Bryn Hall

Bryn Hall also called Brynne Hall is situated in Bryn Park, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester.

History

Brynne Hall became the seat of the Gerard family by the marriage of William Gerard to the daughter and sole heiress of Peter de Brynne in 1250. It was rebuilt at the end of the 14th century a little way to the east of the old hall. The hall was built around a courtyard and was entered by crossing a narrow bridge over a moat that surrounded the property. The hall had a gatehouse secured by huge doors. A porch led to the great hall which had a railed gallery along one side used to observe entertainments below. The gallery was supported by richly carved double pilasters which were later removed to Garswood Hall. The hall had a chapel and a relic of Edmund Arrowsmith and harboured a Roman Catholic priest.^[1]

Thomas Gerard was High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1557. His son, Thomas Gerard, was created Baronet Gerard of Bryn in 1611. The Gerards were Royalists during the English Civil War. In 1651, Charles II travelled through Wigan and lodged at Bryn Hall on his way from Scotland to his ultimate defeat at the Battle of Worcester.^[2] The Gerards left Bryn Hall for nearby Garswood in the 1700s.

The Crippin family moved into the hall and developed coal mining on the estate. In 1870 20 men were killed and 1873 six men were killed in explosions at Bryn Hall Colliery on the Bryn Hall Estate. Bryn Hall was home to colliery owner Edward Frederick Crippin.

The estate is now used for arable purposes, although part of the it has been used for the Landgate housing development. It has been proposed that the site of the Old Hall should be excavated to find the remains of the house. The site of the original hall was excavated, many years ago, by the landowner and remains of the hall's foundation stones removed.^[3]

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Coordinates: 53°30′40″N 2°37′23″W / 53.511°N 2.623°W / 53.511; -2.623