Landscape record 697/2 - Winnington Hall, former Park and Garden

<1> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, Winnington Township (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

Winnington Hall Park and Gardens are depicted on the Tithe Award for Winnington Township. Plot 1 is described as 'Winnington Hall Offices Buildings Gardens Pleasure Grounds &tc.', owned and occupied by John Thomas Stanley, with an area of 'Acres 23, Roods 0, Perches 5'. Plot 2, immediately south of the hall and gardens, is annotated as 'Park' with an area of 'Acres 42, Roods 2, Perches 15'. Many other plots form part of the Winnington hall complex such as Plot 3 'Pinfold Field', Plot 4 'Tankards Eye and Further Wood Field', Plot 5 'Little Horse Pasture', Plot 6 'Marle Field', Plot 7 'Warburs Eye', Plot 8 'Dog Kennel Meadow', Plot 9 'Poultry House Paddock'.

Some plots owned by John Thomas Stanley, at the eastern extent of the estate, are labelled as salt works, for example Plot 106, occupied by the Winnington Salt Co. (see CHER 2515/35/9), Plot 105 occupied by Thomas Caldwell (see CHER 2515/39/9) and Plot 132 occupied by Dunn and Co. On the east bank of the River Weaver, a large complex of salt works are depicted (see CHER 4267/2/0, CHER 4267/3/0, CHER 4267/4/0, CHER 4267/5/0).

In terms of detail of the gardens surrounding the hall, the Tithe Map depicts a walled garden adjoining the hall to the north, this garden is divided into regular, sub-rectangular beds separated by pathways. Numerous small buildings and structures are depicted to the north-east of the hall. A lake is visible to the east of the hall, and a network of gently curving paths circumnavigate the extended garden/Park. One path leads south-westwards from the hall through the Park to Winnington Lane where two buildings or lodges are depicted forming an entrance to the Park; these still extant lodges are locally listed buildings (see CHER 6950). A substantial D-shaped structure is depicted to the west of the hall at the north end of 'Poultry House Paddock', this feature is labelled as a 'fountain' on the OS First Edition Map (source 2).

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

The OS First Edition Map shows the Park with a slightly expanded extent, now also encompassing, either wholly or partially, Plots 3, 4 and 5. The industrialisation of the area has increased significantly with the establishment of the Brunner Alkali Chemical Works to the east of Winnington Hall (see CHER 2515/34/0) and the expansion of the salt works complex on both east and west banks of the River Weaver. The West Cheshire Railway (Anderton Branch), has been established on the western limit of the park, servicing both the salt works and the Brunner chemical works.

Many of the features of the gardens and park depicted on the Tithe Map are shown in greater detail on the OS First Edition map. Additional features include a circular icehouse located on the southern bank of the lake and centred at SJ 64777 74719. Also, a circular dove cote located within the park, to the west of the lake, at SJ 64706 74767. Many of the buildings to the north-east of the hall have been replaced by Brunner's Alkali Works and brine cisterns.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

The OS Second Edition Map shows the Park has contracted substantially, with housing, a school and brick works now depicted across its former eastern extent, with the lake and icehouse no longer extant. The western extent of the Park still remains as before, with the fountain and lodges intact, however, additional features within the Park area itself, include a recreation ground, grandstand and football ground.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

In terms of the Park, the OS Third Edition map, shows little change.

<5> Aeon Archaeology, 2022, Land at Winnington Lane, Northwich, Cheshire, CW8 4DU: Archaeological Watching Brief, R4558 (Client Report). SCH9148.

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken in 2022 some 50m to the south-west of Winnington Hall, centred on NGR SJ 64460 74693, in the area of the former gardens of the hall. The watching brief identified a 0.30m deep demolition deposit in the south-western portion of the development area. It included broken and pulverised fragments of red brick and lime mortar. The presence of this deposit suggests that any former upstanding archaeological features associated with the landscaped park at Winnington Hall were demolished during an earlier phase of works.

<6> Pegasus Group Ltd, 2021, Winnington Works, Northwich. Technical Appendix D: Cultural Heritage, R4561 (Client Report). SCH9155.

A manor at Winnington is documented by the Domesday Survey of 1086 although no trace of the any hall or manor prior to the 17th century is known to survive. In 1807 the Hall was put up for sale with the Manchester Mercury (Tuesday 17th November, 1807) describing it as:-

“the Mansion House and Offices called Winnington Hall”…”with appropriate attached and detached offices, stabling for 50 horses, coach house, green houses, excellent kitchen gardens, with hot walls, mushroom house, cold baths, ice house, a poultry house upon a superior scale, and every necessary building for agricultural purposes, dove house, entrance cottage lodges with shrubbery plantations sloping to River Wever, at a convenient distance from the house, which is well situated on a very highly ornamental ground, and surrounded by six hundred and forty acres of land.”

Little cartographic evidence of the Hall exists prior to the 18th century, but Burdett’s plan of 1794 shows the Hall in wooded parkland, although little detail can be obtained from this plan.

All that now survives of the gardens around the hall are small lawned areas to the south and south-west and the routes of the former access drives from Winnington Lane (though the lodges are now demolished), and the drive/pathway from the Hall to Winnington Lane along Solvay Road.

<7> Cheshire Gardens Trust, 2011 onwards, Research and Recording Report, Winnington Hall, 2020 (Report). SCH6655.

Summary
Winnington Hall lies in the River Weaver valley in an area that has been an industrial site since at least the post medieval period. The Hall, with a wing by Samuel Wyatt, was once set within extensive parkland. It is now almost completely surrounded by disused, derelict and functioning industrial buildings mostly associated with the chemical industry, and housing dating from the early nineteenth century built to accommodate the workforce. The only remaining portions of the Park are Winnington Park Recreation Club, a short length of the driveway and areas of lawn partly bounded by trees to the south and west of the Hall.

Principal remaining features
Winnington Hall - Listed Grade 1 (List Entry Number 1310245)
Statue of Sir John Brunner - Listed Grade 2 (List Entry Number 1161131
Statue of Ludwig Mond - Listed Grade 2 (List Entry Number 1139114
Brunner Mond and ICI Alkali Division War Memorial - Listed Grade 2 (List Entry Number (1432698) Rose Cottage - Listed Grade 2 (List Entry Number 1261149)
6 and 7 Dyar Terrace - Locally Listed Building
Winnington Park Recreation Club Pavilion - Locally Listed Buildig
Recreation Ground
Sandstone horse mounting block
Lawns
Ornamental trees and shrus
Natural regeneration of Woodland