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Bonis Hall Lane, MACCLESFIELD, SK10 4LR

Is becoming a modern mansion with grounds to match

A reasonably accurate descriptive name but open to discussion in its spelling. The 'H' in hill disappears once dialect is introduced 'Top o' th'ill' might be more dialectically correct or even with 'th' 'ill' as more correct still. Standard English would, however, rob it of its eye-catching quality.

Top o' th' Hill

Derelict property in an area of Cheshire which is more conversant with gentlemen farmers and premier league footballers.

Working farm on the B5358

Full details of this from the Historic England website at; https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1011864 " Foxtwist moated site survives in good condition and possesses a range of component parts. The site is a rare example in Cheshire of a small homestead moat that is double moated on three sides, and the unusual form exhibited by this site illustrates well the diversity of this class of monument. The monument at Foxtwist comprises a small homestead moated site, additionally enclosed on three sides by an outer moat, and also adjacent fishponds and connecting channels. The monument includes a raised grass covered island c.31m x 18m possessing faint traces of the foundations of a cottage and the remains of a small orchard. Surrounding the island is an inner moat c.6m wide x 2m deep, waterlogged on the W side where it has formed a pond. Access to the island is from the SW via a well made causeway 3m wide with flanking ditches. A dry outer moat extends around the NW, N and E sides and was fed by a waterlogged pond on higher ground some 90m to the E linked by a channel now much reduced by ploughing. A dry channel, now utilised as a modern field boundary, runs NE-SW adjacent to the E side of the inner moat. Close to the SE corner of the inner moat this channel broadens and deepens and continues S for some 85m before turning W to link with a dry rectangular fishpond c.47m x 12m x 1m deep. William de Foxwist lived in the manor house at the site in the early 13th century. This was dismantled in 1357 and re-erected in Macclesfield where it served as the Market Hall. A new structure was erected on the moated site and this passed by marriage to the Duncalf family, eventually being sold to the Leghs of Adlington in 1609 who have owned the site ever since. By the end of the 17th century a small cottage had been built on the site. This building was demolished c.1920."

Top o' th' Hill

Top o' th' Hill

Antique and very dry. Two ditches exist the inner and deeper is at least 4 or 5 feet deep in parts with a squarish inner raised part which could have had fortification (I assume). I don't know if any archaeology has been practised here but it is an intriguing relic of indeterminate age and purpose.