The grand house in Poynton was variously known as Poynton Castle, Poynton Hall, Poynton Lodge and Poynton Towers.
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| Poynton Hall c 1795 |
The earliest record of Poynton is from 1289 as a manor. This was held by Sir John De Warren (c1384-7). The first Poynton Hall was built between 1548 and 1552 by his descendant, Edward Warren. The house was flanked by a pair of imposing towers and a bridge to keep out the deer. The driveway was lined by 27 lime trees.
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| Poynton Hall 1760 |
The Hall was inherited by Sir George Warren in 1737 at the age of 2 years. When he married Jane Revell in 1758, he acquired a fortune of £130,000. Jane was under age and a marriage to the Third Duke of Bridgewater, her guardian, had been agreed. She, and Warren however, eloped to Scotland where they married.
George Warren (1735 - 1801) improved the estate and rebuilt the house although the towers were retained and he employed John Metcalf to build a new road. He also extended his property by adding farms and common land. He created the Poynton Pool and in 1791 bought the Worth Estate from the Downes family of Overton Hall in Taxal. He was instrumental in developing the local coalfield.
The estate passed to his daughter Elizabeth who married Lord Thomas Bulkeley. He succeeded to the manors and took the name Warren, They were philanthropic and provided land for St Thomas' Church and a National School. Homes and shops for their employees' were built.
The couple died childless and the estate passed to Elizabeth's niece, Frances Warren. Lady Vernon. They continued to be charitable giving land for Stockport Infirmary, Norbury Church and the Grammar School. Their estate and mines manager was a quaker who cared for his workers and paid good wages.
Whilst the village prospered, the hall fell into neglect. George Warren had lived abroad and mining encroached into estate lands. By 1841 the tenant was Samuel Christy, of hatmaking fame.
In 1850, the Vernons sold the manorial and market rights to Stockport Corporation.
The Hall was again rebuilt and included tennis and croquet lawns, a cricket pitch and a kitchen garden. Later, electric lighting and central heating were installed. The Christys remained until 1883 and then it was the home of the Dowager Lady Vernon followed by Rear Admiral Anson.
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The property, now known as Poynton Towers, was sold in 1911 to Walter Hodgkinson of Hollins Mill in Marple and then in 1926 to Walter Torkington, another hatter.
Plans to turn the house into a country club fell through and it was demolished in 1936.
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| 1897 Ordnance Survey Map |
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