'No archeological significance' - LCC's verdict on site housing last remaining structure of Priory estate
Hutton Parish Council has also submitted its views over the plans.
An archeological expert consulted over plans to demolish the last remaining structure associated with the Penwortham Priory estate, has given his opinion.
At the start of the month, the Post revealed how The Penwortham Priory Gatehouse - used as a house after being re-erected in Moor Lane, Hutton - was the subject of a planning application from the executors of its late owner’s estate.
Agent Robert Gifford Von Schiller made the permission in principle application on their behalf, to raze the building to the ground and build two homes in its place. His planning statement makes no reference to the historical nature of the building, nor does it give any indication of what would happen to material from the demolition.
Within 24 hours of the Post publishing the story, 60 objections had been lodged against the proposal on South Ribble Borough Council’s website. The figure is now more than 240 are registered online.
Now Lancashire County Council’s Historic Environment Team has submitted their thoughts to SRBC’s planning portal. A letter from Peter Iles Planning Officer (Archaeology), mentioned the building “is widely quoted to have been originally a gate lodge to Penwortham Priory, located on Penwortham Brow, and to have been dismantled and rebuilt on this site (Moor Lane) in 1912.”
He believes it is possible that the original lodge was designed by George Webster as part of the 1832 commission to rebuild the main Priory house for the Rawsthorne family, but has been unable to confirm this.
He says the building looks to originally have been trapezoidal in plan, but “appears to have been rebuilt on a rectangular plan”. He mentions that modern UPVC conservatory-type extensions have been erected at its north end and west side and that an oriel-style bay window seen at mid-height on the 1911 photograph “has either been completely lost or has been rebuilt in a modified form at the ground floor of the opposite end of the present building.”
He states that the west wall of the present building bears two blind 'arrow loop' features and above them a plaque with lion passant (the Rawsthorne's crest was a castle) and eroded motto scroll, commenting: “Whilst the 'arrow loops' are visible on the 1911 photograph, the site of the plaque is obscured with vegetation, and the original feature in that position may have been a window like that seen on the east side of the present building.”
Recommendation
Mr Iles concludes to SRBC: “There is no suggestion that the present site of The Lodge has any archaeological significance, and we are happy to defer to the expertise of your conservation advisors regarding the architectural and townscape value of the building. If demolition is to be permitted, we would, however, suggest that only a rapid photographic record of the architectural details of the building would be appropriate.”
Hutton Parish Council’s objection
Hutton Parish Council has also submitted a response to the plans - in objection.
A letter submitted by their clerk states that the building has an “immense history which should be considered as a heritage site and preserved as part of the local history of the area.”
It adds: “A formal National Listing application has already been submitted by a local resident (March 2026) which is now we understand being ‘fast tracked’ and a decision is hopefully expected shortly from Historic England in this respect. Even if this is not successful there still remains the distinct possibility of Local Listing by SRBC.
“We are aware that both Historic England and Growth Lancashire are consultees to this application and we trust that no decision to this application will be made until all consultee observations have been received and taken into account.
“Hutton Parish Council, support the 200 plus residents who have made their feelings known and who object to this application, which should be refused, since it would destroy forever the one significant remaining building that forms part of the heritage of the area.”