Landscape record 1763/2/0 - Carden Park

<1> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 20/25 Harrison W 1902 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

Carden Deer park. In existence in 1867.

<2> Shirley, E P, 1867, Some account of English deer parks, with notes on the management of deer, /204 (Book). SCH1108.

<3> Liverpool University Field Archaeology Unit, 1992, Proposed Carden Park Phase 3 Developments, Archaeological Impact Assessment., p. 8-9 (Client Report). SCH4216.

Desk-based assessment and field survey undertaken in 1992 in advance of the phase 3 development of Carden Park, Cheshire as a countryside leisure facility, including a golf academy. This study focused on the area affected by the academy which was field-walked in August 1992. Sandstone walls were observed in many areas of the estate and constitute a significant visual element in the landscape. A variety of constructional methods and styles are present and they appear to be largely 19th century in date. Two sandstone bridges crossing the Carden Brook were also recorded. One is located at SJ 4560 5412. It is built with finely tooled ashlar blocks and comprises a three course parapet over a string course which extends to square section posts with pyramidal coping at each corner. It is probably late 18th or early 19th century date. The second bridge is located at SJ 4554 5376. It is built with rusticated ashlar blocks and comprises a three course parapet over a string course which does not extend to the small corner pillars with pyramidal coping. The inner face of the parapet is marked 'June 7 1890' and the letters 'IHL' are incised on the keystone of the southern elevation of the arch. The keystone on the northern elevation is inscribed with the date '1865', it is thought that this may survive from an earlier bridge.

<4> Chester Archaeology, 1995, A Desk Based Archaeological Assessment of Carden Park (Client Report). SCH4793.

A desk-based assessment was undertaken in 1995 to examine the origins of Carden Hall and its estate prior to a proposed re-development of the site.

The historic map evidence possibly indicates that the creation of the park occurred in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth centuries, and the person responsible, potentially was William Leche. Although Carden Hall appears on Burdett's map of 1777, there is no mention of a park, nor is the avenue leading south from the hall depicted, as would be usual for Burdett. However, the park is shown on Greenwood's map of 1819. Its depiction is slightly smaller than on later maps, this is largely because the Farndon to Nantwich Turnpike road had not yet been built and the older road followed a slightly more southerly course. Swire and Hutchings' map of 1828/9 shows Carden Hall surrounded by parkland, although the extent is smaller than on later maps. The southern limit of the park at this date is immediately to the north of Home Farm. The Hall is shown with approach roads to the north and west, while to the south there is an avenue. Along the west side of Cardon Brook there is a strip of woodland stretching down to Stretton Mill. The parish boundary between Farndon and Tilston is also shown differently from its current location. Bryant's map of 1831 depicts Carden Park as a much more extensive unit. The woodland to the west of Cardon Brook has disappeared and the parkland extends beyond it, an ornamental lake lies to the west of the Hall and the southern boundary of the park is almost on the line of the Stretton Mill-Lower Cardon road. However, it appears that some of these changes may be due to inaccurate surveying.

In recent years Cardon Park has been heavily modified. The construction of a golf course in the eastern and southern sides of the park has cut swathes through woodland and created bunkers in formerly smoothly undulating ground. Prior to this the park had been in a stage of dereliction for some time and the eighteenth century features added to the westernmost cliff, including a low wall, steps and standing stones, were in a state of disrepair when ground-checked in 1991, although the Ha-ha was restored during the construction of the golf course.

<5> Sinclair A G M & Matthews K J, 1999, The English Hermit (Article in Journal). SCH4493.

Extent shown on Ist - 3rd edition OS maps. Owned by the Leche family. William Leche (1734-1817) rationalized the estate and was responsible for the creation of a 'Pleasure Garden' between 1765 -1778. This took the form of a meandering walk by a low cliff escarpment extending along the line of the sandstone ridge. Stone fittings such as steps, benches, a niche room cut in the rock , a possible grotto and a small folly in the shape of a stone circle survive beneath the undergrowth. After this the landscape park was created with plantations, a lake and avenue of trees.

<6> L - P Archaeology, 2002, Archaeological Impact Assessment of Land at Carden Park, Chester, R3933 (Client Report). SCH8133.

Archaeological impact assessment undertaken in advance of the development of land at Carden Park involving a new build on the site of the post medieval hall also landscaping of the grounds.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1896-98, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 6 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ 4554 1897 (Maps and Plans). SCH2472.

Extent of parkland shaded on this map.