Historic Liverpool Dwellings - Stanlawe Grange

   

The building has been sympathetically restored and, for many years, has been a private house.

Stanlawe Grange, a late 13th century cruck building and granary is the oldest existing structure in the city of Liverpool. In 1178, following a gift from John de Lacy, Lord of Halton and Constable of Cheshire, the Cistercians founded an Abbey on the left bank of the River Mersey, between Eastham and Runcorn. It was situated at Stanlawe, the site of which now lies in isolated marsh-land above the oil refinery at Stanlow Point, cut off by the Manchester Ship Canal. Benefactions increased during the next 50 years, which included land in Childwall and Aigburth. The 13th century Coucher Book of Whalley Abbey records that "Adam de Gerstan, 'sold, demised, and confirmed to the Abbot and monks of Stanlawe, all his portion of land in Aikebergh, with common pasture in the township of Gerstan; also two bovates or oxgangs of land in Gerstan...". Adam, lord of Garston, who died in 1265, was a great benefactor of religious houses and also gave land in Aigburth and Garston to Cockersand Abbey and the Knights of St. John'.

Some original features of the Grange have survived dating from 1291, however, the building has been modified significantly with alterations carried out in the 15th, 16th, 17th and 20th centuries. It was the grange at Stanlaw Abbey (also spelt Stanlow) and the remaining building was part of a complex of monastic farm buildings for the Cistercian monks under the supervision of Stanlaw Abbey near today's Ellesmere Port. Stanlawe Grange comprised of a detached hall, barns, 'monk's quarters' and a granary and, like most monastic estates, was probably not managed by the monks but by a secular Granger who was given the authority by an abbot. It is likely that he took up residence in the Hall, which became known as the Abbot's Grange.
The Cistercian Abbey was later taken over by Whalley Abbey near Preston. After the dissolution of the monasteries, the grange was leased to Lawrence Ireland and part of the estate was granted to the Savoy Hospital in London. By 1550 the grange had passed to the Tarleton family of Fazakerley who, as staunch Catholics, may have used one of the buildings for Mass. The buildings also appear to have been used to hide Catholic priests who were persecuted under the Tudor and Stuart monarchies. The priests would have been coming to minister to the then occupants of nearby Aigburth Hall, then owned by the Tarleton and Harrington families. There are some crude initials inscribed on the outside wall of some steps leading up the 'granary', the southeastern end of the building, which are believed to be those of Jesuit priests who are believed to have been buried on the property.
The existing structure of Stanlawe Grange on the north side of Aigburth Hall Avenue close to Aigburth Road was originally a medieval cruck (oak beam) and sandstone farm building that was converted in the 1970s to residential use.

TOP - The main building with Lower Barn to the left. BOTTOM -The Barn in 1905

The Grange for the monk's land comprised a detached Hall, barns, 'monk's quarters', and a granary. These outbuildings lay adjacent to the detached Hall in a square plan arrangement, open on the side that faced the Hall. They were situated either side and partly across the land used for the construction of the dual carriageway of Aigburth Hall Avenue, near to the junction of Aigburth Road. In the mid-19th century the field adjoining the Hall on the south east was still known as Little Grange Hey, while Great Grange Hey adjoined further to the east. The grange buildings were built of red sandstone and comprised of a detached hall, barns, 'monk's quarters', and a granary. The oldest evidence of the original grange is a three-light mullioned window to the left of the front. Today what remains of the Grange outbuildings bear little resemblance even to the remaining structures of the first years of this century. The building marked "Old Hall" on the survey of 1768,  is supposed to mark the residence of Adam, lord of Garston, and his descendants. This structure stood on the ground that later formed the junction of Aigburth and Mersey Roads. The hall was pulled down as were an upper and a lower barn and a monk's house, but the foundations of a building of substantial dimensions, consisting of great blocks of red sandstone, were exposed on this site, taken out of the ground, and eventually carted away, on the widening of Aigburth Road in 1910. 

Stanlawe Grange presently comprises the former Main Building, the Granary and the Monks Dwelling House, (that is, the section that once linked the two barns) which have now been re-modernised into two dwellings. The mullioned window on the left front is one of the few external indications of the building's former antiquity. It now has Grade II listed building status and further alterations are very closely monitored.  On the left-hand side of the gateway a stone may be seen bearing the name of Stanlawe Grange. This was cut by the occupier, Mr. James Pinnington, about 1905. The old Hall, which stood on the south side of Aigburth Hall Road, was demolished about the year 1840 with the present house, in which some portions of the older building were retained, being erected upon its site. 

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2023/02/historic-liverpool-dwellings-harbreck.html