NHER 29604 (Designed Landscape record) - Wolterton Park

Grade II park on (S1).
Begun by Charles Bridgeman in the 1720s as formal layout of which only the woodland and ha-ha's survive. W. S. Gilpin worked on grounds in 1820s.
Late 19th century formal bedding to south of hall grassed over in 1940s leaving only terrace walk, rose garden and rotunda.
B. Cushion (NLA) notes that ha-ha bounds lake meadow on east (as still shown on Ordanance Survey) up to 10m wide and 1m deep with brick wall along west side, except at southern end within wood where it becomes 0.5m deep with earth banks and no wall.
E. Rose (NLA), 11 May 1993.

However [1] has found a letter to Walpole dated 1722 which refers to stocking the 'new pond' with tench 'some years since' suggesting work on the park started before 1720.
This is confirmed by (S2) which states work on the park began 1715 in irregular egometric plan with lake.
Expanded 18th and 19th centuries (road closed 1838) with vistas and avenues.
Kitchen garden in place by 1732 and has never been abandoned even 1859 to 1905 when hall was uninhabited.
One greenhouse was once part of the conservatory at Mannington.
E. Rose (NLA), 15 March 1994.

(The section of the park centered on TG 1678 3200 was detected by Discovery Tours in February 1999 but nothing was found.
Report in file.
For finds from other areas of park, see separate county numbers.
E. Rose (NLA), 10 March 1999.

27 February 1999. Metal detecting.
'Blank' field.
D. Gurney (NLA), 26 July 2000.

13 July 1993. NLA air photography.
A small section of ha ha is visible.
S. Massey (NLA), 12 February 2001.

The Egyptian Fayum arrowhead found on the old drive of Wolterton Hall in the 1980s is now recorded under NHER 25879.
E. McDonald (HES), 16 September 2020.