Monument record 934/2 - Aston Park

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Summary

There was a small Deer Park at Aston which has long been disparked. It is shown on Saxton's map of Cheshire, 1577 and also on Burdetts map of 1770, Greenwood, Bryant, Swire & Hutchings maps and the OS 1 inch first edition. The park was expanded and landscaped by Humphrey Repton c.1793 and his planting still largely survives. Deer Parks were used to house deer, which were an important source of fresh meat. A royal licence was required to create a park and only the very wealthiest could afford to create one. The deer were kept in a fenced and ditched enclosure and could be released to allow hunting. Some parks had a system of ditches and banks known as deer leaps which allowed wild deer (the monarch's property) to enter the park but not escape, so increasing the herd. Deer Parks were expensive to maintain and many were disparked from the 15th to the 17th centuries. Those that were retained reinforced the high status of their owners. The widespread park landscaping of the 18th century often incorporated surviving deer parks. These new gardens were a contrast to the formal gardens of previous centuries with their carefully designed "natural" appearance.

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Type and Period (4)

Full Description

Deer Park at Aston, of small dimensions on the north side of the River Weaver. Long disparked (1). Shown on Saxton's map of 1577 (2). Also on Burdetts map of 1770 & Greenwood, Bryant, Swire & Hutchings maps & OS 1 inch first edition (3). Park later expanded and landscaped by Humphrey Repton c.1793, whose 'Red Book' was commissioned when Samuel Wyatt was advising on alterations. His planting still largely survives (4) (5). Low wall of probable ha-ha survives in front of former hall (CSMR: 934/1) (6).

<1> Shirley, E P, 1867, Some account of English deer parks, with notes on the management of deer, /206 (Book). SCH1108.

<2> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 20/27 Harrison W 1901 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

<3> Cheshire County Council, 1974, County Treasures Record, 4/A.310 (Index). SCH1000.

<4> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, /68 (Book). SCH3078.

<5> de Figueiredo P & Treuherz J, 1988, Cheshire Country Houses, /214 (Book). SCH785.

<6> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Collens J 1991 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

Sources/Archives (6)

<1> SCH1108 Book: Shirley, E P. 1867. Some account of English deer parks, with notes on the management of deer. /206.
<2> SCH3293 Journal/Periodical: Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society. 1883 -. Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society. 20/27 Harrison W 1901.
<3> SCH1000 Index: Cheshire County Council. 1974. County Treasures Record. N/A. 4/A.310.
<4> SCH3078 Book: Pevsner N & Hubbard E. 1971. The Buildings of England: Cheshire. /68.
<5> SCH785 Book: de Figueiredo P & Treuherz J. 1988. Cheshire Country Houses. /214.
<6> SCH2330 Oral Communication: Various. Various. Oral communication to the HER. Collens J 1991.

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Event - Interpretation: Monuments Protection Programme Scoring (ECH1199)

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Location

Grid reference	SJ 550 780 (point) Central Point
Map sheet	SJ57NE
Civil Parish	ASTON, VALE ROYAL, CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER
Historic Township/Parish/County	ASTON BY SUTTON, RUNCORN, CHESHIRE

Protected Status/Designation

None recorded

Record last edited

Sep 2 2009 4:44PM