Medieval Weald Park, Brentwood (EHER 7378)

Landscape park to Weald Hall covering an area of 212 hectares. A deer park was created during the 12th century and the gardens are documented in the late 17th or early 18th century. Landscaping of the park and improvements to the gardens took place in the 18th century. Extensions to the park took place by the late 18th and during the late 19th century. The formal gardens were laid out in the 19th century. The park was opened as a country park in 1953.

2001. Heritage assessment. The manor of South Weald consisted of the north-west portion of the parish, including the village and the parish church. It was granted to Waltham Abbey by Harold Godwinson in 1062 and remained in their hands until the dissolution of the abbey in 1540. It is not known what the medieval manorial complex looked like or indeed where it was sited, although the site of the later Weald Hall is a probability. On the basis of comparison with similar establishments it can be anticipated that the complex would have comprised a dwelling house for the abbey’s steward and farmworkers, a detached kitchen, barns and livestock sheds, and possibly other ancillary buildings such as a brewhouse and a dairy. Following the Dissolution in 1540 Weald Manor was granted by the Crown to Sir Brian Tuke, it passed from the Tuke family to Richard Lord Rich and in 1548 was sold to Sir Antony Browne, who also purchased the manors of Calcott and Costed (which included Brentwood). This large estate was centred on the newly built manor house of Weald Hall, near the church. Weald Hall was rebuilt in the mid 16th century, probably by Sir Antony Browne. The main block comprised a brick building with octagonal corner buttresses and stepped gables topped by ornamental finials. There was a central hall range, two-storeyed porch and two cross-wings. A large wing extended north-west from the main block, this contained kitchens and probably a long gallery. A back range, parallel with the hall, existed in the early 18th century and may have been part of the original build. There were domestic outbuildings to the south-west, and beyond them a farmyard. Weald Hall was surrounded by a series of walled courts and gardens, including two small garden houses in the same style as the great house. One of these survives as a private residence known as Queen Mary Chapel, legend has it that Mary I worshipped there in secret prior to her accession to the throne. It is a rectangular red brick building with octagonal corner turrets, extended to the north in 1830 and the east in 1970. Early in the 18th century the house was extensively remodelled, possibly by Hugh Smith (manorial lord 1732-45) who is said to ‘much beautified it in the modern taste’, although the work may have taken place prior to his tenure. Hugh Smith landscaped the park; a plan of 1738 shows a formal layout centred on a geometrically planned lake north-east of the house from which straight avenues ran north and south. A natural hillock to the east of the house was reshaped and surmounted by an octagonal belvedere. The belvedere existed until 1950 and some at least of the formal avenues other tree-planting took place, it is not thought however that the formal lake was ever constructed. Christopher Tower succeeded to the estate in 1778 and promptly commissioned Robert Adam to design further alterations, all that was undertaken however was the building of a new dining-room and the refacing of the front with an Ionic centrepiece. By 1788 the park was much less formal in appearance and included two new irregular lakes, which still exist, and a herd of fallow deer established. His son, Christopher T. Tower (squire 1810-1867), greatly enlarged the estate, extending the park northwards and enclosing much of the remaining commons. Further woodland planting took place. The Tower family left Weald Hall after World War I and sold the estate in 1946. The house was badly burnt during military occupation in World War II, the house was demolished in 1953. The park was purchased by Essex County Council, assisted by Brentwood Borough Council and London County Council for use as a public open space, becoming a Country Park in 1968. <1> Grade II Registered park of Historic interest. The parkland is managed as a complete unit. Parts are under timber plantation, woodland pasture and semi-natural ancient woodland. These areas are likely to continue under this regime. Deer are being reintroduced to the park and it is intended that the confined area where they are presently fenced should be increased. The management of the parkland as a complete unit is ideal for the best preservation of its integrity. There should be minimal disturbance and where ground works are necessary these should involve archaeological advice, liaison and where appropriate the recording of archaeological features. All surviving parkland features should be surveyed and adequately recorded. This will aid the interpretation of the park and in understanding the landscape history. <2> 2006. Field survey. Full historic landscape survey and assessment undertaken in 2009 discusses the development of the park in seven phases: 1 and 2 Medieval and post medieval Deer Park; Phase 3: The Restoration and the Glorious revolution and Phase 4: 1730-50; Phase 5: 1750-1810; Phase 6: The 19th century; Phase 7: The War and after. Appendices list the archaeology (earthworks), trees and woodland, benches and features. <3> NRHE data transfer: Late 17th and 18th century landscape park and woodland at Weald Hall. Surviving features include the remains of formal avenues and a chain of lakes which were created circa 1738 from earlier fishponds. There were also a series of formal gardens situated near the house. These were created during the 16th/17th century and further developed in the 19th century. All have been destroyed. The park has been a country park since 1953. Landscape park covering an area of 212 hectares. A deer park was created here during the 12th century and gardens are documented during the late 17th or early 18th century. The park was landscaped and the gardens improved during the 18th century. The park was extended by the late 18th and during the late 19th century. The formal gardens were laid out in the 19th century. The park was opened as a country park in 1953. <4> See also: <5> <6>