Prior to the year 1840 Deyne Hall was the rectory house at Prestwich, and was situated in close proximity to the [victorian] residence built and occupied in 1840 by the Rev. Thomas Blackburne. As near as can be ascertained the Hall stood at a point midway between the Rev. Blackburne's residence in Rectory Lane and the entrance gate from Rectory Lane, and on the side of the house not shown in the picture were a number of beech trees and ornamental lakes that greatly enhanced its appearance.

Of great antiquity, it was a half-timbered structure built in the "frost and petrel" style [JonB:-a corruption of frost (upright) and poutrelle (cross-beam) the walls filled with "wattle and daub"] which ceased about the reign of Henry VIII (1509-1547), and on its removal traces were discovered of it having once extended considerably beyond its later limits.

Originally designed in the form of a square or figure bearing resemblance to the letter H, with cloisters being carried round the sides of the edifice it possessed an unusually spacious entrance hall which, though out of place in the last century, was certainly in keeping with its original style and size. One of its main features was to be found on a beam in the upper chamber where the arms of Edward Kenyon, rector in 1659, were still visible when the house was eventually demolished. As a matter of interest the arms were "sable, a chevron engrailed or between three crosses flory, argent, differenced by a crest." About the year 1642 the rector, Izaac Allen, was forcibly removed from his living by Civil War rebels who pulled down between ten and fourteen bays of the building. It is possible that the damage sustained was never fully repaired, and that would therefore account for the discovery in 1840 of the extended limits.

1658

The word "Deyne" is derived from the Saxon word "den" meaning a deep woody dell or valley. That particular site had been the seat of the rectory for over 400 years, and an ancient deed of the time of Ralph Langley, rector in 1485, is dated from the "Deyne", and substantiates this claim.

Though the picture gives the date of the Deyne Hall's removal as 1837, it is unlikely that the Rev. Blackbourne would have ordered it's removal before occupying what was then his new residence, and since other sources give the date as 1840 there must remain the question of a firm date. There is little doubt however, that the hall certainly dated before 1659, and may probably have been over 300 years old at the time of it's removal.

Further Information

The earliest part of the building was the mid 15th century great hall, which stood in the very heart of the complex. Extending at right angles to either end of this - so as to create an H-shaped plan - were two wings. The essential arrangement of these was typical of medieval domestic design: the wing at one end of the hall would have contained the services - the kitchen, buttery and pantry - and there was a series of inner chambers for the family at the opposite end.  It can also just be seen from the etchings above, that there was a chamber overhanging the (possible) main entrance to the Hall (looks like it's propped up on stilts).
Looking at the sketch above, and noting the confluence of the paths, I think the Deyne Hall lay to the South East of the Victorian Rectory, and the later buildings respect the original alignment (very similar to the alignment of Agecroft Hall) see below....

The Old Deyne Hall was partially destroyed in the Civil War, losing 10 bays.

By the time of the Hearth Tax in 1666, the Deyne was listed as having 10 hearths.

Here is an extract from The Prestwich Terrier cica 1690.  Terriers are a written survey performed every few years, which act as a legal safeguard of each church's possessions and are often copied into the early Parish Registers and Bishop's 
Transcripts.

"Imprimis [foremost] the parsonage house called the Deyne 5 bay. The barn called the Barley Barn 5 bay. with an outhouse for a stable in the end of it. Stable for draught horses two bays. A barn in the Chiphill 5 little bays. The barn called the Great Barn 7 bays. The granary with a cowhouse under and a bay at one end for hay with a henhouse and a 
coat[cote] for swine in all 7 bays. A stable called the Common stables one bay. A garden, orchards walks and fould with the snow hill 4 acres. The cock glaory [gallery?] Etchills Little Etchills well meadow clough Damsteads Chiphills Whittacre 17 Acres."

The Deyne was finally demolished between 1837-1840, replaced by a Tudor style house, facing Rectory Lane.

The Second (Victorian) Rectory - now Rectory Gardens.

The Jacobean style sun dial (probably erected in the 1630's) has seen three rectories and now stands at the present Rectory - the tree has recently been removed providing the sunlight once again (but the dial has long sine gone).

  See the Overlay map for the location of the Victorian Rectory/Deyne. Note also that the Rectory was on the route between Heaton Hall and the Church - with the Church having an entrance porch at it's South East corner (replaced by the North Porch in 1895). 

The location of Deyne Hall, the Church and the centre of the village (1848).

map dated 1842-92

map dated 1915

By 1915 the ornamental ponds had been drained (by removal of a damn on the East side, and the Dingle (as it became known) started life as as a rifle range in 1911.  Note also the path across the dingle that may indicate an older and more direct path from the Deyne Hall to the Church. This crosses the diggel at the narrowest point and may have been crossed by a bridge.

The Dingle

The rifle range remained in use until 1923, and in 1927 the council bought the land from the Church and filled it in (by tipping) to construct St Marys Playing fields.

Jack Barrett of Prestwich Heritage Society 2003

Recent excavations by the Prestwich Heritage Society have discovered 20 metres of wall, a sandstone foundation with Medieval "herringbone" markings, and steps. All  beneath the foundations of the Victorian Rectory, indicating the continued occupation at this site.

This image shows the location of Deyne Hall with respect to the Clough, Church and Village.

You also get some idea of the landscaping that was performed when the playing field was constructed.