Monument record 4549/4/0 - Backford Hall: Gray's Park and Garden

A nineteenth century gentleman’s residence constructed on the site of two earlier mansions, with 20th century additions to form council offices. Mature pleasure ground planting survives together with sections of walled garden wall, the lodge, carriage house, stables and open views across an enclosed meadow from the main elevation of the hall (1).

The first edition Ordnance Survey map of c.1875 (see 4) depicts the layout of recently reconstructed Backford Hall (see CHER 4549/1/0) and pleasure grounds. Backford Hall occupied a similar position and alignment to the preceding eighteenth century house (see CHER 4549/2/0) depicted on the tithe map of 1842 (see 3). The Hall’s outbuildings were now located to the northeast, allowing unobstructed views to and from the principal elevations to the Hall. Where the main approach joined the Chester to Birkenhead road, a lodge (see CHER 4549/1/3) was built. In addition, the main approach was reconfigured to create a curving drive to the forecourt north west of the hall. A meadow and pool, shown on the tithe map, were incorporated into the pleasure grounds. The pool appears to have been extended creating a promontory and has a boathouse. There is a network of paths throughout the pleasure grounds. The path around the fields north of the Hall is retained. The road bounding the hall and grounds (see CHER 4549/0/9) has been rationalised into a smooth curve and then straightened to the north, allowing additional grounds to be encompassed within the hall grounds. Areas to the north and east of the Hall include two gardens with curved walls (see CHER 4549/4/1), a conservatory (see CHER 4549/1/4), glasshouses and areas of regular tree planting, possibly an orchard (1).

In the early 1970s the drive was closed and a new access road built through the walled gardens from Gordon Lane. In addition, two houses and an office block were built in this area. In addition c.100 diseased elm trees were felled (1).

Boundaries & Entrances – A coarse sandstone wall, with rustic sandstone coping and backed by a tree belt, defines the western boundary. It extends from both sides of the 1863 lodge building. The southern boundary is also defined by a sandstone wall and includes an arched gateway into the churchyard. The keystone on the arch is dated 1774. Beyond the new entrance created in the 1970s, the boundary is formed of the rear wall of a building shown on the tithe map (see CHER 4549/0/7). To the immediate north a high freestanding sandstone wall to another entrance, which is now closed, continues the boundary. A tree belt and a deep ditch at its eastern end define the northern boundary. The ditch becomes shallower as it turns to the south (1).

Pleasure Grounds - The main entrance to the hall from the Lodge (now closed) curves up a slight incline between banks planted with Irish yew. The route appears to have been reconfigured in association with the 19th century rebuilding of the hall. This approach leads to the main facade of Backford Hall. The path network shown on the 3rd edition Ordnance Survey map (see 5) appears to have been lost but many mature trees remain including some large open grown oaks, sweet chestnut and cedar thought to be 18th century or earlier and araucaria, wellingtonia and yew considered part of the 19th century planting. Plantings of laurel, cherry laurel and rhododendron combined with natural regeneration have created a dense understorey so that the area has the character of ornamental woodland rather than of a pleasure ground. A mound of mature trees separate the modern car park from the rear lawn of the Hall. No conservatories or glasshouses survive. A single pear tree survives from one of Backford Hall’s orchards (see 5) (1).

The Pond - The pond is screened by pleasure ground planting and circumscribed by a gravel path. Access to the pond was improved in 1992 when steps, a gravel path and a timber balustrade to replace an earlier stone one were created. The path has railway sleeper steps in two locations, a stone flagged viewing area and modern timber balustrade and passes by the old pump house (erected in 1946). The location of the former boathouse is indicated by brick edging (1).

Working Areas –East of the hall are 19th century stables and a carriage shed around a cobbled courtyard (CHER 4549/1/2) and a walled kitchen garden (CHER 4549/4/1). An original entrance in one of the walls as marked on the 1875 map appears to survive (1).

Ormerod records that Gray of London, the landscape gardener, laid out the grounds to the nineteenth century house in 1857 (2).

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

<2> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.2 p.366 (Book). SCH1389.

<3> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 31/1 & 2 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.