The New Murrey and Blue blog

Even as a child, I was fascinated by Lyme Cage. It stands on high ground, and to a casual observer has no obvious purpose. I remember being told it was used as a prison for poachers – hence the name – but this was neither its primary nor original function. A mere glance at a structure tells you that. It’s far too grand to be a simple lock-up.

Its elevated position is a clue. Its original purpose was to enable ladies – I use the word in its original sense, not a patronising term for ‘women’ – to watch hunting parties as they rode about the estate in pursuit of deer – or whatever game animal was the target. It was also used for banqueting, but I think we can safely assume that refreshments were provided for these female gatherings of the Legh family and their cousins and friends. It was probably – in effect – a variety of picnic party, chiefly for women but perhaps also for those too young to hunt and for older chaps who were past riding about over the hills and down dale.

A very similar structure exists at Chatsworth, built for Bess of Hardwick and no doubt used in much the same way. This one is now available as a holiday home.

Both these buildings date from the late 1500s but there may well have been other examples. There is, for example, a district of Whitefield, near Manchester, called ‘Stand’. It is the highest part of the former Pilkington Park, which was the hunting ground of the Pilkington family and, after 1485, the Stanleys. It is said it has its name from a structure used by ladies to watch hunting in the Park. If true, it may have been part of the manor house, Stand Hall.

By coincidence, the Chatsworth example is situated in ‘Stand Wood.’

It would be interesting to know of other examples, especially medieval ones. It would be surprising if this practice was confined to just three locations, and I feel confident it was not.