The White House

The cellars of the house are medieval and there is a theory that they are connected to the Church by an underground passage, now bricked up, which was used by smugglers. The back of the house is sixteenth century, but the front white painted brick elevation was added in the early nineteenth century. In 1851 it was occupied by Henry Barden, who is described as a Steward, presumably at Hall Place. At that time it was owned by Humphrey Constable and was sold on his death to Thomas Baily in 1867. After its purchase by Samuel Morley it became the residence of Mr. Maxted, the Minister at Leigh Chapel.

The 1841 Tithe Map shows that all the lower part of The White House garden was open ground included in the triangle by the bus stop and the path to Church Hill started opposite Orchard House. On 5th October 1852 Thomas Baily proposed to the Vestry that the brick wall that he was building between the Park and the High Street be extended and that there should be a straight pathway from the road to the churchyard gate. This was agreed and the wall was extended to the stone and brick pillar on the corner by Church hill, thus enclosing the lower part of The White House garden.

It was formerly known as Park Cottage and The Rev. Bill Simmons remembered that when you went in the front door there was a small lounge on the right and the dining room was on the left. Leading off the kitchen where the family ate was a tool room where his grandfather worked. He was Arthur Sales, the Hall Place Engineer. Kath Fautly remembered working there as a cook.