Monument record 1969/2 - Eaton Hall - 20th century mansion on site of 17th century predecessor

<1> Laurie I, 1983, Eaton Estate Landscape Conservation Plan, p.10, 25-27, 85 (Report). SCH1095.

The first Eaton Hall built on the present site was commenced in 1675 by Sir Thomas Grosvenor, third Baronet. The hall was built in Classical style by the architect, William Samwell. It was located c.200m north of the original moated site. The building was finished in 1683. Tradition associates Sir John Vanbrugh with its completion. In 1802, when the second Earl succeeded, he decided to rebuild the hall. He commissioned William Porden who encased and transformed the central block into a Gothic style mansion between 1802-1812, with wings added 1823-1825 by B Gummow. The hall was further remodelled between 1870-1883 when Alfred Waterhouse transformed it into the most ambitious late Victorian Gothic mansion in England. This was dismantled in 1963 and replaced by the modern style mansion in 1973, designed by John Dennys. (See also source 2)

<2> English Heritage, 2001, Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest, 1985 (Report). SCH2822.

<3> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, p.207-213, 1978 (Book). SCH3078.

<4> Various, Aerial photographs, Eaton 3 & 4, Williams S R, 1981 (Aerial Photograph). SCH128.

<5> Higham N J, 1984-9, Professor Nick Higham's Aerial Photographs, 1986/8/1 (Aerial Photograph). SCH7659.

<6> Poulton Research Project, 2023, RAF Poulton - Recording the Remains of a World War II Airfield and Associated Infrastructure, R4739, p.6, 9 (Client Report). SCH9571.

On 1st October 1939, Eaton Hall and grounds (some 620 acres), then home to the Duke of Westminster, were appropriated under lease by the War Department for military use in common with many estates of the landed gentry. By the summer of 1940, the hall had been converted into a military convalescence hospital. The grounds of the estate were used for training personnel from the Red Cross and St John's Ambulance Service, who were billeted in an extensive camp of tents and newly constructed Nissen huts. In September 1942 staff and cadets from H.M.S Brittania were transferred to Eaton Hall on account of air raid damage caused to the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. They remained until 1946 whilst the hall and grounds continued as an Officer Cadet Training Unit until 1958. The War Department surrendered the lease in 1960.
Additionally, RAF Poulton (CHER 4090/0/0), a satellite airfield four miles to the east of RAF Hawarden, Poulton, was constructed on agricultural land at the southern edge of the Eaton estate.

<7> Cheshire Historic Environment Record, 1989, Jill Collens' Aerial Photographs, 6.0503, 6.0528, 6.0558 (Aerial Photograph). SCH9711.