Monument record 1774/2 - Edge Park

<1> Turner R C, 1986, Edge - Notes on the Archaeological & Historic Landscapes (Unpublished Report). SCH1099.

The park and gardens around Edge Hall retain features dating from the medieval period to the present day. The medieval moat has been softened and incorporated into the garden and extensive walled gardens, dating back to the late seventeenth century, survive and are well maintained.

Running west of the hall are the remains of an early eighteenth century straight avenue of oaks. Some are original, some replanted and there are some gaps. It leads up to Edge Scar, a natural rock outcrop with a wide panorama to the west. This has been heightened by the construction of a raised terrace. It is about 4m wide, revetted with dry stone walling on both sides, and was formerly planted with trees, of which the stumps can still be seen. Many formal avenues and promenades were swept away by Capability Brown and his disciples and few survive. This is unusual in being a mixture of natural and man-made garden feature, from its orientation, may even have affected the alignment of the present house.

The remains of another avenue survives along the line of a foot path leading off the the southern approach to Edge Hall. There is evidence of a trackway linded by very mature oaks which enters Upper Wood and forms a Holloway across the steam valley, crosses over a stone foot bridge and leads out to a modern gateway. This would have provided a more direct approach to Dairy Farm and may indicate an earlier drive.

<2> IPC Media, 1897-Present, Country Life, Spetember 1936 p.6-11 (Newspaper-Magazine). SCH993.

'...The Hall was originally moated and fed by the waters of a spring which rose on Edge Green. The water was stored in the 'Broad Lake' and fed by sluices into the moat, as required, or into the 'Drain Hollow' and thence into Edge Brook. The moat and the lake were drained in 1788, but the site is still plain and much of the new north wing is situated in the old moat…'

'...The garden under Mr Wolley Dod's. care became world-famous and was a subject of pilgrimage for people from all quarters of the globe. During the Great War, however, the grounds were turned to various good uses and thus the glory of the famous gardens has passed away…'

Mr (Rev.) Wolley Dod was at Edge from 1869 until his death in 1905.

<3> Manchester Metropolitan University, 1995, Historic Cheshire Landscapes: Appendix 1 Selected Landscapes and Appendix 2 Full Inventory, Appendix 2 (Unpublished Report). SCH1356.

Gardens extended in the late nineteenth century by Revd. C Wotley.

<4> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.II p.684 (Book). SCH1389.

At the back is a park-like enclosure, ascending gently to a terrace, on the summit of a rocky eminence, well planted with trees, through the interstices of which the eye commands the higher Broxton and Bickerton hills behind, and in front, the Clwydian range, with loftier mountains above them, seen over the broad vale of Chester. On the right the estuaries appear in the distance, and on the left, is a boundless continuation of the magnificent vale below, broken in some places by the Montgomeryshire hills, and completely losing itself in the distance.

<5> Hartwell C, Hyde M, Hubbard E & Pevsner N, 2011, The Buildings of England: Cheshire (2011 revision), p.640 (Book). SCH7059.

Gardens all but lost. The Rev. Charles Wolley Dod created a well-known garden in the walled enclosure known as Broad Lake. Behind that was the walled garden.

<6> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 152/2, 1839 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

The large plot to the west of the house is named 'The Park Grounds'. The plot containing the house is described as 'Hall other Buildings, Yard, Gardens, Lawn, Shruberies and Pleasure Ground'.

<7> Bryant, A., 1831, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2114.

This map clearly depicts the hall and park. The park is clearly located to the south and west of the house.

<8> Greenwood, C. & Greenwood J., 1819, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2115.

Depicts the hall and park.

<9> Ordnance Survey, 1881-2, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 6 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, 1881-1882 (Maps and Plans). SCH2474.

This map clearly depicts the hall, park and associated features. The shading, indicating parkland, suggests the park has been extended to the north. Two fields, depicted as parkland on (7) are not depicted as parkland on this map.

<10> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 10/04/2018 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

The sub oval area, identified in the tithe award as the parkland and containing the probable early eighteenth century avenue and promanade, is the probable location of the park which pre-dates the later landscape park.

<11> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ4750, 1874 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

The partial avenue and promenade are clearly depicted.

<12> Cheshire Gardens Trust, 2015 - 2021, Cheshire Gardens Trust Research and Recording Chester City Reports, Edge Hall, 2023 (Unpublished Report). SCH9313.

Assigned a Draft significance of Locally Exceptional by the Cheshire Gardens Trust