Site Event/Activity record ECH7120 - Bolesworth Castle - Research and Recording

Summary Survival: Good. Previous form: Picturesque Regency Gothic castle set against woodland backdrop of sandstone ridge with extensive westerly views over parkland with lake to Welsh hills. Ornamental gardens with terraces, seats, urns and a temple with statue; kitchen gardens with glasshouses. Lodges, gate piers and drives. Current form: The parkland and ornamental gardens remain intact but the walled former kitchen gardens now accommodate a large indoor hose arena and ménage, and an international horse arena with associated facilities has been constructed west of the lake. Draft Significance - Locally Exceptional History The original Bolesworth Castle was built in the 1750s by owner James Tilston. The dining room was altered in 1777 by Robert Mylne for John Crewe.. J.Calverley’s survey of 1788 records the house, gardens, drives and parkland whose layout Humble attributes to Mylne. No evidence has been seen to support this though as a civil engineer specialising in bridges and canal-works it seems likely that he was involved in creation of the lake and the bridge over it. In 1826 the property was acquired by George Walmesley who erected the present castle to the designs of William Cole, a pupil of Thomas Harrison of Chester.The Regency Gothic castle was situated picturesquely in the landscape with the sandstone ridge behind and the principal rooms enjoying extensive westerly views over the parkland to the Welsh hills. The works included new gate piers, walls and a new bridge c1830. The expenditure ruined Walmesley and in 1836 he was forced to sell. The property was purchased by Thomas Crallan. On his death in 1856 the property was bought by Robert Barbour, a Manchester cotton trader and banker, who engaged James Harrison of Chester to undertake estate improvements. Robert Barbour built several model farms and his son George Barbour continued to improve the estate. In 1919 Major Robert Barbour inherited Bolesworth. He engaged Clough Williams-Ellis to alter and modernise the castle. Clough Williams-Ellis also remodelled the garden with terracing, steps, an alcove seat and a small rotunda with a statue of Diana.A ‘modern Chinese style fretwork bridge’ provides access from the terrace gardens over the rear drive to The Rock, the woodland garden on the sandstone ridge behind the castle. The informal path passes a cave with a relief of a lion inside. 20th and 21st century work by the present owner include the planting of trees along the main drive 1995 and the installation of park rail fencing 2014; dredging the lake 2010 and renovation of the boathouse 2012; rhododendron clearance and the replanting of rhododendron and azaleas on the ridge above the castle. Between 2016 and 2020 the walled garden was changed to accommodate an Indoor Horse Arena, and an all weather equestrian arena was constructed within the parkland west of the lake together with tracks and car parking to facilitate the staging of international horse shows.