HOLLINGSWORTH HALL

Location		Longdendale		ca. 1919
County		Cheshire
Year demolished		1943
Reason		Pollution of ground water
The photo printed in . "Annals of Hyde & District" Hall ca. 1640?		Robert De Hollyngworthe's planned expansion ca. 1850 (plans never realized)		ca. 1943
The photo printed in J. Adger Stewart's book:  Descendants of Valentine Hollingsworth, Sr		Colorized version of photo in J. Adger Stewart's book:  Descendants of Valentine Hollingsworth, Sr		Colorized version of Don Parker's last photo taken of Hollingsworth Hall

The site of Hollingworth Hall is believed to have first been used for a home sometime after the Norman Conquest, when William I gave land to William de Peveril, who built two hunting lodges, one of which was in Hollingworth. There are references to a hall in 1404 and this property was rebuilt in 1640. Several families lived at the site, off Hobson Moor Road, but the best-known were the de Hollyngworthes, from whom the district took its name. The ancient Longdendale family of De Hollyngworthe was seated in the township of Hollingworth as far back as the reign of King John. Sir Peter Leycester puts forth the theory that this township is the ancient "Holisurde" of the Doomsday survey, included in the description of wasted lands then "held by the Earl," but previously " held by eight free men as manors."

• One branch of this old family terminated in a female heiress about the time of Edward I. Through the reigns of Edward III., Henry IV., and other subsequent sovereigns, the old name, however, figures as owner (another family supposed to be descended from the parent stock). So far the name is spelt in the ancient fashion, De Holynworth, or Hollyngworthe; but in the time of Elizabeth there is a record of Robert Holinworth.
• The Hollingworth family were Lords of the Manor of Hollingworth in Longdendale from the mid-thirteenth century until the early 18th century, and were the most prominent and influential family in the Longdendale area for more than five centuries. The family held two major properties in the area, Hollingworth Hall and the Old Hall and by the late 17th century held almost 700 acres of the surrounding lands including five farmsteads.
• In 1734 the family influence and prosperity declined and its properties passed the remainder of the estate, based on the Old Hall, was sold by the Hollingworth family in 1800 to Samuel Hadfield, later conveyed to Daniel Whitle (before 1831).
• The Whitles conveyed them to Robert Hollingworth in 1831. Robert de Holyngworthe, who claimed to be a descendant of the original Lords of the Manor, was a captain in the 6th Dragoon Guards, with which regiment he served in India. He was a Deputy-Lieutenant for the County, and a magistrate, much respected in Hyde. He died January 31st, 1865. In the Parish Church of Mottram on the north side of the chancel is the family chapel, in one of the windows of which are the Robert de Hollyngworthe arms, crest and motto, richly emblazoned."
• Captain de Hollyngworthe left the estate and hall to his brother Dennis, who sold them the following year, 1866.
• The larger of the estates passed through a variety of hands until in 1924 it was sold to Manchester Corporation Waterworks.
• The Hall was demolished in 1943, having previously served as a school and a mental asylum.

An account of  Hollingworth Hall published in 1850:

• The Hall, a very ancient structure was partly repaired, and somewhat modernized in the 17th century, but sufficient remains to show that the house has been of no mean pretensions. It was originally quadrangular, and a portion of two towers still remain, and also a mound called the Chapel Hill, upon which the old chapel formerly stood. The passage through the gatehouse or tower has some curious old wood work, on one side, of massive oak, with a side door, and on the outside is one of the slide lights for the porter to examine approaching persons, prior to their admittance. The general appearance of the hall presents a mass of heavy projecting chimneys, gables, and high walls, almost buried in the foliage of the oak, ash and elm. The long old bam is one of the finest of the kind, in the kingdom, standing upon oak blocks, springing from its base, the inside altogether forming a series of arches, and referring to no later a period than the 1st or 2nd Edward. On the north side of the Church of Mottram, is a private chapel belonging to the family, with the arms, etc., in stained glass, in the windows, and on the north door the arms and initials of the family are also ent, which, from the characters and shape of the shield appear to have been executed about the time of Henry VII., or early in the reign of Henry VIII.
• The ancient family of Hollingworth held a manor in Hollingworth for many generations under the Lovells, and afterwards under the Wilbrahams. This estate having been afterwards divided, became two reputed manors. The descendants of John de Hollingworth continued in possession of Hollingworth Hall till the latter end of the last century, when Jacob Hollingworth sold the manor to Mr. Daniel Whittle. It has since come into the possession of the Hollingworth family, and is now the seat and property of Robert de Hollingworth, Esq. ...The Hall is a neat residence, pleasantly situated on high ground, about a mile north east from Mottram Church; it commands a fine view of the vale beneath, and of the bold mountainous district in the county of Derby, in the foreground of which the lofty viaduct of the Sheffield and Manchester railway has a romantic and picturesque effect. The Hall is now the residence and property of the Misses Wood. The OLD Hall is a handsome mansion, 1/2 mile N. from Mottram Church, the seat and property of George Woodhead, Esq.

An account of Hollingworth Hall from the " Manors of England and Wales"  [pub. before 1899]:

• "The hall is very ancient and retains its original site, and remains of stonework betokening Edwardian origin yet exist; but the general character of the building refers to the period of Henry VI. It was originally quadrangular with chapel, great hall and gate tower, the latter is still remaining. A few relics of ancient armour, old pictures and stag antlers of great size hung upon the walls of the old dining hall, and many of the rooms still retain their tapestried hangings. The arms and initials of a very early date of this family, cut in stone, are built in over the north door of the Parish Church of Mottram, coeval with its erection, and facing Hollingworth."

In 1924 Manchester Waterworks bought the hall for £3,100 and resolved to demolish it as it wanted to eliminate all danger of pollution from the gathering grounds of its chain of reservoirs. Longdendale UDC tried desperately to save Hollingworth Hall but to no avail and it was demolished in 1943.

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