Landscape record 7845/1 - Landscape Park and Gardens at Bolesworth Castle

<1> Calveley, J, 1788, Bolesworth Castle with the Manor of Harthill in the Parish of Malpas, County of Chester, CRO 7676/2 (Maps and Plans). SCH8058.

Map of Bolesworth Estate dated to 1788 show location of 18th century house, gardens and extent of parkland. Area to the north of the pond is marked as Coach Drive and Pleasure Ground

<2> de Figueiredo P & Treuherz J, 1988, Cheshire Country Houses, p.35 - 38 (Book). SCH785.

A house was first built by James Tilson who bought the estate in the mid 18th century. The house was altered in 1777 when it was owned by John Crewe. Present castle built by George Walmsley who aquired the estate in 1826

<3> Parks and Gardens Data Services Ltd, Various, Parks & Gardens UK, Record ID: 466 22/09/2016 (Web Site). SCH6814.

Bolesworth Castle has a 19th-century landscape park with model farms. The gardens around Bolesworth Castle were remodelled around 1920 by Clough Williams-Ellis for Major Robert Barbour.

<4> Barbour, D and Bawn, D, 2012, Bolesworth Estate History (Web Site). SCH8059.

"Bolesworth Castle, stands on the site of a previous very gothic house built in the 1750s. Today, the only 18th century features to have survived are the lake, with its bridge and boathouse, created by the owner John Crewe in 1780 and known as Mr Crewe’s New River. He employed the Scottish architect and civil engineer Robert Mylne, well known in his day for designing Blackfriars Bridge over the River Thames.

In 1826 George Walmsley bought the Castle and rebuilt it at enormous expense, employing architect William Cole, a pupil of the famous Chester architect Thomas Harrison. This enterprise ruined Walmsley and he was forced to sell up in 1836 to Thomas Crallan, whose family had made a fortune in brewing and owned The Sun Brewery in Ardwick, Manchester. Crallan spent much time and money on improving the estate but died before being able to enjoy his retirement there. Following his death in 1856 the Castle and Estate were put up for auction and bought by Robert Barbour (1797-1885). The Barbours, originally from Glasgow, were cotton traders in Manchester.

Robert Barbour was succeeded by his son George Barbour, and duly by his grandson Robert (1876-1928), who employed Clough Williams-Ellis (of Portmeirion fame) to modernise and remodel the Castle in 1921. The structure of the present garden was also laid out by Clough Williams-Ellis (1883-1984). The terracing and steps in front of the castle were built (replacing sloping lawns) and the large stone garden seat was put at the end of the broad gravelled path running along the terrace.

He also put the Temple of Diana on a rise beside the drive, so that it can been seen from the Drawing Room windows."

<5> Woodhall Planning and Conservation, 2014, Engineering Works relating to Equine Infrastructure, Bolesworth Castle, Heritage Statement - (Client Report). SCH9317.

Heritage statement with a brief history of the site

" The landscape surrounding Bolesworth Castle was designed to follow the typical arrangement seen in English Landscape gardens with a transisition from the open countryside to the house formed in several stages. The first stage is parkland comprising an idealised and condensed piece of the natural and agricultural world. Drives and walks through the parkland connect to the the second stage, namely the pleasure grounds. Here artistic elements are stressed over the more natural. As seen at Bolesworth the pleasure ground are typically an ornamental enclosed area of lawn. These connect to the third stage, the tranisition to the formal gardens located in the immediate setting of the house. These are tranquil designed areas with formal planting of flowers, hedges , shrubs and walks. Such an arrangement at Bolesworth is apparent on the 1788 survey and survives in the landscape today. Although the house has been entirely replaced, a number of the mid-late 18th century design features are present in the early 21st century landscape, namely :

Formal gardens around Bolesworth Castle
Lower terrace
Pleasure grounds fromed from an enclosed ornamental Lawn
Substantial Lake with bridge at the North end. This bridge precends the current bridge
Parkland with scattered tree planting and a shelter belt perimeter tree plantation. Most of the plantation and part of the coach drive through the trees survives today as a track from the bridge
Roughly north/south ad east/west dirves providing access routes, albeit with dlight differece as to where these meet the roads when comparing the 1788 and 2014 arrangements"

<6> Cheshire Gardens Trust, 2015 - 2021, Cheshire Gardens Trust Research and Recording Chester City Reports, Bolesworth Castle, 2021 (Unpublished Report). SCH9313.

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 horse arena and ménage, and an international horse arena with associated facilities has been constructed west of the lake.

Draft Significance - Locally Exceptional