GARDENS TRUST

SITE NAME: Somerford Booths Hall Address Road, Somerford Booths, CW12 2LY Unitary Authority: (former Congleton B.C.) Parish: Somerford Booths CP Location: c. 4 kms NW of Congleton, N of the Grid Ref: 832 656 Owner: P. Hogarth, The Hermitage, Hermitage Lane, , CW4 BOP Recorder: RB/ IBW Date of Site Visit Date of Report: Draft 1 19/06/2015 amended: 08/12/2015 Historic maps and images

1) 1824 The hall's E elevation with Webb's 'Gothic' bay window, and theN elevation backed by a dense tree belt along the road. The hall lies in open parkland with fenced lawns near the hall. (Neale, J.P. 1824. Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in ... from: www.commons.wikimedia.org)

2) 1831 Bryant shows the site's location N of the Dane and within the road system (still extant). • The extent of the open parkland is defined. • Approaches: - a curving drive from the E - a short W service drive - a drive drive from the S • A walled Garden to StN of the hall ·A pool/small lake N of the hall.

(www.cheshirehistory.org.uk)

Somerford Booths Hall Page 1 of 5 3) 18391ithe map (www.maps.cheshire.gov.ukltithemaps; colour by IBW}

The design of the parkland may show Webb's influence: the S drive winds through the park, providing a picturesque approach; • woodland and plantations open or limit views from the drive and house and provide variety; • shrubberies screen the W approach and stables, tree belts hide the road; • pools in woodland. ...- ..... ·~ · "" ...... ·~ (

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4) 1935 sale map based on OS 1910. 5) c. 2011 : Most of the former park has become (lots 1 and 1A were bought together.) Changes: fannland; the parkland trees are lost. extent of the parkland has been reduced in size Remains: tree belt along road, woodland on the Around the hall: walls surround the N forecourt Dane escarpment and some field boundaries. and SandE gardens (created 1880s). Single mature trees around the hall. (1935 Sale particulars held at CALS: 135 823) (www.bing.co.uk) Somerford Booths Hall Page 2 of5 6) 1929 Gardens of c.1890. Low brick walls define • a square E garden or lawn, • a semi-circularS garden with 2 flights of steps and perimeter path, laid out with clipped yews, shrubs and roses around a sundial, • a W garden (trees, hedges) leading to the walled garden (with perimeter path inside). To NW: stable block of 1696. The S drive leads to a walled forecourt at the N elevation (here, not visible).

(www. britainfromabove. org. uk, image reference EP\N 028127)

the valley of the Dane. (Report by AHP with planning application 10/1273C, p.44) (Report by AHP with planning application 10/1273C, p.45)

Somerford Booths Hall Page 3 of5 Stables of 1669

Approach from W

Greenhouse, bothies, vegetable garden

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11) 1952 Somerford Booths Hall is still a private residence. Hall, ancillary buildings and the layout of the gardens appear largely unchanged since 1935. The loss of trees near the hall and in the W garden may be due to felling and the needs of agriculture during WWII. (RAF/540n64/5063/NMR collection from: AHP report, p.15; part of planning application 10/1273C)

Bungalows and other modern buildings

12) 1985 The aerial view from the sale brochure shows major changes to theN grounds. In the late 1960s, the historic service buildings were replaced with office blocks and car parks as well as residential bungalows and a swimming pool. The hall was altered for office use. The former park is farmland. (Reeds Rains sale brochure 28106/1985, Congleton Library) Somerford Booths Hall Page4 of5 13) 2012 Entrance to Woodside Business Park, now a separate property occupying the N part of the grounds and accessed via the old N drive. The ponds on either side remain extant. (https://geolocations.ws R. Dorrell© www.geograph.org.uk)

14) 2008 Location plan of proposed development

(www.cheshireeastplanning.org.uk; Ref: 10/1274C)

15) 2015 Plan for a different development

Site Plan with planning application 15/5369C

(www. cheshireeastplanning.org.uk)

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Plene note that this report contains the research and recording Information available to Cheshire Gardens Trust at the time. It does not purport to be the finite sum of knowledge about the site as new Information Is always being discovered and sites change. Copyright notice All rights reserved. This work Is part of ongoing research by Cheshire Gardens Trust. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored In a retrieval system or transmitted In any form or by any means without prior permission from Cheshire Gardens Trust. Somerford Booths Hall Page 5 of5