Castle Park House is a former country house surrounded by extensive grounds in the market town of Frodsham in Cheshire, England. It is reputedly built on the site of Frodsham Castle, and originates from the late 18th century. It was extended in the 1850s, and its gardens were laid out by Edward Kemp. The house and most of the associated park land is held subject to the terms of a charitable trust - the Castle Park Trust. Cheshire West and Chester Council is the sole trustee of this trust. That council owns the 'top field' outright. The house and park land are used for a variety of functions. The house and park land are 'listed' in other words given special protection in planning law.
The house is reputedly built on the site of Frodsham Castle which burnt down in 1654. In the late 18th century the first house on the site, Park Place, was built by Robert Wainwright Ashley, a lawyer in the town. On his death the house was inherited by his eldest son, Major Daniel Ashley II until his death in 1841. It was then inherited by his brother Reverend Thomas Ashley, but mortgaged to Philip Humberston of Chester. During this time it was leased to Captain Harry Heron.[1]
In 1851 it was bought by Joseph Stubs of Warrington, a manufacturer of engineers' tools. He started to develop and extend the house and outbuildings and commissioned Edward Kemp to lay out the woods and gardens, which comprised an area of more than 24 acres (97,000 m2).[1] The architect for the rebuilding was probably T. M. Penson. Its style is "reserved Italianate".[2] Stubs did not live to see the work completed as he died in 1861. It was bought by auction for over £9,500 (equivalent to £940,000 in 2021)[3] by Edward Abbott Wright, a Quaker cotton manufacturer from Oldham. The house then came to be known as Castle Park. The Wrights had five children, a boy who died at the age of 14, and four girls. Edward's wife died in 1868 and Edward continued to live in the house, commuting for his business and political interests from Frodsham railway station, until he died at the age of 83 in 1891. Following this, Edward's two unmarried daughters, Harriet and Emily continued to live in the house until the last remaining daughter, Harriet died in 1931.[1]
Todayedit
The grandchildren of Edward, who were the beneficiaries of the will, presented the house and 12 acres (49,000 m2) of ornamental grounds to the Runcorn Rural District Council (of which Frodsham was at that time a part) for the "use, enjoyment and benefit" of the inhabitants. The grounds were used as a public park and the house as the offices of the Rural District Council. After the reorganisation of 1974 the ground floor was used by Vale Royal Borough Council and Frodsham Parish Council.[1]
In 2006 the house and park land under went major refurbishment - much of the funding coming from the Heritage Lottery fund and the then Vale Royal District Council. The house and much of the park land is held by Cheshire West and Chester Council under the terms of a charitable trust although the council owns the Top Field outright.
The archives of the Frodsham and District Local History Group are held in the house.[4]
Outbuildings and gardensedit
Historyedit
Castle Park Arts Centre
Edward Kemp's plan was for a formal garden containing a conservatory and plant houses to the north of the house. Beyond these were a garden yard, a stable yard, a coach house and a farm yard. To the west of these was a substantial kitchen garden. The other outbuildings included a vinery, with a heated wall, and a smoke house for curing bacon and ham. Joseph Stubs was a collector of rare plants and many of these were planted in what he called the American Garden. In the days of the Wright family a head gardener and seven full-time gardeners were employed and also during this time more outbuildings were constructed beyond the coach house.[1]
Todayedit
An extensive area of parkland stretches up the hill to the west of the house. Some of the trees planted by Joseph Stubs are still present, although coming to the end of their lives. The formal garden is still there and a garden for the disabled has been constructed by Frodsham Round Table. In the park there are play facilities for children. The coach house has been developed into the Castle Park Arts Centre which has a small café and showrooms for the arts.[1] Other outbuildings are now used as offices for small businesses.[5] The park and gardens have been designated at Grade II in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.[6][7]
^UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
^Frodsham & District History Society, Cheshire Local History Association, retrieved 22 September 2011
^, Cheshire West and Chester Council, archived from the original on 20 September 2010, retrieved 22 September 2011
^, Parks and Gardens Data Services, archived from the original on 6 September 2012, retrieved 22 September 2011
External linksedit
Castle Park Arts Centre
March 15, 2024
castle, park, house, former, country, house, surrounded, extensive, grounds, market, town, frodsham, cheshire, england, reputedly, built, site, frodsham, castle, originates, from, late, 18th, century, extended, 1850s, gardens, were, laid, edward, kemp, house, . Castle Park House is a former country house surrounded by extensive grounds in the market town of Frodsham in Cheshire England It is reputedly built on the site of Frodsham Castle and originates from the late 18th century It was extended in the 1850s and its gardens were laid out by Edward Kemp The house and most of the associated park land is held subject to the terms of a charitable trust the Castle Park Trust Cheshire West and Chester Council is the sole trustee of this trust That council owns the top field outright The house and park land are used for a variety of functions The house and park land are listed in other words given special protection in planning law Castle Park HouseLocationFrodsham Cheshire EnglandCoordinates53 17 33 N 2 43 51 W 53 2926 N 2 7309 W 53 2926 2 7309OS grid referenceSJ 514 775AreaOver 24 acres 97 000 m2 BuiltLate 18th centuryBuilt forRobert Wainwright AshleyRebuilt1850sArchitectT M Penson Architectural style s ItalianateGoverning bodyCheshire West and Chester CouncilListed Building Grade IIOfficial nameCastle Park FrodshamTypeHistoric parks and gardensDesignated18 June 2002Reference no 1001622Location in Cheshire Contents 1 House 1 1 History 1 2 Today 2 Outbuildings and gardens 2 1 History 2 2 Today 3 References 4 External linksHouse editHistory edit The house is reputedly built on the site of Frodsham Castle which burnt down in 1654 In the late 18th century the first house on the site Park Place was built by Robert Wainwright Ashley a lawyer in the town On his death the house was inherited by his eldest son Major Daniel Ashley II until his death in 1841 It was then inherited by his brother Reverend Thomas Ashley but mortgaged to Philip Humberston of Chester During this time it was leased to Captain Harry Heron 1 In 1851 it was bought by Joseph Stubs of Warrington a manufacturer of engineers tools He started to develop and extend the house and outbuildings and commissioned Edward Kemp to lay out the woods and gardens which comprised an area of more than 24 acres 97 000 m2 1 The architect for the rebuilding was probably T M Penson Its style is reserved Italianate 2 Stubs did not live to see the work completed as he died in 1861 It was bought by auction for over 9 500 equivalent to 940 000 in 2021 3 by Edward Abbott Wright a Quaker cotton manufacturer from Oldham The house then came to be known as Castle Park The Wrights had five children a boy who died at the age of 14 and four girls Edward s wife died in 1868 and Edward continued to live in the house commuting for his business and political interests from Frodsham railway station until he died at the age of 83 in 1891 Following this Edward s two unmarried daughters Harriet and Emily continued to live in the house until the last remaining daughter Harriet died in 1931 1 Today edit The grandchildren of Edward who were the beneficiaries of the will presented the house and 12 acres 49 000 m2 of ornamental grounds to the Runcorn Rural District Council of which Frodsham was at that time a part for the use enjoyment and benefit of the inhabitants The grounds were used as a public park and the house as the offices of the Rural District Council After the reorganisation of 1974 the ground floor was used by Vale Royal Borough Council and Frodsham Parish Council 1 In 2006 the house and park land under went major refurbishment much of the funding coming from the Heritage Lottery fund and the then Vale Royal District Council The house and much of the park land is held by Cheshire West and Chester Council under the terms of a charitable trust although the council owns the Top Field outright The archives of the Frodsham and District Local History Group are held in the house 4 Outbuildings and gardens editHistory edit nbsp Castle Park Arts CentreEdward Kemp s plan was for a formal garden containing a conservatory and plant houses to the north of the house Beyond these were a garden yard a stable yard a coach house and a farm yard To the west of these was a substantial kitchen garden The other outbuildings included a vinery with a heated wall and a smoke house for curing bacon and ham Joseph Stubs was a collector of rare plants and many of these were planted in what he called the American Garden In the days of the Wright family a head gardener and seven full time gardeners were employed and also during this time more outbuildings were constructed beyond the coach house 1 Today edit An extensive area of parkland stretches up the hill to the west of the house Some of the trees planted by Joseph Stubs are still present although coming to the end of their lives The formal garden is still there and a garden for the disabled has been constructed by Frodsham Round Table In the park there are play facilities for children The coach house has been developed into the Castle Park Arts Centre which has a small cafe and showrooms for the arts 1 Other outbuildings are now used as offices for small businesses 5 The park and gardens have been designated at Grade II in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens 6 7 References edit nbsp Cheshire portal a b c d e f Hawkin W R Duncan N 1989 Discovering Castle Park Frodsham The Frodsham amp District Local History Group Hartwell Clare Hyde Matthew Hubbard Edward Pevsner Nikolaus 2011 1971 Cheshire The Buildings of England New Haven and London Yale University Press p 363 ISBN 978 0 300 17043 6 UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark Gregory 2017 The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain 1209 to Present New Series MeasuringWorth Retrieved 11 June 2022 Frodsham amp District History Society Cheshire Local History Association retrieved 22 September 2011 Castle Park House and Gardens Cheshire West and Chester Council archived from the original on 20 September 2010 retrieved 22 September 2011 Historic England Castle Park Frodsham 1001622 National Heritage List for England retrieved 22 September 2011 Castle Park Frodsham Chester England Description Parks and Gardens Data Services archived from the original on 6 September 2012 retrieved 22 September 2011External links editCastle Park Arts Centre Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Castle Park House amp oldid 1200577589, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
