The fascinating history of one of Cheshire's few remaining mansion houses

During the walk, they cross over a long and winding road called White Hall Lane leading from the Coach Road to the A54, passing on the way a short drive to the White Hall, also known as Whitehall.

This is one of Cheshire’s few remaining mansion houses.

Respecting the privacy of the current occupants, we will look at some of the histories of this beautiful building.

A building that most certainly has a story to tell.

To compile such a history, as well as my excellent researcher, my wife Rose, I have obtained permission from superb local historian and friend Tony Bostock.

He has allowed me to dip into one of his well-researched Cheshire History articles that I would recommend to anyone seeking a look into the past, download ‘Tony Bostock’s local history notes’.

So, with the help of Tony and Rose, I can put together what I hope will be an interesting article or two.

Little Budworth Common.

The area in which White Hall stands was, before 1779, owned by the Earl of Shrewsbury and contained several cottages.

On January 2, 1779, the lease on the land was purchased from the Earl by Francis Houlbrook.

The parcel of land was known as Brooke Slack and was around 11 acres. In 1783 the lease was purchased by Robert Ashley of Park Place, Frodsham. Robert Ashley’s brother Francis acquired the lease of Shaws Tenement that John Houlbrook had previously held.

Robert then set about erecting a building known as the White Hall or Whitehall on the parcel of land that contained cottages occupied by the Hixon, Kary and Birstall families together with a parcel of land known as Hixon’s Tenement.

Old House Little Budworth

Robert Ashley lived for just six years after building White Hall, and his wife Ann inherited it with a new lease. Ann also owned two acres in Heathfield and Budworth Mere, known as the Large Mill Pool with the fishing rights for this and the Lower Mill Pool alongside Budworth Hall.

A plaque on the wall of Little Budworth church commemorates the Houlbrook family of White Hall, starting with John Houlbrook, who died in August 1762, aged 67.

By 1851, White Hall was the residence of William Jones and his wife, Frances. He was a 50-year-old racehorse trainer and farmer of forty acres.

Hugh John Smith-Barry had an apartment in White Hall, although his seat was in Marbury Hall.

White Hall 29.4.2022

In 1851, John Stock, aged 45, was a Cotton Broker living in Westdale, Wavertree, with his wife Lydia, aged 29. John owned Messrs. James Stock and Son, Cotton Brokers of Liverpool. At which trade, he became extremely wealthy.

In 1859, Lydia died in Liverpool, leaving John a widower with three children, one of whom was James Henry, who in 1880 was 25 and May S Kavanagh, shown as daughter-in-law aged 18.

She was the second daughter of the famous Right Hon. Arthur Kavanagh, a member of the Irish Privy Council (1866-1880), who was born without arms or legs. However, he became a champion sportsman.

James Henry Stock was a student in Law. In December, 1883, his father John Stock died and left £239,345 4s 8d, currently worth £20.3 million. Although qualifying as a barrister James Henry Stock, now a millionaire never practised. During the 1880s, he was responsible for building the black and white house you see today.

In 1900, he was shown residing with his wife at White Hall (with a holding in Exchange House and Exchange Alley, a counting house and buildings in Bootle).

Continuing next week with the story of this mansion sitting serenely on the edge of Little Budworth Common.

Paul Hurley has a popular Facebook group called Mid Cheshire Through Time – all are welcome to join.