noble maggie

By maggiesays

Dereliction

Walton Gardens are a great local facility, where you can picnic, play pitch and putt, visit a children's zoo or just wander around the grounds, mostly just for the price of the car-park.
The hall was built in 1838 by the Greenall family (local aristocratic brewers) and the gardens created by Lady Daresbury (his Lordship having received a Baronetcy by then) in 1876. She created a 'miniature Kew' complete with specimen trees, rose gardens, an oriental garden with waterfall and fish-pond and a magnificent greenhouse that I am assuming contained exotic tropical plants. I say assumed, because:
you will find reference to all the above on the Warrington Council website, as they now maintain the grounds and gardens (pretty well, actually) and hire the hall for private events. But the poor, neglected greenhouse lies hidden behind hoardings, never gets a mention and will probably eventually just fall down.
The council proposed selling off the hall for development as a hotel, together with a big chunk of the grounds last year, but had to drop the idea like a hot potato after vigorous local protest.

Comments
Sign in or get an account to comment.