J-24 



GARDENS OLD AND NEW. 



parts the wainscot is divided by fluted pilasters. A prodigious 

 amount of oak has been employed in building a quadrangular 

 house like Agecroft. It would almost suggest to us that a 

 grove of oaks must have bowed beneath the woodman's axe 

 ere that structure was raised, and the operation must have 

 somewhat resembled the building of a great ship, for here, too, 

 the seasoned timber was jointed and pegged to withstand the 

 storms. 



Agecroft occupies a somewhat peculiar position. On the 

 west side is the edge of a steep cliff, and there are evidences 

 that the three remaining sides of tl*e quadrangle were protected 

 by the moat. The square is complete, and measures about looft. 

 externally, and the main gate, which has a beautiful Tudor 

 arch, with a lovely oriel window over it, is on the east side. It 

 would appear that a large part of the house was built in the 

 reign of Henry VII. or his successor, and the beautiful carving 

 of (i:ie Perpendicular character, in the corbelling of the windows 

 on the east front, is very noteworthy. Owing to the effect of 



It is, however, time, having described the house itself, 

 that we should say something about those who have lived 

 therein. In 1327 John de Langley and Joan his wife paid a 

 fine to William de Langley, Rector of Middleton, for the manor 

 of Pendlebury and other lands, and here the knightly family of 

 Langley of Langley established itself. To this family is said to 

 have belonged Robert Langley, Bishop of Durham, Lord Chan- 

 cellor of England, and a Cardinal. He was supervisor of the 

 will of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and, by his will, left 

 a number of books to the College of Manchester, in the founda- 

 tion of which he had been concerned. It is interesting to know 

 that in the windows of Agecroft Hall are portions of ancient glass, 

 zealously protected by wire frames externally, in which are the 

 bearings of the Langleys and of John of Gaunt. The house 

 and estate came in 1560, on the death of Sir Robert Langley, 

 to his daughter and heiress Anne, who married Thomas 

 Dauntesey, and thus Agecroft passed to the family which long 

 continued to reside there. It was afterwards occupied by the 



THE EAST FRONT IN QUADRANGLE. 



weather the south face of the building has called for pardal 

 renewal, and not much of tiie ancient plaster-work remains, 

 but the east facade is quite original. 



Passing through the arch we reach the interior of tile- 

 courtyard, which is picturesquely attractive. Opposite to us 

 is the long window of the great hall, with magnificent decorative 

 timber-work over it, the kitchen and offices and the servants' 

 quarters to the right, and the family apartments on the le't 

 hand, with the chapel, now converted to the dining-room. 

 Mr. H. Taylor, in his" Old H.ill* in Lancashire and Cheshire," 

 says that originally Agecroft had open galleries as corridors in 

 one portion of the quadrangle, similar to those which may still 

 be seen in many old hostelries ; but, with the exception of one 

 short length, th -se are now enclosed. The interior has been a 

 good deal modernised, and the great hall is now used as a 

 billiard-room. It was doubtless inevitable that some changes 

 should be introduced, but it is satisfactory to find the placs so 

 greatly valued and so well preserved. 



Rev. Richard Buck, and there have been other occupants, but 

 Mr. Robert Dauntesey is in possession, and the house is in 

 good hands. 



Enough has been said to indicate the character and history 

 of Agecroft Hall. It m.iy be interesting to mention that at 

 the bottom of the hill the Irwell is crossed by Agecroft 

 Bridge, which leads to Kersal Moor. The river was once pure 

 and well stocked with fish, but much more than a century 

 ago pollution had set in. A Certain Mr. Rasbotham, writing 

 in 1786, said: "The river hath trout, shoulders, chubbs, 

 dace, gudgeons, and eels. Salmon came to it before 

 the establishment of the fishery at Warrington, higher than 

 this township; but there is no such thing experienced at 

 present." Those who know the Irwell will wonder that 

 salmon should ever have visited its waters. That day is 

 long past, but we may hope that the ever-growing bustle 

 of modern things may yet for centuries spare the ancient 

 beauties of Agecroft Hall. 



