Crag Hall

WILDBOARCLOUGH C.P. SJ 96 NE 14/4/1967 Crag Hall. 3/11 II House circa 1815 in brown sandstone (of brick-sized blocks) with ashlar quoins and dressings and hipped grey slate roof, swept round semi-circular full-height bay (facing out) at each end. 2 storeys with 5 windows to front and 3 in each semi-circular bay. Raised projecting tetrastyle Ionic portico with rusticated base containing 3 arched recesses, flight of stone steps to each side (9 right, 8 left) and square entablature; iron railings. Pair of 3-panel doors flanked by a round-headed 13-pane recessed sash left and right. The central window above the portice has an ashlar case with a square entablature on console brackets. 12-pane recessed sashes to lower storey of each wing, 9-pane to upper, all in ashlar cases. The Semi-circular bays have plain projecting ashlar bands at cill levels. Broad, boarded, open eaves. The interior justifies the II grading. The hall with lozenge flag paving and 2 niches has double doors to study (left), drawing room (right) and circular cantilevered stbne stair (rear) with ornate cast-iron balusters. The study has a semicircular end, a small chimney piece with ornamental mirrors and door to dining room (to rear) which has oak dado panelling (probably later), Ionic chimney piece of black marble with plain mantel and 3 (later) ornamental mirrors and door to stair. The drawing room with marble fireplace flanked by double doors left and right; in a wing to rear is the billiard room with staff door. The rear stair has 3 cantilevered stone flights. There is a glazed dome over the main stair. The bedroom over the study (Lady Derby's) has a good cast iron fireplace in a Gothick surround of timber. Finely made mahogany doors of 6 fielded panels to principal rooms on both storeys. Fairly simple plaster cornices. During the C19 Crag Hall was the residence of the proprietor of the textile mills at Wildboarclough. Crag Hall is shown on Greenwood's Map of Cheshire (published 1819) but detailing of the portico, roof and staircase balustrade look some 15 years later. It is also on Swire and Hutchings and Bryant's maps of Cheshire (published 1830 and 1831).

Listing NGR: SJ9878668809