Big Fenton, Congleton, Cheshire, U.k

Photo by Gary Tacagni

Big Fenton farm is a black and white half timbered house which has many legends attached to it. Legend has it that it was being carried through the air by Angels in search of a suitable spot for it, when they were frightened by the jagged edges of Bosley Cloud (hill in background) and in their fright they released the house. It fell to the ground on the crest of a small hill in the valley below the Cloud, the force of the impact caused the earth to split open, the Angels decided to fill this hole in the ground with water so that the house could see its reflection in this silver mirror. It was then that the house became known as Big Fenton, Fent meaning split.

Big Fenton has existed since at least the 17th century, and it was used as part of the setting for Beatrice Tunstall’s novel “The Dark Lady”, which was about the Fyttons of nearby Gawsworth, in her book it was known as “Silverpit”.

At one time there used to be a public footpath that went directly through the farmhouse, and where it exits at the back of the farmhouse there is a burial mound on the left by the doorstep, this is said to be the burial place of Shakespeares mistress, her ghost is said to haunt this spot and she is known as the Grey Lady.

When you look at the house from the side of the fent, the wing on the left contains a chapel, and writing can still be seen on the walls which appear to be written in Latin. On one side of the chapel outside there was a wooden structure very much like a pen, and on this was a very large bloodstain, said to have been there for centuries. It has been speculated that this pen held an injured person and this is where the bloodstain came from, perhaps he sought spiritual as well as physical healing in the chapel? There is a story that human sacrifices used to take place here a very long time ago, perhaps it has some connection to the nearby Catstones at the base of Bosley Cloud where people were sacrificed to the Goddess Catta?

Photo by Gary Tacagni

The photograph above shows the public right of way which allowed people to pass through the centre of Big Fenton.

Photo by Gary Tacagni

This is the dismounting block which is outside the front door, in the past you would dismount your horse here and lead it through the front door and follow the public right of way through the middle of the house!

Photo by Gary Tacagni

This photograph was taken in the chapel, ancient writing can still be seen on the wall which is thought to be in latin.

Photo by Gary Tacagni

This mound outside the back door of Big Fenton is said to be the burial site of Shakespeares mistress.

photo by Gary Tacagni

The photograph above shows the door leading onto the corridor which was used as a public right of way, note the ancient wooden latch, this would have been used to deny the public access to the rest of the house.