Walton Hall Open Day
Walton Hall Gardens, Walton Lea Road, Higher Walton, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 6SN
The Walton Estate was bought by Edward Greenall around 1814, and Walton Hall was probably built by him in the mid-1830s. It was extended in the 1870s and again at the end of the century. It was both a family home, for Gilbert Greenall - son of Edward, and a country estate. Gilbert was a wealthy local brewer and businessman. In the 1870s, he extended it to accommodate his children and enlarged household as he had become an MP and a Baronet. In 1927, his son, also Gilbert, had a peerage conferred on him by King George V and he took the title Baron Daresbury of Walton. Following the death of Lord Daresbury in 1938, Edward, his heir was forced to sell the estate, which had become a model agricultural estate, to pay the Death duties and second World War taxes. The Estate was bought by Warrington Borough Council and the Gardens were opened to the public, for the first time, in May 1945.
The Park and Gardens are now a thriving Community facility. The Hall is now a wedding and conference centre however it is opened to the public, to visit, each year whenever there isn't an event booked. The parkland is also used for large scale concerts, festivals and open-air plays and films.
Timings
- Sunday 13 September:
- 1100-1500
Location & directions
Walton Hall Gardens, Walton Lea Road, Higher Walton, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 6SN
- Directions:
- It is well signposted from the A56, just follow the brown Tourist signs. **Please note that the Car Park is 'Pay&Display'. Fee for Sundays is £5.00. 3 hours free parking when displaying a Blue badge.**
- Contact on day:
- Friends of Walton Estate
- Telephone number:
- +447989041157
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
A lift is available within the Hall to access the upper floor rooms - please ask a volunteer to take you to the lift. Pushchairs can be stored in the Foyer, if needed, with the Volunteers during a visit to the Hall. Public toilets, are available, outside, at the rear of the Hall. Other public toilets, including accessible toilets for wheelchair users, are available near the Children's Play area and Zoo and near the Main entrance.
Additional information
Visitors can either wander around the Hall, on their own, with volunteers "on hand" to answer any questions or take a Volunteer led Guided Tour. A small display on the history of the Greenall family and the Estate workers will be available in the Concert room downstairs.
- Max number of people:
- 10
- Estimated duration:
- 30 minute(s)
