GIVING THE PAST A FUTURE

The restoration of Hankelow Hall, near Nantwich, has saved this extraordinarily beautiful building for new generations to admire and learn from

- Kate Houghton

When Kirk Shenton saw Hankelow Hall, in the late-1980s, it was love at first sight. The distressed, crumbling, ancient manor house spoke to him and demanded his attention – and Kirk was determined to respond.

“I just wanted to save it,” Kirk says, “it was completely tumbledown, barely a brick skeleton. The walls were largely sound, but the roof was collapsing and the floors were unsafe and full of holes – you could stand in the cellar and look up through all five storeys to the sky.”

The first records of Hankelow Hall date back to 1369, when Hugh de Hunkelow formed an estate, with a residence, park and agricultural land. The current house, at first glance, seems to bear no connection to the original property, but discoveries made by Kirk during renovation and rebuilding reveal that the brick structure was largely wrapped around the original medieval residence, though there was a lot more to it back in its heyday, with remains of buildings spreading away from the main house suggesting a grand manor, with a kitchen kept at a distance, and the likely brewery, dairy, stables and storerooms you would expect in any estate of note.

“The external brickwork is really interesting,” Kirk says and rushes outside to show me. His enthusiasm is infectious and I soon find myself deep in discussion on the history of British brickwork, with the rich red Cheshire brick of this house the perfect example.