Oulton Estate

For other places with the same name, see Oulton (disambiguation).

North elevation of Oulton Hall c. 1735

In the early 18th century the Oulton Estate consisted of a manor house and a formal garden surrounded by farmland in Cheshire, England. Later in the century the farmland was converted into a park. The estate is now the site of the motor racing track called Oulton Park.

History

Grounds

In 1731 Philip Egerton (1694–1766) inherited the estate on the death of his uncle, John Egerton (1656–1731). At that time the estate consisted of a house, a formal garden and farmland totalling 231 acres (0.93 km²).^[1] Around 1752 Philip Egerton began to construct a brick wall to enclose the estate plus some additional fields, an area which totalled 315 acres (1.27 km²).^[2] At his death in 1766 Philip was succeeded by his brother John, and then in 1770 by his son Philip (1738–1786). By this time the fashion for formal gardens had been overtaken by the concept of a landscaped garden with surrounding parkland. Philip Egerton commissioned William Emes to plan this for his estate.^[3] Eme's plan was produced in 1770 but the work was still in progress 10 years later.^[4] The plan was to do away with the formal garden, to divert the brook and by building dams, to create two lakes connected by a cascade. A banqueting hall was to be built on an island in the larger lake. There was to be extensive planting of trees and shrubs. The park was to include a bowling green, gravel paths and a boathouse.^[5]

House

In 1715 John Egerton commissioned the building of the new house. Tradition has it that the previous Tudor house had been destroyed by fire.^[6] The new house was in Baroque style. Its main front was in 15 bays, the middle three bays being occupied by a Corinthian centrepiece, its pediment filled with carvings of trophies. A drawing exist showing a central dome, but if this dome in fact ever existed it did not survive to the 19th century. On the sides were curved pediments. The entrance hall rose through the building's two storeys. It contained Corinthian pilasters and had a plaster groined vault.^[7] Around 1773 the gates and gatepiers which had been built around 1725 were removed to St Oswald's Church, Malpas. They were replaced by an entrance lodge consisting of an arch with screen walls which were designed by Joseph Turner. In 1786 the house was inherited by John Egerton (1766–1825). The debt accumulated by his father meant that there was insufficient money to adequately maintain the house although he and his successors did carry out some improvements during the 19th century.^[8] Between about 1816 and 1820 Lewis Wyatt altered the interior, added stables and a terrace. In 1926 the house was destroyed by fire,^[7] and in 1940 it was bombed by enemy action.^[9]

Present day

Entrance Lodge

The grounds are now used as a motor racing circuit.^[10] Some buildings that were part of the estate still exist. The entrance gates, lodges and screen designed by Joseph Turner in about 1775 have been designated as a Grade II* listed building.^[11] In the grounds is a monument of 1846 to the memory of John Francis Egerton of the Bengal Horse Regiment, designed by Scott and Moffatt.^[7] It is also a Grade II* listed building.^[12] The stable block designed by Lewis Wyatt is still present and is listed Grade II.^[13] A farm building close to the stable block is also listed Grade II.^[14]

References

1. ^ Bostock, p. 50.
2. ^ Bostock, p. 53.
3. ^ Bostock, p. 54.
4. ^ Bostock, p. 55.
5. ^ Bostock, pp. 55–56.
6. ^ Bostock, p. 58.
7. ^ ^{a b c} de Figueiredo & Treuherz 1988, p. 261.
8. ^ Bostock, p. 59.
9. ^ Little Budworth Conservation Area Appraisal (Revised), Vale Royal Borough Council (published February 2007), p. 1 
10. ^ Oulton Park, MotorSport Vision Racing, http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/oulton-park/, retrieved 21 January 2011 
11. ^ Screen, lodges and gates at Oulton Park (1138435). National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
12. ^ Monument to John Francis Egerton (1310479). National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
13. ^ Stable Block, Oulton Park (1310481). National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
14. ^ Farmbuilding c50 yards to east of Stable Block, Oulton Park (1330211). National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. Retrieved 3 November 2011.

Bibliography

• Bostock, Tony (2004–2005), "Oulton's historic park and garden", Cheshire History: 48–61, ISSN 0141-8696. 
• de Figueiredo, Peter; Treuherz, Julian (1988), Cheshire Country Houses, Chichester: Phillimore, p. 261, ISBN 0 85033 655 4 

Coordinates: 53°10′48″N 2°36′58″W / 53.180°N 2.616°W / 53.180; -2.616