Little Moreton Hall

Little Moreton Hall is in south Cheshire, a few miles up the A34 road from Stoke-on-Trent. It is one of the strangest-looking houses in Britain. It was built in stages from the mid-15th century. Its most spectacular feature is the Long Gallery which forms the top floor, which seems to have been added at the end of the Elizabethan period, when such features were fashionable. Unfortunately the house was not strong enough to take the added weight, so it now tilts in various directions and the floors are more like waves than level surfaces!


The entrance can be seen towards the right of the picture, via a bridge across a moat and into a gatehouse (none of which could possibly have served any defensive purpose!) and through to a courtyard. Here is a picture of the coutyard, seen from near the gatehouse.


The carpenter who built this part of the hall left his name on the work. There was no standard spelling in the Tudor period.


These two improving messages can be seen at either end of the Long Gallery. Note that all the letter Ns are back to front!


Unfortunately the house contains hardly any furniture or pictures. It is now owned by the National Trust.