Baguley Hall, a striking medieval manor house and rich part of Manchester’s cultural heritage, is now up for sale and is said to be one of the region’s oldest buildings.
Historic Baguley Hall was built all the way back in the 1300s and nearly 900 years later, this majestic Manc structure is still standing and has now been put on the market in an effort to preserve its future for generations to come.
Featuring a great hall built from ‘unusual’ timber, tall mullioned windows that hark back to the centuries gone by and a renewed stone slate roof, it’s quite the landmark.
Once a manor house, then thought to have been turned into a farmhouse and now simply sat unused, you can practically see the history.
It’s after the family of the same name. (Credit: Colliers)
Put up for sale by property firm Colliers, they are now inviting offers for people to buy the freehold or start a lease on the 14th-century gem located not too far from Manchester Airport.
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With Historic England – the public body that helps maintain and celebrate some of the nation’s most beloved buildings and cultural sites – having recently completed a number of repairs, the hope is that Grade I-listed buildings won’t just be kept intact but given a whole new lease of life.
Situated on a two-acre plot in a popular residential area, it’s considered one of the finest halls in the North West, and plans to further revitalise the space with new functions have already been floated.
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There’s even talk of transforming the space into a food-based pub (with or without bedrooms), a boutique hotel, an events centre and various other possibilities open to interested parties.
It has a medieval north wing, remodelled in the 17th century, a 16th-century porch and an early 17th-century south wing.
Will Tait, Associate Director in Colliers’ Licensed and Leisure team, who is handling the sale commented: “Baguley Hall is a fantastic opportunity to acquire a truly special historic building. We think it is well-suited, because of its layout and location, for various uses, including hospitality.
“Historic England is seeking to transfer the freehold or a long leasehold to a company that will restore and operate the building in a sympathetic way, in keeping with its grade I listing, and will enable the public to access it on at least an occasional basis.”
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Catherine Dewar, North West Regional Director at Historic England, added: “Baguley Hall is a South Manchester historic gem. Standing for nearly 900 years, it boasts the most incredible great hall with tall, mullioned windows and an unusual timber frame.
“We’re looking forward to working with Colliers to find prospective buyers or long-term tenants to find an exciting new use for this stunning site.” Here’s hoping someone will step in and carry on its legacy.
Greater Manchester could be getting a new town under ‘ambitious’ Government housebuilding programme
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester could be getting a new town under an ‘ambitious’ proposed Government housebuilding programme.
Manchester Victoria North is one of seven new towns that have been proposed.
Named for consideration as part of what the Government is referring to as the most ambitious housebuilding programme in more than half a century, the locations of seven new towns have been revealed this week, and also include other northern locations like Leeds South Bank, as well as places in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, and Greenwich.
The Government says that the next generation of new towns are to be ‘built for the future from the ground up’.
They will create well-connected new communities with homes, jobs, schools, green spaces, and suitable transport links planned from the start.
Each proposed location is expected to deliver at least 10,000 homes – with several delivering 40,000 or more in the decades to come.
Greater Manchester could be getting a new town / Credit: Manchester City Council
All seven of the proposed new towns are set to be designed for modern everyday life, the Government insists – with neighbourhoods that people can easily get around without a car, incorporating shared green spaces and ‘vibrant’ high streets.
As part of the Manchester Victoria North proposals announced this week, at least 15,000 homes regenerating the heart of Greater Manchester are to be built, with a new Metrolink stop connecting residents to jobs across the city.
“People want real change,” explained Housing Secretary, Steve Reed. “They want homes they can afford, local infrastructure that works, and good jobs in thriving communities.
“Our next generation of new towns marks a turning point in how we build for the future.
“From the ground up, we’re planning whole communities with homes, jobs, transport links, and green spaces designed together, so we can give families the security and opportunities they deserve.”
Alongside the new towns consultation, the Government has also confirmed today that the National Housing Bank will launch on 1 April, backed by up to £16 billion of financial capacity and aiming to deliver over 500,000 new homes.
The Government has also confirmed additional support worth up to £400 million over the next decade for ‘subsidised products’.
Featured Image – James Feaver (via Unsplash)
Property
Altrincham named one of the UK’s best places to live in 2026 in The Sunday Times’ annual ranking
Emily Sergeant
A popular Greater Manchester town has been named among the UK’s best places to live by the Sunday Times in its annual ranking.
That’s right… it’s that time of year, once again.
The Sunday Times is known for pulling together a list of what it considers to be the most sought-after places to live in the UK every year, and 2026’s ranking has officially been published today – with dozens of locations across the country making up the comprehensive guide, and six of those coveted locations being right here in the North West.
The Sunday Times’s expert judges have visited all locations on the list, and assessed factors such as schools, transport, culture, broadband speeds, access to green spaces, the health of the high streets, and much more to devise the always-talked-about annual ranking.
Macclesfield in Cheshire, Eden Valley in Cumbria, Lancaster in Lancashire, and Aigburth in Liverpool are just some of the North West areas named by the publication in the 2026 list.
Altrincham has been named one of the best places to live in the UK / Credit: The Manc Group
A spotlight has also been shone on two Greater Manchester towns, and one of two has even been given the regional North West title… but which are they?
Where has taken the top spot as the best place to live in the North West for 2026, and is therefore one of the best places to live in the whole of the country? Well, that honour has been given to none other than Greater Manchester’s very-own Altrincham.
The publication described the Trafford town as ‘classy, cool and effortlessly comfortable’.
“Altrincham is a top-notch town brimming with independent businesses and big brands, and now it’s flying even higher,” The Sunday Times said.
The fact that co-working has now arrived on the high street thanks to the conversion of the old Rackhams department store, and that the town’s cultural and creative ‘cachet’ is also on the rise, have been highlighted as reasons as to why Altrincham has been chosen as the North West’s winner, as well its newly-flourishing fitness scene.
Of course, the town has also been praised for its transport links into Manchester city centre and across the region, as well as it being a great place for families thanks to the excellent local schools on offer.
Didsbury was the other Greater Manchester town chosen to represent the best of the North West – with the Manchester suburb described as being ‘stylish, solid, safe, and, yes, a little bit smug in parts… but that’s okay’.
Danny Jones -
26th May 2024 
