
Freeholder
A freeholder can refer to:* one who is in freehold* one who holds title to real property in Fee simple* an official of county government in the U.S. state of New Jersey...
of Aspull in 1291. Members of the family were recorded in the village until the 17th century. The hall, now situated amongst more modern farmhouses, is no longer surrounded by a moat, . Although the building dates from 1574 (a datestone
Datestone
A datestone is typically an embedded stone with the date of engraving and other information carved into it. They are not considered a very reliable source for dating a house, as instances of old houses being destroyed and rebuilt have been reported.Specific locations have often been chosen for...
is retained, showing Thomas Gidlow's initials), the eastern extent and a porch was demolished in 1840. Parts of the hall which date from its original construction include masonry on the south front and east wall, a fireplace
Fireplace
A fireplace is an architectural structure to contain a fire for heating and, especially historically, for cooking. A fire is contained in a firebox or firepit; a chimney or other flue allows gas and particulate exhaust to escape...
and a stair-tower at the rear. There is evidence of a previous screens passage.