In the early 14th century, the de la Warre family acquired the land through marriage. Thomas de la Warre refounded the church as a collegiate church in 1421.Hartwell, p.13 De la Warre gave the site of his manor house for the construction of a college,Hartwell, p.20 where eight priests, four clerks and six lay choristers lived in the care of a warden.Hartwell, p.14 It is likely that building began between 1424 and 1429,Hartwell, p.21 and the main hall and cloister rooms finished by 1458.Hartwell, p.43 It remains the most complete building of its kind in the country, and at the time of its construction, was the second largest building in Manchester, surpassed only by the church.
