Monument record 1281/3/1 - Ashley Hall Park, Gardens and Pleasure Grounds

<1> Greenwood, C. & Greenwood J., 1819, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2115.

To the south of the hall (see CHER 1281/1/1), the map depicts woodland and a pond. To the north is a smaller woodland.

<2> Bryant, A., 1831, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2114.

The hall lies within an area of parkland (coloured green on this map). The parkland is approximately defined by Hall Lane to the east, the line of the M56 to the south, an east-west field boundary c.200 metres to the north and a north-south field boundary c.400 metres to the west. The parkland includes woodland and a pond to the south-east of the hall, and a woodland c.300 metres to the north-west.

<3> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 20/2, 1838 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

This map depicts a large plot to the north-west, west and south-west of the hall which is described as meadow and named as hall field or park. The smaller plot of land, comprising the immediate environs of the hall and an area of woodland to the south of the hall, which contains a long pond with an island at its northern end. This plot is named as ashley hall gardens and pleasure grounds, buildings, courts, lawn, and plantations.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ7684, 1877 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

There appear to be gardens and orchards in the immediate vicinity of the southern side of the hall. The pond, with its island, visible on the earlier tithe map (see 3), is not depicted. This area is now entirely woodland and named The Rookery. The establishment of new field boundaries within the wider parkland suggests a more agricultural focus, but many isolated trees are still depicted in this area.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ7684, 1898 (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

Reorganisation of the surrounding field systems have lead to the loss of the original northern and western boundaries of the park. The small woodland in the north-western corner of the park is no longer extant. No in field tree are depicted.

<6> Environment Agency, 2003-2020, Environment Agency LiDAR Surveys, Composite 1m DTM (25/02/2022) (Digital Archive). SCH7819.

The former pond in Rookery Wood is visible as an earthwork.

<7> Donald Insall Associates, 2019, The South Range, Ashley Hall, Tatton Estate, Altrincham WA14 3QA: Heritage, Design and Access Statement, p.2 (Client Report). SCH9143.

The tithe map of 1838 (see 3) shows Ashley Hall under the ownership of William Assheton Smith, and describes the plot of 11 acres as including; gardens and pleasure grounds, buildings, lawns and plantations.