Hockenhull Hall

Hockenhull Hall is a former manor house, now serving as a house and two flats, dating from the late 17th century and completely remodeled around 1715, likely by Francis Smith for Hugh Wishaw of Chester. The building features white-pointed Flemish bond brickwork, with some earlier English bond, and buff sandstone dressings. It has a hipped Welsh slate roof and stone-coped chimneys. The structure is square in plan with two main facades, presenting a symmetrical 9-bay (2:2:1:2:2) south front that is two stories high over a basement.

The south front includes a moulded plinth and plain Ionic pilasters at the corners, with projecting eaves. The end pair of bays project slightly forward. Tall sash windows, consisting of 5 by 3 panes, are set in simple moulded stone architraves with fluted keyblocks. The central bay features five semi-circular steps leading to a doorcase flanked by fluted Ionic pilasters and topped with a segmental pediment. The entrance has a pair of glazed doors in a bolection moulded architrave with a key block.

The east front is two stories high with six bays and a plain facade between the end pilasters, featuring similar windows. The second bay has an added detached composition stone gabled porch on plain piers that provides access to the basement. This side also includes a simple architrave to a six-panelled door with a fanlight and vertical glazing bars. The west front is two stories high with eight bays, displaying bands at the first and second floors. It has similar openings in the five bays to the right, while the left three bays retain 17th-century fabric, featuring an added plinth, rusticated quoins, and bands.

Inside, the entrance leads into a large hall with a saloon to the left and a passage with a staircase to the right. The saloon is adorned with fielded panelling. The open well oak staircase has square newels, a moulded handrail, and turned balusters. A semi-circular archway over the passage features panelled reveals. Some upstairs rooms retain 17th-century heavy chamfered beams, one of which has quirk stops. Throughout the house, there are fielded six-panelled doors. Over the past 30 years, some 18th-century fittings have been added. The basement contains extensive cellars.