Walton Hall, Cheshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Walton Hall |
|
|---|---|
Walton Hall, east front
|
|
| Location | Walton, Warrington, Cheshire, England |
| OS grid reference | SJ 600,849 |
| Built | 1836–38 |
| Built for | Gilbert Greenall |
|
Listed Building – Grade II
|
|
| Designated | 23 December 1983 |
| Reference no. | 1139355 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Walton Hall is a large country house located in Walton, near Warrington, in Cheshire, England. It is a special building, officially recognized as a Grade II listed building. This means it is important and protected. Today, the hall and its beautiful gardens are owned and managed by Warrington Borough Council.
Contents
What is the History of Walton Hall?
How Was Walton Hall Built?
Walton Hall was built between 1836 and 1838. It was made for Sir Gilbert Greenall, 1st Baronet, who was a very successful brewer and a Member of Parliament. Some sources suggest the architect was Edmund Sharpe from Lancaster. However, this information is not fully confirmed.
When Was Walton Hall Extended?
Later, in 1869–70, the house was made bigger. Architects Paley and Austin added a new part with a tower. This new section included a billiards room and extra rooms for guests. They also created a new main entrance.
Who Owned Walton Hall After Sir Gilbert?
When Sir Gilbert Greenall passed away in 1894, his son, Gilbert Greenall, 1st Baron Daresbury, inherited the house. He lived there until 1938. In 1941, Warrington Corporation (now Warrington Borough Council) bought the house and its land. The gardens were opened for everyone to enjoy in 1945. Most of the 1869–70 extension was taken down around 1990, but the tower was kept.
Who Were the Greenall Family?
Sir Gilbert Greenall (1806-1894)
Sir Gilbert Greenall, who built Walton Hall, was born in 1806. His father, Edward Greenall, bought the Walton Estate in 1812. There was an older hall on the property, but it was later taken down. When his father died in 1835, Gilbert inherited the estate. He started building Walton Hall the next year, and it took two years to finish.
Gilbert Greenall was a partner in his family's brewing business, Greenall Whitley & Company. He became very wealthy and bought a lot of land. He was a Member of Parliament for Warrington from 1847 to 1892. He also served as High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1873. He loved art and collected many beautiful paintings. He even asked a famous artist to create a sculpture called “Rachel” and a marble fireplace decoration for Walton Hall.
Sir Gilbert was a friend of Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland. Carroll's father was a vicar nearby. Lewis Carroll visited Walton Hall and even took a photo of the hall in 1859.
Sir Gilbert's first wife, Mary, died in 1861, and they had no children. In 1864, he married Susannah Rapp, and they had three children: two daughters, Susannah and Bertha, and a son. In 1876, he was given the title of Baronet. He also paid for the building of St John the Evangelist Church, which is close to Walton Hall. He died in 1894, and his son, Gilbert, inherited the hall.
Sir Gilbert Greenall (1867-1938)
The second Sir Gilbert Greenall, born in 1867, inherited Walton Hall in 1894. He went to Eton College. He became very interested in breeding horses and created one of the most famous horse farms in England. His horses were well-known and written about in many newspapers.
In 1900, he married Frances Eliza Griffith. They had two sons. Both Gilbert and Frances were excellent horse riders. From 1896 to 1912, Gilbert was the Master of the Belvoir Hunt. He was also the President of the Royal Agricultural Society. He died in 1938. His son, Edward, inherited Walton Hall but sold it in 1941 to Warrington Corporation.
What Does Walton Hall Look Like?
Walton Hall is built with brown bricks and has stone details. The roofs are made of slate. The front of the house has two and a half floors with large bay windows. It also has special stepped gables and tall, pointed supports called pinnacled octagonal buttresses.
The entrance has a porch that sticks out. There is a clock tower on the west side with four levels. The top level holds the clock and has a lead-roofed dome with a large weather vane on top.
What Can You Do at Walton Hall Today?
The gardens and grounds of Walton Hall are open for everyone to visit. Near the hall, there are beautiful formal gardens. In the wider grounds, you can play pitch and putt, crazy golf, and bowls. There is also a children's zoo, which is a lot of fun!
A group called the Friends of Walton Estate helps take care of the park. Every year, the Warrington Disability Partnership holds a special Disability Awareness Day there.
Inside Walton Hall, you can rent rooms for events like parties or meetings. There is also a concert room where the Friends of Walton Hall Music Society puts on classical music concerts. The hall is also a popular place for weddings. You might have even seen Walton Hall before, as it was used for outdoor scenes in the BBC drama series Our Zoo.
Images for kids
-
Wedding of Bertha Greenall 1898. From left to right Frances Eliza Griffith, Bertha Greenall, Sir Gilbert Greenall (1867-1938), Edward Griffith, unknown, Amy Whitley
-
Map of Walton Hall 1882
