History & Heritage
in and around Greater Manchester

Renaissance & Palladian Houses in North West England

Heaton Park, Prestwich, Manchester M25 5SW.
Tel: 0161-773 1231. Fax: 0161-235 8805
Minicom: 0161-235 8893

The Hall is normally open from the end of March to the end of September from Thursday to Sunday and Bank Holidays - 10.00am-5.00pm.
Said to be one of the finest houses in what was called Lancashire, (and now in Manchester), it is also the largest municipal park in Europe - 650 acres, with a 10 acre boating lake built in 1914, ornamental ponds, a full size golf course (no membership required), and with a resident golf professional. Equipment can be hired. Fabulous and extensive gardens. A popular visitor attraction on hot summer days and brisk winter mornings.
Its "Pets Corner" supports a large variety of animals, including rare breeds of cattle, ponies, a shire horse, pigs, sheep, unusually brightly coloured poultry. Horse riding available at the stables.
The park originally laid out by William Emes, a student of the famous Lancelot "Capability" Brown. It is well worth taking the free guided tour on Saturdays so as not to miss the many features that the Park has to offer. In the summer on Sundays take a ride on the single-decker tram, or the vintage double-decker bus, both of which were once operated by Manchester Corporation.
Facilities: Walks in the park in summer or winter are bracing, the roads and paths are well laid out and easily accessible. Toilets are available in the park. There are ample parking areas at most of the entrances. In the summer months refreshments and snacks are available.
There are refreshment and catering facilities within the Heaton Park stables located about 100 yards from the Hall.
Disabled visitors are welcomed but wheelchair access is only available on the ground floor, The nearest accessible toilets are situated 100 yards from the house - there are no baby changing facilities. Guide dogs and hearing dogs are welcome.
There are many facilities and attractions within the Park including the Horticultural Centre, Farm Centre, Tram Museum, woodland, boating lake, golf course and lots of sports and leisure activities. There is a full programme of outdoor events throughout the year. Photography is not permitted within the Hall. The Hall is available for corporate events -phone for details.

HEATON HALL
With it's high quality decor and paintings. Rooms open to the public, including the Cupola, (originally Lady Egerton's dressing-room) which has mirrored walls and a domed ceiling, styled in the 1770's 'Pompeiian' style -so rare that there are only three such rooms left in Britain. In the music room an 18th century organ fills one wall, Horse racing was held at Heaton hall from 1825 to 1837, and a painting depicting one of the meetings can be seen in the Library.

HISTORY
Heaton Hall had been own by the Holland family since the middle ages. In 1684, when Sir John Egerton married Elizabeth Holland, the hall came to the Egerton family. The present Hall was built by Sir Thomas Egerton who was made the first Earl of Wilton in 1801. The original paintings and furniture were auctioned off in 1902 when the hall and park were sold to Manchester Corporation, so that not all of the paintings and furnishings are original - many were brought in from the City Council's art galleries, after its purchase.

LOCATION & OPENING
Situated on the A576 about 5 miles from City Centre. Local buses and Metrolink station nearby.

ADMISSION
Admission is free. The Orangery can be booked for functions. Telephone : 0161 773 1085

Note: Times may change - please check in advance before setting off.

• Heaton Park (Parks & Gardens)
• Heaton Park Tramway Museum
  

The Orangery

Guardian Lion Statue

South Entrance to the Park

The relocated facade from the original old Manchester Town Hall

The Boating Lake

Books about Heaton Hall & Park

Capesthorne Hall

Near Macclesfield, Cheshire
Tel: 01625-861 221. Fax: 01625-861 619.

Country seat of the Bromley-Davenport family since the time of the Norman Conquest, the present Capesthorne Hall only dates from 1719, having come into the family by marriage in 1748. According to Niklaus Pevsner the present house was probably designed by Francis Smith. There was extensive remodelling by Blore in 1837-39, though much of this was later destroyed by fire in 1861- it was subsequently restored and amended by Salvin - he added the Saloon. The chapel was a little later (1720-22). The house contains a huge collection of paintings, sculpture, ceramics and furniture. The gardens, park and lakes also contain many interesting features including a Georgian chapel and an old ice house. There was once a conservatory built in 1837 by Paxton, but this was demolished in 1920.

LOCATION
On the A34, about 3½ miles south of Alderley Edge and 8 miles from Congleton.

FACILITIES
Refreshments are available at the Butler's Pantry, plus catering by prior arrangement. Hospitality, Civil Weddings and other functions catered for. Disabled access, special group rates, conferences, live entertainments, picnic areas, wedding licence held.

OPENING DATES & TIMES 2006
Summer: April to October - Bank Holidays, Wednesdays & Sundays.
House, Gardens & Chapel 0pen at 1.30 pm. Last admission 3.30 pm.
Gardens & Chapel: 12 noon - 5 pm.
Groups welcome by appointment.

ADMISSION CHARGES 2006
Combined Ticket (Hall, Gardens and Chapel)
Sunday and Bank Holidays:
Adult - £6.00; Child (5-14 yrs) - £3.00; Senior Citizen - £5.00; Family Ticket - £15.00.
(parents and children aged up to 18 in the same car).
Wednesday only: £10.00 per vehicle; max 4 persons, additional persons - £2.50 each
Gardens & Chapel
(Sunday and Bank Holidays only): Adult - £4.00; Child (5-14 yrs) - £2.00; Senior Citizen - £3.00.
Transfers from Gardens and Chapel to include the Hall: Adult/Senior Citizen - £3.50; Child (5-18 yrs) - £1.50.
Wednesday Only: Mini Bus (max 12 people) - £25.00; Coach - £50.00

Please note that details of times and prices were correct at the time of publication, but may change over time - please check in advance before setting out.

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