New owners for Wythenshawe’s medieval Baguley Hall

Historic England will be giving one of Manchester’s oldest buildings away to the Heritage Trust for the North West – enabling the group to focus its funds on repairing the derelict manor.

Historic England agreed to transfer ownership for no upfront payment because of the condition of the grade one-listed Baguley Hall. The cost of the required repairs would be more than what a fixed-up version of the building could fetch on the open market, Historic England said.

Baguley Hall was built in 1320 and sits on a two-acre plot off Hall Road in Wythenshawe. It hosts one of the oldest medieval timber-framed halls in the region. Despite the historical grandeur it possessed, however, it has been left vacant since 1965. Historic England undertook a series of repairs to ensure it was structurally sound and watertight last year.

Heritage Trust for the North West will need to hit the ground running to get Baguley Hall to full health. The trust will need to raise £100,000 in grant funds as part of a conditions for acquiring the hall. This will enable the group to begin design work, surveys, and repairs of the building.

£100,000 is only part of the money that will ultimately be required to rescue the stately home. Much more will be required to restore the manor to its former glory, with the trust already planning to host a mixture of open days, food markets, and cultural events to raise cash – as well as applying for grants.

“The trust’s proposals show a detailed understanding of the building’s history and why it’s so important,” said Catherine Dewar, North West regional director at Historic England.

“They offer an exciting vision for bringing this South Manchester historic gem back to life for the benefit of local communities,” Dewar continued.

“We are incredibly grateful to the local Friends groups who’ve been so constructive in working with us throughout this process and will remain involved in Baguley Hall’s exciting future.”

Michael Guy, chief executive at the trust, said: “We are honoured and excited to be given the opportunity to take over from Historic England as the custodians of this wonderful heritage asset and help write the next chapter in its long and interesting story.

“Central to this will be engagement with the Friends groups and local people, opening it up once more with them to create new and exciting uses, for the benefit of the wider community.”

Historic England had put the property on the market in May 2024, recruiting Colliers to assist with finding a buyer. Womble Bond Dickinson provided legal advice on the ultimate deal with the Heritage Trust for the North West.

The Nelson-based Heritage Trust has been restoring historic buildings since 1978. The group currently owns more than 30 buildings in the region and operates the grade one-listed Lytham Hall.