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Haigh Hall

Q

I was attending a conference in Haigh Hall on recently, and was curious about the information on the display on the half landing of the main stair, which asserted that the present 1830s/40s house was on the site of its predecessors. I was greatly puzzled by the depiction on the early 18th century view, which suggested a site further north. I asked in the offices at the house and was told there that it was thought to be further north, beyond the stables. After the conference I visited the shop in the stable block and bought the two views and the History of Haigh Hall. The lady in the shop said other people had suggested it was further north, but most people believed it was under the present house.

It is quite clear that the present house is on a terrace created for it. The south side of the house is on the line between cut-away ground and built out ground - the cutting and building out is clearly single phase and depends on the shoring up of the steep face behind the house. This was never the location of anything older than the present edifice.

However walking around, I observed that at SD 597089, in the field in the angle between School Lane and Copperas Lane, opposite the stables, a varied grid pattern of earthworks can be seen which equates to the layout of formal gardens (unless it equates to recent activity). There were no obvious ways into the field, and I was wearing a suit, so I limited my observations to vantage points from the road. There is a ditched round and part sunken rectangular area which probably extended under and south of School Lane, which might indicate the house site, and a causeway running ENE (if the leaflet map is north up) from the roadside, and parallel to School Lane in the next field, about 10-15 metres from the road, and other grid patterns at a distance. Looking at the purchased copy of the 18th century view this looks a feasible location of the house with the bends of School Lane onwards in the background, and meaningful topography. I know such views are often idealised but this one does suggest the view is intended to be from Haigh Tower/Summerhouse on the hill.

What is the official position, and has anyone considered the earthworks at SD597089 to be part of the original house and gardens?

A

You have a very interesting theory which I will endeavour to investigate further. As you say the general consensus is that the present Hall was built on the site of the original and there is certainly some evidence for an earlier building in the cellars of the present house. Donald Anderson and Tony France, who wrote the definitive histories of the Hall are quite convinced that the Hall site has never moved. However as you rightly point out early views of the Hall do not correspond to this. The formal garden layout, which is depicted in some early illustrations, is also difficult to resolve. I have spoken to the Park rangers about the fact that there is no evidence for the garden in its depicted location and their feeling is that this garden never existed. I will visit the site you mention and try to get back to you ASAP.