Bolesworth Castle

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Bolesworth Castle is a country house 2 miles (3 km) south of the village of Tattenhall, Cheshire, England (grid reference SJ495560). It is a Grade II* listed building.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

Bolesworth Castle was built for George Walmesley, a Manchester businessman, to a design by William Cole in 1829[1] on the site of an older house dating from 1750.[2] In 1856 it was bought by Robert Barbour, a Scottish businessman who founded a cotton textile business in Manchester. It has remained in the Barbour family since.[2] In 1920–23 the interior was partly refurnished by Clough Williams-Ellis.[1]

[edit] Architecture

Gates to north drive of Bolesworth Castle
Gates to north drive of Bolesworth Castle

The house is built in ashlar sandstone and is castellated. It is mainly in two storeys with wide canted bays in the centre and on the right, and a wide round bay on the left. At the centre, and recessed, is a three story tower with turrets.[1]

Around the house and in the grounds are a number of structures which are listed Grade II. These are the wall and steps of the upper[3] and middle terraces,[4] the wall of the lower terrace,[5] a temple with a statue of Diana,[6] the park gates, gate piers and wing walls on the north drive,[7] gate piers on the drive from Chowley Lodge,[8] an open shelter,[9] a bridge over the fishpool,[10] and a boat house.[11]

[edit] Present state

The house and estate of 6,000 acres (24.3 km²) were inherited in 1989 by Anthony Barbour, making him one of the largest landowners in Cheshire. He developed the estate as a centre for small businesses, restoring redundant buildings and modernising its 16 farms, thereby supporting some 800 jobs. The house contains Barbour's collection of modern art.[2]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Images of England: Bolesworth Castle. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  2. ^ a b c Anthony Barbour (Obituary). The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group (2007-10-15). Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  3. ^ Images of England: Wall and steps of Upper Terrace. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  4. ^ Images of England: Wall and steps of Middle Terrace. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  5. ^ Images of England: Wall of Lower Terrace. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  6. ^ Images of England: Temple with Statue of Diana. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  7. ^ Images of England: Park Gates and Gate Piers with Wing Walls. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  8. ^ Images of England: Gate Piers on Drive. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  9. ^ Images of England: Open Shelter. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  10. ^ Images of England: Bridge over north end of fishpond. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  11. ^ Images of England: Boat House. English Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.

[edit] External links