Monument record 14928/8 - Dorfold Hall, Wall Fronting South Garden

<1> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 1330150 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

Retaining wall, at change in level of lawns, south of the Hall, probably 1862. Sandstone ashlar, solid wall, with moulded plinth and weathered overhanging coping, ovolo moulded on the underside. The wall is only one block high between plinth and coping but the plinth is deeper on the south side of the wall where the ground level is lower. There are plain projecting pilasters at three-stone-intervals with plinth and coping widened at these points. Ball finials, on scotia moulded bases, flank openings in the wall. The east end of the wall returns north and has six steps leading to the lower level. The steps are flanked both sides by a solid stepped balustrade of similar construction to the wall.

<2> Worlledge Associates, 2018, Dorfold Hall, Acton, Cheshire: Statement of Significance, R4293 (Client Report). SCH8675.

A Statement of Significance was produced in 2019 for Dorfold Hall and gardens in support of a proposal for its development as a wedding venue. The proposal is to re-develop the former service yard and stable area, including re-furbishing the existing coach house and a garden building in the walled gardens. The following information is taken from the report.

The exact dates and attributions of construction of the walled gardens, greenhouses, the service yard and other structures at Dorfold Hall are difficult to define due to a lack of documentation. In part this is due to the fact the Estate was never placed on the market, an event which usually involved a detailed description of the estate and all the buildings, yards, gardens. The historic map evidence only provides a general guide as to when these were works were carried out.

The evidence suggests that following the establishment of the house, a possible walled garden and some service buildings in the early seventeenth century, little subsequent work was carried out under the Wilbrahams, apparently due to financial constraints. When James Tomkinson, a wealthy and aspiring and successful lawyer, acquired the estate from the Wilbrahams in 1754, major additions were made to the house, service yards, walled gardens and grounds, to reflect his growing status and desire to be part of the Cheshire Hunting set. He also added to the size of the overall estate by acquiring additional lands. His son Henry Tomkinson and grandson Rev. James Tomkinson continued to add to the Hall.

While there is clear evidence William Baker, Samuel Wyatt, and with lesser certainty George Latham, worked at Dorfold, there is no reference to works beyond the house. Wilbraham Tollemache carried out additions to the grounds of Dorfold Hall, implementing plans drawn up by William Andrews Nesfield. The works undertaken included altering the pool in front of the house to provide for a straight access carriage drive, a gate lodge, elaborate entrance gates, a new entrance court with carriage sweep and a bronze statue of a mastiff and her pups, all enclosed with a low wall and gates, a coach house with clock tower, and a pleasure garden to the south with parterres. Trees were removed to open up views of the house, and to the south, to create a view to St. Mary's Church, Acton. It is suggested that the statute of the Mastiff and the entrance gates to the drive were bought from the Paris Exhibition of 1855. It has also been suggested that the ornamental gateway with lions was also installed as part of this work. Much of the Nesfield work survives, with the exception of the parterres to the south lawn, which were apparently removed during the Second World War.