Be that as it may, I'm definitely talking here about the New Hall (or at least the site of it) and not the Old one. There is plenty of historical information about the New Hall on t'interweb, as ever Google is your friend but here are a couple of interesting links Eccles & District History Society and University of Salford Archives
For years the site was just an overgrown mess with nature gradually reclaiming the area after the demolition of the hall in 1946 but in 2012 an archaeological investigation was carried out by Salford University on behalf of Peel Holdings who are considering a significant development on the site and the site of the hall and gardens was largely cleared.
So what is there to see today? On wandering into the site the first thing that comes in sight is a rather awful concrete bunker
This monstrosity is an AAOR (Anti Aircraft Operations Room) and was opened in 1952
The admirable site Subterreanea Britannica has more details of the bunker.
The bunker was built to the side of the Hall and a view from the front terrace shows the bunker and remains of the large fountain - the empty space is of course where the hall was!
Going further downhill at the front of the house leads to the lower terrace and more fountains (though only a single set of remains are still visible)
Continuing on brings you to the lake - complete with an island, accessed by a footbridge, which has an unusual stone building on it, I can only describe it as a grotto.
A very enjoyable couple of hours wandering around this fascinating site, in many ways it would be rather sad if Peel get their way and drop in a luxury hotel and a golf course though perhaps that's just me?
If anyone wishes to find out more, then a good start for sources of information is:
3 comments:
I was fortunate enough to enter Worsley AAOR in 2009 after it had been forced open and just shortly before the rave which destroyed much of the insides. A strange and atmospheric place, there was little to see other than the layout of the building the different rooms. Boards from what I believe was the main control room were broken on the floor, and though there were once documents to be seen inside, but 2009 they were all sodden and ruined. My friend took some pictures of our visit which, though not the greatest quality, are interesting. Let me know if you are interested in them.
Cheers, Tom
Tom, yes I'd definitely be interested to see your photos
Cheers
Ian
Hi Ian,
The unusual stone building you referred to as a grotto was reputedly a "duck shoot". Game birds were supposedly thrown into the shoot and the participants would stand above the structure shot guns at the ready. I studied the New Hall, and my History teacher Ian Pratt wrote a really interesting book on the Worsley area called: Pratt, Ian S. "Workedsleigh". A history of Worsley. I visited the site over twenty years ago and I'm looking forward to revising it again over the next few days now I know the site's been excavated.
It will be a massive shame if they build over the remains of the New Hall as I believe they are of significant historical importance.
Great blog though, thank you.
Post a Comment