Cholmondeley Castle - 01829 720201

Cholmondeley Castle is a country house in the civil parish of Cholmondeley, Cheshire, England. Together with its adjacent formal gardens it is surrounded by parkland. The site of the house has been a seat of the Cholmondeley family since the 12th century. The present house replaced a timber-framed hall nearby. It was built at the start of the 19th century for George Cholmondeley, 1st Marquess of Cholmondeley, who designed most of it himself in the form of a battlemented castle. After the death of the Marquess, the house was extended to designs by Robert Smirke to produce the building in its present form. The house is designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building.The first formal garden was designed in the 17th century by George London. Following neglect in the 18th century, the garden was re-ordered by William Emes, who also created the landscape park. During the 20th century the garden was further developed under the care of Lavinia, widow of the late 6th Marquess. The park and gardens are listed at Grade II in the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. In the park and gardens are a number of other listed buildings. The most important of these is St Nicholas' Chapel, which dates back to the 13th century, contains much 17th-century furniture, and is listed in the National Heritage List for England at Grade I. Standing across the main drive is a wrought iron screen and gateway made by Robert Bakewell in 1722 for the Old Hall, and moved here in the early 19th century; this is listed at Grade II*. The buildings listed at Grade II include the altered remains of the Old Hall, five of the lodges in and around the estate, and a variety of structures in the gardens.

Tags: Park