It’s not every day you come across a residential moated house in Greater Manchester.
Yeah, we know they exist, we’re not that naive… but it’s hardly a common occurrence in our region in this day and age, is it? Let alone the country as a whole – especially ones that members of the public can just buy like they would do any normal house on the market and live out their fairytale fantasy dreams in.
That’s why you’ll have to forgive us for getting a bit perplexed when we came across Gidlow Hall, deep in the Wigan countryside (yes, that is a thing), on Rightmove.
Now, before you get carried away, unfortunately this house is sold – but that doesn’t mean we still can’t have a nosy inside, right?
This is Gidlow Hall / Credit: Jackson Stops
Gidlow Hall is described by estate agents as being an ‘enchanting’ five-bedroom moated house in a fairytale setting with beautiful views that dates all the way back to the 16th Century, and it’s been lovingly restored by the current owners while still preserving all its original character and charm.
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The exceptional Grade II-listed property is set within about 7.41 acres of land, including landscaped gardens, its very-own paddock, and a large lake.
The house is textbook Tudor from the outside, but on the inside, it has evolved into a beautifully renovated residence with a long and rich history, and thanks to its heritage listing, the original character of the property has largely remained intact – with all modern interventions, like the bespoke hand-crafted kitchen and large side extension, seamlessly integrated.
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The stunning Grade II-listed farmhouse in rural Wigan has an actual moat around it / Credit: Jackson Stops
Grand double doors from the side extension lead out to a stunning garden room, which has an original stone floor, and there’s also a large barrel-vaulted cellar underneath.
Then stepping upstairs, the house features a dual-aspect master bedroom with a vaulted ceiling, French doors that open to a terrace, a bespoke-fitted dressing room, and an ensuite, as well as four other generously proportioned bedrooms and a lovely family bathroom.
As mentioned, Gidlow Hall is just as impressive outside as it is inside… if anything, more impressive.
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The residence is reached by a small no-through lane with an electrically gated entrance, and from this, a tree-lined sweeping drive leads to a stone bridge and moat that encircle the Hall’s parterre gardens and terrace.
As you can see, there truly is no other property like this currently on the market here in Greater Manchester, and although it’s already been spanned up, you can still view it online.
Derelict Manchester office block to become ‘vital’ accommodation for homeless families
Emily Sergeant
A derelict former office block in Manchester is set to become vital accommodation for homeless families in the region.
Manchester City Council has announced that, subject to planning approval, new temporary accommodation for dozens of homeless families will be created on the site of a derelict former office block in south Manchester, off Nell Lane in Chorlton.
The Council acquired the 1.1 acre site last month with the support of the Government’s Local Authority Housing Fund.
The initiative – which is part of wider plans to boost the city’s stock of quality temporary accommodation – will see self-contained two-bedroom accommodation created for around 55 homeless families built where former NHS offices, Mauldeth House, currently stand.
Mauldeth House has been empty for several years now at this point, and had become somewhat of a ‘blight’ on the neighbourhood, attracting anti-social behaviour along the way and being targeted by squatters – but with the plans for the new accommodation, this could change for the better.
The site, and therefore the new accommodation, is said to be ‘ideally located’ for families, as it’s close to shops, schools, public transport, leisure facilities, and Chorlton Park.
The new accommodation will see families supported by a specialist team based on site to help them move on as quickly as possible into permanent settled tenancies, which is, of course, the long-term goal for many.
The Mauldeth House initiative is cited as being one example of the Council’s drive to increase its temporary accommodation stock across the city to reduce the number of out-of-area placements.
Other successful examples of this initiative include Mariana House in Whalley Range, and The Poplars in Rusholme.
It also comes after it was announced last month that homeless children in Greater Manchester, particularly those who are placed in temporary accommodation out of area for their school, will now get free bus travel to and from school.
“Mauldeth House is a great example of how we can put derelict properties to good use to benefit those experiencing homelessness, as well as making our neighbourhood look better,” explained Deputy Council Leader, Cllr Joanna Midgley.
“We are tackling homelessness on many fronts, the most important one being prevention, but we also need an increased supply of good quality temporary accommodation within the city so that if people do become homeless they are not uprooted from their social support networks.
“One of the ways we are doing this is through the innovative use of existing sites whether they are council owned or we are able to acquire them, as in the case of Mauldeth House.”
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
Property
The plans to build 107 new homes in Manchester city centre – including affordable housing
Daisy Jackson
A new community of homes – including affordable housing – is on the way to Manchester city centre.
Fresh new images have been unveiled of Ferrous, a brand-new 107-home rental scheme that will be built in Piccadilly East later this year.
The new development from Capital&Centric will include 15% affordable housing, as well as a new pocket park.
The new scheme is partly thanks to a £1.6m investment from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which will see a previously underused brownfield site regenerated.
The site near Manchester Piccadilly was previously owned by Transport for Greater Manchester.
Although the planning consent didn’t require an affordable housing, Capital&Centric has committed to delivering around 15% of the new homes as affordable.
Alongside the pocket park, there’ll be a small kiosk designed as a launchpad for an independent food or drink operator.
Piccadilly East was named by The Sunday Times as one of the UK’s most up-and-coming places to live, thanks to developments like Crusader Mill and Neptune Mill, plus the landmark ‘Jenga’ Leonardo Hotel.
Tom Wilmot, Joint Managing Director at Capital&Centric, said: “The GMCA funding is helping unlock new homes on a challenging city centre site while allowing us to deliver affordable homes as part of the scheme.
“We’ve also carved out space for greenery and an independent operator because small pockets of public space make a massive difference. In a post-industrial city you have to go big on planting. Kampus showed that and we want to create a mini version here.”
Construction on Ferrous is expected to start later this year with completion anticipated in 2028.
Emily Sergeant -
10th November 2025 
