Monument Type(s):

• LANDSCAPE PARK (Late 18th century to Early 19th century - 1786 AD to 1804 AD)
• GARDEN (Early 19th century - 1800 AD to 1837 AD)
• FREE SCHOOL (Mid 19th century to Unknown - 1841 AD)

Summary

A landscape park, for which a Red Book was prepared in 1803-4 by Humphry Repton, associated with a contemporary house by John Nash (PRN 13207). The site is protected as a Grade II EH Registered Park or Garden.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA7747 - 1995 restoration plan for Longner Park by Chris Burnett Associates

Description

Longner Hall was rebuilt c.1805 by John Nash for Robert Burton in the Tudor gothic style. At about the same time Repton produced a Red Book outlining proposed improvements to the grounds. Work at Longner which can be attributed to Nash includes, apart from the house, Longnor lodge (again an essay in the Tudor Gothic) and its associated gate works; various forecourt and other walls around the house; and a game larder and ice-house (Tudor gothic). Also probably attributable to Nash/Repton are some urns, including a pair of pineapple ones, and a sundial. By 1891 a ' very handsome and spacious' conservatory had been added, containing p alms and other exotics, a gutta percha, and camelias (F. Leach, The County Seats of Shropshire (1891), 200).
About 30m north-west of the Hall is a group of early 19th-century red brick farm buildings, including a dovecote. Some 20m south-west of the Hall is the chest tomb of Edward Burton (d . 1558), who was refused burial at St. Chad's church, Shrewsbury.
The park, which abuts the eastern part of Attingham park, extended for c. 2 km along the east bank of the Severn; most of it was open wit h mature scattered trees although there was a greater amount of woodland along its southern boundary. The park also contained, in 1851, a free school for 42 children supported by the Burtons (S. Bagshaw, Directory of Shropshire (1851), 134-5). Description based on List of Historic Buildings: Shrewsbury & Atcham Boro.: Atcham [etc] (1986), 33-41; Register of Historic Parks and Gardens in England: Shropshire (1986), G55 <1>

A new Register Description was issued in 2004. The gardens had been created during the 1760s, the park by 1786. In 1803 Humphry Repton was commissioned for improvements to the park, he prepared a Red Book in March 1804. Some of his design appears to have been implemented. <3>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2007. <4><5><6>

A restoration plan was produced in 1995 for Longner Park, a Grade II Registered Park and Garden. The house and park have been in the ownership of the Burton Family since the 14th century. This study assessed the historic value of the land surrounding Longner Hall; and analysed the threats and opportunities to this value and devised a resotration management plan for the historic landscape. The crucial question which the study sought to investigate was the nature and extent of Repton's involvement at Longner. ->

-> Whilst there is no doubt that Repton contributed substantially to the present landscape of Longner, there is no evidence that a single, comprehensive design scheme was carried out. Significant parts of Repton's scheme were implemented and some of his themes were followed but essentially the estate appears to have evolved incrementally, always exploting the fine situation of the house and the estate in general. A plan was discovered during archival research (reproduced in report) that sheds light on Repton's involvement with the park. <7>

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.