More problems beset Stanley Hall face-lift

A ROW would seem to be in prospect between Stockport Council and the Cheshire branch of the Council for the Protection of Rural England Society, over the “magpie” architecture of Stanley Hall Farm, Cheadle Hulme.

In a full report on the 17th-century farmhouse, just forwarded to Stockport Council the society representative, Mr D. M. Angus-Butterworth states: “The massive timbers seen in excellent condition and, so far as could be seen during a short visit, there was no trace of the 'extensive rot and wood worm attack' mentioned in the letter from the Borough of Stockport dated December 19 1974”.

Mr Angus-Butterworth adds that he found no trace of the deterioration of old brickwork mentioned in the council letter.

It has been over a year since the owner of the house, Iranian Mr M. Halimi, started to make the building suitable for a family home by extending the rear.

Enlargement of the tiny “listed” building was agreed to by the authority, who did not wish to take Stanley Hall over themselves and thought its condition such that the main part of the original farmhouse could come down so long as the frontage was retained.

A Stockport Planning Department spokesman said: “The old building itself was not really a liveable unit and the idea was to grant permission to build a living unit at the rear, on condition that the front and roof, which are the only parts actually 'listed' would be retained”.

Commenting on the report from the protection society, the West Area Planning Officer, Mr Bernard Nangle, who has inspected the Hall several times said: “Parts of the timber frame are wood-worm-infested and there are traces of wet rot. The roof is suffering in varying degrees from woodworm”.

Extending the Hall while trying to preserve its character has obviously cost Mr Halimi thousands of pounds in addition to the original £16,000 auction price. A grant of up to £4,000 towards a quarter of the cost is being made by the G.M.C.

There are still no signs of the work being completed and it is understood that Mr Halimi's architects, Cooper and Naylor of Knutsford, have recently submitted a fresh application to rebuild the entire Hall retaining the old frontage and the roof.

This application has not yet been considered by Stockport but it is likely to be strongly contested by the Protection Society who think Stanley Hall one of the best examples of timber-framed architecture in north-east Cheshire.