Stood on the western edge of
the Simpson Clough. Until the end of the 16th century the
mansion of Grislehurst rested in seclusion.
Ralph Holt obtained the estate
by marriage in 1449. The hall was a large half timbered
house with 13 hearths. The high fireplaces had chimney
place beams that were carved with armorial crests. Now
hardly any evidence remains at Gristlehurst farm. The house
had gables ends and long casements (hinged window). Grizelhurst
had 127 acres (if calculated as a customary acre, which was not necessarily
the statute acre of 4,840 square yards thoughout Britain, but often a
variable unit known as the customary acre, in lancashire, it
amounts to 250 statute) of pasture and 42 acres of timber.
Francis Holt of Grislehust
was high sheriff of Lancashire in 1575. The Holts of
Gristlehurst married well thus this gave them a position
and rank not enjoyed by the elder branches of the house.
The estate was held by heirs and was squandered away by
Thomas Postumus Holt by 1679.
To read more about the Holts of
Gristlehusrst, Click here
for a chapter of local family history. A letter with details of the
ancestry of Chief-Justice Holt is interesting to read
Articles from the Bury Times looking at the
archeological dig to find Gristlehurst Hall.
A new archaeological dig took place in 2008 by the Bury Archaeological Group.The excavations
revealed the foundations of a stone and timber building ancillary to the hall dating
from the early 16th century. Possibly built by Sir Thomas Holt when he replaced the
medieval house. The dig found a wine bottle seal from a mid 17th century context.
It bears a stylized Holt of Gristlehurst crest -
a hand holding an inverted ptieon and the initials T.H which we take to refer to
Thomas "Posthumous" Holt who died virtually intestate near Tattenhall in Cheshire in 1679.
Photo taken by Bury Archaelogical Group
A re-used stone built into the north gable of the
present farmhouse. The initials FH probably belong to Francis Holt who died
in 1604.
In the location of the orginial Gristlehurst Hall
stands today the building below.