THE NOOK (continued)

b) Two cottages - close behind The Nook and belonging to it. In 1851 they were occupied by William Cowley born c.1801, a farmer of 12 acres and by his recently married son also William Cowley born c.1828 in L.W. (see 5, 7 & 9 Halewood Rd) (No photograph is known to us).

c) Beyond was a building, with outhouses, which we take to have been the Nook Farm, about 35 yards NNW of the front of Dr. Shepherd's house. In 1845 it was owned by representatives of the late John Bibby (see Elm House) and occupied, with about 5 acres of land, by Howard Horsley, followed by a number of other tenants. (No photograph)

When the Cheshire Lines Railway was proposed in Mar. 1874 the L.W.L.B. considered opposing the scheme when the Bill was debated in Parliament, supported by the ratepayers. However by Nov. 1874 the Board was asking for a station for Gateacre. The purchase of the land and buildings by the Railway Company was completed in 1876, and the making of the embankment (of extra width here to accommodate the coal yard) followed in 1879 wiping out this group of buildings.

Outer group on the lane - absorbed by Gateacre Hall Hotel.

a) Tiny house, "on" the lane facing N.W. about 31 ft long x 15 ft wide (externally) of 3-bays, and low; much altered, stuccoed and has quite new replacements of the romantic projecting windows of an earlier restoration which included downstairs, the 'Ipswich' centre feature used at 8 Gateacre Brow c.1878 (Gateacre Walk III). Two picture postcards refer to a 1652 date on the E. gable. House appears on 1848 map.

b) Small house, set back from the lane, about 30ft long x 20 ft wide, so much embedded in later building as to be indistinguishable from the outside, but clearly identifiable by its oak ridge and two pairs of purlins in the roofspace and visible on the plan. This house has a stone outer doorcasing (now within the hotel bar) of 17th century type, carrying on the lintel "IW SW : 1652 :". Study of the plan arrangement the condition of the stonework etc, and the fact that in the parlour "behind" this doorway a fireplace also of C17 type survives, leads us to think that the doorcasing is in its original position.

We remember the 1699 deed and John Whitfield and suggest a family connection here with the initials ?

continued . . .