Balderstone was in the manor
of Castleton. Eleanor, daughter of Henry de Balderstone,
married James Holt in 1414 and conveyed land he formerly
held to James when they had a house of some pretensions in
Balderstone. James Holt died without issue resulting in the
subdivision of land. Henry Holt, probably some relation of
James Holt, lived in the hall but he died without issue in
1520. John Holt who lived at Balderstone Hall died there in
1607. Later the hall passed to the Holts of Stubley. In 1626
a detailed survey of the Manor of Rochdale took place as the
King was considering selling it. One of the 9 freeholders in
Castleton was Charles Holt of Balderstone Hall.
The Holts were farmer-weavers and
Charles Holt farmed 30 acres around the hall which included
the kitchen meadow, crofts, rye fields, orchards, barns and
stables. Charles died in 1628 and his heir was his grandson
John. John’s son and heir was Richard Holt, a London merchant.
The hall was let in 1688 to Jonathan Wolfenden. The Holts
sold there estates to Timothy Whitehead in 1713.
The hall was demolished in 1967. To read more about
the Balderstone Hall click here.