Shotwick Hall

Shotwick Hall is a brick-built English country house with red sandstone quoins, a Welsh slate roof, and large chimneys arranged in an E-shaped plan across two stories. The property includes a square garden enclosed by brick walls with red sandstone dressings and gate piers positioned at regular intervals around its perimeter.

Joseph Hockenhull commissioned the construction of Shotwick Hall in 1662, replacing an earlier fortified manor house that stood approximately 150 meters to the west. This relocation reflected a shift toward a more open lifestyle, moving away from the need for defensive structures.

The interior staircase features carved balusters and a decorative plaster ceiling with fleur-de-lis and lion designs, reflecting the artistic tastes of its wealthy owners. These ornaments show how educated families displayed their status through fine craftsmanship.

The building and grounds are accessible from the surrounding fields and roads, making orientation straightforward for visitors exploring the property. The walled garden provides clear boundaries, with gate piers serving as helpful reference points when walking around the site.

A moated site marking the original fortified manor house location still exists and measures roughly 25 by 32 meters with raised earthworks. This archaeological remnant sits half a meter above ground level and is surrounded by a moat approximately 10 meters wide, clearly showing where the earlier defensive structure once stood.

Location: Puddington

GPS coordinates: 53.24130,-2.99426

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:40