Gawsworth Hall

Gawsworth Hall began as a Norman manor, though that early house was replaced in 1485 by a half-timbered manor built around a courtyard. The mound that once held the Norman house now boasts only the tiny chapel, built in 1369 and still in use, though it has been much remodeled, with stained glass by Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris.

The present house retains the Tudor half-timbering so often encountered in Cheshire houses, but the Elizabethan core has been heavily altered over the years.

The house was the home of the Fitton family, whose fortunes sunk when Mary Fitton was exiled from the court of Elizabeth I for her love affair with the Earl of Pembroke. The Virgin Queen seems to have been more upset that Mary became pregnant by the Earl, rather than they had an illicit affair. Mary Fitton has been proposed as the most likely candidate for Shakespeare's Dark Lady. A portrait of Mary as a child hangs amid scenes by Constable and Gainsborough.

In 1701 Gawsworth was the scene of the most famous duel fought in England. The Duke of Hamilton and Lord Mohun fought for the estate, and both men were killed.

Outside the house are remnants of the Elizabethan pleasure grounds which once extended to 30 acres. Included in those grounds are the remains of the Tudor tilting ground. In July and August the hall hosts regular outdoor theatre events.