Hill Bark

House, now an old people's home, dating to 1891 and re-erected between 1929 and 1931. Designed by Grayson and Ould. The building is timber frame construction on a stone base, with brick and stone stacks, and a stone slate roof. It has a U-plan layout with a service wing to the north. Notable features include decorative timber-frame panels, good carved details, inscriptions and bargeboards. The east facade includes return wings forming a courtyard. A central two-story gabled porch is present, alongside a recessed gabled bay to the left and two polygonal bays at the angle that resemble Little Moreton Hall in Cheshire. These bays, along with the porch, feature coved jetties. A large gabled bay is located to the right of the porch, and a smaller recessed gabled bay is positioned adjacent. The left return side has a large brick and stone lateral stack with twisted shafts and fire windows. The right return side features four bays, with two projecting bays – one with jettied gabled half-dormers and the other with a jettied arch gabled design. An end bay rises three stories with a jettied upper floor and a gabled half-dormer. The gable end of the left wing presents a coved jettied first floor and gable, with a first-floor oriel. Generally, the windows have ovolo mullions and transoms. The north wing has four bays, the first two rising three stories with second-floor oriels and gables, while the remaining two bays are two stories high with a jettied first floor and gables. The left return has a large lateral stack with stone panelling, and timber traceried windows to the first and second bays. A third bay projects, featuring a first-floor oriel with rich carving. The end three bays have richly carved half-dormers. The right return is simpler, incorporating shingling and a lateral stack. At the rear, there are two gabled bays, with a third projecting bay featuring a return lateral stack and a rectangular bay window. A fourth gabled bay boasts a large 12-light window overlooking the rear hall. End bays incorporate canted bays and jettied first floors with oriels. Decorative lead guttering and downpipes are also present. The interior highlights a great hall with an organ gallery and open roof, incorporating a chimney piece dated to the 15th century. Linenfold panelling is found on the organ, alongside a Morris and Co. window installed in 1984. An open screen is located beneath the gallery. A panelled hall houses a staircase with twisted balusters. Numerous good fireplaces and panelling contribute to the interior’s character. A billiard room (now partitioned) and library contain plaster ceilings. Originally constructed as Bidston Court at Bidston, the building was dismantled and re-erected at the present site between 1929 and 1931, facilitated by Rees and Holt.