Appendix VIII – Description of Other Shortlisted Candidates

Appendix VIII – Description of other shortlisted candidates

Barnburgh Hall Gardens, Barnburgh

History The Barnburgh estate dates back to the 12th century. The latest hall on the site, demolished in the early 1970s, appears to have been predominantly 18/19th century in date, although observers of the building (including Pevsner) described it as a much altered Elizabethan building. A photographic survey conducted by the RCHME in 1979 suggests that much did indeed remain of the original 16th or 17th century hall, encased with later additions.

Description The garden, including kitchen garden, that once enveloped the house is surrounded by a high stone wall with gates with piers, all constructed from limestone rubble and is Grade II Listed. The wall has an entrance with a ‘heavily rusticated surround, Gibbs in style but possibly earlier than the 1730 period’ (Gordon Smith 1966).

The entrance drive is set in a small cutting with small outbuildings, plots and long barn (Grade II Listed) to the NE of the site of the hall. Within the grounds lie an impressive 16th century dovecote that is both scheduled and Grade II* Listed. It is octagonal in form, in limestone rubble with ashlar dressings and stone slate roof. It has internal ashlar piers, with 1600 stone nesting compartments, around the interior for the doves. Its internal capacity is large for this type of structure and some authors speculate that it is the largest of its type in the country (Klemperer, 2010).

The landscape was essentially that of the 16/17th century manorial holding with a walled formal garden, kitchen garden, and ‘paddocks’ surrounding the hall. The site has no recognised ‘park’ but the area of pasture to the E/SE of the hall, with terracing and parkland trees, that leads down to a small lake was an C18 attempt at a parkland. The hall’s grounds beyond the lakes may have possibly included St. Helen’s Chapel and Well as curios within this parkscape (Klemperer, 2010).

Examination of aerial photographs from the 1920s show a formal layout to the gardens with a parterre with formal bedding in the rear garden S. of the Hall. Also visible in the photos are a conservatory to the W, orchard and trellis/pergola areas, all within the site walls. The walled gardens did have some considerable internal features including old espaliers but redevelopment has recently (2001) removed all internal features. To the southeast of the house there the remains of 19-20th century landscaping including some shrubs, a small pond and conifers (Klemperer, 2010).

Significance The grounds make up the wider setting of the now demolished Barnburgh Hall and incorporates important garden features including the dovecote, outbuildings, boundary walls and gate piers and tree planting.

It is however not considered to be of sufficient significance to be a park and garden of local historic interest due to its fragmentary nature and the impact of the recent development within it. However, it is important to the setting of several listed features, the scheduled monument and the conservation area. In any review of the boundary of Barnburgh Conservation Area strong consideration should be given for the inclusion of the fishpond.

Ordnance Survey First Edition 1854

Old photograph of Barnburgh Hall (now demolished) with stables to right (which still exists and is Grade II) Source: Doncaster Library

Burghwallis Park, Burghwallis

History The place name is derived from Richard de Wallis whose family held the ‘Burgh’ for several generations and who married into the Gascoign family, who thus inherited the estate. The family than passed in the 16th century via marriage to William West, and then by an uncertain route to Richard Fenton, a catholic who was persecuted in the reign of Elizabeth I. In the late 16th century it passed to the Annes of Frickley. The Annes lived at Burghwallis for five centuries until the property was sold to the Bishop of Leeds in 1942 (Klemperer 2010). It is now a residential home known as St. Anne’s Rest Home.

The hall is Grade II* listed and its origins are early 16th century, although it was modified in 1797 with Georgian additions and was again modified around 1820 to give it a medieval look.

The original grounds of Burghwallis Hall appears have now been divided into different ownerships.

Description The house had a small ‘Manorial’ landscape until the late 18th century when the area was significantly landscaped. It is notable that at this juncture Owston Estate was also undergoing a major landscape remodelling, and it would not be unreasonable to speculate that perhaps a degree of emulation was talking place at Burghwallis (Klemperer 2010).

The local road layout appears to have been amended to increase the grounds of the original hall and improve its setting. The site of the former medieval village possibly lies within the grounds of the hall and rectory. The later 17th and 18th century houses are estate developments that may coincide with the development of the hall’s landscaping. The church has a very intimate relationship with the hall, both in terms of its proximity and the fact that it is included within the hall’s decorative landscape (Klemperer 2010). Dower House is not within the parkland but is likely to be connected with the estate.

The main entrance to the hall is through decorative piers that also formally mark the entrance to the larger estate. There are formal gardens to the SW, and small pleasure grounds surrounding the house to the east. There is also an ice house north east of hall. There is a very large Cedar of Lebanon near to house. The immediate grounds of the hall are divided from the rest of the grounds by a ha-ha with parkland to the south with clumps all surrounded by shelter belts.

The remnants of the park consists of 72 acres (29ha) of land with scattered deciduous trees although many within the open area to the centre of the former parkland have been removed and the area is now ploughed for agriculture. It has a general southeast aspect to the run of the land. A square pond in the park could possibly be the remains of a moated site - though this is a very provisional suggestion and requires further investigation (Smith 1966).

There are several areas of tree planting around the edge of the parkland, the largest of which is now called Squirrel Wood and forms the southern limit of the park. Squirrel wood was given by the Anne family to the village and is now a scout camp.

Significance The grounds make up the wider setting of the former Burghwallis Hall and therefore is makes an important contribution to its context. It incorporates important garden features including the ha-ha, ice house and woodlands. It also is part of Burghwallis Conservation area and adds to the conservation area’s significance.

However, due to the fragmentary nature of what now remains it is not currently considered to be of sufficient significance to be a park and garden of local historic interest although if additional information does become available it may make this worth re-examining.

Ordnance Survey First Edition 1854

Campsall Park, Campsall

History Campsall Park are the former grounds of the now demolished Campsall Hall. The hall was the home of the Bacon Frank family, who had resided there from c.1612 into the 20th century.

The Hall and grounds were extensively enlarged during the time of Richard Frank (1698-1762). The house was remodelled by John Carr in 1762-64 to produce a ‘rather plain house, stuccoed, of two and a half storeys, the bleak facades punctuated by many windows’ (Waterson & Meadows 1998).

The hall was demolished in 1984 and the site of the hall and nearby land is a modern housing estate with the majority of the rest of the land has been turned into a country park.

Description In the mid 18th century a parkland landscape in the Brownian style was produced with a large, for the area, serpentine lake surrounded by an extensive parkland of 35-40 ha. (98.8) acres. It must be assumed to have been created prior to 1775, for the Jefferys map of that date clearly depicts the feature (Klemperer 2010).

The parkland is divided by the lakes and furthermore by a complex ha-ha which divides part of the pleasure ground surrounding the lakes, and the network of paths and bridges that traverse it, from the broader parkland. The 18th century parkland was scattered with many tree clumps of a large size, and surrounded by a belt plantation. This woodland was expanded in the 19th century to include plantations, such as Langley’s, Moor and Common, and a number of exotic tree plantings including a Sequoiadendron giganteum avenue; possibly emulating that at Sprotbrough (Klemperer 2010).

The hall and park were approached from a long drive from lodges at the north entrance of c. 1800 by William Lindley. Grounds had features such as the Orchard, Plantations, formal areas and a large triangular kitchen garden, adjacent to the house, with conservatories. To the south of the house, a parkland, ha-ha and embankments lead to the fishponds, which had a serpentine shape with a single span bridge, with ornamental iron guard rails, providing access via the drive form the West Lodge. There was a pinetum to the SW, which was a common feature of the larger parks and gardens during the Victorian period, taking full advantage of new plant introductions particularly from N America. Round walks and footpaths traversed the park and its plantations (Klemperer 2010).

During the Victoran period the terracing to the west of the hall was cut with parterres. After the Second World War it was, like other grand houses, converted into flats and the northern grounds developed with council housing. The northern entrance lodges were demolished in the 1950s. By 1984, the hall, its stables, and the coach house had been subject to vandalism and fires and was demolished for housing. The main grounds remain as a public park (Klemperer 2010).

Extant feature include derelict grounds small park, ha-ha, fishponds, large landscape lakes, woodlands, grassland, speciman trees, including large Copper Beech and Sequoiadendron giganteum (intro. 1853), kitchen garden (now just a wall) with at one time, a conservatory which is also now gone. The ponds are still there but much of the bridge that straddle them is derelict. The arch survives but not the balustrade, although some may exist as rubble under the arch (Klemperer 2010).

Beaver plantation to the SW has gone as has much of the pinetum, although a vestigial avenue of Sequoiadendron giganteum survives to the SW in an avenue leading to the ‘Hydraulic Ram’ at Beever’s Spring. This was used to supply water to the lakes, and the tree plantings. The ha-ha is still intact having a limestone wall, as is some of the ornamental and parkland planting, as well as some of the Langley’s Plantation. The integrity of the landscape and most of the buildings have suffered destruction or disruption due to housing development of the later 20th century (Klemperer 2010).

Significance The park is of historic interest as the former grounds of the now demolished hall and incorporate significant landscape features including the ponds and woodland plantations. The park also contributes to the setting of the conservation area.

Ordnance Survey First Edition 1854

Campsall Hall and Church c.1905

Campsall Hall and Park c1910

Castle Hills and Fish Ponds, Hickleton

History Hickleton Hall was built, to replace an earlier hall, for Godfrey Wentworth by James Paine 1745-8. Paine may also have designed the stable block. The Hall was enlarged c.1775 and altered again in 1857-60. At the beginning of the 20th century the property was owned by Lord Halifax (d.1934) who was responsible for much of the present garden work, probably acting as his own designer with his plans being carried out by the estate labour. It was until recently used as a Sue Ryder home.

Description Most of Hickleton Estate is on the register of Parks and Gardens but this area is a northern extension of this. It consists of a shelter belt and fishponds. Castle Hills name seem to relate to earthworks destroyed by quarrying. The area marks the northern edge of the estate.

Significance The park is an extension of that nationally designated. It includes important park features including fish ponds and formal tree planting.

It is however not considered to be of sufficient significance to be a park and garden of local historic interest due to its very fragmentary nature. The spaces could however be considered to enhance the conservation area instead.

Ordnance Survey First Edition 1854

Castle Hills Park, Mexborough

History Motte and bailey castle situated on the north banks of the River Don built to command the ancient ford at Strafforth Sands. In the 11th century it was a manor of Roger de Busli, Lord of Tickhill. Given to the public by Mr F.J.O Montagu in 1908.

Description Grounds of motte and bailey castle with trees. Former bandstand in bailey which appears to have always just been a raised octagonal base reached by steps – much denuded. War memorial erected at entrance in 1922.

Significance The park incorporates prominent landscape features including the schedule momument, war memorial and tree planting.

It is however not to be considered to be of sufficient significance to be a park and garden of local historic interest, but is important as a setting for the scheduled monument.

Old photograph of bandstand

Christ Church Graveyard, Doncaster

History The site was previously a sand quarry. As the town expended in the 19th century a second church was needed. Christ Church was built in 1827-29 to serve this additional population to designs of William Hurst with additions by Sir George Gilbert Scott. The church is now Grade II* listed and the railings are separately grade II listed. The church yard became the resting place for many notable people in the mid to late 19th century.

Description The churchyard is triangular in shape, and is positioned between the forks of Thorne Road. It has decorative railings to its eastern end with stone walls around the western boundaries. The churchyard is also well treed to the eastern end and where most of the gravestones/monuments still exist. Other parts of the grave yard are now less densely occupied as gravestones have been removed/relocated with some used as paths when the graveyard was remodelled in 1980s.

Significance The church yard makes up the immediate setting of the Listed church and incorporates important features including the listed railings, stone walls, monuments and grave stones and trees. It is also an important space in the Doncaster - Christ Church Conservation Area.

It is however not considered to be of sufficient significance to be a park and garden of local historic interest in its own right but is important in the setting of Christ Church and the conservation area.

Clayton Memorial Park, Mexborough

History The Park was given to the people of Mexborough in 1935 by Ernest Clayton.

Description Small municipal park off Doncaster Road. Circular path with tree planting with Church of St John the Baptist in background (Grade I Listed). Previously elaborate flower beds, stone walls and steps all of which have been removed.

Significance The park incorporates important garden features including the memorial stone and tree planting.

It is however not considered to be of sufficient significance to be a park and garden of local historic interest but is an important community facility.

Old photographs of park