Just to fill in more details about Royton Hall as requested by Joan, from 'across the pond' in Rhode Island, USA. Royton is a small town, lying in the shadow of the Pennine hills, between Oldham and Rochdale. The first record of its existence is in the 1212 Survey of Lancashire and records show that in 1641 the village of Royton consisted of forty-seven families. At this time the Hall and its deer park would have dominated the village. We are not sure exactly when Royton Hall was built but the 'dig' has put the oldest part as being built in the 16th century. As with a lot of old houses, it had been "added to" over the years. We think it started off as a basic oblong building but ended up as four sided with a central courtyard. Canon Andrew, who once stayed at the Hall, wrote "the style of the house is in marked manner baronial - great hall, chapel, solar, kitchens, and guest and retainer's rooms around a quadrangle." The Hall became available for lease in 1795, when the owners moved to another property, and was then advertised as "a firm, well-built stone edifice of ancient date, remarkable for an uncommonly strong and heavy round staircase, like that of a church, but more massy (?)" It had a number of tenants after that date and was eventually sold in 1922 to a Dr. J.T. Godfrey, who was from South Africa. When he decided to return to South Africa he tried to sell the Hall to both Manchester and Oldham Councils, and the National Trust but failed, so he converted it into apartments. However these were not popular and by 1937 it was unoccupied and falling into disrepair. It was finally demolished in 1939. Joan asked "Why are they digging such a find up to only cover it all up again before they uncover all that they possibly can? Would love to know." The answer is basically shortage of both time and money. It is the Royton Local History Society who have instigated the 'dig' - a small group of local people interested in the history of their home town. They received donations from local businesses and a National Heritage grant to help with the expenses of the project but obviously that is not a 'bottomless pit' and will not last beyond the scheduled three weeks. At the start of the dig they had no idea how much or how little remained of the Hall underground, but the finds have surprised us all and this is why they are determined to do some more next year. Of course this will mean more begging for donations, applying for grants etc. etc. But for now, photographs will be taken, measurements recorded and drawings made of the present excavations before it is all filled in again. I, like many others, would love it to be left uncovered, but without proper protection and security it would be vandalised in no time at all. The best way to protect and preserve it, for the time being, is to cover it all up again. We know where it is and what is there and perhaps one day in the future it will become a permanent display for everyone to enjoy. I hopes this answers your questions, Joan and thanks for taking an interest. Regards Jess

Jess a wonderful story! Thank you so much for sharing it with me, and others "across the pond". You gave me such a complete picture of it. I truly hope someone is filming all that is going on with the "dig". Again, many thanks for sharing this truly remarkable story with all of us. Regards, Joan in Rhode Island, USA On Jul 27, 2005, at 3:00 PM, Richard Wild wrote: > Just to fill in more details about Royton Hall as requested by Joan, > from 'across the pond' in Rhode Island, USA. > > Royton is a small town, lying in the shadow of the Pennine hills, > between Oldham and Rochdale. The first record of its existence is in > the 1212 Survey of Lancashire and records show that in 1641 the > village of Royton consisted of forty-seven families. At this time the > Hall and its deer park would have dominated the village. > > We are not sure exactly when Royton Hall was built but the 'dig' has > put the oldest part as being built in the 16th century. As with a lot > of old houses, it had been "added to" over the years. We think it > started off as a basic oblong building but ended up as four sided with > a central courtyard. Canon Andrew, who once stayed at the Hall, wrote > "the style of the house is in marked manner baronial - great hall, > chapel, solar, kitchens, and guest and retainer's rooms around a > quadrangle." > > The Hall became available for lease in 1795, when the owners moved to > another property, and was then advertised as "a firm, well-built stone > edifice of ancient date, remarkable for an uncommonly strong and heavy > round staircase, like that of a church, but more massy (?)" It had a > number of tenants after that date and was eventually sold in 1922 to > a Dr. J.T. Godfrey, who was from South Africa. When he decided to > return to South Africa he tried to sell the Hall to both Manchester > and Oldham Councils, and the National Trust but failed, so he > converted it into apartments. However these were not popular and by > 1937 it was unoccupied and falling into disrepair. It was finally > demolished in 1939. > > Joan asked "Why are they digging such a find up to only cover it all > up again before they uncover all that they possibly can? Would love > to know." > The answer is basically shortage of both time and money. It is the > Royton Local History Society who have instigated the 'dig' - a small > group of local people interested in the history of their home town. > They received donations from local businesses and a National Heritage > grant to help with the expenses of the project but obviously that is > not a 'bottomless pit' and will not last beyond the scheduled three > weeks. > > At the start of the dig they had no idea how much or how little > remained of the Hall underground, but the finds have surprised us all > and this is why they are determined to do some more next year. Of > course this will mean more begging for donations, applying for grants > etc. etc. But for now, photographs will be taken, measurements > recorded and drawings made of the present excavations before it is all > filled in again. > > I, like many others, would love it to be left uncovered, but without > proper protection and security it would be vandalised in no time at > all. The best way to protect and preserve it, for the time being, is > to cover it all up again. We know where it is and what is there and > perhaps one day in the future it will become a permanent display for > everyone to enjoy. > > I hopes this answers your questions, Joan and thanks for taking an > interest. > > Regards > Jess > > > ==== LANCSLIFE Mailing List ==== > Manchester Online: http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ > The Friends of Real Lancashire: http://www.forl.co.uk/001/intro.html > Lancashire History and Folklore: http://www.geocities.com/kera2000_uk/ > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx >