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II. 

 YEARDSLEY HALL, FURNESS VALE. 



By Ernest Gunson. 



EARDSLEY, which also belongs to Colonel Cotton- 

 Jodrell, . is the time-honoured estate of the 

 Jodrells from mediseval days. The Hall stands 

 on the slope of the hills overlooking Furness Vale, 

 a little more than two miles to the north of Shallcross, and, like 

 it, is approached by an ancient by-way from the same road 

 running from Buxton to Manchester, which has been mentioned 

 under the account of that hall. 



The main part of the building, which is of stone, has been 

 converted to its present form in the sixteenth century, but for 

 some unfortunate reason most of the Tudor windows have been 

 replaced by modern sashes. The extent of the damage will be 

 apparent when one examines the window of the room now used 

 as a dairy, which may be taken as an example of the one or two 

 only which now remain in their former state. This window, 

 which is of perfect proportions, is constructed entirely of oak, 

 the lintel or beam carrying the wall over the window opening 

 being of that material, as well as the mullions and transoms and 

 the window sill. This is very unusual where stone is the build- 

 ing material, and is probably a compromise between the stone 

 structures of Derbyshire and the half-timbered buildings of 

 Cheshire, standing as the hall does on the borders of the two 

 counties. It is quite possible that the decay of the oak lintels 

 is really responsible for much of the repair and modernization 

 that has from time to time occurred, 



