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Bagged by the baron

Now surrounded by 1940s council semis and undistinguished new suburban housing, the hall (appropriately sited on Hall Lane) stands out like an architectural beacon of excellence. However, it is more by good luck than good management that it escaped the bulldozer.

The 1950s shopping mall which used to stand opposite the hall is long gone, and likewise the nearby Lantern Inn, an unlovely modern pub which fell prey to a fire a few years ago.

Baguley Hall is described in the influential Pevsner Guide to fine buildings in the region as as "one of the oldest and finest surviving medieval timber-farmed halls in the north west". Yet, sadly, it has been closed to the public for many generations.

At the moment, you can only stand outside and admire the restored timber and nicely maintained gardens from a distance. There is high security, and the hall is surrounded by fencing.

But, in a few years' time, it is hoped that the hall will once again open its splendid doors, to a new audience.

Now under the guardianship of English Heritage, it was handed over to what was then the Ministry of Public Works and Buildings by Manchester City Council back in 1968. Earlier, there had been a plan to knock it down - but, fortunately, it never happened.

Funding

It may have taken over 35 years, but there are plans afoot to access the funding which could make Baguley Hall one of the biggest tourist attractions in the region. An English Heritage spokesman says: "We are having talks with the city council, as a significant amount of funding has now been identified. Our hope is that it might be open by 2006."

So what's the story of this fine old building? It hails from a time when the area was one of green fields, rolling meadows, rural bliss, and the aristocracy ruled the roost.

Built for the noble Baguley family in the mid-14th century, on the site of an earlier house, it has brick wings at each end - one medieval, and the other of 17th century origin.

Over the past 30 years or so, much loving care has been put into preserving the basic structure, ripping out ugly structural additions, and extensively restoring its timber frame and mullioned windows. Inside, there are also, apparently, period features like inglenook fireplaces and grand staircases.

In William the Conqueror's time, this area was known as Baggiley. It was held by Hamon Massy, Baron of Dunham Massey (as we now spell it), who was given it as reward for his knight's service, and it was to be handed down to his heirs and successors.

Around the time of King John (1129-1216), the heir of Hamon Massy, another Hamon Massy, gave one Mathew Massy the land. At this time the "Hamon Massy" heirs adopted the name Baggiley. Sir William de Baggiley, born in 1260, was knighted by King Edward I, and later married one of the king's daughters. During this time the family were quite well up in the aristocracy of England. They owned the salt mines in Cheshire and a processing mill.

In the reign of Edward II (1284-1327), Sir William de Baggiley was lord of Baguley, and built the earliest bits of the hall, around 1320. At the time of his death, he also owned a manor at Hyde and another at Levenshulme, plus an inn called The Ryle Thorn in Baguley (hence the name, many centuries on, of The Royal Thorn - a pub which for years stood on the corner of Altrincham Road). His daughter, Isabel, married Sir John Leigh, a widower. Their eldest son, William, inherited Baguley. The manor remained in the Leigh family until the late 17th century, when the line terminated in Edward Leigh.

By the 18th and 19th centuries, the hall was falling into disrepair. At one stage in the 20th century, it even served as a council store. It is only in very recent times that its worth has been recognised. It is now, officially, a scheduled ancient monument and Grade 1 listed.

Until the early 20th century, the Baguley lords would still have recognised the landscape around it. It was still a largely rural community - until the advent of Wythenshawe, Manchester Corporation's masterplan, providing decent housing for families from the inner-city slums. As late as the 1950s, there were farms, green space and market gardens.

Now there is urban sprawl and the sound of traffic from the nearby M56. But at least Baguley Hall looks set for a bright future - here's to its eventual restoration.

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