Birchley Hall
| Birchley Hall | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Elizabethan |
| Town or city | Billinge |
| Country |
 England
|
| Completed | 1594 |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | sandstone |
| Floor count | 3 |
Coordinates: 53°29′31″N 2°42′58″W / 53.492°N 2.716°W
Birchley Hall is a grade II* listed Elizabethan house built in about 1594, in Billinge, Merseyside, England. It is situated in postcode WN5 7QL.
Birchley Hall was bought by Christopher Anderton of in about 1581. The present building was built by one son, James and extended by another son, Thurston in 1594. There is an inscription stone carved with 'TA 1594' on the front of the house, TA being attributed to Thurston. Thurston died in 1598 or 1599 and another brother, Christopher, lived at the Hall with his wife Anne Scarisbrick till 1613, when James died, and he inherited Lostock Hall. Another brother, Roger, lived at Birchley Hall till his death in 1640.
Birchley Hall, at this time, was in the county of Lancashire, which was a stronghold for Roman Catholics during their persecution during the reigns of Henry VIII, who destroyed and plundered many monasteries (much of their riches were given to Oxford University colleges), and Queen Elizabeth I. Catholics, especially priests, were driven underground and catholic literature was vigorously suppressed.
A secret Catholic printing press was set up at Birchley Hall, possibly in about 1604, by Thurstan, whose wife Norris of Speke was a Catholic, or recusant as they were known then. Roger Anderton more certainly ran a printing press from about 1613. About 19 titles are attributed to the Birchley Hall Press by the English Short Title Catalogue of the British Library.
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