History of Worsley New Hall

In its heydey, Worsley New Hall, standing in its glorious, formal landscaped gardens, was a notable residence of its era.

Built for the 1st Earl of Ellesmere between 1840 and 1845, this grand Gothic-style mansion was designed by the architect Edward Blore – whose speciality was Tudor and Elizabethan-style architecture, and whose reputation was for completing projects on time and to budget. This particular project cost just under £100,000 to build, the equivalent of around £6.7 million today.

Half a century to landscape

Just as grand as the house, the magnificent gardens were landscaped over a 50-year period. Landscape designer William Andrews Nesfield, one of the most sought-after of his profession at the time, was involved in the project from 1846. Over the following years the sloping grounds to the south of the hall were worked into a formal terraced garden. It was accessed by a series of steps and gravel paths and set off with ornate fountains, as seen in the image above.

Beyond the terraces, landscaped parkland extended to a lake, and by 1875 the lake had been enlarged and a grotto built on its island, which was reached by a footbridge, as shown in this image, from the collection of Salford Local History Society/Frank Mullineux Collection.

Queen Victoria's visit

Like many a fine garden in its era, there was a croquet lawn and a tennis court. An area of woodland towards the west of the hall separated the formal gardens from the gardener’s cottage and the 11-acre walled kitchen gardens. From these kitchen gardens, staff sent out 'flowers and evergreens' at Christmas and Easter to local churches, Sunday schools and workhouses.

Queen Victoria visited the hall twice, in 1851 and 1857. For her first visit the Queen and her party travelled to the hall via the Bridgewater Canal. In honour of her visit, the canal was dyed blue and the Earl of Ellesmere commissioned a Royal Barge and built a landing stage on the banks.

King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra visited in 1909 for a review of the East Lancashire Division of the Territorial Army in the grounds of the hall.

War hospital and training ground for troops

Worsley New Hall became a British Red Cross hospital during the First World War, but afterwards, with the departure of the Egerton family from the Worsley Estate, the hall and the gardens fell into decline.

In the Second World War parts of the hall were requisitioned by the War Office, its gardens used as training grounds by the Lancashire Fusiliers.

During the early 20th century the hall fell into disrepair. Weakened by dry rot and following a fire in 1943, this once-grand building was finally demolished by a scrap merchant, who had bought it for just £2,500. By 1949, after a century of heritage, the hall became part of the Salford's historic past. In subsequent years parts of the grounds have been used as a garden centre, a Scout camp and a rifle range.

Looking to the future

The RHS master plan for RHS Garden Bridgewater will embrace the site's heritage while also giving it a future.

Commenting on the plans, broadcaster and RHS Vice President, Alan Titchmarsh MBE, said: 'The development of the RHS’ new fifth Garden will be the biggest hands-on gardening project the charity will have undertaken in its 211-year history. Watching how RHS Garden Bridgewater takes shape and grows is going to be fascinating, especially some of the major restoration projects like the Walled Kitchen Garden.'

'Everyone deserves access to beautiful landscapes and glorious gardens, and for people living in Manchester and Salford, having an RHS Garden on your doorstep is a real horticultural treat.'

_{Alan Titchmarsh MBE}

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