Donald Insall Associates Walton Hall Wc Facilities

DONALD INSALL ASSOCIATES Chartered Architects, Historic Building & Planning Consultants

WALTON HALL WC FACILITIES Design and Access Statement January 2013

WALTON HALL WC FACILITIES | Design and Access Statement

CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND...... 1 1.1 Introduction ...... 1

2.0 SITE ANALYSIS AND CONTEXT...... 2 2.1 Physical Context and Special Architectural and Historic Features of the Listed Buildings...... 2 2.2 Social and Economic Context...... 3

3.0 THE DESIGN TEAM ...... 4 4.0 ASSESSMENT OF THE DESIGN PROPOSALS ...... 5 4.1 Use ...... 5 4.2 Amount of Development and Appearance...... 5 4.3 Materials ...... 8 4.4 Layout...... 10 4.5 Scale ...... 11 4.6 Sustainable Approach ...... 11 4.7 Landscape Proposals...... 12

5.0 ACCESS ...... 12 5.1 Vehicular and Transport Links...... 12 5.2 Refuse and Recycling...... 12 5.3 Emergency Vehicles ...... 12 5.4 Inclusive Design...... 13

6.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ...... 13

APPENDIX I Historic Plans of Walton Hall II List Description III Photographs of Walton Hall

DONALD INSALL ASSOCIATES Chartered Architects, Historic Building and Planning Consultants

Bridgegate House Tel: 01244 350063 5 Bridge Place Fax: 01244 350064 CHESTER Email: [email protected] CH1 1SA Web: www.insall-architects.co.uk

SHREWSBURY

Donald Insall Associates Ltd | Chartered Architects, Historic Building and Planning Consultants

WALTON HALL WC FACILITIES | Design and Access Statement

1.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 Warrington Borough Council commissioned Donald Insall Associates to prepare a report on future investment in Walton Hall Estate and Gardens.

1.1.2 One of the principal points which arose from this work was that the basic facilities such as toilets have not kept up with the park users’ needs.

1.1.3 This application seeks to improve the WC provision within the south of the park and to improve facilities within Walton Hall through building an extension to Walton Hall. The new toilets for the Park and improved WC, catering and storage facilities for the Hall are proposed in a new structure built on part of the footprint of the greater part of Walton Hall demolished in the 1970s.

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2.0 SITE ANALYSIS AND CONTEXT

2.1 Physical Context and Special Architectural and Historic Features of the Listed Buildings

2.1.1 The house was built in 1836–38 by the Lancaster Architect Edmund Sharpe. The Hall is brick built with stone dressings. In 1869 a Scottish Baronial extension wing and clock tower was built.

2.1.2 It is a Grade II listed building and was the home of the Greenall Family until the 1940’s, the family’s property centred on Walton Hall. Some parts have survived, others have developed or have been lost.

2.1.3 In 1938 with Lord Daresbury’s demise with death duties owing three years later, the Hall and grounds were been purchased by Warrington Borough Council. The Estate was opened as a public park in May 1945.

2.1.4 The only major change in the Estate’s built fabric has been the loss of the greater part of Walton Hall itself which was demolished in about 1975.

A view of Walton Hall showing the now demolished wing to the left

A similar view today

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2.2 Social and Economic Context

Existing Plan of Walton Hall Estate and Gardens

2.2.1 Walton Hall Estate Gardens is a publicly owned, much visited and popular year round public park with a variety of leisure activities attracting repeat visits.

2.2.2 Walton Hall is well maintained, in good condition and well used as the focus for weddings and events in the Gardens but does suffer from a lack of Ground Floor WC accommodation, a failing lift, cramped kitchen facilities and inefficient storage for furniture in the building. The Hall also has a key location within the Gardens, being a focus for the formal gardens, upper lawns and sports area.

2.2.3 Warrington Borough Council hosts a wide variety of public and commercial events at the Park which, together with the wedding business brings an income into Walton Hall Gardens.

2.2.4 There are active and enthusiastic community groups which share a platform with Council Members, Officers and the Parish Council as a Steering Group.

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3.0 THE DESIGN TEAM

3.1 The proposals have been drawn together through a partnership approach by:

• Warrington Borough Council

• Donald Insall Associates

• Save Walton Gardens

• Friends of Walton Estate

• Walton Parish Council

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4.0 ASSESSMENT OF THE DESIGN PROPOSALS

4.1 Use

4.1.1 The proposal is for a new two story extension to Walton Hall. On the ground floor, there will be new male and female WCs and an accessible WC accessed from within Walton Hall. Separate facilities for park users will be accessed externally also providing Male/Female and accessible WCs.

4.1.2 To the first floor, problems due to lack of storage within the hall are addressed with a table and chair store. The function of the catering provision is improved through a preparation kitchen and wash-up room. A cleaner’s store is added and a new accessible toilet is located in the extension.

4.1.3 A new lift will link the floors.

4.2 Amount of Development and Appearance

Affected elevation as existing showing the scar of the demolished wing in pal brick to the left hand gable

4.2.1 The new structure has been designed to compliment the remaining Walton Hall and is expressed as a modest service wing, reflecting the architecture of the Hall in a simple modern manner.

4.2.2 The extension follows the form and footprint of part of the extension lost in about 1975 and requires some realignment of the road and paved and painted area around the Hall.

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View of the new extension.

4.2.3 The total floor area of the extension element is 186m 2.

4.2.4 The extension is proposed as a simple, brick-built structure reflecting the architecture of the Hall under a slate roof.

4.2.5 Historic integrity – the hall is half the size it once was. The proposals do not result in the loss of any historic fabric and all the breaking through takes place through the 1970s brickwork. Two original stone windows surrounds, currently sitting in the area of more recent brickwork in the existing the South elevation will be relocated in the new extension. These were previously part of the larger hall but on demolition were incorporated into the scarred area. See appendix for historic plan.

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Proposed Elevations

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4.2.6 The extension would provide:

• To the ground floor:

A new lift connecting the two floors

Male WC accessed from the hall with 2No. WC's, 2No. Urinals, and 2No Hand wash.

Female WC accessed from the hall with 3No. WC's, and 2No Hand wash.

An Accessible WC accessed from the hall.

Male WC’s accessed externally for use by park users including 1No. WC’s, 2No. Urinals, 3No. hand wash and 1No baby change table.

Female WC’s accessed externally for use by park users including 3No. WC’s, 3No. hand wash and 1No baby change table.

An Accessible WC accessed externally for use by park users

• To the first floor:

An accessible WC accessed from the hall

A prep/ kitchen/ wash-up room

A table and chair store

Cleaner’s store

4.3 Materials

4.3.1 Roof: Slate with lead flashings and dressings.

4.3.2 Copings: Red sandstone to the new crow-shaped gables.

4.3.3 Finial: Painted metalwork to the apex of the main gable, the finial is the head of the soil and vent pipe.

4.3.4 Brickwork: Red brick, imperial size to connect through with the hall and to match the board of the Hall.

4.3.5 Windows: Stained timber mullions and frames to reflect the stone dressings of the Hall with modern metal casements. Dark brick dressings frame the new windows to echo the stone dressings of the Hall.

4.3.6 Doors: Stained, natural finish timber doors.

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4.3.7 Canopy: A modern glass canopy over the external WC doors facing the gardens.

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4.4 Layout

4.4.1 The extension splits use between public facilities accessed externally and facilities serving the main hall.

4.4.2 The proposed plan is based on the line of the historic wings and the new walls, generally along with the historic floor plan.

4.4.3 A new lift provides access between the floors. In place of the current defunct lift it is proposed to create a new room for use by the kitchen staff as a prep room/ wash up facility.

4.4.4 In the main hall, it is proposed to convert the secondary kitchen to the ground floor, to right of front door, into a cloakroom, this would mean removing existing modern kitchen fittings and tiles to walls and make good the historic finishes

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4.4.5 It is proposed to replace the modern double fire doors to the right of the stairwell at ground floor with a single timber fire door to match the door to the other side of the stair.

Existing Proposed door styling to match original doors

4.4.6 A new doorway would be created at first floor level between the main hall and the new build, this would match the panelled doors found in the rest of the building.

4.5 Scale

4.5.1 In terms of height the building steps down lower than the main hall. It reads as subservient to the main hall and is sympathetic to the character of the hall, following the approximate form of the original, now lost, wing.

4.6 Sustainable Approach

4.6.1 The building will predominantly be lit naturally and will have very little use outside daylight hours.

4.6.2 The building will meet current modern standards, with high insulation, low energy construction.

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4.7 Landscape Proposals

4.7.1 It will be necessary to paths and road to the south of the Hall. The layout has been generated with reference to the historic alignment. There will be new planting to reflect the adjacent formal gardens.

5.0 ACCESS

5.1 Vehicular and Transport Links

5.1.1 The vehicular and transport links will remain unchanged. The existing situation will remain regarding parking and the public transport links currently provided.

5.2 Refuse and Recycling

5.2.1 The handling of refuse and recycling for the Hall will remain as it is prior to the proposed works.

5.3 Emergency Vehicles

5.3.1 Access for emergency vehicles will not be altered by the proposed development.

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5.4 Inclusive Design

5.4.1 Accessible WC's and a baby change table in both Public WC's

5.4.2 New lift providing level access from ground floor to first floor. This will improve the space for wheelchairs using lifts and also aid moving chairs and tables between levels.

6.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

6.1.1 The proposed facilities to Walton Hall will be beneficial to the Park as a whole and to the running of the Hall itself. The proposals address the lack of WC provision on the Park and at the Hall in a single integrated building.

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Appendix I Historic Plans of Walton Hall

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WALTON HALL WC FACILITIES | Design and Access Statement

Ground Floor Plan as original

First Floor Plan as original

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Appendix II List Description

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WALTON HALL WC FACILITIES | Design and Access Statement

List Entry Summary

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Name: WALTON HALL

List Entry Number: 1139355

Location

WALTON HALL

The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County: District: Warrington District Type: Unitary Authority Parish: Walton

National Park: Not applicable to this List entry.

Grade: II

Date first listed: 23-Dec-1983

Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry.

Legacy System Information

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System: LBS

UID: 58999

Asset Groupings

This List entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the official record but are added later for information.

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List Entry Description

Summary of Building

Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

Reasons for Designation

Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

History

Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

Details

SJ 68 SW WALTON C.P. WALTON HALL PARK

6/60 Walton Hall

Hall 1836-8 altered and extended 1869-70, of stone-dressed brown brick with graded slate roofs. The garden (east) front of 2½ storeys and 2 wide bays is almost symmetrical with 2 crow-stepped gables, and pinnacled octagonal buttresses at centre and each corner. The lower storey has a canted bay window, right, and a square one, left, both of stone with ovolo mullions. There are 3 windows (1-light: 2-lights: 1-light) above each bay window and a lancet to the attic in each gable.

The entrance front (right) of 2½ storeys and 4 bays is asymmetrical: broad, windowless, projecting gable, left; narrow 2-storey recessed bay with windows; projecting 2-storey porch with shaped double doors of oak (each with 11 panels) in 4-centred arched opening of stone with semicircular stone oriel above; right bay with recessed upper storey. A 4- stage clock tower to the right (circa 1870), with stone clock-stage surmounted by shaped lead-roofed cupola and large weather-vane, is linked to the Hall by a screen wall with blank Tudor windows. The left front, much altered, contains an ornate mullioned and transomed staircase window with leaded glazing and some stained glass; leading is removed from most windows on all fronts.

Interior. The hall is panelled in oak, has a quasi- Elizabethan moulded plaster ceiling and round-arched double doors of great height and heavy treatment to the stair. Oak stair with divided return flights. Large heavily decorated panelled doors to upper rooms. The Brobdignagian joinery of circa 1870 contrasts with the lightly-handled gold and white plaster panels probably of 1838 to the shaped ceiling above the staircase.

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Listing NGR: SJ6001784952

Selected Sources Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

Map

National Grid Reference: SJ 60017 84952

The below map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full scale map, please see the attached PDF - 1139355.pdf

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