Demolished around 1845. That’s the fate of Hulme Hall. It stood here once overlooking the River Irwell. Let me tell you about this lost manor house and its story.
Hulme Hall had been out of use for quite some time. It was a manorial residence. The Duke of Bridgewater had it knocked down. This made way for canal and rail expansion. These were rapidly encroaching Manchester.
The 1848 Ordnance Survey shows only the site. The building had recently disappeared when the map was drawn. Hulme Hall was built around a quadrangle. The front faced the left bank of the Irwell. A large forest surrounded it.
The hall stood on red sandstone. It overlooked the Irwell near the Medlock’s confluence. Aikin described it in 1795 as old and half-timbered. The gardens were a celebrated beauty spot in the 18th Century. They displayed Roman antiquities. These had been found in the vicinity.
The manor of Hulme was held by Jordan. He was the Dean of Manchester in the 12th Century. After that, its ownership is unclear. Eventually, the owners took the surname Hulme. The Hulme family was succeeded by the Rossendales. This happened in the 14th Century. Then, it fell into the hands of the Prestwich clan.
During Henry VI’s reign, Ralph De Prestwyche granted the manor to Henry De Byrom. Five years later, the transaction was reversed.
Thomas Prestwich was a Catholic. He refused to accept the Church of England’s authority. Two-thirds of his estate were sequestered. His annual fine was £6/13s-4d. During the Civil War, he fought on the King’s side. Initially, this served him well. He was knighted. However, he was captured at Ormskirk in 1644. This led to his downfall. The Estate was conveyed to Edward Mosley of Rolleston in 1660.
Sir Thomas’s mother persuaded him to support the Royal side. She is said to have hidden a large treasure on the grounds. She was struck dumb and motionless after an illness. She could not reveal the treasure’s location. Many attempts were made to find the treasure. Fortune tellers had a valuable industry. They relieved gullible Mancunians of their cash. They offered clues as to its whereabouts.
Sir Edward Mosley’s daughter Ann married John Bland of Kippax. She conveyed the estate to him. Sir John’s son was forced to sell the estate. He needed to pay off his gambling debts. George Lloyd FRS bought the property. He was born in Manchester in 1708. He studied medicine at Queen’s College, Cambridge. He became a bachelor of medicine in 1731. He became an FRS in 1742.
After his first wife’s death, he married Susannah Horton. George was described as a gentleman. He was well-skilled in mathematical knowledge and natural philosophy. He became a trustee of the Cheetham Hospital. He was one of the early promoters of the Infirmary at Manchester.
He lived at Hulme Hall between 1751 and 1764. After that, he moved to Leeds. He lent his support to the infirmary there. Seeing an opportunity to make money, George sold Hulme Hall in 1764. He realised that the rural idyll was short-lived. The Duke of Bridgewater bought the property. He was keen to build his canal into the centre of Manchester.
By 1807, Hulme Hall was falling into decay. It was let out as tenements to poor families. In 1833, a series of 16th Century oak panels were rescued from one room. They were taken to Worsley Old Hall.
After the demolition of Hulme Hall, the central tower with its conical roof was reproduced. It fronted the Pomona Island Botanical Gardens. This gave the illusion of the Hall surrounded by trees in its original setting.
So next time you are near the Bridgewater Canal, remember Hulme Hall. Remember its history and the lives it touched. Though gone, it lives on in memory and stories like these.