Walton Hall, Cheshire

Walton Hall is a country house in Walton, Warrington, Cheshire, England (gbmapping|SJ600849). It is a Grade II listed building.cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=58999 |title=Images of England: Walton Hall |accessdate=2008-04-27 |publisher=English Heritage ] The hall and its surrounding garden and grounds are owned and administered by Warrington Borough Council.cite web |url=http://www.warrington.gov.uk/waltongardens/ |title=Walton Hall & Gardens |accessdate=2008-04-27 |publisher=Warrington Borough Council ]

History

The house was built in 1836–38 for Gilbert Greenall, brewer and Member of Parliament, to a design by Edmund Sharpe. In 1869–70 the house was extended with a new wing being added for guests and billiards and a new entrance on the east front.cite book | last =Pollard| first =Richard | authorlink = | coauthors =Nikolaus Pevsner | title =The Buildings of England: Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West |edition= | publisher =Yale University Press | date =2006 | location =New Haven & London | pages =628 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn =0 300 10910 5 ] A clock tower was also added around this time. The new wing has since been reduced, leaving the clock tower isolated. The house and surrounding estate were bought by Warrington Borough Council in 1941.

Description

The house is built in brown brick with stone dressings and slate roofs. The east front has 2½ storeys and two wide bays with bay windows, two crow-stepped gables and three pinnacled octagonal buttresses. The entrance (north) front has a projecting porch. The clock tower to the west has four stages, the top stage containing the clock, and surmounted by a lead-roofed cupola and large weather vane. The south face has a mullioned and transomed window and three crow-stepped gables.

The outbuildings include an iron-framed palm house. The retaining wall, balustrades and steps between the lawns east of the hall are listed Grade II. [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=59000 |title=Images of England: Retaining Wall, Balustrades and Steps |accessdate=2008-04-27 |publisher=English Heritage ] Also listed Grade II are the former lodge to the hall, [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=58990 |title=Images of England: Walton Hall Lodge |accessdate=2008-04-27 |publisher=English Heritage ] and its associated gates, gatepiers and screens. [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=58991 |title=Images of England: Gates, Gatepiers and Screens |accessdate=2008-04-27 |publisher=English Heritage ]

Present day

Since 1945 the grounds have been a public park, and now include lawns, picnic areas, a play area, a children's zoo, a heritage centre and ornamental gardens. A programme of events is organised in the grounds. The Friends of Walton Hall Music Society arranges a series of concerts in the hall given by young musicians. The hall is available for hire for weddings and other events. [cite web |url=http://www.warrington.gov.uk/Adviceandbenefits/Marriages/venue_walton.aspx |title=Weddings at Walton |accessdate=2008-04-27 |publisher=Warrington Borough Council]

During the 1970's the hall was used for storage of items by Warrington museum, items included Javan dugout canoe, specimen boxes of butterflies and moths, and stuffed rodents.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.warrington.gov.uk/Images/walton_hall__tcm31-5133.pdf Brochure for hiring the hall]