Monument record 7057/2 - Park and Gardens at Abbeyfields

<1> Cheshire Gardens Trust, 2011 onwards, Research and Recording Report, Abbeyfields (Report). SCH6655.

The house was almost wholly rebuilt in 1817. The grounds adjacent were laid out under the direction of John Webb (see 3).

Maps dating from 1819 – 1830 (see 4 & 5) show extensive parkland, with one drive approaching the house from the east, and a stream running north-south. However, the Bryant Map of 1831 (see 11) shows changes associated with a designed landscape. Although the Parkland area is reduced from the north, five lines of field boundary trees are shown running north from the house to Middlewich Road, the central line possibly indicating a new drive. Clearly defined tree groups are evident to the east of the house and on either side of the curving drive. A lake is present to the south and a rectangular enclosure shown to the south of the stabling/out-offices implies a walled garden.

Sale Particulars dated 31 July 1872 (see 6) list the Mansion of Abbeyfield with picturesque a park of about 60 acres which included: plantations, stabling Out-offices, gardens, ornamental grounds and water, a lodge and gamekeeper’s cottage (neither shown on the accompanying plan).

The accompanying plan shows three drives to the house, one straight from the front of the house running north (to Middlewich Road), one running from the east, past the stabling and out-offices, to join the third curving drive, which ran east from the house only to turn south-east for Wheelock Road. There are clear views from the house across farmland to the north (also important aspect from the balcony), west and south.

Burdett’s 1777 map shows no built development but includes substantial woodland extending in a belt from Middlewich/Abbey Roads, west to the Wheelock Canal (see 2).

Greenwood’s map of 1819 (see 4) shows the Abbey Field Estate as parkland with individual trees bounded by Abbey Road, Middlewich Road and Giddy Lane (now Park Lane). Three central buildings are accessed by one curving drive from Crewe Road. There are two large tree groups, north and west, of the buildings. The narrow belt of trees on the east side of Abbey Road, beyond the Middlewich Road junction, appears to be a remnant of the woodland on Burdett’s 1777 map (see 2).

Swire and Hutchings’ map of 1830 (see 5) shows the north east area depicted as park land with two rectangular areas of clear farmland to the north east and south west but no field boundaries. The curving drive to the house is shown.

Bryant’s 1831 map (see 11) depicts the parkland as slightly smaller, now bounded by Abbey Road to the west and Giddy Lane to the east – open areas not shown. It includes a lake with stream and six tree groups to the south of the house. The size and form of the house is unclear, an open area which could be a walled garden appears to the south of the house and five rows of trees, presumably field boundaries in farmland to the north. ‘Hinde Heath Farms’ are depicted to the south.

The 1836-51 Sandbach Tithe award (see 7) records the owner of the house and gardens as Charles Ingram Ford (grandson of John). The orchard and a further garden’s owner is named as Francis Ingram Ford. Abbey Field House is shown on the accompanying map (see 7) with extensive outbuildings and the walled garden is apparent. Tree groups depicted to the north and east of the house, and around the lake. Two drives shown approaching the house from the east.

The remaining drive is on the line of the straight route from Park Lane as shown on Tithe map 1841 (see 7). Tarmac with mainly timber fencing, however a short length of old low brick retaining wall with stone block coping survives on the north side. Where the drive forks right to the front of the house and left to the stables (cobble paved) it is divided by a high, curving brick wall with timber door. The wall appears shortened and stepped, with thin stone coping and an end stone appearing imported from elsewhere. At this point drive is flanked by two Yews and other tree groups to the north and east of the house and drive contain mature conifers, all appropriate in age to those listed in Alcock’s invoice of 1865 (see 8). The tree groups here enclosed by iron estate railings c1800’s; part of the original designed landscape. The line of the drive running north-south to Middlewich Rd is now marked by a farm track starting at the Lodge and stopping short of the house.

The Lake, with an island, is in good condition. On the peninsula within the two arms of the lake is the grave of John Ford’s favourite horse (marked with a stone). A level area on the lakes west bank is the site of a boat house demolished in the 1960’s. Several trees appear to date back to the period of the designed landscape and possibly before. Views out across farm land under tree canopy include the two large mature tree clumps to the east, being remnants of planting first in evidence on Bryant’s map of 1831 (see 11) and likely to be part of the designed landscape.

A rhomboidal walled garden, as shown on Bryant’s map of 1831 (see 11), with two timber gates, one opening into the garden to the rear (south) of the house and one opening towards the lake. Brick wall with short stone copings, in fair condition, on three sides. A lean-to glasshouse on the southern wall of the building survived into the twentieth century, but is now gone. Original use appears to have been as kitchen garden. Alcock’s invoice (see 8) of 1865 which lists salads, vegetables, trained fruit trees including Peach, Nectarine, Cherry & Pear and Melon seeds – this latter implying the presence of a heated glass house/melon pit or stove. The area is currently mown/grazed grassed with three central fruit trees and some shrubs lining the walls.

The south facing garden at the rear of the house is enclosed on one side by the walled garden and on two sides with iron estate railings c1800’s with two gates of differing design. The whole house now ringed by mature trees, with minor new planting, but views out over farmland can be seen under their canopies.

The structure of the walled garden and the lake appear unchanged from the original design attributed to John Webb, and are in good condition. The mature tree groups continue to provide the house with a parkland setting framing views out across open fields, and feature strongly in views to the listed house.

<2> Burdett, P. P., 1777, A Survey of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH113.

<3> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, v.III p.100 (Book). SCH1389.

<4> Greenwood, C. & Greenwood J., 1819, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2115.

<5> Swire, W. & Hutchings, W. F., 1830, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2116.

<6> Unknown, 1872, Sale Particulars of the Abbeyfield Estate (Paper Archive). SCH7190.

<7> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 351/2a 1841 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

<8> Allcock, J, 1865, John Allcock and Sons Invoice, DJW1/78 (Paper Archive). SCH6853.

<9> Ordnance Survey, 1881-2, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 6 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ76 1882 (Maps and Plans). SCH2474.

<10> Ordnance Survey, 1911-1914, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 6 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ76 1910-1911 (Maps and Plans). SCH3843.

<11> Bryant, A., 1831, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2114.

<12> Oxford Archaeology North, 2010, Land at Sandbach, Cheshire East, Archaeological Desk Based Assessment, No’s. 10, 11 p.25 (Client Report). SCH5386.

A south/north-aligned drive from Abbeyfields to Middlewich Road is marked on thefirst edition Ordnance Survey map of 1874 (see 9). An east/west aligned drive from Abbeyfields to Abbey Road is marked on the tithe map of 1841 (see 7). A track is shown on the tithe map of 1841 (see 7) which heads eastwards from a building (see CHER 7057/3) located to the north-west of Abbeyfields. The track converges with other tracks on the north-east side of Abbeyfields and continues to head south-eastwards where it eventually meets the road (Crewe Road). The western portion of the track is not shown on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1874 (see 9). The eastern portion of the track is shown on the mapping of 1911 (see 10), but not on Ordnance Survey maps dating from 1954.