A historic manor house in one of Stockport’s most idyllic villages is currently on the market, and we’re a little bit obsessed with it.
The only thing is, you’ll just need the small matter of £1.6 million before it’s yours.
Of course, it goes without saying that the vast majority of people reading this article won’t have £1.6 million just sitting in their bank account, and that properties of this size and stature are not the kind we’ll ever get to call home, so the next best thing we can do is just snoop around on good old Rightmove and have a nosey at all the jaw-dropping pictures instead.
Like us, if you’ve got no shame in admitting that one of your favourite internet pastimes is looking up houses you can’t afford in places you’ll probably never live, then allow us to introduce you to this absolute stunner.
We’re talking Georgian manor with six bedrooms, a separate annexe, picturesque views of the surrounding countryside, and described as being “truly distinctive”, kind of ‘stunner’.
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And, surprisingly, it’s only in Stockport… yes, Stockport.
This stunning manor house in Stockport is surrounded by countryside and on the market for £1.6m / Credit: Julian Wadden
This is Lower Hall.
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Located in Mellor – which is one of the borough’s most affluent and sought-after neighbourhoods that’s known for combining the best of rural living, while still being conveniently close to a wide range of amenities, excellent local schools, and transport links across Greater Manchester and beyond – estate agents say the six-bedroom home is nothing short of an “exquisite landmark residence”, and has so much to offer prospective buyers.
Tucked away behind the gates of a private sweeping driveway and nestled within expansive grounds, Lower Hall boasts generously-proportioned living spaces that are both brimming with character, and adaptable for modern life at the same time.
The main house itself is filled with beautiful Georgian period features throughout, including a grand entrance porch and hallway adorned with stone flooring, original bannisters, vaulted ceilings, sash windows, and roaring open fireplaces.
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It’s located in one of Stockport’s most sought-after and affluent villages / Credit: Julian Wadden
A bespoke fitted kitchen with wooden units and elegant granite worktops, formal dining and sitting rooms looking out onto the manicured gardens, a cosy snug with its own fireplace, a practical ‘boot room’, and an absolutely jaw-dropping garden room with plants draping from the ceilings, are just some of the stand-out living spaces on the ground floor.
When you make your way up one of the two staircases leading to the first floor, here is where you’ll find the six spacious bedrooms – including the master double bedroom which has open vaulted ceilings and built-in wardrobes.
The property boasts several en-suites, downstairs WCs, and a large bathroom fit for all the family.
Adjacent to the main house is the separate self-contained annexe, which offers up its own sitting room, an extended garden room, a kitchen, and a shower room on the ground floor, with a double bedroom on the first floor.
The property is brimming with original Georgian period features throughout / Credit: Julian Wadden
The outside of the property is just as impressive as the inside too.
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As mentioned, a grand gated driveway meanders from Church Road through the property’s grounds to a spacious parking area suitable for several vehicles to the rear.
The front formal gardens offer what estate agents call “captivating countryside vistas”, while the rear gardens feature lawned areas and patio seating spaces, which make ideal spots to entertain guests, or just to sit and bask in the summer sunshine.
Lower Hall is currently on the market with Stockport-based independent estate agents, Julian Wadden, for a whopping £1.6 million, and if you fancy taking a closer look, then you can contact the property company to arrange a viewing.
Or you could just take the cheaper route instead and have a nosey at the Rightmove link here.
Featured Image – Julian Wadden
Property
Council calls on Manchester public to help bring hundreds of empty homes back into use
Emily Sergeant
Residents across Manchester are being called on to help bring hundreds of empty homes across the region back into use.
Since the beginning of this year, a major review has been underway around the city’s draft strategy for bringing empty homes back into use to help meet demand for affordable homes across the city, while also improving communities by tackling empty homes that can blight an area… but now, Manchester City Council needs your help.
Following a major public consultation, the Council is now acting on feedback to accelerate plans to bring as many long-term empty homes back into active use as possible.
Although the number of long-term empty homes in Manchester is near a historic low, with the Council having managed to reduce the number by more than half since 2013, there is still more work to be done.
“Every void property is a missed opportunity to provide a family a place to live, reduce homelessness, and lessen the burden on temporary accommodation,” the Council said in a statement.
The Council is calling on the Manchester public to help bring hundreds of empty homes back into use / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
So, how can residents help then? What do you need to do if you spot an empty home on a street nearby?
Well, the easiest way to report an empty home is to report the issue online here, or by emailing [email protected]. And then once that’s done, a team of dedicated empty homes officers will take up the case to find out who owns the property and work with the owner on a plan to bring the home back into use.
The vast number of empty homes are privately owned with complex histories, and there are some cases where an owner may have passed away.
While working collaboratively with housing providers, voluntary organisations and public services are also a key element of detecting potentially empty or ‘problematic’ homes to repurpose them.
Officers can also support, where required, if a communication or language poses a barrier to resolving an empty home issue.
Tailored approaches to different communities – where empty homes impact neighbourhoods in different ways – are also being considered, according to the Council.
“To think, if we could bring all empty homes back into use, then we could provide more homes for those on the housing register and take pressure off the whole housing system,” explained Cllr Gavin White, who is Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development.
“The potential of making empty homes a thing of the past is huge for Manchester families looking for a place to call home – and a significant part of tackling the housing crisis.”
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
Property
Much-loved Manc music shop Tasty Records goes up for sale as owners calls on next custodians to take over local favourite
Danny Jones
Much-loved Greater Manchester record and music store Tasty Records has officially closed, and the current custodian is putting the Trafford institution up for sale in hopes that someone will take over as worthy successors.
What an opportunity for any budding entrepreneurs.
The Alty record shop in its current brick-and-mortar form has stood for some time now, but popular owner Ben Molesworth has been selling physical media from 2012 onwards, and now his time at the helm of the hailed south Manchester spot has come to a somewhat bittersweet end.
A bit of a local legend with regulars who frequent and flick through his coveted vinyl collection, not just on Record Store Day but throughout the year, the area will be sad to see him go – and so will we – but it doesn’t mean this has to be the end.
“The shop deserves more than I can give it, and I have sold records in Altrincham for 14 years”, he explains, before going on to add that “It’s time for me to concentrate on different things.
“What happens now?” he continues, “Keep following! I’m not sure yet. I have closed the doors, but everything is still there… A busy website, Discogs, socials, a strong set of accounts and £ks of great vinyl stock.”
You’d think with a sales pitch like that, it would be a no-brainer for audiophiles who’ve ever dreamt of spending their days cataloguing their favourite tunes and artists, whilst providing a still criminally unsung public service: delivering printed music to the masses.
With more than a decade and a half of experience to his name, we’re sure Ben has plenty of wisdom to impart about how to take good care of his baby moving forward – he just needs some to set up to the plate/turntable.
As saturated as the Manc music market and record store scene is, it was also comfortably on this list pretty much since day one.
All that being said, part of the challenge for any independent business is getting the word out, hence why we thought we’d help do our bit by shouting about it.
He signed off by adding: “Thank you to all of my wonderful customers, friends and supporters. Tasty Recordsisn’t dead, only sleeping. Lots of love, Ben.”
For anyone who might fancy taking over this “awesome little record shop” (his words AND ours), you can express your interest/table an offer over email via [email protected].
What an honour it would be to carry on this place’s legacy – here’s hoping someone takes up the mantle soon.
Emily Sergeant -
14th May 2024 
