Monument record 815/4/2 - Parkland at Darnhall Hall

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

This map depicts the hall within an area of parkland.

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

This map depicts the hall (CHER 815/4/1) in an area of parkland (shaded green) within a wider area of woodland. The parkland extends to the south-east. Two roads converge before the hall here, suggesting this was the formal approach. Further buildings, depicted to the north-east and south, correspond with the estate buildings and stables. The large waterbody to the south and west of the hall, known as the lake on later maps is not depicted. Instead there is a smaller pond associated with the mill (CHER 815/5) in the vicinity of the stables (CHER 815/7).

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ6363, 1874-1880 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

This map depicts an L or T shaped building labelled as Darnhall Hall (on the site of Darnhall Abbey). To the south-west of the hall is an area of open parkland interspersed with individual trees. The northern edge of this area is defined by a drive from a gate lodge adjacent to Hall Lane. Within this area, and directly adjacent to the hall, is a rectangular area c.45m x 40m, defined on three sides by an earthwork. To the north-east of the hall is a sub-oval walled garden with a small building and glasshouse on its northern side. On the south-eastern side is a further range of buildings comprising a L-shape. Further buildings, including kennels, saw pit and a glasshouse are located nearby. To the south of the hall are the stables (see CHER 815/7) and a gasometer.

To the immediate south and west of the hall is a large waterbody labelled as The Lake, which forms a single waterbody with the earlier mill pond. With the associated channels and mill least, this has the effect of placing the stables building on an island. To the far north is a further artificial pond (Rookery Pond) controlled by a sluice. The rest of the parkland is predominantly woodland.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ6363, 1898 (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

Further glasshouses have been constructed along the walls of the walled gardens. A boathouse is depicted west of the hall adjacent to the millpond. The gasometer is no longer depicted.

<7> The GeoInformation Group, 2005, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review (Aerial Photograph). SCH4608.

The hall, walled garden and other buildings are clearly visible. There is an area of regular ridge and furrow visible within the open area of parkland to the south-east of the hall.

<8> Huntings Surveys Ltd, 1971-1973, 1971-1973 County Survey, HSL UK 73 57 Run 27 no. 1976 16/05/1973 (Aerial Photograph). SCH4881.

The hall building has been demolished. The walled garden is still extant, as are the adjacent buildings on the eastern and north-eastern side, but many of the other buildings and glasshouses depicted along the walls of garden appear to have been removed.

<9> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, CRO (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

Formerly a grange of Vale Royal Abbey, it later passed into the hands of the Corbett family. In 1860 James Haigh esq. bought the manor and repaired and improved the hall and land. It was sold in 1875 to Thomas Knowles then again in 1889 to salt works proprietor W. H. Verdin. The house was built of red brick and situated in extensive grounds near Ashbrook stream. It was demolished c.1950.

<10> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 23/05/2022 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

The Darnhall Hall depicted on nineteenth century maps was probably built in the latter part of the eighteenth century and demolished around 1950. It is probable that the parkland also depicted on these maps is contemporary. However, it is clear that the parkland continued to develop, with the creation of The Lake, along the course of the Ash Brook. The parkland is largely wooded, with an open area to the east including a formal approach and a gate lodge (a Locally Listed Building, see CHER 815/4/3). Surviving earthworks in this area may represent a lawn area, but also include ridge and furrow earthworks which predate the park.

The creation of The Lake probably coincided with the rebuilding of Darnhall Mill (a known medieval mill site and a Grade II Listed building, see CHER 815/5) and its associated weir and sluices around 1829. Although some silting up of The Lake has occurred, many of the water management features such as leats and weirs associated with the mill and The Lake, survive and appear to be in use. Within the wider parkland is a further artificial waterbody, Rookery Pool.

Associated with the hall was a complex of estate buildings and an unusual sub-oval shaped walled garden. A number of these buildings survive, though the glasshouses associated with the walled garden appear to have been lost by the mid twentieth century. However, modern Ordnance Survey maps suggest that the walled garden survives. To the south-east of the house, adjacent to the mill are the former stables and coach house (a Grade II Listed building, see CHER 815/7).

<11> Bostock, T, 2019, Tony Bostock Local History Articles, Medieval Over and Darnhall p.9-10 (Web Site). SCH8736.

The park was possible established on the site of an earlier deer park created by Ranulf III, Earl of Chester, circa 1230-1240.